AMD RDNA 5 timeline: mid-2027 target, TSMC N3P, Project Amethyst

AMD may not unveil its next-generation RDNA 5 graphics architecture until mid-2027. That timeline comes from well-known leaker Kepler_L2, who pushed back on rumors about moving Radeon chip production to Samsung. According to this source, RDNA 5 silicon has already taped out at TSMC on the N3P process, making the Samsung talk inaccurate.

The tipster said the schedule lines up with a typical development cadence after design sign-off. For now, AMD has offered no official statements about next-gen desktop GPUs. Its public roadmaps only point to future gaming chips with a stronger focus on AI and ray tracing, without naming RDNA 5 or committing to dates. Given that framing, keeping specifics close to the vest looks intentional.

One of the few concrete signposts is Project Amethyst, a joint effort between AMD and Sony. As part of that collaboration, the companies are working on new Radiance Cores for ray tracing and path tracing, neural arrays aimed at graphics, and more efficient data-compression methods. The expectation is that these technologies will underpin both desktop Radeon cards and upcoming game consoles, creating a common foundation across devices.

Leaks also mention the internal label GFX13 and several desktop dies with indices AT0, AT2, AT3, and AT4, differentiated by compute-unit counts and memory configurations. There is chatter about HDMI 2.2 support as well, though there are no official specifications at this point.

Separately, 2026 could be a quiet year for Radeon. Insiders do not expect RDNA 5 news even at CES 2026. Among the reasons cited are turbulence in the memory market and rising costs, which could make a 2026 launch uneconomical. If those projections hold, the next major Radeon update would land around mid-2027—a longer wait that might favor a more mature rollout over a rushed debut.