AMD could be a game changer this year
In the competitive world of graphics cards, 2025 is proving to be a decisive year. AMD has a unique opportunity to regain ground on NVIDIA, which has dominated the market for years but is now facing significant setbacks. With the pricing announcement for the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT scheduled for February 28, 2025, according to Tom's Hardware, and a rumored release for March according to VideoCardzThis could be AMD's moment to shine. To understand why, let's analyze AMD's historical woes, NVIDIA's current chaos, and how this context opens a window for Radeon to become the hero gamers and enthusiasts expect.
Problems of the Past: AMD and Its History of Stumbles
AMD is no stranger to the GPU market. Since its 2006 acquisition of ATI, its Radeon division has attempted to challenge NVIDIA, but the numbers tell a story of decline. In 2010, AMD held a 44.5% share of the discrete GPU market compared to NVIDIA's 55.5%, according to historical data from John Peddie Research (JPR). However, by the end of 2024, NVIDIA reached 90.%, leaving AMD with just 10.%. This decline had key milestones: between 2014 and 2015, NVIDIA jumped from 68.6% to nearly 80.%, and the launch of the RTX 30 series in 2020 cemented its dominance.
AMD had some successes, such as the RX 400 in 2016, which targeted the $200-$250 segment and gained popularity during the crypto mining boom. However, its pricing strategy has been an Achilles heel. Launches such as the RX 580 or the 6700 XT They came in with high prices that then quickly dropped, sending an implicit message to consumers: “wait for it to come down.” This inconsistency was reflected in anecdotes such as that of Raja Koduri, former leader of AMD, who at a Polaris event sarcastically responded to a question about the 12% market share by saying it was “177%,” evidencing an internal disconnect that still persists.
NVIDIA in 2025: A Leader in Crisis
While AMD deals with its past demons, NVIDIA is going through a Turbulent 2025. Its RTX 50 series, including the RTX 5070 Ti launched on February 20, 2025 by $749 according to Digital Trends, has faced criticism. It highlights issues such as broken promises of “impressive overclocking” on the 5070 Ti, denied by experts such as Derbauer, and excessive power consumption on the RTX 5090 (575W), despite claims of having fixed it. Additionally, missing hardware was discovered in some units, and stock of the 5070 Ti, which was promised to be plentiful, was low, with partners reselling at inflated prices.
This isn't new for NVIDIA. The RTX 20 series arrived with high prices and little initial support for ray tracing, and the GTX 480 suffered from heat issues. However, NVIDIA often recovers: after the RTX 20, the 30 series adjusted prices and performance, consolidating its lead. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is described as an aggressive leader who corrects course quickly, such as when he demanded answers after a failure in a past launch. With the 90% on the market in 2024, NVIDIA remains the giant, but its current mistakes are a loophole that AMD could exploit.
Why 2025 Is AMD's Opportunity
With NVIDIA reeling, AMD is preparing the RX 9070 and 9070 XT for March 2025, but there is uncertainty. Days before the official announcement on February 28, according to Tom's HardwareAMD is still adjusting prices, reflecting an internal struggle between executives and employees more connected to consumers. The old mantra "NVIDIA minus $50" isn't enough: with the RTX 5070 at $549 and the 5070 Ti at $749, AMD needs to be aggressive to stand out.
The 2024 Steam Hardware Survey shows that popular GPUs like the RX 6600 ($180-$230) and 580 are in the $200-$350 range. The only RX 7000 on the list, the 7900 XTX, lags behind, indicating that AMD excels at low pricing but fails at compelling early launches. In contrast, the 9800X3D CPU remained competitively priced after the Zen 5 chaos, earning praise. If AMD replicates this with the RX 9070, it could break its cycle of stale reviews for late price drops.
The Way Forward: Be the Hero
AMD has two options: remain a second-place player or capitalize on the discontent with NVIDIA. Aggressive pricing for the RX 9070/9070 XT, below the RTX 5070's $549, could change the narrative. If NVIDIA is the "frigate" inflating prices, AMD could be the Ryzen 2016-style "hero" against Intel. However, the Radeon division must overcome its erratic track record and lack of synergy with the CPU team, which has proven to know how to seize opportunities.
Rumor has it that March will be decisive, as it could be the day it goes on sale. If AMD seizes the opportunity, launches at competitive prices and with solid stock, it could gain market share; if it repeats the "NVIDIA minus $50" trend, it will remain in the shadows. The data and history are on the table: everyone is watching.
The Hardware Myths Everyone Repeats (and Why They Aren't True)
What is a video card?
PSU Tier List 2025: The Best Power Supplies
Best graphics cards for crypto mining in 2025
How to Undervolt a GPU
How to choose a graphics card in 2025: Complete guide
Amazon in Argentina: Is it worth buying in 2025?
Used Video Cards: Complete Guide to Buying Safely and Efficiently
