AMD Radeon AI Pro R9700: A Creative Powerhouse?

Welcome to the latest in GPU excitement, where AMD's Radeon AI Pro R9700 enters the scene with its 32 GB of VRAM and a price tag that makes your wallet sit up and pay attention. Priced at $1,299, this card is aimed squarely at creative professionals, but does it deliver where it counts? Let's dive into the benchmarks, strengths, and the inevitable trade-offs.

The VRAM Advantage

The R9700's 32 GB of VRAM is a headline-grabber. For users working in Photoshop, this GPU is a beast, outpacing all tested competitors. If Photoshop is your playground, the R9700 is like having the keys to the kingdom. But remember, it's packing more VRAM than most people will ever need—unless, of course, AI is your thing.

"Moving on to Photoshop where the 9700 Pro is actually the fastest GPU I have ever tested on this channel."

When VRAM Isn't Enough

However, the R9700's performance isn't as rosy across the board. In 3D rendering and After Effects, it struggles. The benchmarks reveal that other models, even those with less memory, outperform the R9700 in these areas. If your work involves heavy 3D rendering, consider alternatives like Nvidia’s cards, which offer better hardware acceleration for 10-bit footage.

"Moving into After Effects, and here I’ve had to give you some other GPUs because the 9700 Pro really falls apart and isn’t impressive at all."

A Mixed Bag for Video Editors

For video editing, the R9700 shines in certain areas but dims in others. Its encoding and decoding performance for H.264 and H.265 is top-notch, especially for 8-bit footage. However, if you're working with 10-bit codecs, the lack of hardware acceleration is a dealbreaker, with Nvidia once again taking the lead.

Power and Efficiency

This card is power-efficient, drawing 300 watts, which is less than some of its competitors. Its blower-style design allows for better cooling, crucial if you're planning to stack several in an AI rig. But efficiency doesn't always equate to effectiveness, especially when the performance doesn't match up in all use cases.

The AI Angle

AI is baked into the name—AI Pro R9700—and it’s not just marketing fluff. The card's VRAM allows for handling larger AI models, making it a strong contender for those in AI development. But for general creative professionals, this card might feel like bringing a tank to a paintball match: overkill for photo editing and underwhelming for 3D tasks.

"Firstly, this is really an AI card and I think if this is what you’re trying to do, this is something seriously that you should be considering."

The Final Cut

So, who is the R9700 really for? If you're deeply embedded in AI and need massive VRAM, it's a compelling option. But for those whose workflows involve a mix of tasks, especially 3D rendering or video editing with high-demand codecs, you'd be wise to explore other options. This card is a specialist, not a jack-of-all-trades.

Tyler Nakamura