AMD Limits Radeon AI PRO R9700 Sales to System Makers
AMD's new RDNA 4-based pro workstation GPU, the Radeon AI PRO R9700, will not be sold to lone buyers in the DIY market. Instead, AMD is only letting select system makers sell the card. This was made clear by board partner XFX.
XFX Confirms Sales Exclusively to System Makers
The Radeon AI PRO R9700 came out last month with the Threadripper 9000 series CPUs, but it hasn't shown up in online stores. Board partner XFX has now said that its version of the Radeon AI PRO R9700, based on AMD's own design, will go straight to system makers.
This choice means that PC fans who build their own won't be able to buy this GPU by itself.
Radeon AI PRO R9700 Main Features and Role
The R9700 is made as a pro-level pick to the RX 9070 series, set for tough AI and workstation jobs. Main features are:
- Architecture: RDNA 4 (uses the NAVI 48 die).
- Memory: 32 GB GDDR6 VRAM on a 256-bit bus, twice as much as the consumer RX 9070 XT.
- Tech: Made with AMD's 2nd-gen AI boosters.
This card stands against the older PRO W7700 but has double the VRAM. It might be the top pro GPU in the RDNA 4 group, as AMD hasn't shown plans for a stronger die than NAVI 48.
What This Means for Pricing and Availability
Shifting to a system-maker-only plan is a big change from AMD’s old ways, where past pro cards were sold in the DIY market. Now, it will be hard to find a set price (MSRP) for the card, as its cost will be part of a full pre-built system's price.
