AMD RDNA 2 Refreshed GPUs Emerge Overseas at Absurd Prices

Sapphire GPU
Sapphire GPU (Image credit: Shutterstock)

AMD's RDNA 2 refresh is closer than we think. French retailer PC21.FR (via momomo_us) has listed the pricing for custom Radeon RX 6950 XT, Radeon RX 6750 XT, and Radeon RX 6650 XT models that will compete against the best graphics cards on the market.

The RDNA 2 refresh reportedly includes the Radeon RX 6950 XT, RX 6750 XT, and RX 6650 XT. However, we don't know if AMD plans to replace the current trio (Radeon RX 6900 XT, RX 6700 XT, and RX 6600 XT) or if the chipmaker will make the new SKUs as upgrades to their counterparts. There are rumors that the refreshed models would arrive with improved clock speeds, 18 Gbps memory, and a more generous power limit. However, since we haven't seen any convincing evidence about the rumored specifications, you should take the information with a pinch of salt.

PC21.FR listed seven RDNA 2 refreshed models, all from Sapphire's camp. As always, it's essential to consider that hardware is more expensive outside the U.S. market, and we also have to contemplate the retail markup. We're in a semiconductor shortage that has allowed many hardware retailers to push products at insane prices. Therefore, approach the listings with caution.

Radeon RX 6950 XT, Radeon RX 6750 XT, and Radeon RX 6650 XT Pricing

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Graphics CardPricingPart Number
Radeon RX 6950 XT Toxic LE Gaming OC$3,33411317-01-20G
Radeon RX 6950 XT Nitro+ Pure Gaming OC$3,24211317-04-20G
Radeon RX 6950 XT Nitro+ Gaming OC$3,15111317-02-20G
Radeon RX 6750 XT Nitro+ Gaming OC$1,50911318-01-20G
Radeon RX 6750 XT Pulse Gaming OC$1,41711318-03-20G
Radeon RX 6650 XT Nitro+ Gaming OC$91111319-01-20G
Radeon RX 6650 XT Pulse Gaming OC$88911319-03-20G

The French store put up Sapphire's custom Radeon RX 6950 XT models, starting at $3,151. Those are some crazy prices, considering that the merchant sells Radeon RX 6900 XT at half the Radeon RX 6950 XT cost. In the U.S. market, custom Radeon RX 6900 XT graphics cards go between $1,150 and $2,436, so there's no way that the Radeon RX 6950 XT will carry a 30% premium.

We see a similar trend with the Radeon RX 6750 XT and RX 6650 XT, where the prices are almost twice as high as the Radeon RX 6700 Xt and RX 6600 XT at the same store.

The previously rumored launch date for AMD's RDNA 2 refreshed graphics cards was April 20, coincidentally the same day as the Radeon RX 6400. However, word around town is that AMD has allegedly pushed the launch to May 10. So it's plausible that we may have something official before then, but we can only keep our fingers crossed for now.

Zhiye Liu
RAM Reviewer and News Editor

Zhiye Liu is a Freelance News Writer at Tom’s Hardware US. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.

  • mdd1963
    $3300+, eh?

    Umm, yeah, that's happening real soon!
    Reply
  • demonicus
    may as well order a Alienware or dell pc that has a awesome videocard preinstalled already good luck on people buying cards at that price. GET PREINSTALLED
    Reply
  • Alvar "Miles" Udell
    For a GPU that could potentially be removed from active support in as little as a year? Easy pass.
    Reply
  • jacob249358
    get a video encoder amd. You would be able to really go one for one with nvidia.
    Reply
  • jp7189
    Is RDNA3 still expected to release later this year? Has 6x50 always been on the road map or are these a reaction to market conditions?
    Reply
  • Makaveli
    Alvar Miles Udell said:
    For a GPU that could potentially be removed from active support in as little as a year? Easy pass.

    ??
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    Alvar Miles Udell said:
    For a GPU that could potentially be removed from active support in as little as a year? Easy pass.
    Why? The refresh lineup is fundamentally the same as the original batch, just with faster RAM clocks, only marginal incremental support burden. They will most likely have active driver support for the usual 6-8 years.
    Reply
  • danger007
    In another year or two you will have to choose between buying a new car or a complete computer. Asus released two fully decked out boards and are asking for over $1,000 (USD) for them. If these companies are trying to kill off individual users owning their products and of course both gaming and application software, they are really doing a great job.

    Right now I wouldn't pay anything hardware based nor would I even try to think about any sort of total upgrade - cpu, mobo, memory, gpu. I simply will not pay so much for a product that will become dated and obsolete so fast in just a year. However even 2 years after release so many parts are still demanding a high retail price. All these companies need to start thinking about gamers and individuals rather than mining as one day they could find themselves ignored by users who will seek out alternatives to the inflated and grossly high profit margins by going with mostly entry level computers and would or will have to shy away from big name games and applications as the budget computer won't be able to support or provide the performance those apps and games will demand.

    The industry can't blame it on the consoles either, like in the past. Yes the supply chain is in shambles, covid still keeping factories from coming back on line at 100% capacity, new designs of hardware and sadly a great deal of inflation in many countries due to the price of gas, but if they want to see sales in the industry to flatten out as demand based on their prices will simply not draw the customers they need to have great looking financial statements.

    So Sapphire needs to maybe remove a digit from their price as I can't see anyone, no matter how much of a gamer, or video editor or whatever, putting out $3,000+ just for a graphics card.
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    danger007 said:
    If these companies are trying to kill off individual users owning their products and of course both gaming and application software, they are really doing a great job.
    Practically all of the major tech companies are publicly traded, which means they are all governed by the same primary principle: deliver the highest value possible to shareholders as they are more or less required by law. Arbitrarily forfeiting profits to appease unhappy customers isn't reason enough to drop prices, companies can get sued for it.

    Because of that, they are all trying to maintain the highest prices they can until the market clearly tells them it cannot sustain those prices anymore, mainly by letting excess inventory pile up to the point of manufacturers having to make tough choices between lowering manufacturing volume and cutting prices to keep inventory moving. This is how basic supply and demand normally works and we are slowly getting back there with some SKUs dipping below MSRPs. Retailers and manufacturers are starting to feel the demand crunch at least as far as the hyper-inflated prices are concerned.
    Reply
  • TerryLaze
    Every single time...this again is a retailer taking advantage of having a product before its official release and asking a huge premium for it, Wait for official release, look at the prices, and start bitching then.
    Reply