AMD Radeon RX 490 release date, news, specs rumors: Next AMD graphics card coming in 2017, based on Vega architecture

If the latest rumors are anything to go by, the AMD Radeon RX 490 may not be released this year. Instead, the next graphics card from AMD's Radeon family may arrive sometime next year, although the details about the upcoming GPU from the company is not yet confirmed. Nevertheless, it is rumored that the RX 490 will be different from its predecessors.

AMD has been focused mostly on their recently released graphics card, the Raden RX 470 and 480. These new GPUs are based on the latest Polaris architecture, a top-of-the-line technology that provides today's best graphics experience for the users. Still, there are speculations that the RX 490 will arrive soon, although unlike the graphics cards released this 2016, it will not be based on the Polaris architecture. iSports Times reported that the release of the graphics card will fall on the first half of 2017.

The online publication also reported that the features of the RX 490 will exceed the expectations set by the RX 470 and 480. At first, it was thought that the next addition to AMD's RX 400 series GPU will also be using the latest Polaris architecture, although it might take a different direction to move forward. Specifically, instead of being under the Polaris tag, the RX 490 may possibly use the much advanced Vega architecture. It may end up being AMD's Vega 10.

One of the reasons why the RX 490 is not expected to arrive soon is because of its absence in the August 2016 Investor Presentation of AMD, Game N Guide reported. Possibly, the RX 490 graphics card is slated for launching in 2017 instead of this month.

As this year's GPUs belong to the Polaris family, the RX 490 may be launched in time to introduce the Vega technology. AMD is reported to release its next batch of graphics card based on Vega architecture during the middle of next year, so it would make sense if the RX 490 will be released around that time period.