One common theme on this forum the last few months is how some people have angst/anxiety about the fact that AMD is ceding the highend market (and some of the midrange) to Nvidia all the way until 2017 (unless the freak show 480X2 oops I mean 490 is real). The concept is that there was a lot of pent up demand for new node GPUs, and Nvidia is sucking up all that demand from gamers who want real upgrades over midrange last node GPUs (like the 290).
But I think these amazing Vulkan results, combined with good Directx 12 results for the 480, shows that AMD is the playing the hand they have perfectly. What I think we were all missing (me included) is that winning back market share isn't a one-generation task and AMD has a plan to put the generation AFTER Polaris/Vega in the driver's seat.
If we got Vega this month instead of the 480 it would almost certainly be this pig of a card on power usage compared to a 1080 (given 480 power usage), but also a 1080 (or especially the 1080 ti we all know is coming) would probably clean Vega's freaking clock in Directx 11 games. Branded with the scarlet letter of slower and using more power this AMD generation would be a complete flop, and there would be an anti-Halo effect depressing 480 sales when it eventually released.
Instead with the 480 AMD is winning the pure value equation, which is more important to consumers in its price bracket than power usage by definition because they have less money and need to get as much performance as they can with that money to keep up with the market. That means that a 480 power pig should still sell well next to a more expensive (and efficient) 1060, and more importantly it gives developers a newer target for AMD optimizations in Directx 12 (and maybe Vulkan) to set the stage for Vega.
Now when Vega comes in 2017 reviewers will HAVE TO use game benchmarks that include more Directx 12 titles (because we will have more AAA Directx 12 titles by then) and we will see Vega wipe the floor with the 1080 in those titles. Vega will still be a power pig probably, but gaming enthusiasts will take notice of this late round performance victory and give AMD a brand perception boost they sorely need.
In that scenario, when we get to the 1180/590 generation people who otherwise would run to the first card Nvidia sells might be willing to wait to see what AMD has to offer after knowing how well Vega performed the generation before. If AMD can find some way to make whatever comes after Vega less of a power pig then Nvidia's clear advantages (Directx 11, power consumption) will be gone and AMD will have a wind in its sails like we haven't seen since the switch to Directx 9.
I doubted them but AMD apparently does have a plan other than pure desperate survival. Well played AMD, I never saw it coming.
But I think these amazing Vulkan results, combined with good Directx 12 results for the 480, shows that AMD is the playing the hand they have perfectly. What I think we were all missing (me included) is that winning back market share isn't a one-generation task and AMD has a plan to put the generation AFTER Polaris/Vega in the driver's seat.
If we got Vega this month instead of the 480 it would almost certainly be this pig of a card on power usage compared to a 1080 (given 480 power usage), but also a 1080 (or especially the 1080 ti we all know is coming) would probably clean Vega's freaking clock in Directx 11 games. Branded with the scarlet letter of slower and using more power this AMD generation would be a complete flop, and there would be an anti-Halo effect depressing 480 sales when it eventually released.
Instead with the 480 AMD is winning the pure value equation, which is more important to consumers in its price bracket than power usage by definition because they have less money and need to get as much performance as they can with that money to keep up with the market. That means that a 480 power pig should still sell well next to a more expensive (and efficient) 1060, and more importantly it gives developers a newer target for AMD optimizations in Directx 12 (and maybe Vulkan) to set the stage for Vega.
Now when Vega comes in 2017 reviewers will HAVE TO use game benchmarks that include more Directx 12 titles (because we will have more AAA Directx 12 titles by then) and we will see Vega wipe the floor with the 1080 in those titles. Vega will still be a power pig probably, but gaming enthusiasts will take notice of this late round performance victory and give AMD a brand perception boost they sorely need.
In that scenario, when we get to the 1180/590 generation people who otherwise would run to the first card Nvidia sells might be willing to wait to see what AMD has to offer after knowing how well Vega performed the generation before. If AMD can find some way to make whatever comes after Vega less of a power pig then Nvidia's clear advantages (Directx 11, power consumption) will be gone and AMD will have a wind in its sails like we haven't seen since the switch to Directx 9.
I doubted them but AMD apparently does have a plan other than pure desperate survival. Well played AMD, I never saw it coming.