Sapphire AMD HD 9970 News

[VulgarDisplay]

I just saw this:

http://www.maximumpc.com/rounding_leaked_specs_amds_radeon_hd_9970_graphics_card

Honestly, I seriously have my doubts that it will be based on 20nm process, but that's just me.

64 rops now? I thought most of the leaks were calling for 48 rops.

 

[ZGR]

http://gpuboss.com/graphics-card/Radeon-HD-9970

This would be quite a significant performance boost if this were true. I have my suspicions...
If the rumor that the 9970 will have 250W TDP is true, then perhaps Global Foundries does have 20nm ready for the release in October.

 

[Smoblikat]

http://gpuboss.com/graphics-card/Radeon-HD-9970

This would be quite a significant performance boost if this were true. I have my suspicions...
If the rumor that the 9970 will have 250W TDP is true, then perhaps Global Foundries does have 20nm ready for the release in October.

Just curious as to why they compared all those cards to an HD7790, and not the previous gen single GPU flagship?

 

[Slomo4shO]

Just curious as to why they compared all those cards to an HD7790, and not the previous gen single GPU flagship?

More importantly, there is no uniformity within the different graphs. 7790, 7990, 7970, and 780 seem to be picked at random for each of these graphs...

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Those specifications are absurd, and probably totally made up. Got me thinking though:

Thanks to the longer cadence between nodes/new cards now, It would be great if AMD & Nvidia moved to Intel's Tick/Tock methodology. Old Arch on a new node for cost saving/reliability/minor performance gains then new arch on old node for big performance gains on a mature process. With more and more electronics relying on TSMC (smart phone manufacturers for example) it is going to become harder and harder for Nvidia/AMD to get the fab space to pump out profitable large dies.

Nvidia kinda did that with Kepler. Smaller, more efficient dies while the 28nm process was new to keep yields up and costs down. Then GK110 when 28nm had matured. Intead of leading with the Halo product you end/refresh with the Halo product.

All that being said, the only way those specs could be true is if AMD is going to release their first 500mm^2 on a very mature 28nm process. I can't imagine a 300mm^2 die on 20nm process being a remotely profitable venture for AMD at this point.

 

[ZGR]

Comparing the rumored 9970 specs to the 7970 and GTX 780:

The floating point performance seems absurd since the generational FP gap of the 6970 -> 7970 is about 40%.

 

[ruhtraeel]

Comparing the rumored 9970 specs to the 7970 and GTX 780:





The floating point performance seems absurd since the generational FP gap of the 6970 -> 7970 is about 40%.

These specs are completely false IIRC. The specs on GPUBoss are based on the Chiphell leak I think, and that got debunked by SemiAccurate:

http://semiaccurate.com/2013/05/20/amds-volcanic-islands-architecture/



If the sushi guy truly is an insider, then we are looking at 2814 stream processors for the 9970 (according to logic?)

 

[DiogoDX]

These specs are completely false IIRC. The specs on GPUBoss are based on the Chiphell leak I think, and that got debunked by SemiAccurate:

http://semiaccurate.com/2013/05/20/amds-volcanic-islands-architecture/



If the sushi guy truly is an insider, then we are looking at 2814 stream processors for the 9970 (according to logic?)

2800sp (+40%) is still a lot for 28nm. Maybe AMD finally going do build a GPU bigger than R600 (420mm^2) that was lauch in 2007.

 

[ZGR]

These specs are completely false IIRC. The specs on GPUBoss are based on the Chiphell leak I think, and that got debunked by SemiAccurate:

http://semiaccurate.com/2013/05/20/amds-volcanic-islands-architecture/



If the sushi guy truly is an insider, then we are looking at 2814 stream processors for the 9970 (according to logic?)

I'm basing it off this article posted on August 5th.
The article also gathers its sources from GPUBoss which gathers some information from TomsHardware, which in turn gets that information from Softpedia, which got its info from ChipHell.

The specs are probably incorrect.

But if Global Foundries is truly ready for 20nm this fall, then I suppose these rumored specs would be reasonable.

 

[ruhtraeel]

2800sp (+40%) is still a lot for 28nm. Maybe AMD finally going do build a GPU bigger than R600 (420mm^2) that was lauch in 2007.

I'm personally expecting 2560 for the 9970, and 2304 for the 9950.

TBH I think Chiphell has no credibility at this point whatsoever, reporting a forum post in 2012 as possible 9970 specs, as well as reporting that it had 2304 stream processors later and was going to launch at Computex/E3 named "Curacao XT" (which it isn't, seeing from the leaked Catalyst Driver having it as Hawaii XT and stuff).

 

[el etro]

This specs is unbalanced(talking about ROPS, TMUS, etc...)!! Not possible this peak theoretical performance for a VGA based on original GCN architecture and 28nm!!

Anyway is damm good too see AMD projecting big GPUs again! Will bring titan-class performance to more enthusiasts!

PS:Will be nice if the GCN1.1 powered 7790 advantage on power efficiency can give the power advantage over Nvidia! I desire they can fix the crossfire this time to bring to us a full R1100 dual-chip monster this xmas!

 

[blackened23]

Good grief. I certainly hope those specs are true! The competition would be good for all.

 

[Silverforce11]

Those specs on 20nm look fine, but no way on 28nm.

The current rabble is the refresh is on 28nm, thus its downscaled, ~30% over a 7970.

There's no way AMD is launching new radeons on 20nm this year, TSMC already said they arent ramping til later this year and if they arent ramping (not even meeting Apple & Qual's demands), what is AMD going to launch? A few engineering samples?

 

[SickBeast]

Right now it is in AMD's best interest to lie and say that the new 9970 will have 4000 stream processors. They want to have people wait for their new product and not but a GTX 780.

IMO what we're going to see is new cards on the 20nm process that can compete with Titan. If they do refresh on 28nm it's going to be very minor and for all intents and purposes it will probably be a re-badge.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Those specs on 20nm look fine, but no way on 28nm.

The current rabble is the refresh is on 28nm, thus its downscaled, ~30% over a 7970.

There's no way AMD is launching new radeons on 20nm this year, TSMC already said they arent ramping til later this year and if they arent ramping (not even meeting Apple & Qual's demands), what is AMD going to launch? A few engineering samples?

Paper launch! :awe:

@ SB we should, so long as we don't all get hosed again, see 20nm chips for $250 that are slightly faster than Titan.

 

[Black Octagon]

I predict that the 9970 will be on 20nm and that we will see that chip in cards NEXT year. Nothing I've read to date has convinced me that the October 2013 rumor is based on anything solid.

 

[badb0y]

4,000 Stream processors on 28nm?

Please avoid the use of meme graphics in the technical forums.
-- stahlhart

 

[ZGR]

4,000 Stream processors on 28nm?

The rumor is that this is going to be released in October based on 20nm. Lots of people have their doubts and I don't blame them.

 

[RussianSensation]

I predict that the 9970 will be on 20nm and that we will see that chip in cards NEXT year. Nothing I've read to date has convinced me that the October 2013 rumor is based on anything solid.

Maybe you are right. AMD has said from the beginning of the year that HD7970GE will remain the flagship product until end of 2013 while HD7990 will be positioned against GTX690/Titan. The 20nm rumor doesn't make sense since AMD would have to tape out those parts far in advance and start ramping up volume production over the summer for October 2013 launch. If they do release HD9970 series on 28nm in October 2013, then 20nm becomes available by 2H of 2014, this will be one short-lived stop gap series, or "lame" series.

Right now after-market 7850s can be found for $130, 7870s for $170, 7950s can be found for $241 USD, 7970 1Ghz for $355, HD7990 at $670 with 8 free games.

If AMD brings out a card with GTX780's performance at even $550, it will still be terrible value compared to their own HD7970 1Ghz. With these prices, AMD doesn't need to do anything at all. They could bundle BF4 with $240 HD7950 V2 & $350 HD7970 1Ghz cards and coast for another 5 months easily.

 

[raghu78]

Maybe you are right. AMD has said from the beginning of the year that HD7970GE will remain the flagship product until end of 2013 while HD7990 will be positioned against GTX690/Titan. The 20nm rumor doesn't make sense since AMD would have to tape out those parts far in advance and start ramping up volume production over the summer for October 2013 launch. If they do release HD9970 series on 28nm in October 2013, then 20nm becomes available by 2H of 2014, this will be one short-lived stop gap series, or "lame" series.

Right now after-market 7850s can be found for $130, 7870s for $170, 7950s can be found for $241 USD, 7970 1Ghz for $355, HD7990 at $670 with 8 free games.

If AMD brings out a card with GTX780's performance at even $550, it will still be terrible value compared to their own HD7970 1Ghz. With these prices, AMD doesn't need to do anything at all. They could bundle BF4 with $240 HD7950 V2 & $350 HD7970 1Ghz cards and coast for another 5 months easily.

20nm GPU products won't be out till late June or early July 2014. the 20nm wafer volume in Q2 2014 is expected to be 2% of total volume, same % as TSMC 28nm in Q4 2011.

Also AMD might not want to rush their 20nm flagship GPUs. they could use the Nvidia strategy of launching a couple of months later and getting performance and pricing right and getting rave reviews. you know as they say "first impression is the best impression. "

So Hawaii XT aka HD 9970 might be release in Oct just before BF4 launch. 20nm flagship might launch in late Aug or early Sep 2014. also there is the possibility of GDDR6 in AMD's next gen 20nm flagship. so AMD might want to take their time to launch 20nm flagship.

 

[wlee15]

I predict that the 9970 will be on 20nm and that we will see that chip in cards NEXT year. Nothing I've read to date has convinced me that the October 2013 rumor is based on anything solid.

New codenames popping up in Catalyst inf files and third party utilities are pretty much the usual sign that something is coming from AMD.

 

[el etro]

Would be good $200 for the vanilla 7950 and $300 for the vanilla 7970, like 2008.

At least they could make a little refresh on the 7000 series(calling 8000 series the refresh) and focus the R&D resources to make the 9000 series stronger.

 

[boxleitnerb]

Hawaii and the Volcanic Islands family is coming this fall and a late September public show likely means an October silicon launch. This is a massively updated GPU vs the minor tweaks in the last round. Given the timing, Hawaii is unquestionably a 28nm part so no shrink related performance bump but the architectural changes should more than make up for that. It is unlikely to be an incremental advance.

http://semiaccurate.com/2013/08/07/amd-to-launch-hawaii-in-hawaii/

 

[Black Octagon]

Interesting. I still don't see how it makes sense to launch a 28nm based refresh this year with 20nm so far away. Guess we'll know in a few weeks

 

[CakeMonster]

Interesting. I still don't see how it makes sense to launch a 28nm based refresh this year with 20nm so far away. Guess we'll know in a few weeks

Uhm, with 20nm so far away, a refresh should make more sense, not less?