GDDR5 for AMD’s next-gen graphics chip is shipping - bit-tech.net Forums

CardJoe · 21st May 2008, 10:07

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/05...-is-shipping/1

Qimonda confirms it has started shipping GDDR5 memory for AMD’s next-generation "R700" family of graphics processors.

Krikkit · 21st May 2008, 10:55

What ever happened to GDDR4? Too expensive?

I think AMD need a rework of their lineup before they'll be able to compete at the very top-end on single-card solutions with nVidia again, although the 3870 X2 was pretty interesting.

frontline · 21st May 2008, 11:32

Will be interested to see what (if any) improvements are shown in multi-gpu setups, as crossfire has potential but it is frustratingly inconsistent at present.

WildThing · 21st May 2008, 13:28

Cool, I plan on getting one of AMD's new graphics cards, though I am always a bit sceptical if its just higher clock frequencies and not much change of the architecture of the gpu.

chrisb2e9 · 21st May 2008, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krikkit

What ever happened to GDDR4? Too expensive?

I think AMD need a rework of their lineup before they'll be able to compete at the very top-end on single-card solutions with nVidia again, although the 3870 X2 was pretty interesting.

Thats what they are doing though,

Quote:

it no longer intends to make ‘big’ GPUs in light of the problems it had with both R520 and R600. Instead, it intends to take the fight to Nvidia with multiple GPUs, further expanding on the transparency of the Radeon HD 3870 X2 implementation.

except that it looks like they wont bother fighting for the top card spot anymore.

Panos · 21st May 2008, 15:13

The future is RED!!
Crossfire is being supported both by AMD and Intel apparently. And based on the fact that still Nvidia hasn't obtain licence for the next Intel series of processors, it doesn't matter how powerfull single GPU ATI can make as long is good enough and cheap to produce.

As long as they can plug 3-4 GPU in one card and wire more than one of them on the motherboards (all Intel chipsets support xfire, along with ATI ones), the competition hasn't any reply other than follow (difficult since SLI is tricky especialy when it's not supported by the motherboards) or spend all their money to develop single chip solutions.

Don't forget. Crossfire technology supported 32-way connectivity from day one. SLI is strill struggling to make 3 cards work.

I would like to see those 4x PCI-e motherboards, with 4 3870X2 on.

Hamish · 21st May 2008, 16:06

Quote:

How AMD plans to improve on the 3870 X2’s implementation is unclear at the moment, but everything is pointing towards driver transparency

didnt i hear somewhere that they were going to let both GPUs access the same memory pool?
IE instead of having 512mb for each gpu it would be 1gig spread across both

HourBeforeDawn · 21st May 2008, 16:17

Well I am certainly looking forward to this. ^_^

MrMonroe · 21st May 2008, 17:10

Quote:

AMD has been quite public on its intentions for the future – it no longer intends to make ‘efficient’ GPUs in light of the problems it had with both R520 and R600. Instead, it intends to take the fight to Nvidia with multiple GPUs, further expanding on the transparency of the Radeon HD 3870 X2 implementation.

Fixed. Brute force computing is a bad way of solving problems.

Quote:

Don't forget. Crossfire technology supported 32-way connectivity from day one. SLI is strill struggling to make 3 cards work.

Too bad it doesn't provide many tangible benefits, and it certainly isn't justifiable considering price. (Neither is 3-way SLI, of course)

rhuitron · 21st May 2008, 19:54

Seriously, What the flood ever happened to GDDR4?

sagittary · 22nd May 2008, 09:05

It will be interesting to see how things develop. The change in ATI's approach mirrors what happened in the CPU arena - a change from trying to pump out high amounts of megahertz to instead focusing on efficiency across many CPUs with more moderate brute force ability. As the demands of GPUs and current graphical technology (as far as regular people go) handle multi-GPUs differently than how programs can use multi-CPUs, I can see the change in approach only working if they succeed at more than just a hardware level. Not just good drivers but -great- drivers and the ability to seamlessly use many GPUs as easily as one uses many CPUs in implementation and usage (for developers and consumers).

21st May 2008, 10:07	#1
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,940	GDDR5 for AMD’s next-gen graphics chip is shipping http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/05...-is-shipping/1 Qimonda confirms it has started shipping GDDR5 memory for AMD’s next-generation "R700" family of graphics processors. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

21st May 2008, 10:55	#2
Krikkit Don't panic! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lancs, UK Posts: 15,141	What ever happened to GDDR4? Too expensive? I think AMD need a rework of their lineup before they'll be able to compete at the very top-end on single-card solutions with nVidia again, although the 3870 X2 was pretty interesting. __________________ \|E8400 @ 4.4GHz\|WC: 2*120.1 GT's, MCP350, Storm G5\|4GB Dominators\|DFI LT X48-T2R\|8800GT\|74GB Raptor\|Chieftec BA01\|OCZ ModXStream 600W\|Dell 2208WFP\| The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, The LOL!!1!!1!, The Zlad!, The Kempness, The Braaaaaains...

21st May 2008, 11:32	#3
frontline Multimodder Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 207	Will be interested to see what (if any) improvements are shown in multi-gpu setups, as crossfire has potential but it is frustratingly inconsistent at present. __________________ Phenom II X4 955 @ 3.2ghz \| Asus Crosshair III Formula \| Coolermaster V8 CPU Cooler \|4Gb Corsair Dominator DDR3 at 1333mhz \| Sapphire Radeon 5870 \| Crucial M225 128Gb SSD \| Samsung SyncMaster 226BW

21st May 2008, 13:28	#4
WildThing Multimodder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Derbyshire, UK Posts: 225	Cool, I plan on getting one of AMD's new graphics cards, though I am always a bit sceptical if its just higher clock frequencies and not much change of the architecture of the gpu. __________________ Asus M2N-SLI DELUXE ¦ AMD Athlon64 6000 ¦ Gainward GS 4870 1GB ¦ 2x2GB OCZ DDR2-800 Reaper ¦ Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB ¦ Auzentech XFI-Prelude + Creative T7700 7.1¦ Enermax Liberty 500W ¦ CM690 case ¦ Samsung 22" 226CW ¦ Vista x64 SP1

21st May 2008, 16:17	#8
HourBeforeDawn a.k.a KazeModz Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cali, USA Posts: 1,785	Well I am certainly looking forward to this. ^_^ __________________ Current Rig: RubyRED • Lian-Li A05B • (2) Swiftech 220 Radiators • (2) D5 Variable Pumps • (2) Res • and a whole lot of modding • Retired Rig: Project F.E.A.R. • TT Lanbox Lite • Swiftech H2O-120 • Q6600 G0 OC@3.6ghz • 2900XT • 4gb SuperTalent Memory •

21st May 2008, 15:13	#6
Panos Multimodder Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 72	The future is RED!! Crossfire is being supported both by AMD and Intel apparently. And based on the fact that still Nvidia hasn't obtain licence for the next Intel series of processors, it doesn't matter how powerfull single GPU ATI can make as long is good enough and cheap to produce. As long as they can plug 3-4 GPU in one card and wire more than one of them on the motherboards (all Intel chipsets support xfire, along with ATI ones), the competition hasn't any reply other than follow (difficult since SLI is tricky especialy when it's not supported by the motherboards) or spend all their money to develop single chip solutions. Don't forget. Crossfire technology supported 32-way connectivity from day one. SLI is strill struggling to make 3 cards work. I would like to see those 4x PCI-e motherboards, with 4 3870X2 on.

21st May 2008, 19:54	#10
rhuitron Bump? What Bump? Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Northern California, Usa Posts: 122	Seriously, What the flood ever happened to GDDR4? __________________ You use an Apple?? Go play in traffic.

22nd May 2008, 09:05	#11
sagittary What's a Dremel? Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 14	It will be interesting to see how things develop. The change in ATI's approach mirrors what happened in the CPU arena - a change from trying to pump out high amounts of megahertz to instead focusing on efficiency across many CPUs with more moderate brute force ability. As the demands of GPUs and current graphical technology (as far as regular people go) handle multi-GPUs differently than how programs can use multi-CPUs, I can see the change in approach only working if they succeed at more than just a hardware level. Not just good drivers but -great- drivers and the ability to seamlessly use many GPUs as easily as one uses many CPUs in implementation and usage (for developers and consumers).