Friday, September 11th 2009

AMD Cypress ''Radeon HD 5870'' Stripped

Here are the first pictures of the obverse side of Cypress' PCB, and the first pictures of the centre of attraction: the AMD Cypress GPU. CzechGamer dissembled two Cypress "Radeon HD 5870" cards for a quick blurrycam photo-session. The PCB shot reveals quite a bit about Cypress, particularly about the GPU.

To begin with, the GPU is AMD's overhaul on transistor counts, and a bold work of engineering on the 40 nm manufacturing process, given the kind of problems foundry partners had initially. Apparently they seem to have recovered with most of them, as AMD's AIB partners are coming up with new products based on the 40 nm RV740 GPU on a weekly basis. The package holds a "diamond-shaped" die that is angled in a way similar to RV740, RV730, or more historically, the R600. The seemingly huge die measures 338 mm² (area), and for 40 nm, it translates to "huge", and is vindicated by the transistor count of ~2.1 billion. In contrast, AMD's older flagship GPU, the RV790 holds 959 million, and NVIDIA's GT200 holds 1.4 billion.
The PCB has three distinct areas: the connectivity, processing, and VRM. To fuel the GPU is a high-grade 4 phase digital PWM power circuit, while the PCB has placeholders for an additional vGPU phase. The 8 (or 16 on the 2 GB model) memory chips, is powered by a 2 phase circuit. Power is drawn from two 6-pin PCI-Express power connectors, but there seems to be a placeholder for two more pins, i.e., to replace one of those 6-pin connectors with an 8-pin one. Bordering the GPU on two sides are the 8 GDDR5 memory chips, which AMD calls says is generation ahead of present GDDR5, and supports reference frequencies as high as 1300 MHz (2600 MHz DDR, 5.20 GHz effective). In the 2 GB variant, 8 more chips seat on the other side of the PCB. This is what perhaps, the backplate is intended to cool. On the connectivity portion of it, are the two CrossFire connectors, DisplayPort, HDMI and a cluster of two DVI-D connectors. There has been a raging debate about how adversely the small air vent would affect the card, but AMD is promising some energy efficiency breakthroughs, plus given how roomy the card is, the vent seems sufficient.

Finally, information from ArabHardware.net suggests a pricing model on three of the first SKUs based on Cypress: HD 5870 2 GB, HD 5870 1 GB, and HD 5850 1 GB. All three use the same GPU and memory standard (GDDR5), but differ in clock speeds and GPU configurations. While HD 5870 sports 1600 stream processors, 80 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, HD 5850 has 1440 stream processors, 72 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Although 32 ROPs puzzles us for a 256-bit wide memory interface, we suspect low-level design changes that make "32 ROPs" more of an effective count than an absolute count. While HD 5870 features over 800 MHz core clock and 5.20 GHz memory, its little sibling has over 700 MHz core clock and 4.40 GHz memory. Price points expected are US $449 for Radeon HD 5870 2 GB, $399 for HD 5870 1 GB, and $299 for HD 5850. AMD is expected to announce all three models on the coming 23rd. You'll be able to find them at your favourite computer store a little later, availability is a certainty by the time you're ready to buy Windows 7. AMD's newest products will be more than ready to squat under X-mas trees all over.
Sources: Czech Gamer, Arab Hardware
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163 Comments on AMD Cypress ''Radeon HD 5870'' Stripped

#1
Lionheart
Hmmmm I think it looks pretty damn awesome, seriously cant wait to see some benchmarks of these cards, Whooo!!!! yaayy 1600 stream processes !!SWEET!!, i was hoping it would be more than 1200 :rockout:
Posted on Reply
#2
rampage
YAY - (DOSE A LIL HAPPY DANCE)

its finialy nice to get, some decent information on the cards

now im lokoing at about $500 aussie for the 5870 1 GB, altho its a bit higher then i thought, but still no where enear as the $800 i payed when the GTX280 first come out
Posted on Reply
#3
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
I have a feeling this is still going to be a one loud ass card, the fan is going to have to work at full blast to push all the hot air out of that little openning... And that die size is huge for 40nm!
Posted on Reply
#4
phanbuey
5870x2 4gb is gonna be my next card. Just have to wait for h NV cards to come out so that prices can drop to a sane level.
Posted on Reply
#5
Cheeseball
Not a Potato
Awesome cards, but too damn long.
Posted on Reply
#6
MoonPig
That's some dodgy basement... lol.

These look good, looking forward to more info :p
Posted on Reply
#7
The Witcher
ArabHardware.net ???

btarunr, do you speak Arabic ?

Anyway, from my experience, the hardwares are always extremely expensive here in the Middle East so dunno if the prices will be the same in the USA.
Posted on Reply
#8
zOaib
These cards will support DX 11 correct ? i may have missed reading it on the above article so just confirming.
Posted on Reply
#9
zOaib
The WitcherArabHardware.net ???

btarunr, do you speak Arabic ?

Anyway, from my experience, the hardwares are always extremely expensive here in the Middle East so dunno if the prices will be the same in the USA.
salaam wa alikum,
Posted on Reply
#10
DarkOCean
CheeseballAwesome cards, but too damn long.
its the same size as a gtx 260
Posted on Reply
#11
MRCL
Wow, it (the card) looks less impressive than I thought.
Posted on Reply
#12
pantherx12
newtekie1I have a feeling this is still going to be a one loud ass card, the fan is going to have to work at full blast to push all the hot air out of that little openning... And that die size is huge for 40nm!
I doubt it, air pressure will build up in the card and it will come out just fine with a normal fan.
Posted on Reply
#13
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
Firstly this card is as long as a GTX 260. Secondly I'm hearing it's whisper-quiet.
Posted on Reply
#14
lemonadesoda
:toast: to the czech way of doing things! :D

Goodness knows where/how they managed to make those cards disappear for the 007 spy shots.
Posted on Reply
#15
[I.R.A]_FBi
may consider a 5870 when they touch 250 dollar
Posted on Reply
#16
wolf
Better Than Native
Looks like I might have to get myself a 2GB model and see what all the fuss is about :)
Posted on Reply
#17
human_error
That is one huge die size! Now enough of the blurrycam pictures already - i want benchies, and i want them now...
Posted on Reply
#18
mdm-adph
newtekie1I have a feeling this is still going to be a one loud ass card, the fan is going to have to work at full blast to push all the hot air out of that little openning... And that die size is huge for 40nm!
Yap yap yap -- how'd I know you were going to say something negative? :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#19
pantherx12
btarunrFirstly this card is as long as a GTX 260. Secondly I'm hearing it's whisper-quiet.
So awesome performance and quiet?

... it might be worth slapping down 240 pounds on one then ...

Heh I'll buy the rest of my own system later and just put on of these in my parents rig for now he he.
Posted on Reply
#20
Scrizz
reminds me of the 9800GTX+
Posted on Reply
#21
Delta6326
So far this looks good i see one big flaw and that is were you plug the power into if you have a smaller case(i mean width wise) then you cant plug in the power because its on the side not the back this will make the plug in mash up against the side of the case if you look at the pics but time will tell if it will fit
Posted on Reply
#22
Silverel
Someone needs to facepalm the dude taking blurry pictures. It's called a tripod (or less cocaine). Use it... bleh.


Good to see AMD is still rolling around. How many predictions of death have we heard over the years anyway?:rolleyes:
Looks like next summer is a new system refresh for me. :rockout:
Posted on Reply
#23
lemonadesoda
99% of cases will fit. For the 1% where it is too narrow... it is TOO SHORT ALSO.

It's a good idea they turned the connector around to the top... a long card is always butting against the HDD container/peripherals etc.
SilverelSomeone needs to facepalm the dude taking blurry pictures. It's called a tripod (or less cocaine). Use it... bleh.
Probably a no-cameras event. So these are Unofficial, clandestine, spy shots. Probably the card was pinched, taken to the toilet or some back room, and camera-photod, then retured. Just a guess. They must have has secret screwdrivers and all. LOL.
Posted on Reply
#24
IINexusII
this guy must hav stole it from one of the rigs :D
Posted on Reply
#25
Scrizz
I have the other 2 :D
Posted on Reply
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