Friday, June 24th 2011

AMD Gives Names to Dual-GPU Configurations Between APUs and Discrete GPUs

Years ago, AMD's integrated graphics chipsets offered users the ability to pair integrated graphics processors with entry-level discrete graphics cards to work in tandem, and increased performance ideally by 50%, this technology was called Hybrid CrossFire. With the latest AMD A-Series APUs, AMD is packing much more powerful GPU components, and in the process, giving users the ability to pair the GPU component with a discrete graphics card. In the discrete graphics sphere, AMD CrossFireX already allows the pairing between two graphics cards that use the same ASIC, even if they're different models (for example, you can pair a Radeon HD 5770 with a HD 5750).

The GPU component inside A-Series APUs are essentially similar to lower mid-range discrete GPUs from AMD's current generation, in having 400, 320, or 240 stream processors, giving you the ability to pair them with discrete graphics cards based on Turks (HD 6500 and HD 6600 series) or Caicos (HD 6300 and HD 6400 series). Unlike with Hybrid CrossFireX, AMD gave marketing names to the resulting dual-GPU setup between an APU and a discrete GPU. For example, pairing an A8-3850's APU with a discrete Radeon HD 6670 GDDR5 will give you a configuration "called" Radeon HD 6990D2. We see what you did there, AMD. So the next time you're buying a pre-assembled PC and you see "HD 6990D2" in the specs sheet, and the entire PC is priced under $800, you have no reason to jump through the roof in joy. Refer to the table below for more amazing configuration names.
Source: VR-Zone
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30 Comments on AMD Gives Names to Dual-GPU Configurations Between APUs and Discrete GPUs

#1
the54thvoid
Super Intoxicated Moderator
That's just silly. The whole rest of the configs aren't too bad. It pops it up by not even a full level, i.e. a 6450 becomes 6510 or a 6670 becomes a 6710. But the whopper of a jump up in nomenclature from 6670 (discrete) to 6990 is way out of sync. If it followed the table trend it should be 6710.

Still, it doesn't matter too much, i still see PC's prebuilt by big store labelled as gaming PC's with a GT430 or a HD 64 something.

This is the whole f*cking reason consoles win at this. You buy a gaming pc called a 6990 and you associate it with a HD6990 and you think it'll kick ass when in reality, you play Metro or Stalker or Crysis and it limps about like a rotten sausage. So your store bought gaming pc sux, so you buy a console next time.

Bah, shakes fist at AMD.
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#2
Therion_I
I'd be interested to see if they also do this with the BD APUs as well. Would be nice if the intergrated GPU was at 6800 or 6900 level.
Posted on Reply
#3
Zyon
What is this, misleading marketing? If they want to pair up APU with a 6670 it ought to be something like 6671 or somthing, why use existing numbers? That's just dog, it makes more sense if 6990D2 can pair up with an ACTUAL 6990, now that would be interesting. Extra 10% performance without overclock on 6990 anyone?
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#4
Over_Lord
News Editor
I thought it was launching today, today being 24th
Posted on Reply
#5
vanyots
No way.

It's a silly typo.:banghead:
Should be 6690D2:slap:
Posted on Reply
#6
caleb
thunderisingI thought it was launching today, today being 24th
Yeah. When will the new CPU's hit the shelfs ?
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#8
Maban
I'm going to have to agree with vanyots. Most likely a typo.

If not, shame on them.
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#9
caleb
TheMailMan78Beavercreek? lol!
AsianBeaver :) :)
Posted on Reply
#10
TheMailMan78
Big Member
calebAsianBeaver :) :)
Its AMD. Its Canadian Beaver.
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#11
dir_d
I wish a manufacturer would make an SR-2 type board with for the llano line. I know the performance wouldnt be great but id lve to see how those APUs work together.
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#12
nINJAkECIL
Therion_II'd be interested to see if they also do this with the BD APUs as well. Would be nice if the intergrated GPU was at 6800 or 6900 level.
there's no way with current technology,they'd be able to slap a hd6800 die on to the cpu.
we'll have to wait another 2 or 3 generation of gpu.
it is nice to see a hd6600 being integrated tho.
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#13
cadaveca
My name is Dave
TheMailMan78Its AMD. Its Canadian Beaver.
Um, no ATI was based in Canada, but I think you should be looking towards Austin, Texas.
Posted on Reply
#14
pantherx12
MabanI'm going to have to agree with vanyots. Most likely a typo.

If not, shame on them.
It is for sure, click the image it does say 6690d2 on there : ]
Posted on Reply
#15
TheMailMan78
Big Member
cadavecaUm, no ATI was based in Canada, but I think you should be looking towards Austin, Texas.
Ah then American Beaver. Much better the Canadian beaver. :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#16
Fourstaff
Why cant they just call it like this, for example 6670+6450. So much simpler without guessing game, and misleading names.
Posted on Reply
#17
devguy
FourstaffWhy cant they just call it like this, for example 6670+6450. So much simpler without guessing game, and misleading names.
Say that five times fast and tell me it's simpler than just saying something like 6690. :cool:
Posted on Reply
#18
Fourstaff
devguySay that five times fast and tell me it's simpler than just saying something like 6690. :cool:
Ok, not the most neat solution, but still provide most information, which is what we need. They could have done something like this though, eg: 6670+6450 -> 66745. 1 digit longer than the current generations, and lose none of the information.
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#19
Therion_I
nINJAkECILthere's no way with current technology,they'd be able to slap a hd6800 die on to the cpu.
we'll have to wait another 2 or 3 generation of gpu.
it is nice to see a hd6600 being integrated tho.
So you reckown AMD are going to pair their perfomance desktop cpu with the same GPU as their low power laptop one? That would be a shame and rather pointless but I guess as SB has intergrated GPU, AMD has to follow suit.
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#20
Fourstaff
Therion_ISo you reckown AMD are going to pair their perfomance desktop cpu with the same GPU as their low power laptop one? That would be a shame and rather pointless but I guess as SB has intergrated GPU, AMD has to follow suit.
We have reached a point where over 50% (a very rough guesstimate, might be as little as 10% to 0%) of the people using a computer cannot notice much difference between a high powered rig and a regular rig in most of their daily tasks. With that in mind, its a smart move.
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#21
devguy
FourstaffOk, not the most neat solution, but still provide most information, which is what we need. They could have done something like this though, eg: 6670+6450 -> 66745. 1 digit longer than the current generations, and lose none of the information.
I hear ya, but my argument is that WE don't need that info. Most of us will be able to recognize that the HD 6690 doesn't correspond to any discrete GPU, and we can just take 10 seconds to google what GPUs make up a 6690 and then decide. But for most consumers who are uninformed and easily swayed by the typical Best Buy Deuche (the target Llano audience), bigger numbers are better.

I suppose 66745 > 6690, but people might be like, "wtf?" if they saw that. :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#22
Fourstaff
devguyI hear ya, but my argument is that WE don't need that info. Most of us will be able to recognize that the HD 6690 doesn't correspond to any discrete GPU, and we can just take 10 seconds to google what GPUs make up a 6690 and then decide. But for most consumers who are uninformed and easily swayed by the typical Best Buy Deuche (the target Llano audience), bigger numbers are better.

I suppose 66745 > 6690, but people might be like, "wtf?" if they saw that. :laugh:
At the end of the day, marketing > sense :mad:
Posted on Reply
#23
HalfAHertz
I have just one thing to add:

:nutkick:

But come on guys look on the bright side - at least now we'll be able to afford HD6990s :)
Posted on Reply
#24
bucketface
i'm pretty sure that 6990d2 in the table is an error and is supposed to read 6690d2.
this is an official AMD slide:

though it only shows laptop configs.
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