Friday, March 14th 2014
AMD "Hawaii" Based Dual-GPU Graphics Card Around the Corner?
AMD started sending editors / VGA reviewers of some leading tech websites envelopes labeled "Top Secret." In it, are Polaroid-sized photos of the editors. In each photo, there are two pictures of the same editor, with a cryptic handwritten note that reads "Wouldn't you agree that two is better than one?" Two such pictures are posted below, by our friends from AnandTech and PC Perspective. This stunt is leading some to believe that AMD is ready with a dual-GPU graphics card based on its "Hawaii" silicon, given that it began guerrilla-marketing it.
Given how power-hungry a single-GPU Radeon R9 290X is, the only way AMD can build a dual-GPU card that doesn't outdo your hairdryer in power consumption (and possibly noise), is by toning each GPU down in specifications. The "Hawaii" silicon could either be configured similar to the R9 290 (i.e. 2,560 SPs, 160 TMUs), with lower clock speeds; or tone it down even further, by disabling more GCN compute units. There's also the option of narrowing down the memory bus and ROP count.
Given how power-hungry a single-GPU Radeon R9 290X is, the only way AMD can build a dual-GPU card that doesn't outdo your hairdryer in power consumption (and possibly noise), is by toning each GPU down in specifications. The "Hawaii" silicon could either be configured similar to the R9 290 (i.e. 2,560 SPs, 160 TMUs), with lower clock speeds; or tone it down even further, by disabling more GCN compute units. There's also the option of narrowing down the memory bus and ROP count.
42 Comments on AMD "Hawaii" Based Dual-GPU Graphics Card Around the Corner?
What if its two GPUs on same die ?
Revised Hawaii like a XL or Pro2 versionSo its not a face shot o_O
EDIT: Leaked shots of the cooler for your 876mm² HawaiiXXXXL.
7990 failed? when they was under £400 here nobody could keep them in stock well before mining hit the mainstream.
Good for them how many regular "Gamers" are really going to get their panties in wad... I can't afford it boohoo to you! That didn’t stop the Titan accolades.
If this monster came with 8Gb and could run six 4k displays in Eyefinity I’d say kudos for being in a position to develop such bleeding edge hardware. Dam the naysayers, those who'd whine of the power... the heat, it's expensive… If AMD can do it and make money good for them. Is it only good when Nvidia does it? I don't mind sitting in the grandstands watching the Jumbotron, and the guy who can build and set that up won’t fret the money either.
should do 3 4k screens at least :D
LOL
1. The card will launch with half baked beta drivers
2. It will launch in the same timeframe as a AAA gaming title that has no CrossfireX profile.
...and sure as sh*t, a dual GK 110 (GTX 790?) arrives in the same time frame to make the "worlds fastest card" argument another debatable topic.