ATI Radeon HD 5970

Graphics Processor

Hemlock x2

Cores

1600 x2

TMUs

80 x2

ROPs

32 x2

Memory Size

1024 MB x2

Memory Type

GDDR5

Bus Width

256 bit x2

GPU

I/O

Bottom

Rear

Back

PCB Front

PCB Back

Recommended Gaming Resolutions:

1600x900
1920x1080
2560x1440

The Radeon HD 5970 was an enthusiast-class graphics card by ATI, launched on November 18th, 2009. Built on the 40 nm process, and based on the Hemlock graphics processor, in its Hemlock XT variant, the card supports DirectX 11.2. The Hemlock graphics processor is a large chip with a die area of 334 mm² and 2,154 million transistors. Radeon HD 5970 combines two graphics processors to increase performance. It features 1600 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, per GPU. ATI has paired 2,048 MB GDDR5 memory with the Radeon HD 5970, which are connected using a 256-bit memory interface per GPU (each GPU manages 1,024 MB). The GPU is operating at a frequency of 725 MHz, memory is running at 1000 MHz (4 Gbps effective).
Being a dual-slot card, the ATI Radeon HD 5970 draws power from 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin power connector, with power draw rated at 294 W maximum. Display outputs include: 2x DVI, 1x mini-DisplayPort 1.1. Radeon HD 5970 is connected to the rest of the system using a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 interface. The card's dimensions are 311 mm x 111 mm x 37 mm, and it features a dual-slot cooling solution. Its price at launch was 699 US Dollars.

Graphics Processor

GPU Name: Hemlock

GPU Variant: Hemlock XT
(215-0735075)

Architecture: TeraScale 2

Foundry: TSMC

Process Size: 40 nm

Transistors: 2,154 million

Density: 6.4M / mm²

Die Size: 334 mm²

Graphics Card

Release Date: Nov 18th, 2009

Generation: Evergreen
(HD 5900)

Predecessor: Radeon R700

Successor: Northern Islands

Production: End-of-life

Launch Price: 699 USD

Bus Interface: PCIe 2.0 x16

Reviews: 74 in our database

Relative Performance

Based on TPU review data: "Performance Summary" at 1920x1080, 4K for 2080 Ti and faster.

Board Design

Slot Width: Dual-slot

Length: 311 mm
12.2 inches

Width: 111 mm
4.4 inches

Height: 37 mm
1.5 inches

TDP: 294 W

Suggested PSU: 600 W

Outputs: 2x DVI
1x mini-DisplayPort 1.1

Power Connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin

Board Number: 109-C00037-00

Hemlock GPU Notes

Generation: Evergreen
Desktop Variant: Cypress
Mobile Variant: Lexington
Graphics/Compute: GFX4
Display Core Engine: 4.0
Unified Video Decoder: 2.3

Latest Drivers:
Windows XP / 8:
Catalyst Software Suite 14.4

Windows Vista :
Catalyst Software Suite 13.12

Windows 7 / 8.1 / 10:
Catalyst Software Suite 15.7.1 / 16.2.1 Beta

Retail boards based on this design (10)

Name	GPU Clock	Memory Clock	Other Changes
ASUS ROG ARES	850 MHz	1200 MHz	2 GB, 279 mm/11 inches, 2x DVI 1x HDMI 1x DisplayPort
ATI Radeon HD 5970 Protoype A1	725 MHz	1000 MHz
HIS HD 5970	725 MHz	1000 MHz
PowerColor HD 5970 LCS	750 MHz	1050 MHz
Sapphire HD 5970	725 MHz	1000 MHz
Sapphire HD 5970 4 GB	850 MHz	1200 MHz	2 GB, 310 mm/12.2 inches
Sapphire HD 5970 OC	735 MHz	1010 MHz
Sapphire HD 5970 TOXIC 4 GB	900 MHz	1200 MHz	2 GB, 310 mm/12.2 inches
XFX HD 5970 Black Edition	725 MHz	1000 MHz
XFX HD 5970 Black Edition 4 GB	850 MHz	1200 MHz	2 GB, 6x mini-DisplayPort

Name

GPU Clock

Memory Clock

Other Changes

ASUS ROG ARES