Thursday, August 12th 2010

ATI Radeon HD 6000 Series ''Southern Islands'' Graphics Cards For Sale from November

Come this Winter, and things will heat up once again in the graphics card industry, with GPU vendors battling it out for the crucial Holidays shopping season. While AMD did not introduce any new GPUs after completing its ATI Radeon HD 5000 series launch itinerary, it did manage to grab significant amount of sales from its graphics rival NVIDIA. For this Winter, AMD and its partners will be in a position to launch the ATI Radeon HD 6000 series graphics processors, according to DigiTimes, citing sources from graphics card vendors.

It is also said that the Radeon HD 6000 series, codenamed "Southern Islands" (members of which are codenamed after islands in the Mediterranean Sea), will be built on TSMC's 40 nm manufacturing process. AMD had originally planned to build Southern Islands on TSMC's 32 nm process, but with the foundry skipping 32 nm bulk for 28 nm which will start operations only by the end of the year, AMD redrew its plans and stuck to the now-mature (stable) 40 nm process. Perhaps AMD learned a thing or two from a wide range of teething problems that plagued the 40 nm production line.
Source: DigiTimes
Add your own comment

137 Comments on ATI Radeon HD 6000 Series ''Southern Islands'' Graphics Cards For Sale from November

#26
happita
CDdude55Heres the deal, if one of these can beat or come close my 470 SLI setup or if even two can beat my 470 SLI setup, im gonna buy one.(and i slap my word on that statement):)
I'm sure that 2 high-end 6k series will beat out your 470 SLI. So, break out the wallet, cuz its gonna be cash spending time!
Posted on Reply
#27
timta2
Nfags can leave this thread, I hope Nvidia doesn't drop their prices and you continue to get assraped by them.
Well, in addition to that being inappropriate, Nvida pricing has come down. Most GTX 480s are now sub $500 and most GTX 470s are sub $350. And we all know what a bargain the GTX 460 is.
Posted on Reply
#28
crazyeyesreaper
Not a Moderator
nah true bargin was buying the 5850 at msrp when everyone screamed wait for price drop wait for price lol so glad i didnt wait that was the best deal out of it all lol
Posted on Reply
#29
InnocentCriminal
Resident Grammar Amender
Wasn't it rumoured that the entry level cards would come first and the mid-range to high-end would come at some point in 2011?
Posted on Reply
#30
the54thvoid
Super Intoxicated Moderator
crazyeyesreapernah true bargin was buying the 5850 at msrp when everyone screamed wait for price drop wait for price lol so glad i didnt wait that was the best deal out of it all lol
Yup, my thoughts exactly :toast:

And for all those praising the GTX 460 (undoubtedly good as it is) it's 8 months since the 5 series appeared so really it's come to the party far too late.
Posted on Reply
#31
CDdude55
Crazy 4 TPU!!!
the54thvoidYup, my thoughts exactly :toast:

And for all those praising the GTX 460 (undoubtedly good as it is) it's 8 months since the 5 series appeared so really it's come to the party far too late.
Doesn't matter the timing it comes out, as long as it does and it blows our socks off, that's all that counts.
Posted on Reply
#32
crazyeyesreaper
Not a Moderator
well major point here is October = 5850 july = GTX 460 thats a 10 month difference so it took almost a year for a gpu thats worth it from nvidia and while there just now working out the kinks the 6k series is set for release in a few months no concrete info on them yet tho so it could be hit or miss still. My major point here is it dosent really matter most ppl with GTX 460 or higher or 5800 series will probably skip the 6k cards simply due to the fact the REAL gpu match that matters next will be 28nm not 6k hybrid lol as the 7k series will be atis first new arch since 2000 series and fermi on a 28nm die will probably be an much more effective and efficient gpu.

another intresting thing is 6k may be close but if a 5850 still hovers at $50 OVER msrp at $259 whats the 6850 gonna cost lol makes you wonder just a little bit dosent it
Posted on Reply
#33
Salsoolo
^im still in the market and as you said my next cycle will be on 7k or whatever comes.
i considered two 5850s but the price didnt look good next to 2 460s.

btw the cheapest 5850 is $285 according to newegg.
Posted on Reply
#34
the54thvoid
Super Intoxicated Moderator
crazyeyesreaperanother intresting thing is 6k may be close but if a 5850 still hovers at $50 OVER msrp at $259 whats the 6850 gonna cost lol makes you wonder just a little bit dosent it
Original source at digitimes makes a reference to the 5 series pricing being reduced in anticipation of launch of 6 series. In the UK, the 5850 price is already within 5% of it's initial price point last year (vendor dependent).

I'm looking forward to 6 series reviews when they arrive in a few months. Not looking to buy but interested in efficiency and acoustics again. I'm a noise nazi thats why i like my 5850's so much.
Posted on Reply
#35
dr emulator (madmax)
INSTG8RSigh... I just bought a 5870 a month ago...Always the way...
i have also just got mine, it's very adequate for my emulatory/pc needs, and i hope everyone who gets the next version (6 series) is happy, but i'm good for some time now :D ;)
Posted on Reply
#36
CDdude55
Crazy 4 TPU!!!
crazyeyesreaperwell major point here is October = 5850 july = GTX 460 thats a 10 month difference so it took almost a year for a gpu thats worth it from nvidia and while there just now working out the kinks the 6k series is set for release in a few months no concrete info on them yet tho so it could be hit or miss still. My major point here is it dosent really matter most ppl with GTX 460 or higher or 5800 series will probably skip the 6k cards simply due to the fact the REAL gpu match that matters next will be 28nm not 6k hybrid lol as the 7k series will be atis first new arch since 2000 series and fermi on a 28nm die will probably be an much more effective and efficient gpu.

another intresting thing is 6k may be close but if a 5850 still hovers at $50 OVER msrp at $259 whats the 6850 gonna cost lol makes you wonder just a little bit dosent it
Whether or not the other cards in the Fermi line up are worth it or not is all a matter of opinion. The fact that they released a card at a very cheap price that not only can beat a 5850 when overclocked, but in SLI, it can even over take a 480, that's value imo.

All im saying is that instead of people picking on the little trivial things(that most fanboys are know for doing), we should be looking at the core performance an what it offers overall.

But i do see what you're saying.:)
Posted on Reply
#37
Kitkat
okay but if you work yourselves up expecting 6870s by years end that will be YOUR doing they are "expected to launch " what they want when they want lol I see this alot with the southern islands items. They haven't talked about them enough to match the amount of data already out about them its blogs repeating other blogs and readers setting themselves up to be let down by a company not responsible for it. You are all talking about monster cards .. maybe some slight increases for now and some lower HTPC things but other "news" is silly
Posted on Reply
#38
the54thvoid
Super Intoxicated Moderator
CDdude55The fact that they released a card at a very cheap price that not only can beat a 5850 when overclocked, )
Valid point... unless the 5850 comes down to price match the 1GB model. In which case it becomes less attractive. Problem is, because of the GF100 delay ATI have been able to keep prices up and will continue to do so if sales volume is still high.

Gotta remember though, the 5850 at launch sold for only £0-15 more than the 460 does now. And a 5850 overclocked comes close to a 5870. And two 5850's also kick a gtx 480 in the ass.

But i think the point still stands, going on price alone right now, the 460 is the attractive option - no arguments there :)

(But if 5 series prices drop 10%..... ooohhhhhh!)
Posted on Reply
#39
alwayssts
InnocentCriminalWasn't it rumoured that the entry level cards would come first and the mid-range to high-end would come at some point in 2011?
Yeah. 4Gamer.net posted that roadmap a while back that showed the Cedar and Redwood replacements launching in the time frame this and other recent articles have spoken about. The article mentions the Juniper and Cypress replacements will have the most improvement in performance, so it would make sense to launch them later to maximize 5700/5800 sales before they are phased out.

That all said, product series usually launch from the top-end down. There's been mumblings elsewhere the high-end is launching first, and of course we have that quote from the HIS guy about reference products launching Q4 with AIB-designs in Q111, which is a hint at weak initial availability.

Elsewhere people have claimed the second tape-out was sent to the fab in mid-to-late July, which with the 3-month avg turn-around rate would mean a launch in October/Nov with scarce availability, which again meshes with this report. Furthermore, if the SI series was designed like Cypress/Juniper, or perhaps even more coordinated (if half of Cayman is Barts, half of Barts is Turks) then a bug in the design (which the rumored second tape-out would infer) could delay the whole series. It's possible that had the first tape-out had been a success, the series' launch would have been staggered in such a way as that road map suggests, but now they are launching closer together.

It's also possible the ridiculously low pricing from nVIDIA caused them to rethink their strategy going into the Holiday season; launching with lower availability (or paper launches as this articles infers) on the higher-end parts. If they offer more performance per mm than Evergreen, this would make sense more than ONLY slashing prices on the 5000 series and riding it out until early next year.
Posted on Reply
#40
fullinfusion
Vanguard Beta Tester
Hmmm, I see the greenies are at it again trying to crap on ati :shadedshu

-moves on- :wtf:
Posted on Reply
#41
crazyeyesreaper
Not a Moderator
well im sorry to say a 5850 thats REFERENCE CAN AND WILL EQUAL a 5870 since both the 5850 and 5870 use the same gpu just laser cut thats why at same clocks there only 3% apart and tessellation performance is the same on both 5850 and 5870 :toast: so its kinda moot and im sure you noticed CD that i mentioed 460 and HIGHER meaning you me and many others wont have any reason to upgrade to 6k unless we get the upgrade itch lol
Posted on Reply
#42
CDdude55
Crazy 4 TPU!!!
fullinfusionHmmm, I see the greenies are at it again trying to crap on ati :shadedshu

-moves on- :wtf:
Christ... i seriously hate how every time some one defends Nvidia in any way they get deemed a fanboy.:shadedshu(happens a lot unfortunately)

I can understand if people were coming into this thread to troll and bash the company for no apparent reason, but im not seeing any of that.
Posted on Reply
#43
erocker
*
CDdude55Christ... i seriously hate how every time some one defends Nvidia in any way they get deemed a fanboy.:shadedshu(happens a lot unfortunately)

I can understand if people were coming into this thread to troll and bash the company for no apparent reason, but im not seeing any of that.
And with that being said, no more Nvidia/ati/fanboy anything in this thread. It's not relevant to the discussion whatsoever. Stay on topic, I'm not saying it again.

Thanks! :)
Posted on Reply
#44
fullinfusion
Vanguard Beta Tester
6 series cards I'm sure are going to be a huge improvement over the 5 series....And I love the code name :rockout:
Any body know of leaked pictures yet?

Im sure Wizard cant wait to review this next line from Ati
Posted on Reply
#46
TheMailMan78
Big Member
I'm not expecting much from these. Maybe a 10% increase at most.
Posted on Reply
#47
erocker
*
TheMailMan78I'm not expecting much from these. Maybe a 10% increase at most.
I'm expecting 20% or more than the GTX 480. I think if it was anything less, they wouldn't be naming them the 6 series. Mabye I'm wrong... I hope not.
Posted on Reply
#48
fullinfusion
Vanguard Beta Tester
TheMailMan78I'm not expecting much from these. Maybe a 10% increase at most.
I think you need to bite your tongue MM lol

10% at the very least under the most demanding software, and like E said no less then 20%

I like that statement better :toast:

But time will tell the full story, I just hope they get there shit together with drivers this time around. :pimp:
Posted on Reply
#49
TheMailMan78
Big Member
erockerI'm expecting 20% or more than the GTX 480. I think if it was anything less, they wouldn't be naming them the 6 series. Mabye I'm wrong... I hope not.
Could be. I guess 10% would be more of a refresh. However ATI could be going the Nvidia route and just give a minor bump and a re-name. That seems to be a trend with the top GPU crowd.

What I am hoping for is some kind of new feature. Something that will make tessellation useful or maybe some kind of dedicated physics processor.

Because honestly all we get are crappy console ports. We don't need more "power". We need features.
Posted on Reply
#50
Lionheart
This has made my day this news, but after I read all the posts, it was ruined by douches:laugh: but yeah, I will take a HD6970 4GB good sir lol
Posted on Reply
Add your own comment
Dec 22nd, 2024 11:01 EST change timezone

New Forum Posts

Popular Reviews

Controversial News Posts