Saturday, July 2nd 2011

AMD Southern Islands GPU Codenames Surface

It was discovered that an early version Catalyst 11.7 contains entries for new GPUs, spelling out the possible codenames of upcoming AMD Southern Islands GPUs. Southern Islands is the next generation of AMD Radeon GPUs, which will possibly see propagation of VLIW4 SIMD design to GPUs in all market segments, and possible adoption of 28 nm manufacturing process. Moving on to codenames, 3D Center observes that the top of the line GPU is codenamed "Tahiti", there is a possibility of two single-GPU variants.

A graphics card that makes use of two Tahiti chips is codenamed "New Zealand". "Thames" is the codenamed of a possible low cost mobile chip, it could also be a performance chip. There's some uncertainty here. Not much is known about another chip codenamed "Lombok", either. Perhaps it's a performance desktop chip.
Source: 3D Center
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71 Comments on AMD Southern Islands GPU Codenames Surface

#1
FordGT90Concept
"I go fast!1!11!1!"
:confused: There's no new changes to Direct3D nor OpenGL, is there? The only focus of these chips is more performance and maybe less power consumption? 28nm suggests it may be in the early phases of development because few fabs are running that low yet.
Posted on Reply
#2
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
No change in API. The focus is on upscaling performance.
Posted on Reply
#3
Franjul08
ok but...where is Bulldozer??

AMD is Playing With My Feelings
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#4
Imsochobo
Franjul08ok but...where is Bulldozer??

AMD is Playing With My Feelings
They brought fusion in front, and I understand why.
oems see them, make machines.
They launch bulldozer does well in reviews, then all the mainstream to highend is filled instead of.

Launching bulldozer, only high end is there, and we're back to amd is tah shit! you needs it, and no mainstream is out there.

this is if bulldozer really is good :P
Posted on Reply
#5
Hustler
ImsochoboThey brought fusion in front, and I understand why.
oems see them, make machines.
They launch bulldozer does well in reviews, then all the mainstream to highend is filled instead of.

Launching bulldozer, only high end is there, and we're back to amd is tah shit! you needs it, and no mainstream is out there.

this is if bulldozer really is good :P
Lulz...all your base belong to us...engrish..:roll:
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#6
Lionheart
I wonder if "Australia" will be the codename for the HD 7970 GPU lol:toast:
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#7
CDdude55
Crazy 4 TPU!!!
Been waiting for the new line of GPUs.:)
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#8
Jonap_1st
those codenames had been surfaced since april..

tahiti > cayman?
new zealand > 2 x tahiti > antilles?
thames > caicos?
lombok > barts?

wait a minute... lombok??
its time to swimming.. :toast:
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#9
techtard
So are they going to refresh GPUS in the fall? It would be tempting to buy a new video card, even though my 5850 still holds it's own.
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#10
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
LionheartI wonder if "Australia" will be the codename for the HD 7970 GPU lol:toast:
It's Tahiti.
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#11
DriedFrogPills
so the geographical size of the island in no way reflects where it sits in performance?
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#13
TheoneandonlyMrK
looking forward to the release of these as one of them might hit my golden x2 performance upgrade rule,as none of the 6xxx series single gpu's is x2 a 5870 in performance
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#14
b82rez
I hope the low end card is called "Tasmania"
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#15
Disparia
I'll take two.

We've been on this 6xxx series long enough!
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#16
Lionheart
btarunrIt's Tahiti.
Ah thankyou:toast:
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#17
robal
There are some positive news on Semiaccurate about progress on 28nm process at TSMC. (which is contrary to usual news that TSMC sucks and all that :) )

No revolution with Southern Islands, but we may see a very nicely packed additional performance within same TDP.
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#18
Steevo
Based on ATI/AMD's past migration we will see some barts GPU cores scaled down to see what effect the process has so they can finish the plans for their performance GPU's. Hopefully they will have room in their new designs for process failures and damage that allow for some good old fashioned unlocking.
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#20
trickson
OH, I have such a headache
Franjul08ok but...where is Bulldozer??

AMD is Playing With My Feelings
It seems like AMD is more focused on there GPU line than there CPU line . Or is this just me :twitch:
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#21
cheesy999
tricksonIt seems like AMD is more focused on there GPU line than there CPU line . Or is this just me :twitch:
more money in GPU
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#22
Widjaja
Codenamed a GPU New Zealand?

So people from other far away countries do know of New Zealand.
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#23
Trackr
cheesy999more money in GPU
No there isn't.

AMD just isn't very good at making CPUs.
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#24
beautyless
Franjul08ok but...where is Bulldozer??

AMD is Playing With My Feelings
Bulldozer is nearly coming, but Southern Island coming by the end of year.
Posted on Reply
#25
cheesy999
TrackrNo there isn't.

AMD just isn't very good at making CPUs.
and if they aren't very good at that there going to get more money doing something they are good at
Posted on Reply
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