Friday, June 15th 2012
AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition "Tahiti XT2" Detailed
We've known since May, the existence of a new high-end single-GPU graphics card SKU in the works, at AMD. Called the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, the SKU is being designed to regain AMD's competitiveness against NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 680. We're hearing a few additional details about the SKU. To begin with, AMD has worked with TSMC to refine the chip design. The Tahiti XT2 will be able to facilitate significantly higher clock speeds, at significantly lower voltages, than the current breed of Tahiti XT chips.
Tahiti XT2, or Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, will ship with a core clock speed of 1100 MHz, 175 MHz faster than the HD 7970. The GPU core voltage of Tahiti XT2 will be lower, at 1.020V, compared to 1.175V of the Tahiti XT. It's unlikely that AMD will tinker with memory clock speed, since Tahiti already has a 384-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, which gives it 264 GB/s memory bandwidth at 1375 MHz (5.50 GHz effective). According to the source, the new SKU enters mass-production next week. So best case, it should reach markets by late-June or early-July.
Source:
OCaholic.ch
Tahiti XT2, or Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, will ship with a core clock speed of 1100 MHz, 175 MHz faster than the HD 7970. The GPU core voltage of Tahiti XT2 will be lower, at 1.020V, compared to 1.175V of the Tahiti XT. It's unlikely that AMD will tinker with memory clock speed, since Tahiti already has a 384-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, which gives it 264 GB/s memory bandwidth at 1375 MHz (5.50 GHz effective). According to the source, the new SKU enters mass-production next week. So best case, it should reach markets by late-June or early-July.
112 Comments on AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition "Tahiti XT2" Detailed
XT2? Why doesn't everyone call it XTX, like they should?
:roll:
Called the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, the SKU is being designed to regain AMD's competitiveness against NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 680. We're hearing a few additional details about the SKU. To begin with, AMD has worked with TSMC to refine the chip design. The Tahiti XT2 will be able to facilitate significantly higher clock speeds, at significantly lower voltages, than the current breed of Tahiti XT chips.
This is going to make when Nvidia said, "disappointed in Tahiti" (like they didn't have problems of their own), have us seeing that Tahiti was a excellent design. Although AMD got side-swiped by the lack of normal cost effectiveness on a die-shrink and got caught with a big expensive, (and not correctly manufactured) chip. AMD was so far ahead they couldn’t change course and had to hold Tahiti to 250TDP, so they juggled clocks and voltage to keep the product on schedule even if it sacrificed performance. Common sense would say Nvidia would be in the same boat from TSMC, and if not worse at the least in a different way.
Nvidia, had/took the time to change course with Dynamic clocking. I still don’t know if D-Clock was always intended for GK104 (and/or that the GTX680 was a GK100) as maybe Nvidia got a heads-up on diminishing cost effectiveness and another big chip wasn’t the right direction. If they did they deserve the kudos’s. Although, I don’t think the GTX680 was to be on a GK104, but found in harvesting the first chips that some could trump the 925Mhz of 7970’s and started on big PCB to really support those "Over the Top" chips. Though Nvidia got descent numbers from the first wafer(s), they probably start seeing like AMD not enough good ones as they had anticipated from their next production wafers.
Ok, so now TSMC has probably hit the "reset" for both and things are/will get a fresh start. AMD gets good less leaky parts, Nvidia will get the number of "Over the Top" chips they thought for GTX680's, but that still might be moot as GTX670’s are great buy, especially if when you get a full-length PCB and cooling for around $420.
Though I will say, it surprised me that AMD can to make 1100Mhz (20%) the XT2 reference clock, while achieve that with 13% less voltage, amazing! If AMD holds to $500 MSRP things will be interesting, while heartbreaking for those who paid >$520 over the last 4-6 weeks for anything else.
This is the product refresh and wont be changing badge names it appears
so no 7960 or 7980...
Sucks for people that already bought the first cards :D
Suddenly the tables turn. Crown retaking.
A) AMD didn’t drastically deviate from the original chip design, TSMC just fixed their gates.
B) Will hold to the 250W TDP
C) Would maintain the current PCB design and power sections, that lets AIB keep work with the existing boards they have. If they have to change PCB/components that means less of a seamless transfer and less profit.
It’s all speculation. But if I’m a AIB I want to drop this chip into existing production and then slap new stickers on it and the box.
Got to know when to hold them, and when to fold...
Those folks that bought in Jan-Feb isn't any big deal they've playing like 14 weeks, and probably cost them $5 a week for the fun... no lost love on that. :D
At this stage the differences are in a few fps, a small amount of wattage, brand loyalty, AIB loyalty, and the like --- which ultimately, in most cases, don't amount to a whole lot of actual difference in perceived performance.
Pick the the flavour to which your preferences (and your ego) gravitate.