Friday, June 22nd 2012

AMD Introduces the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition

Today AMD launched the world's fastest graphics processing unit (GPU), the AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition. The AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition uses AMD's innovative Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture to deliver astonishing performance and breathtaking image quality, providing world-class gameplay at the highest resolutions in the most demanding games such as Battlefield 3, Deus Ex: Human Revolution and DiRT Showdown.

"The AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition rounds out our award-winning GCN family, providing world-class gameplay thanks to the industry's fastest single GPU," said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, GPU Division, AMD. "Gamers have been hungry for our AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series since our launch last December. We have been able to meet that growing demand as we expanded our AMD Radeon HD 7000 offerings and brought the industry's most advanced graphics across a complete family of leading-edge desktop and notebook graphics cards."
The AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition provides ground-breaking GPU compute functionality through advanced AMD App Acceleration technology, allowing users to enjoy lightning-fast gameplay and realistic physics effects3. AMD App Acceleration technology also optimizes common tasks like encrypted file compression and speeds up demanding digital content creation suites, while providing exceptional online video and Blu-ray video experiences3. No other graphics card comes close to the performance and features of the AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition.

The AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition comes fully equipped with 3GBs of ultra-fast GDDR5 frame buffer, AMD Eyefinity 2.0 technology, and support for PCI Express 3.0 and multi-GPU configurations with AMD CrossFire technology.

The AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition will be available as early as next week from add-in board (AIB) partners including ASUS, Gigabyte, HIS, MSI, Sapphire, TUL and XFX starting at USD$499 SEP. For more information, visit the product page.

Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition Review by TechPowerUp!
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51 Comments on AMD Introduces the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition

#1
makwy2
Sweeeeeeet! Can't wait for the review and benchmarks!
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#3
makwy2
lol, I just got the notification of the review on my phone, doh! Now to reading!
Posted on Reply
#4
Nihilus
Excellent Review! The card is about 10% faster for 10% more price. That may seem like a wash but it is actually a great value on the higher-end side. Now it is about dead even on games and perf/watt with the GTX 680. Impressive generation from both red and green teams!

Noise sucks but I am sure offerings from MSI, Gigabyte and others will improve it dramatically.
Posted on Reply
#5
cedrac18
NihilusExcellent Review! The card is about 10% faster for 10% more price. That may seem like a wash but it is actually a great value on the higher-end side. Now it is about dead even on games and perf/watt with the GTX 680. Impressive generation from both red and green teams!

Noise sucks but I am sure offerings from MSI, Gigabyte and others will improve it dramatically.
Yep we should have some great battles coming ahead.
Posted on Reply
#6
the54thvoid
Super Intoxicated Moderator
It is actually faster by a fair bit in most games. It loses out on MW in terms of a larger amount which brings the fps average down. Vindicates my watercooled card choice as my 7970 runs at 1100/1500 stable, no noise and max temps 55.
Have to laugh at the stock cooler though, AMD lords of extreme noise. If I wasn't under water, I have to say I'd probably buy a GTX 670. Kepler's number two is still the best card overall this round, easily.
Posted on Reply
#7
Nihilus
the54thvoidKepler's number two is still the best card overall this round, easily.
Absolutely! I say ATi should quietly axe the 7950 and release an HD 7930 that gets similar performance for a much better price. I remember owning the 4830 and that was a great value.
Posted on Reply
#8
Nihilus
Actually a '7960' would make more sense since the 670 is at hd 7970 levels. Give it the 'GHZ' core with maybe some gimped memory.
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#10
Jurassic1024
I still gotta go with the GTX 670 over this. Price and performance is better overall imo. I thought AMD was going to do more to Tahiti to get the thermals and power consumption down, rather than just binning. 51db load fan noise is just unacceptable!!!
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#11
Nihilus
Jurassic1024I still gotta go with the GTX 670 over this. Price and performance is better overall imo. I thought AMD was going to do more to Tahiti to get the thermals and power consumption down, rather than just binning. 51db load fan noise is just unacceptable!!!
It's not really just binning. This should really be called a 7980. It is just as different from the hd 7970 as the 7970 is from the 7950. Wait for aftermarket coolers. Agreed on the GTX 670 being by far the best bang for the buck.
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#12
W1zzard
NihilusIt's not really just binning
amd said in their call "same wafer" "better binning"
Posted on Reply
#13
Nihilus
W1zzardamd said in their call "same wafer" "better binning"
Ok my mistake, guess I was just confused on the term 'binning'. Thought there were other differences on the board as well. So is the 7970 just a better "binned" 7950?
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#14
W1zzard
technically both are binned versions of the tahiti gpu. the gpus for all three boards (7950, 7970, 7970 ghz) are made in the same factory, on the same production line, from the same silicon, on the same wafers
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#15
damric
W1zzardtechnically both are binned versions of the tahiti gpu. the gpus for all three boards (7950, 7970, 7970 ghz) are made in the same factory, on the same production line, from the same silicon, on the same wafers
I'm guessing all the tart chips get sent to OEM? Or maybe a 7930 upcoming?
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#16
DarkOCean
damricI'm guessing all the tart chips get sent to OEM? Or maybe a 7930 upcoming?
There's no need for 7930 when 7870 exists.
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#17
sergionography
So now I'm confused, is this the Tahiti xt2 or just a ghz addition tahiti xt?
The tpu post the other day mentioned a new revision and lower voltage along with the higher clocks
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#18
W1zzard
sergionographySo now I'm confused, is this the Tahiti xt2 or just a ghz addition tahiti xt?
The tpu post the other day mentioned a new revision and lower voltage along with the higher clocks
i think that was speculation, or amd called the card internally tahiti xt2 or something.
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#19
Nordic
I'm glad to see a review. I am disappointed to not see the lower voltages though. I could handle the cooling of this card and it would be a beast for me. But then I could also get a regular 7970 for $50 less and overclock it close. Meh not worth it like I hoped it would be.
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#20
Over_Lord
News Editor
Man I was hoping for at least a 1100MHz Core.

This will be slower than already available factory overclocked cards.

Puff
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#21
hardcore_gamer
The small increase in power consumption over gtx680 is due to the amazing computing power the 7970 has.
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#22
amdftw
Yeah, The New King!
Oh wait the 7970 was the King always... Every 7970 can do 1050Mhz, even 1100Mhz or more.
See the Gpu clocks Tahiti has better clock to clock performance than Kepler, 7970 with 1050Mhz beat it, when the GTX680's boosted always 1060-1100Mhz.

So who switched from 7970 card which can handle 1050mhz or more to GTX680 is an (sorry) idiot...
Spend money that have a slower card...:banghead:
Posted on Reply
#23
Recus
amdftwYeah, The New King!
Oh wait the 7970 was the King always... Every 7970 can do 1050Mhz, even 1100Mhz or more.
See the Gpu clocks Tahiti has better clock to clock performance than Kepler, 7970 with 1050Mhz beat it, when the GTX680's boosted always 1060-1100Mhz.

So who switched from 7970 card which can handle 1050mhz or more to GTX680 is an (sorry) idiot...
Spend money that have a slower card...:banghead:
Yes, doc. "Huge" performance increase.

Posted on Reply
#24
Fairlady-z
How are the drivers now days? I had a pair of 7970's and it was a mess trying to run anything in CF.
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#25
Pandora's Box
The new 12.6 beta's and the 12.7 betas are a big step-up compared to the 12.4s apparently.
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