Wednesday, March 27th 2013

Reference-Design Radeon HD 7990 No Longer a Unicorn

In its GDC press-briefing on Tuesday, AMD previewed the reference-design Radeon HD 7990 dual-GPU graphics card. The company dragged its feet over such a product throughout 2012, and allowed its AIB partners to launch graphics cards with their own designs. Among the two that made it to the market were a PCS+ board by TUL, sold under the PowerColor, VTX3D, and Club3D brands, and the ASUS ROG ARES II. While those cards had different company codename, "New Zealand," the new HD 7990 is being referred to internally, as "Malta."

AMD's belated move to launch the Radeon HD 7990 reference design could reiterate the company's long-haul strategy with the Radeon HD 7000 series, which could sail the company through the crucial Summer sales season, over to Q4 2013, when the company is expected to launch its next GPU generation. AMD's reference design HD 7990 enjoys an edge over current market offerings: dual-slot thickness. It uses three 90 mm fans to cool a complex heatsink cooling the two GPUs, the bridge chip, and the VRM to feed them all. AMD didn't speak much about the card, but mentioned that its triple-fan approach is paying dividends. "It's whisper quiet," commented Matt Skynner, general manager of AMD's graphics business unit.
Source: PC World
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61 Comments on Reference-Design Radeon HD 7990 No Longer a Unicorn

#1
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
Many Thanks to Xzbit for the tip.
Posted on Reply
#2
Xzibit
Looks like the 7990 is coming along with some friends







AMD Delivers Unified Gaming Strategy at GDC 2013

RUBY is making a comeback
Ruby: Rebooted, Reborn, Reloaded
GDC also marked the 10th anniversary of the launch of the original iconic AMD "Ruby" demo. To celebrate this milestone, AMD unveiled a sneak peek of its remodeled and reinvented Ruby, which was designed and developed by IllFonic, and harnesses the power of Crytek's CryEngine® 3 development engine. The latest AMD "Ruby" demo is still under production and is designed to highlight real-world gaming possibilities of AMD Radeon graphics technology. It will be unveiled to the world in the coming weeks.
AMD Radeon™ Sky graphics
Posted on Reply
#3
EzioAs
"Whisper quiet" should be one of the main focus since the last gen dual-GPU Raden HD6990 was, well you know, "not quiet".
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#4
renz496
why now? i thought they gave up on making one last year. what improvement or advantage will it have over 7990 from AIB before this?
Posted on Reply
#5
Xzibit
renz496why now? i thought they gave up on making one last year. what improvement or advantage will it have over 7990 from AIB before this?
Its said to be faster then any of the previous New Zealand cards. ASUS Ares and PowerColors Devil

Maybe they pull a rabbit out of the hat and its the new GCN 1.1 or 2.0 what ever they want to call it.

All the write-ups coming out reference the new series to be out by Q4 2013. 7790 was the first of the bunch. Naming will be confusing for sure.
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#6
renz496
what exact core being use in this upcoming 7990?
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#8
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
The pics Xzbit posted show 2x 8-pin connectors.
Posted on Reply
#9
Xzibit
renz496what exact core being use in this upcoming 7990?
AMD hasnt disclosed it

Some articles are all over the place from Tahiti Pro, XT / XT2.

If you look at the card in the picture its a much smaller design then the previous ones. It looks just like the FirePro S10000 and if its suppose to be faster then the Asus Ares II and PowerColor Devil 13. It leads me to beleive there is a new chip under there.

AMD could just be messing with us and it's a FirePro S10000 :D
Posted on Reply
#10
SIGSEGV
XzibitSo it might be a new chip on there


in my opinion this "beast" card is indeed using a new chip
Posted on Reply
#11
Prima.Vera
Card looks interesting. Waiting for some reviews.
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#12
RCoon
Reminds me of my old Gigabyte GTX 570...
I am most tempted to get this card upon release, we'll see just how efficient it is and how much better it performs over two 7950's...
Posted on Reply
#13
HammerON
The Watchful Moderator
Interesting to say the least...
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#15
cdawall
where the hell are my stars
I want
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#16
Widjaja
Ah a sensible x2 8pin version.
Glad to see AMD finally releasing an official version.
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#17
Recus
They can't even make tech demo by self.
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#18
Animalpak
Good job AMD, hope to see nvidia doing the same
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#19
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
RecusThey can't even make tech demo by self.
Nor does NVIDIA. It contracts GCI studios.
Posted on Reply
#20
renz496
XzibitAMD hasnt disclosed it

Some articles are all over the place from Tahiti Pro, XT / XT2.

If you look at the card in the picture its a much smaller design then the previous ones. It looks just like the FirePro S10000 and if its suppose to be faster then the Asus Ares II and PowerColor Devil 13. It leads me to beleive there is a new chip under there.

AMD could just be messing with us and it's a FirePro S10000 :D
why not making new single gpu card if they're going to use new chip? single gpu cards are much easier to sell than dual gpu cards. also did the card using 2 8 pin? looking at power consumption improvement they come up with 7790 i was thinking they were able to make something that will match 7970 in CF under 300W
Posted on Reply
#21
Jacez
btarunrNor does NVIDIA. It contracts GCI studios.
Of course. Even major game development studios contract CGI studios to create trailers for them.

Practically every "realistic" CGI trailer (as in, not made with the game's engine) has been created by a different company.
Posted on Reply
#22
Xzibit
Battlefield 4 was demoed using a 7990

Battlefield 4: Official 17 Minutes "Fishing in Baku" Gameplay Reveal
AMD and EA DICE are proud partners in gaming, with a recent history that includes the award-winning Battlefield 3 in 2011. That relationship continues today with the world’s first public demonstration of Battlefield 4, powered by the AMD Radeon™ HD 7990—the world’s fastest graphics card! Today’s unveiling not only demonstrates the commitment EA DICE makes to state-of-the-art PC graphics, it stands as further proof that the critically-acclaimed Graphics Core Next architecture in the AMD Radeon™ HD 7000 Series is the best choice for truly advanced PC games. www.battlefield.com/
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#23
douglatins
Yeah i really want 400w of heat expelled inside my case
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#24
cadaveca
My name is Dave
douglatinsYeah i really want 400w of heat expelled inside my case
Shush. I have 2x7970 and a 7950. 400W is minor, really. I bloody well want this card.

But, I want many things.
Posted on Reply
#25
DRDNA
from the looks of it I will need a full tower to house that baby and then maybe hacksaw too.
Posted on Reply
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