Friday, November 25th 2016

AMD Readies Radeon RX 490 for December?

A spectacular rumor doing rounds has AMD sign 2016 off with a new high-end graphics card launch. The company could launch the Radeon RX 490 by the end of the year, according to an Guru3D report. This SKU could either be based on the larger Vega 10 silicon, or be a dual-GPU on a stick graphics card based on a pair of Polaris 10 "Ellesmere" chips. The former seems more likely as multi-GPU support among recent AAA game launches is dwindling. Earlier this year, AMD inadvertently leaked the SKU name Radeon RX 490 on its website.

If the Radeon RX 490 is based on the Vega 10, then it could feature 4,096 stream processors based on the "Vega" architecture, 256 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and a 4096-bit HBM2 memory interface, holding 8 GB or 16 GB of memory, with a memory bandwidth of 512 GB/s. If instead it is a dual-GPU card based on Polaris 10, then you could be looking at 2x 2,304 stream processors, and 16 GB of GDDR5 memory across two 256-bit wide memory interfaces.
Source: Guru3D
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112 Comments on AMD Readies Radeon RX 490 for December?

#51
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
Dbiggs9Google and Alli would not have agreements with them if they didn't have something to offer, 2 years ago was a great time to buy, but even at this price it's still good if you buying for 2018-2020 earning. I set a price target of about $25 by 3Q2017
AMD was desperate, Google and Alli probably got a great deal out of the situation which limits profits. I think there is too much uncertainty to say that $25 is realistic by Q3 2017.
Posted on Reply
#52
Dbiggs9
AquinusAMD was desperate, Google and Alli probably got a great deal out of the situation which limits profits. I think there is too much uncertainty to say that $25 is realistic by Q3 2017.
Time will tell
Posted on Reply
#53
Deadlyraver
When will AMD just think "Ok, dual core is a bad idea, lets just stuff as many bloody transistors as possible"?
Posted on Reply
#54
efikkan
AMD have already stated that Vega will arrive in 2017.

A dual Polaris 10 would have to be cheap to even "compete" with Nvidia. The average performance will be closer to GTX 1070 than GTX 1080, even with all the other disadvantages of multi-GPU.
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#55
HD64G
Me thinks that a dual Polaris 10 GPU is a no-no for now. So, most possibly, the RX490 will be a cut-down version of Vega 10 with GDDR5X or HBM2 with 8GB RAM to compete and win 1070 on DX11 and be close to 1080 on DX12/Vulcan with a 1070 price. And in 2 months the full Vega 10 will come out. And a few months later a 485 and 475 with a Polaris 10, 1500+ MHz and lower TDPs to sweep the floor with the 1060s. That's the only logical plan imho. Dual GPUs are for late 2017 or later with most AAA games utilising DX12 or Vulcan.
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#57
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
horsemama1956Couldn't they slap another 4GB on a Fury X?
HBM1 only could do 1GB stacks. They can't simply "slap another 4GB on." That would require HBM2 and while they're at it, they might as well shrink it.
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#58
Camm
AquinusThat depends on a lot. nVidia has different problems than AMD. Also, I wouldn't say nVidia's mobile stuff has "taken off." :p
The three majors all have issues atm.

Intel is having a shit of a time driving into the SOC space due to power and GPU limitations. CPU sales are also slowing due to a lack of improvement between generations pushing out refreshes.

Nvidia is having a shit of a time driving into the SOC space due to power limitations, no x86 ability, and poor ARM performance. Not to mention Pascal is obviously an end of line architecture, so it'll be interesting to see Nvidia can adapt faster than AMD's architectural advantage becomes more apparent to the marketplace over time.

AMD is having a shit of a time because its AMD :P. Conversely though, it also has the easiest path forward as it has decent GPU stock, Zen may fix a decent chunk of its CPU issues, and has quite a few years of SOC development under its belt. If I held (especially Nvidia stocks) atm, I would probably be planning on shorting them, as I think they are pretty overvalued atm, and with a shit 2 years+ of reorientating to market.
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#59
Ungari
CammThe three majors all have issues atm.

Intel is having a shit of a time driving into the SOC space due to power and GPU limitations. CPU sales are also slowing due to a lack of improvement between generations pushing out refreshes.

Nvidia is having a shit of a time driving into the SOC space due to power limitations, no x86 ability, and poor ARM performance. Not to mention Pascal is obviously an end of line architecture, so it'll be interesting to see Nvidia can adapt faster than AMD's architectural advantage becomes more apparent to the marketplace over time.

AMD is having a shit of a time because its AMD :p. Conversely though, it also has the easiest path forward as it has decent GPU stock, Zen may fix a decent chunk of its CPU issues, and has quite a few years of SOC development under its belt. If I held (especially Nvidia stocks) atm, I would probably be planning on shorting them, as I think they are pretty overvalued atm, and with a shit 2 years+ of reorientating to market.
That's a shit ton of reasons...
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#60
johnspack
Here For Good!
Please let it compete with the 1080... I don't want to be stuck with this 970 forever.... over 800can delivered for a 1070 doesn't cut it for me.
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#61
HD64G
horsemama1956Couldn't they slap another 4GB on a Fury X?
To do what? Get a much more expensive to produce (since it will need to have HBM2 VRAM on it) GPU that will win over RX480 for 15% only? They need competitors to 1070 and 1080, even for 1080Ti that is coming soon.
Posted on Reply
#62
Vayra86
AquinusThat depends on a lot. nVidia has different problems than AMD. Also, I wouldn't say nVidia's mobile stuff has "taken off." :p
But it has. They developed Tegra and while that wasn't doing much for that, they're now the frontline for the automotive computing stuff with Drive PX. Thats about as mobile as you can get really. Their mobile SoC design is definitely paying off for them, just in a different way. Nvidia is really using its tech in every possible way and they are still a very streamlined company. All their technology is used and repurposed in almost every business unit.
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#63
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
Vayra86But it has. They developed Tegra and while that wasn't doing much for that, they're now the frontline for the automotive computing stuff with Drive PX. Thats about as mobile as you can get really. Their mobile SoC design is definitely paying off for them, just in a different way. Nvidia is really using its tech in every possible way and they are still a very streamlined company. All their technology is used and repurposed in almost every business unit.
Except anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that if you're going to be buying an ARM device, Tegra probably isn't the way to go if you care about anything other than graphics performance. My wife had a Tegra tablet and while it was okay, it could run very hot, used a lot of battery and, eventually failed. Are they getting better, sure. Are they still mediocre by comparing other options? Yeah...
Posted on Reply
#64
Vayra86
AquinusExcept anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that if you're going to be buying an ARM device, Tegra probably isn't the way to go if you care about anything other than graphics performance. My wife had a Tegra tablet and while it was okay, it could run very hot, used a lot of battery and, eventually failed. Are they getting better, sure. Are they still mediocre by comparing other options? Yeah...
Except when its an ARM device that is not a mobile phone. Look at Nvidia SHIELD for example, its still the best Android TV box you can get.

Don't forget that devices are diversifying in a BIG way, not just with Shield or Drive PX, but also IoT. The form factor is not just that of a mobile phone.
Posted on Reply
#65
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
Vayra86Except when its an ARM device that is not a mobile phone. Look at Nvidia SHIELD for example, its still the best Android TV box you can get.

Don't forget that devices are diversifying in a BIG way, not just with Shield or Drive PX, but also IoT. The form factor is not just that of a mobile phone.
I just said my wife's Tegra tablet was garbage. Since the SHIELD took off. :laugh:

Did nVidia hire you to say this shit or do you actually believe this?
Posted on Reply
#66
Vayra86
AquinusI just said my wife's Tegra tablet was garbage. Since the SHIELD took off. :laugh:

Did nVidia hire you to say this shit or do you actually believe this?
No, I've had several Tegra's and the first one was pretty crappy indeed (LG Optimus 2X, Tegra 1), but the more recent ones I'm really liking a lot and the SHIELD is a good example of Tegra done right. But do tell, because your wife had a shit Tegra tablet, everything Tegra is crap? Who's hiring you? You've got an N=1 example of Tegra and its not even first hand.

You will find if you read most of my comments on hardware that I say things because I used the hardware for a time, not because I've read some article somewhere and feel like copy pasting the internets.
Posted on Reply
#67
Camm
Vayra86No, I've had several Tegra's and the first one was pretty crappy indeed (LG Optimus 2X, Tegra 1), but the more recent ones I'm really liking a lot and the SHIELD is a good example of Tegra done right. But do tell, because your wife had a shit Tegra tablet, everything Tegra is crap? Who's hiring you? You've got an N=1 example of Tegra and its not even first hand.

You will find if you read most of my comments on hardware that I say things because I used the hardware for a time, not because I've read some article somewhere and feel like copy pasting the internets.
Be honest, no one has picked up Drive PX yet. Sure, I'll call it a win if it comes to market, but Nvidia is far from the only player in this space, and neither do I think it has any kind of commanding lead.

As for its Tegra chips, they are buckets of junk. Slow CPU performance, and high power usage. The Shield TV unit being the exception, but mostly because its A: AC driven at that point (so no power usage worries) and in a large enough form factor to dissipate its heat. For the price though, its going against Xbox One's and PS4's for pete's sake though which trounce it. So I'm not even sure you can call THAT a win either.
Posted on Reply
#68
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
Tegra 3 didn't get much better which is what my experience is from. When all of your ARM devices have worked fine for a long time but, the only one to run hot, have bad battery life, and fail was a Tegra, you're right. I do think that's a sign. Once again, it's not like the SHIELD took off and you're making it sound like it's be best thing since sliced bread when it's not.
Vayra86Who's hiring you?
Reliability and my wallet. You don't make me feel better if you think Tegra 3 was supposed to be an improvement considering my experience with it. Simply put, it's not mobile friendly and if your only argument is that it works well when you plug it in then, that's not a sign of a good ARM device and I'm amused that you think it is.
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#69
cdawall
where the hell are my stars
I have never actually met someone who purchased a shield. Most people either use their smart TV or chrome cast.
Posted on Reply
#70
thesmokingman
cdawallI have never actually met someone who purchased a shield. Most people either use their smart TV or chrome cast.
Got my son a shield tab for his bday, it is great as a gaming tab esp with the controller. It beats my tab s2 in that respect easily. The tab s2 is a better tab all around though but for specific gaming, the shield is better.
Posted on Reply
#71
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
thesmokingmanGot my son a shield tab for his bday, it is great as a gaming tab esp with the controller. It beats my tab s2 in that respect easily. The tab s2 is a better tab all around though but for specific gaming, the shield is better.
Sure but, I think that's mainly because of nVidia's IP with respect to graphics though. I'm not saying that it's bad for people who are gaming, I'm saying that in general for a general purpose mobile device, it could stand some improvement.
Posted on Reply
#72
cdawall
where the hell are my stars
thesmokingmanGot my son a shield tab for his bday, it is great as a gaming tab esp with the controller. It beats my tab s2 in that respect easily. The tab s2 is a better tab all around though but for specific gaming, the shield is better.
That's still a tablet not stupid TV box thing
Posted on Reply
#73
thesmokingman
cdawallThat's still a tablet not stupid TV box thing
Isn't nvidias stupid tv box thing the best tv box thing made? I dun get it, what is the point here or is it just to bash the tegra time?
AquinusSure but, I think that's mainly because of nVidia's IP with respect to graphics though. I'm not saying that it's bad for people who are gaming, I'm saying that in general for a general purpose mobile device, it could stand some improvement.
This sort highlights the vast difference between nv or amd gfx ip vs the existing mobile players though. If nv's old arse kepler ip is this much better than the current players lol, imagine if not only nv but amd also attacked this space. Personally I'd love to see amd release some product instead of just tease us.
Posted on Reply
#74
cdawall
where the hell are my stars
thesmokingmanIsn't nvidias stupid tv box thing the best tv box thing made? I dun get it, what is the point here or is it just to bash the tegra time?
For the price? No you can get a PS4/XBOX, which mops the floor with it.
Posted on Reply
#75
Aquinus
Resident Wat-man
thesmokingmanThis sort highlights the vast difference between nv or amd gfx ip vs the existing mobile players though. If nv's old arse kepler ip is this much better than the current players lol, imagine if not only nv but amd also attacked this space. Personally I'd love to see amd release some product instead of just tease us.
It would definitely be interesting. We already know that AMD has ARM SoCs but, they were made to target servers. It would be interesting to see them attempt to push into this market but, I suspect the capital isn't there. I also suspect that AMD would have similar problems as nVidia though because these kinds of ICs make heat and use power. Unfortunately the reality with mobile devices is that power consumption and heat are huge considerations unlike a solution that's plugged in or has a relatively large battery.
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