Sunday, May 24th 2020

AMD RDNA2 "Navi 21" GPU to Double CU Count Over "Navi 10"

AMD's RDNA2 graphics architecture, which sees real-time ray-tracing among other DirectX 12 Ultimate features, could see the company double the amount of stream processors generation-over-generation, according to a specs leak by _rogame. The increase in stream processors would fall in line with AMD's effort to increase performance/Watt by 50%. It may appear like the resulting SKUs finally measure up to the likes of the RTX 2080 Ti, but AMD has GeForce "Ampere" in its competitive calculus, and should the recent specs reveal hold up, the new "Navi 21" could end up being a performance-segment competitor to GeForce graphics cards based on the "GA104" ("TU104" successor), rather than a flagship-killer.

The RDNA2-based "Navi 21" GPU allegedly features 80 RDNA2 compute units amounting to 5,120 stream processors. AMD might tap into a refined 7 nm-class silicon fabrication node by TSMC to build these chips, either N7P or N7+. The die-size could measure up to 505 mm², and AMD could aim for a 50% performance/Watt gain over the "Navi 10." AMD could carve out as many as 10 SKUs out of the "Navi 21," but only three are relevant to the gamers. The SKU with the PCI device ID "0x731F: D1" succeeds the RX 5700 XT. The one bearing "0x731F: D3" succeeds the RX 5700, with a variant name "Navi 21 XL." The "Navi 21 XE" variant has a PCI ID of "0x731F: DF," and succeeds the RX 5600 XT.
Among the other variants are the "Navi 21 XTX," with PCI ID "0x731F: D0," which could be a limited edition SKU succeeding the slightly beefed up RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary Edition; the Navi 21 Pro XT and Navi 21 Pro XL with PCI IDs "0x731F:10" and "0x731F:12," marking Radeon Pro W5700X and W5700 successors, respectively. There are also four Apple-exclusive SKUs, the "Navi 21 XTA" and "Navi 21 XLA" client-segment chips targeting next-generation iMac and iMac Pro desktops, and their Pro variants targeting future Mac Pro workstations.

The first-gen RDNA may not ride into the sunset, as AMD is planning to refresh them. The company is probably porting the "Navi 10" silicon to TSMC N7P, to come up with new mainstream SKUs that lack ray-tracing, but will occupy mid-range price-points. This would be similar to NVIDIA positioning half its "Turing" product-stack without ray-tracing, under the GTX 16-series, occupying sub-$300 price-points. The resulting ASICs are the "Navi 10+," "Navi 10 XM+," and "Navi 10 XTE+."
Source: Hardware Leaks (by _rogame)
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51 Comments on AMD RDNA2 "Navi 21" GPU to Double CU Count Over "Navi 10"

#1
Darmok N Jalad
There’s a lot of coincidental “:D“ in this OP. Maybe that’s a good sign for the future.
Posted on Reply
#2
Hotobu
Darmok N JaladThere’s a lot of coincidental “:D“ in this OP. Maybe that’s a good sign for the future.
Sokath, his eyes uncovered!
Posted on Reply
#3
windwhirl
btarunr must be having a really good day, being all smiles like that :laugh:

Maybe this could be a good replacement, provided it is available in most common fonts, but whatever font we are using as default for forum posts shows it fine. It looks identical to me and doesn't make emoticons.

꞉ ꞉D
: :D


That said, TPU's main site doesn't show emoticons, so it's just a forum problem (or unexpected result)
Posted on Reply
#4
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
Fixed :D
Posted on Reply
#5
Darmok N Jalad
btarunrFixed :D
Oh sure, now my post makes no sense!:twitch:
Posted on Reply
#6
TheoneandonlyMrK
These won't succeed Navi 10 Navi 10+ will, these will obviously succeed Radeon VII but definitely the high down to mid.
I would expect higher prices that the 5700Xt special for the higher one's.
Posted on Reply
#7
cellar door
Lots of "could" in this. AMD "could" this and "could" that.

They also "could" this and "could" that. Maybe they "could" and "could" that as well. There is nothing of value in these reprinted speculations that have nothing concrete to back them up.
Posted on Reply
#8
holyprof
Nothing in the current, or near future AMD or Nvidia gaming GPUs are convincing me to replace my 1080. It also runs fast enough for my video editing and encoding needs.

Come on, Lisa and Huang, make something that will be worth my attention! Not the energy sucking 5700XT or the gimmicky RT of Nvidia's current GPUs. Shall I give my next GPU money to Intel???
Posted on Reply
#9
Manoa
cellar doorreprinted speculations that have nothing concrete to back them up.
doesn't mater, if it the true is still too littel and too late, 500mm, nvidea makes a 800mm, once again nvidea will bether. AMD always try to make smalls, it was with 5700 and if this true they do small again.
Posted on Reply
#10
Master Tom
I have the Vega 64 Liquid Cooling, which runs good and I want the Big Navi.
Posted on Reply
#11
xkm1948
WIll there be usable driver at launch is a bigger question now.
Posted on Reply
#12
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
Darmok N JaladOh sure, now my post makes no sense!:twitch:
Darmok, his joke ruined.
Posted on Reply
#13
1d10t
I can smell XFX will launch these with their SKU " XFX Navi 21XTX XXX Xdition THICC THIGGH BOUNCC"
Posted on Reply
#14
Caring1
1d10tI can smell XFX will launch these with their SKU " XFX Navi 21XTX XXX Xdition THICC THIGGH BOUNCC"
Aint nobody wanna see that.
Posted on Reply
#15
windwhirl
1d10tI can smell XFX will launch these with their SKU " XFX Navi 21XTX XXX Xdition THICC THIGGH BOUNCC"
Dammit, now I can't stop thinking about it :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#16
Gmr_Chick
^ XFX's "Double D" is still the best though :roll:
Posted on Reply
#17
ZoneDymo
I never understand stuff like this, double the streaming processors....ok? is that impressive?
I mean why not do 4 times the streaming processors while we are at it?

Is there any reason why we stop at double? and technical reason? or is it just financial, not giving people all they could have right ffing now?

Like I just dont get that if just more streaming processors is so important, why doesnt AMD just make a 2000 dollar gpu with all the streaming processors in the world and take the performance crown?
Posted on Reply
#18
Unregistered
holyprofNothing in the current, or near future AMD or Nvidia gaming GPUs are convincing me to replace my 1080. It also runs fast enough for my video editing and encoding needs.

Come on, Lisa and Huang, make something that will be worth my attention! Not the energy sucking 5700XT or the gimmicky RT of Nvidia's current GPUs. Shall I give my next GPU money to Intel???
Can't agree more, someone with a 1080ti doesn't have any reason to upgrade, Navi makes sense for people just needing something new, Turing is just too overpriced the 2070s should be priced at least 100$ less to make sense.
#19
ARF
ZoneDymoI never understand stuff like this, double the streaming processors....ok? is that impressive?
I mean why not do 4 times the streaming processors while we are at it?

Is there any reason why we stop at double? and technical reason? or is it just financial, not giving people all they could have right ffing now?

Like I just dont get that if just more streaming processors is so important, why doesnt AMD just make a 2000 dollar gpu with all the streaming processors in the world and take the performance crown?
If you look at the block architecture diagram of Navi, you will see that it has 20 dual 128-shader compute units.

4 times the shaders would mean 40 256-shader compute units or 80 128-shader compute units which is not possible on this process node since the die would become prohibitively large.
holyprofNothing in the current, or near future AMD or Nvidia gaming GPUs are convincing me to replace my 1080. It also runs fast enough for my video editing and encoding needs.

Come on, Lisa and Huang, make something that will be worth my attention! Not the energy sucking 5700XT or the gimmicky RT of Nvidia's current GPUs. Shall I give my next GPU money to Intel???
Except than Navi 21 will be at least 100% faster than your GTX 1080.
Posted on Reply
#20
GeorgeMan
ARFExcept than Navi 21 will be at least 100% faster than your GTX 1080.
I'll consider upgrading if anything is 100% faster than my oc'ed 1080 Ti and doesn't cost twice as much as my 1080 Ti when new.
Maybe I'll manage to hold for a couple of years more, maybe not. :D
Posted on Reply
#21
my_name_is_earl
Congrats AMD, finally be able to beat the 1080TI. [rolleye]
Posted on Reply
#22
BoboOOZ
ZoneDymoIs there any reason why we stop at double? and technical reason? or is it just financial, not giving people all they could have right ffing now?
Yeah, it's physics: die size and thermal power dissipation limits. 80 CU's means about 500mm² die size. 160 could not fit on a single GPU die with the current 7nm resolution. Also, it would suck 400Watts at least.
Posted on Reply
#23
ARF
my_name_is_earlCongrats AMD, finally be able to beat the 1080TI. [rolleye]
Better late than never. Like other 3D graphics companies that no longer make any new GPUs :(

They made so many mistakes during the years. Fury X with 4 GB, Vega 64 with compute oriented architecture, RX 5700 XT that competes in the mid-range segment.
Left CrossFire support, have problems with RX 5700 XT's driver stability....
Posted on Reply
#24
ratirt
ARFRX 5700 XT that competes in the mid-range segment
That is not a mistake. It was never meant to compete anywhere else than upper mid range.
Do you have problems with your RX 5700XT's and AMD driver stability? Because I don't have any problems with my 5600XT nor AMD drivers stability so I'm curious.
Posted on Reply
#25
BoboOOZ
Indeed, it's not a mistake, it's where most of the money is. Top-end cards have very high margins, but the volume is very small. AMD is attacking the bigger segments of the market first.
Posted on Reply
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