Wednesday, August 18th 2021
AMD Radeon RX 7000 Series to Include 6nm Optical-Shrinks of RDNA2
AMD's upcoming Radeon RX 7000 series could include GPUs from both the RDNA3 and RDNA2 graphics architectures, according to reliable sources on social media. This theory holds that the company could introduce new 5 nm GPUs based on the new RDNA3 architecture for the higher end, namely the Navi 31 and Navi 32; while giving the current-gen RDNA2 architecture a new lease of life in the lower segments. This isn't, however, a simple rebrand.
Apparently, some existing Navi 2x series chips will receive an optical shrink to the 6 nm node, in a bid to improve their performance/Watt. Some of the performance/Watt improvement could be used to increase engine clocks. These include the Navi 22, with its 40 RDNA2 compute units and 192-bit GDDR6 memory bus; and the Navi 23, with its 32 RDNA2 compute units and 128-bit GDDR6 memory bus. The updated Navi 22 will power the SKU that succeeds the current RX 6600 XT, while the updated Navi 23 works the lower-mainstream SKU RX x500-class.
It's also conceivable that AMD uses the opportunity to update the display and media-acceleration components of the chips, as it's been doing with the latest applications of "Vega," such as the iGPU inside Ryzen 5000G processors. RDNA3, meanwhile, will likely power the two largest chips, the 5 nm "Navi 31" and the "Navi 32," which will be at the hearts of SKUs that succeed the RX 6900/6800 series, and the RX 6700 series.
Sources:
Greymon55 (Twitter), VideoCardz
Apparently, some existing Navi 2x series chips will receive an optical shrink to the 6 nm node, in a bid to improve their performance/Watt. Some of the performance/Watt improvement could be used to increase engine clocks. These include the Navi 22, with its 40 RDNA2 compute units and 192-bit GDDR6 memory bus; and the Navi 23, with its 32 RDNA2 compute units and 128-bit GDDR6 memory bus. The updated Navi 22 will power the SKU that succeeds the current RX 6600 XT, while the updated Navi 23 works the lower-mainstream SKU RX x500-class.
34 Comments on AMD Radeon RX 7000 Series to Include 6nm Optical-Shrinks of RDNA2
Coming from the kings of rebrand....yeah we'll believe it when we see it
TSMC's 6nm node seems cool.
I wonder what other GPUs could be made there.
If only i could have my crystal ball... or beaker or cauldron... or potions or mystical components to make a special way to see things...
This may not exactly be a significant die shrink.
edit-- meant that in reference to the RDNA2 cards..
So AMD's response for future products?
Have moar of the same at the low end, improve the high end once again. You can't make this stuff up. All they need to do is increase prices and they'll doing their very best nvidia cosplay.
If anything, it was a rebranded 8800 GTS 512, but even that is not true. 8800 GTS 512 used a fully activated G92, which was a shrink of G80 from 80nm to 65nm with a more modern VP, but 256 instad of 384 Bit SI. With a higher core clock, 8800 GTS 512 was an Update of 8800 GTX and 8800 Ultra, but not quite, since the lower memory bandwith an smaller VRAM were bottlenecks in high resulutions with eyecandy. 8800 GTS used the same PCB as 8800 GT, which had one SU deactivated an lower clockrates, but was much faster than 8800 GTS 640.
9800 GTX wasn't a straight rebrand either, since it got a much bigger, beefier PCB with 2x6-Pin PCIe-Power and a bigger cooler and faster VRAM, but only modestly more core clock (OC potential was much better though). It also had Nvidia HybridPower to turn off the dGPU on a nForce-Board with iGPU.
9800 GTX+ was a shrink to 55nm with much better core clock @stock and by OCing and 1GB VRAM as standard.
250 GTS was not a direct rebrand either, it again had a new, smaller PCB with 1x6-Pin and a cooler looking similar to 8800 GTS 512 (but with a different heatsink) and replaced HybridPower with the ability to reduce clockrates and voltages.
I know that was still dissapointingly small progress in GPU-power between 8800 GTX and GTX 280, but Nvidia always (had to) adjust the prices accordingly, because this was one the most price-competetive phases of GPU-history.
9800GT was a direct rebrand of 8800GT, most SKU were identical, only later they were shrunk to 55nm and more often got 1GB VRAM, too.
Regardless of being either or, it's end performance is that of a an overclocked 8800 GTX.
I forgot the X at the end.. I used to own the 9800 GTX+
I think it's an OK move.
They did this with the HD 5000->HD6000 series
They did this with the HD 7000 -> R200 series
Now they're doing it with the RX 6000->RX7000 series.
If history is any indication Nvidia is going to come out swinging with RTX 4000 and drive AMD back into being the budget brand....again.
Also, if the current market trends continue, there is no such thing as a budget brand.
In any case, it is not uncommon for lower end cards to get this treatment since they are low in profit margin. Main buyers are less particular about not getting cutting edge performance. At the end of the day, if the card performs faster than its predecessor at the same price range, I think it is still a good upgrade.
Ellesmere was rebadged 3x.
That to be seen.