• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

AMD Preparing Radeon HD 5950 for Q1 2010?

btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Messages
47,300 (7.52/day)
Location
Hyderabad, India
System Name RBMK-1000
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
Motherboard ASUS ROG Strix B450-E Gaming
Cooling DeepCool Gammax L240 V2
Memory 2x 8GB G.Skill Sniper X
Video Card(s) Palit GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER GameRock
Storage Western Digital Black NVMe 512GB
Display(s) BenQ 1440p 60 Hz 27-inch
Case Corsair Carbide 100R
Audio Device(s) ASUS SupremeFX S1220A
Power Supply Cooler Master MWE Gold 650W
Mouse ASUS ROG Strix Impact
Keyboard Gamdias Hermes E2
Software Windows 11 Pro
Close to two weeks after launching the industry's fastest graphics card with the Radeon HD 5970 2 GB, it looks like AMD will back the release with another high-end graphics card in Q1 2010, ideally to stack up a lineup against NVIDIA's performance DirectX 11 offerings that are slated for around the same time. The new release comes in the form of Radeon HD 5950, aimed to occupy the gap between the Radeon HD 5870 and Radeon HD 5970.

The Radeon HD 5950 will retain the design methodology of the HD 5970. It will use two AMD Cypress GPUs with the same configuration Radeon HD 5850 uses. It has 1440 stream processors enabled per GPU, 72 TMUs and 32 ROPs enabled, and 256-bit wide GDDR5 memory interfaces per GPU probably to hold 2 GB of total memory. Just as the dual-GPU HD 5970 uses lower clock speeds compared to the single-GPU HD 5870 that uses the same GPU, HD 5950 keeps up with the trend. It is expected to have its core clocked between 650~675 MHz, and memory at 900~1000 MHz (3.60 GHz to 4.00 GHz effective).

View at TechPowerUp Main Site
 

btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 9, 2007
Messages
47,300 (7.52/day)
Location
Hyderabad, India
System Name RBMK-1000
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
Motherboard ASUS ROG Strix B450-E Gaming
Cooling DeepCool Gammax L240 V2
Memory 2x 8GB G.Skill Sniper X
Video Card(s) Palit GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER GameRock
Storage Western Digital Black NVMe 512GB
Display(s) BenQ 1440p 60 Hz 27-inch
Case Corsair Carbide 100R
Audio Device(s) ASUS SupremeFX S1220A
Power Supply Cooler Master MWE Gold 650W
Mouse ASUS ROG Strix Impact
Keyboard Gamdias Hermes E2
Software Windows 11 Pro
Many Thanks to [IRA]_FBI for sending this in.
 
Joined
Feb 8, 2008
Messages
2,667 (0.43/day)
Location
Switzerland
Processor i9 9900KS ( 5 Ghz all the time )
Motherboard Asus Maximus XI Hero Z390
Cooling EK Velocity + EK D5 pump + Alphacool full copper silver 360mm radiator
Memory 16GB Corsair Dominator GT ROG Edition 3333 Mhz
Video Card(s) ASUS TUF RTX 3080 Ti 12GB OC
Storage M.2 Samsung NVMe 970 Evo Plus 250 GB + 1TB 970 Evo Plus
Display(s) Asus PG279 IPS 1440p 165Hz G-sync
Case Cooler Master H500
Power Supply Asus ROG Thor 850W
Mouse Razer Deathadder Chroma
Keyboard Rapoo
Software Win 10 64 Bit
Well the story repeats... New high end dual GPU, new mid end dual GPU from Ati...


I bet will be the same with Nvidia, new single GPU and new dual GPU. They are doing what they did last year.
 

OnBoard

New Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2006
Messages
3,033 (0.45/day)
Location
Finland
Processor Core i5-750 @ 3.6GHz 1.136V 24/7
Motherboard Gigabyte P55A-UD3, SATA 6Gbit/s & USB3.0 baby!
Cooling Alpenföhn Brocken HeatpipeDirectTouch
Memory Geil Ultra Series 4GB 2133MHz DDR3 @ 1440MHz 7-7-7-24
Video Card(s) Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB OC (mostly stock speeds)
Storage OS: Samsung F3 500GB Games: Samsung F1 640GB
Display(s) new! Samsung P2350 23" FullHD 2ms / Mirai DTL-632E500 32" LCD
Case new! Xigmatek Midgard/Utgard side window with red cathodes, 1x140mm & 3x120mm fans
Audio Device(s) new! ASUS Xonar DG & JVC HA-RX700 headphones
Power Supply Cougar CM 700W Modular
Software Windows 7 Home Premium x64
Benchmark Scores Logitech UltraX Premium & G5 laser v2 + Ulti-mat Breathe X2 for fragging
I just don't get why didn't they release this when Fermi comes and 5970 if 5950 is beaten by something?

Would help with the 5870 shortage + more promotion to ATI and spoiling NVIDIA launch :)
 
Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
355 (0.06/day)
Location
Brazil - São Paulo
System Name "I2I3 Overclocking Team"
Processor Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2
Motherboard ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO
Cooling Stoock
Memory G.SKILLl Ripjaws 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600
Video Card(s) Geforce 9800gx2 EVGA
Storage Sansung 500GB
Display(s) LG
Case Box motherboard
Software Windows 7
Benchmark Scores Hunt3r
I just don't get why didn't they release this when Fermi comes and 5970 if 5950 is beaten by something?

Would help with the 5870 shortage + more promotion to ATI and spoiling NVIDIA launch :)

I think it's fear of losing to Nvidia
 
Joined
Jul 26, 2007
Messages
582 (0.09/day)
Location
Melbourne, Australia
System Name What the Sigma
Processor i7 7700
Motherboard Gigabyte H170-HD3
Cooling LGA1151 Noctua NH-U12P
Memory 32GB Kingston DDR4 3600 CL15
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Vision OC RTX 3080ti 12GB
Storage 2GB Lexar Gen3 NVME / 1x 120GB Intel 520 / and some spinny bois
Display(s) 3x DELL S2721DGF
Case Antec P182
Power Supply Corsair 750w
VR HMD Oculus Quest 3
Software Windows 10
I think if this shortage keeps up, ATi are going to lose many potential customers wanting new gfx around Christmas to the green team.
This shortage sucks lemons :mad:
 

OnBoard

New Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2006
Messages
3,033 (0.45/day)
Location
Finland
Processor Core i5-750 @ 3.6GHz 1.136V 24/7
Motherboard Gigabyte P55A-UD3, SATA 6Gbit/s & USB3.0 baby!
Cooling Alpenföhn Brocken HeatpipeDirectTouch
Memory Geil Ultra Series 4GB 2133MHz DDR3 @ 1440MHz 7-7-7-24
Video Card(s) Gigabyte GTX 460 1GB OC (mostly stock speeds)
Storage OS: Samsung F3 500GB Games: Samsung F1 640GB
Display(s) new! Samsung P2350 23" FullHD 2ms / Mirai DTL-632E500 32" LCD
Case new! Xigmatek Midgard/Utgard side window with red cathodes, 1x140mm & 3x120mm fans
Audio Device(s) new! ASUS Xonar DG & JVC HA-RX700 headphones
Power Supply Cougar CM 700W Modular
Software Windows 7 Home Premium x64
Benchmark Scores Logitech UltraX Premium & G5 laser v2 + Ulti-mat Breathe X2 for fragging
I think it's fear of losing to Nvidia

Or they wanted the performance crown over GTX 295 now, as 5870 wasn't enough. But 5950 would have done it too.

4 cards in such short period is making them compete with them selves. What's left for the rest of 2010, 5890 & 5990 monster?

Oh but I almost forgot, the ATI price drop™. Come next year everything that loses in performance will drop in price. Now they had couple months to milk some money :)
 
Joined
Oct 1, 2006
Messages
4,934 (0.74/day)
Location
Hong Kong
Processor Core i7-12700k
Motherboard Z690 Aero G D4
Cooling Custom loop water, 3x 420 Rad
Video Card(s) RX 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming
Storage Plextor M10P 2TB
Display(s) InnoCN 27M2V
Case Thermaltake Level 20 XT
Audio Device(s) Soundblaster AE-5 Plus
Power Supply FSP Aurum PT 1200W
Software Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
I think if this shortage keeps up, ATi are going to lose many potential customers wanting new gfx around Christmas to the green team.
This shortage sucks lemons :mad:
That will require some TSMC bashing. :respect:
 

wolf

Better Than Native
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
8,246 (1.28/day)
System Name MightyX
Processor Ryzen 9800X3D
Motherboard Gigabyte X650I AX
Cooling Scythe Fuma 2
Memory 32GB DDR5 6000 CL30
Video Card(s) Asus TUF RTX3080 Deshrouded
Storage WD Black SN850X 2TB
Display(s) LG 42C2 4K OLED
Case Coolermaster NR200P
Audio Device(s) LG SN5Y / Focal Clear
Power Supply Corsair SF750 Platinum
Mouse Corsair Dark Core RBG Pro SE
Keyboard Glorious GMMK Compact w/pudding
VR HMD Meta Quest 3
Software case populated with Artic P12's
Benchmark Scores 4k120 OLED Gsync bliss
I find it really annoying that 58xx cards don't match up to 59xx cards, in fact very disappointing.

a 5970 should be clocked like two 5870's for easy trifire combo's, with a slightly more aggressive fan profile

and a 5950 should be clocked (and disables sp's) like two 5850's for easier combo's.

It was like that with a 4870X2 and a 4850X2, why can't it be the same now, the numbers wouldn't be so freaking crazy if they at least matched up.

48701gb+4870X2 was a perfect trifire combo, all GPU's and memory clocked the same, this series is an utter mess IMO.

now they've come up with 5750, 5770, 5850, 5870, 5950, 5970 and if you don't know whats what your in trouble, and who knows what combination's will even work, or if they work, work well.

I assume you can Crossfire up to 4 "crypress" cores together and 4 "junipers" too, but even that isn't so clear.

bah, why did they even change their naming scheme.
 

OnionMan

New Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
53 (0.01/day)
System Name Constant Upgrade
Processor E8400 @ 4.1Ghz
Motherboard MSI P35 Platinum Combo
Cooling WaterCooled- Dtek fusion
Memory 8Gb Ballistix-800Mhz @1060
Video Card(s) HD4850 750/1150
Storage WD 320Gb SATA
Display(s) 22" Acer LCD
Case Toast
Power Supply Zalman 600W
Software Vista x64 and 7 x64
Benchmark Scores 3DMark06 14300 under Vista
That is really nothing new for ATI or Nv.. Back in the day it was ATI pro XT, XTPE on every model #.. That was more confusing to the novice customer than this is.. Plus, some cards shared model #'s with either 128bit or 256bit.. It sucked..

Also limited stock is nothing new for ATI.. Back around the time (and before) AMD took over, higher end product was difficult to find.. This is just a typical pattern for both sides it seems..

What will ATI have to offer in 2010?- Available stock would be a treat I'd think..;)


@wolf: It's not how many 'cards' you can xfire, it's how many gpu's.. At most (right now) you can xfire 4 gpu's.. If I remember right..
 

wolf

Better Than Native
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
8,246 (1.28/day)
System Name MightyX
Processor Ryzen 9800X3D
Motherboard Gigabyte X650I AX
Cooling Scythe Fuma 2
Memory 32GB DDR5 6000 CL30
Video Card(s) Asus TUF RTX3080 Deshrouded
Storage WD Black SN850X 2TB
Display(s) LG 42C2 4K OLED
Case Coolermaster NR200P
Audio Device(s) LG SN5Y / Focal Clear
Power Supply Corsair SF750 Platinum
Mouse Corsair Dark Core RBG Pro SE
Keyboard Glorious GMMK Compact w/pudding
VR HMD Meta Quest 3
Software case populated with Artic P12's
Benchmark Scores 4k120 OLED Gsync bliss
@wolf: It's not how many 'cards' you can xfire, it's how many gpu's.. At most (right now) you can xfire 4 gpu's.. If I remember right..

yeah but for instance you cant CF a 5770 and a 5870, so CAN one CF a 5870 and a 5970? I would hope so because they are both cypress, but what shits me is the clocks dont match, for balanced GPU's you'd NEED to o/c your 5970 or u/c your 5870.
 

Completely Bonkers

New Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2007
Messages
2,576 (0.39/day)
Processor Mysterious Engineering Prototype
Motherboard Intel 865
Cooling Custom block made in workshop
Memory Corsair XMS 2GB
Video Card(s) FireGL X3-256
Display(s) 1600x1200 SyncMaster x 2 = 3200x1200
Software Windows 2003
This is just a SKU/shelf stocking strategy by ATI. Make sure you get the maximum number of products onto shelves before nVidia get their competitive product out. That way, the shelves are full, the stockroom is full, the order book is full... crowd out the nV launch.

Good strategy IMO. I'm surprised they havent launched 512MB economy editions of the 5xxx series and the new egg cooler. Silly to replace an existing model... just create a derivative and gain more shelf space.
 

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder
Joined
Nov 22, 2005
Messages
28,473 (4.08/day)
Location
Indiana, USA
Processor Intel Core i7 10850K@5.2GHz
Motherboard AsRock Z470 Taichi
Cooling Corsair H115i Pro w/ Noctua NF-A14 Fans
Memory 32GB DDR4-3600
Video Card(s) RTX 2070 Super
Storage 500GB SX8200 Pro + 8TB with 1TB SSD Cache
Display(s) Acer Nitro VG280K 4K 28"
Case Fractal Design Define S
Audio Device(s) Onboard is good enough for me
Power Supply eVGA SuperNOVA 1000w G3
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
This is just a SKU/shelf stocking strategy by ATI. Make sure you get the maximum number of products onto shelves before nVidia get their competitive product out. That way, the shelves are full, the stockroom is full, the order book is full... crowd out the nV launch.

Good strategy IMO. I'm surprised they havent launched 512MB economy editions of the 5xxx series and the new egg cooler. Silly to replace an existing model... just create a derivative and gain more shelf space.

That strategy only works if you can actually keep the shelves and the stockroom full...
 
Joined
Apr 30, 2008
Messages
4,902 (0.81/day)
Location
Multidimensional
System Name Boomer Master Race
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 8745H
Motherboard MinisForum 870 Slim Board
Cooling Mini PC Cooling
Memory Crucial 32GB 5600Mhz
Video Card(s) Radeon 780M
Storage Kingston 1TB SSD
Display(s) Sony 4K Bravia X85J 43Inch TV 120Hz
Case MinisForum 870 Slim Case
Audio Device(s) Built In Realtek Digital Audio HD
Power Supply 120w External Power Brick
Mouse Logitech G203 Lightsync
Keyboard Atrix RGB Slim Keyboard
VR HMD ( ◔ ʖ̯ ◔ )
Software Windows 11 Pro 64bit
Benchmark Scores Don't do them anymore.
Keep up the good work AMD/ATI:toast: and hurry up nvidia, I wanna see your cards:laugh:
 
Joined
Mar 28, 2007
Messages
2,490 (0.38/day)
Location
Your house.
System Name Jupiter-2
Processor Intel i3-6100
Motherboard H170I-PLUS D3
Cooling Stock
Memory 8GB Mushkin DDR3L-1600
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 1050ti
Storage 512GB Corsair SSD
Display(s) BENQ 24in
Case Lian Li PC-Q01B Mini ITX
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Power Supply Corsair 450W
Mouse Logitech Trackball
Keyboard Custom bamboo job
Software Win 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores Finished Super PI on legendary mode in only 13 hours.
yeah but for instance you cant CF a 5770 and a 5870, so CAN one CF a 5870 and a 5970? I would hope so because they are both cypress, but what shits me is the clocks dont match, for balanced GPU's you'd NEED to o/c your 5970 or u/c your 5870.

Just overclock the 5970, Jesus -- every review (including the one here at TPU) I've seen shows that it overclocks easy as hell. :laugh: This isn't a problem.
 
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
2,001 (0.34/day)
Processor Intel Core i9 9900k @ 5.1GHZ all core load (8c 16t)
Motherboard MSI MEG Z390 ACE
Cooling Corsair H100i v2 240mm
Memory 32GB Corsair 3200mhz C16 (2x16GB)
Video Card(s) Powercolor RX 6900 XT Red Devil Ultimate (XTXH) @ 2.6ghz core, 2.1ghz mem
Storage 256GB WD Black NVME drive, 4TB across various SSDs/NVMEs, 4TB HDD
Display(s) Asus 32" PG32QUX (4k 144hz mini-LED backlit IPS with freesync & gsync & 1400 nit HDR)
Case Corsair 760T
Power Supply Corsair HX850i
Mouse Logitech G502 Lightspeed on powerplay mousemat
Keyboard Logitech G910
VR HMD Wireless Vive Pro & Valve knuckles
Software Windows 10 Pro
yeah but for instance you cant CF a 5770 and a 5870, so CAN one CF a 5870 and a 5970? I would hope so because they are both cypress, but what shits me is the clocks dont match, for balanced GPU's you'd NEED to o/c your 5970 or u/c your 5870.

It's not the model number that needs to match for xfire, just the GPU design. Also xfire does not require all gpus to operate at the same speed - you can xfire a stock 4870 with an ocd 4890 and both will run at their correct gpu speeds (no oc/uc required and preformence matches up with the correct gpu speeds). The only thing which needs to match on xfire other than gpu is the memory on the cards, which defaults to the lowest value of all the cards crossfired.
 

1Kurgan1

The Knife in your Back
Joined
Dec 8, 2008
Messages
10,421 (1.78/day)
Location
Duluth, Minnesota
System Name My Comp | Fiancees Comp
Processor i7 5820k @ 4.6Ghz 1.285v| i5 2500k
Motherboard MSI x99 SLI Plus | AsRock Z77 Pro 3
Cooling Watercooled
Memory 16GB DDR4 2400 @ 2666 | 12GB DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) AMD R9 290x | MSI 5850 OC
Storage 128gb SSD + 2x 2TB | 2TB
Display(s) Asus 27" LCD | 25" Hanns G
Case CM Storm | CM Elite 430
Audio Device(s) Creative Recon 3D PCIe
Power Supply Enermax Galaxy 1250W | Rosewill 630w
Mouse Logitech G700s | Logitech G100s
Keyboard Logitech G901 | Logitech G105
Software Win 8.1 Ultimate x64 | Win 8.1 Ultimate x64
Benchmark Scores 3D Mark - Fire Strike Extreme - 4403
This looks to be another killer, I really like that they downclock it, because it seems they only do it to make it cheaper than buying 2x of the normal single GPU cards. So they are like "here take 2x 5850's, but take them at a reduced cost" I respond with "Oh yeah, it will be mine".

Well the story repeats... New high end dual GPU, new mid end dual GPU from Ati...


I bet will be the same with Nvidia, new single GPU and new dual GPU. They are doing what they did last year.

Actually that doesn't repeat, the 4850x2 was a Sapphire made card, no other manufacturer released one.

how much is the question?

Whatever the cost of 5850's is at the time, expect it to be a bit under 2x of their costs. For example, right now on newegg the cheapest 5870 is $409 and the cheapest 5970 is $599, that would be $200 less than 2x 5870's and it clocks very close. Here's the real funny thing, even 5850's are $309, so the 5970 is actually cheaper than 2x 5850's.... By the time the 5950 comes out, I would expect it under $500 or dead at $500.
 

Polarman

New Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2008
Messages
1,626 (0.27/day)
Location
Rimouski
System Name Polar's Dragon
Processor AMD Phenom II 975BE
Motherboard MSI 890FXA-GD65 (Bios 18.7)
Cooling Zalman CNPS 9700 Led
Memory Gskill 8GB DDR3-1333 (8,8,8,21)
Video Card(s) MSI HD6870 Hawk
Storage WD Raptor 250 - WD RE4 500GB
Display(s) Samsung T240 (1920 X1200)
Case Silverstone Raven 2
Audio Device(s) Realtek ALC892
Power Supply PC Power&Cooling Silencer 750 (Red)
Software Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit + SP1
What's next... The single card 5770 X3 ??
 
Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
355 (0.06/day)
Location
Brazil - São Paulo
System Name "I2I3 Overclocking Team"
Processor Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2
Motherboard ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO
Cooling Stoock
Memory G.SKILLl Ripjaws 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600
Video Card(s) Geforce 9800gx2 EVGA
Storage Sansung 500GB
Display(s) LG
Case Box motherboard
Software Windows 7
Benchmark Scores Hunt3r
What's next... The single card 5770 X3 ??

uhasuhuhasuh
no no..To just waiting for the launch of fermi next year..I think that ATI will be a little upset with the news of Nvidia
 
Joined
Jul 19, 2006
Messages
43,609 (6.48/day)
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard ASUS TUF x670e-Plus Wifi
Cooling EK AIO 360. Phantek T30 fans.
Memory 32GB G.Skill 6000Mhz
Video Card(s) Asus RTX 4090
Storage WD/Samsung m.2's
Display(s) LG C2 Evo OLED 42"
Case Lian Li PC 011 Dynamic Evo
Audio Device(s) Topping E70 DAC, SMSL SP200 Amp, Adam Audio T5V's, Hifiman Sundara's.
Power Supply FSP Hydro Ti PRO 1000W
Mouse Razer Basilisk V3 Pro
Keyboard Epomaker 84 key
Software Windows 11 Pro
uhasuhuhasuh
no no..To just waiting for the launch of fermi next year..I think that ATI will be a little upset with the news of Nvidia

I doubt it, since ATi has all this time to come up with a 5890/5990 to counter whatever Nvidia comes out with, minus whatever exclusive "features" Nvidia comes up with.

Yes, these dual GPU cards don't match up in the performance category to their respective siblings in CrossFire but you need to keep in mind:

-Power consumption
-Heat output
-Price

Two HD 5870's are going to run around $800 bucks. A single 5970 runs about $620. The cost is built in to it's relative performance. The big plus is, the 5970 has excellent overclocking headroom.
 
Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
355 (0.06/day)
Location
Brazil - São Paulo
System Name "I2I3 Overclocking Team"
Processor Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2
Motherboard ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO
Cooling Stoock
Memory G.SKILLl Ripjaws 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3-1600
Video Card(s) Geforce 9800gx2 EVGA
Storage Sansung 500GB
Display(s) LG
Case Box motherboard
Software Windows 7
Benchmark Scores Hunt3r
I have to believe that the new VGA Nvidia's dual GPU will now only'm sure it will be absurd, ventilation will be the same GTX 285.275 .. something you understand?
 

wolf

Better Than Native
Joined
May 7, 2007
Messages
8,246 (1.28/day)
System Name MightyX
Processor Ryzen 9800X3D
Motherboard Gigabyte X650I AX
Cooling Scythe Fuma 2
Memory 32GB DDR5 6000 CL30
Video Card(s) Asus TUF RTX3080 Deshrouded
Storage WD Black SN850X 2TB
Display(s) LG 42C2 4K OLED
Case Coolermaster NR200P
Audio Device(s) LG SN5Y / Focal Clear
Power Supply Corsair SF750 Platinum
Mouse Corsair Dark Core RBG Pro SE
Keyboard Glorious GMMK Compact w/pudding
VR HMD Meta Quest 3
Software case populated with Artic P12's
Benchmark Scores 4k120 OLED Gsync bliss
Just overclock the 5970, Jesus -- every review (including the one here at TPU) I've seen shows that it overclocks easy as hell. :laugh: This isn't a problem.

What bothers me is the neccessity to do this to have it all match up right.

It's not the model number that needs to match for xfire, just the GPU design. Also xfire does not require all gpus to operate at the same speed - you can xfire a stock 4870 with an ocd 4890 and both will run at their correct gpu speeds (no oc/uc required and preformence matches up with the correct gpu speeds). The only thing which needs to match on xfire other than gpu is the memory on the cards, which defaults to the lowest value of all the cards crossfired.

when cross-firing uneven cards, for instance a 5870 and a 5850, performance will be slightly under 5850CF due to the overhead of matching uneven cards, I can't remember which review I saw this in but a 5870+5850 was consistently 1-3% slower than 5850CF, meaning you lose the extra you paid for with the 5870 Unless you OC.

EDIT here it was; http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1107/1/

One thing that shocked me was that the CrossFire gaming performance of a Radeon HD 5870 + 5850 was lower than that of a pair of Radeon HD 5850 video cards in CrossFire in all of our testing with the exception of one game. I would assume it is because the higher capacity card (the Radeon HD 5870) gets brought down to the lower one (the Raeon HD 5850) plus some overhead. This basically goes to show that while mixing and matching video cards to run CrossFire works for better performance it isn't the route to take for peak performance. If you want the most from a CrossFire configuration it is clear that you should pair two identical cards together. Just to be sure of this I contacted ATI and got a chance to speak with Dave Gotwalt – Crossfire Architect.

"The percentage is very small and the difference is likely do to the additional overhead of having unbalanced cards." - Dave Gotwalt
 

1Kurgan1

The Knife in your Back
Joined
Dec 8, 2008
Messages
10,421 (1.78/day)
Location
Duluth, Minnesota
System Name My Comp | Fiancees Comp
Processor i7 5820k @ 4.6Ghz 1.285v| i5 2500k
Motherboard MSI x99 SLI Plus | AsRock Z77 Pro 3
Cooling Watercooled
Memory 16GB DDR4 2400 @ 2666 | 12GB DDR3 1600
Video Card(s) AMD R9 290x | MSI 5850 OC
Storage 128gb SSD + 2x 2TB | 2TB
Display(s) Asus 27" LCD | 25" Hanns G
Case CM Storm | CM Elite 430
Audio Device(s) Creative Recon 3D PCIe
Power Supply Enermax Galaxy 1250W | Rosewill 630w
Mouse Logitech G700s | Logitech G100s
Keyboard Logitech G901 | Logitech G105
Software Win 8.1 Ultimate x64 | Win 8.1 Ultimate x64
Benchmark Scores 3D Mark - Fire Strike Extreme - 4403
What bothers me is the neccessity to do this to have it all match up right.

when cross-firing uneven cards, for instance a 5870 and a 5850, performance will be slightly under 5850CF due to the overhead of matching uneven cards, I can't remember which review I saw this in but a 5870+5850 was consistently 1-3% slower than 5850CF, meaning you lose the extra you paid for with the 5870 Unless you OC.

EDIT here it was; http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1107/1/

With the 4000 series it was the opposite as far as I recall. I would chalk up the 5000 series drop in performance from needing time for drivers to mature. CF is all about scaling, even performance increases have been seen on single cards, add more cards to a single cards issues just is going to get worse. I mean it isn't bad since those cards are powerful.

Also regarding the GPU mhz clock vs 5870's, they did it to drop costs. They OC to the same levels, they use the same GPU, yet per GPU, the 5970 is significantly cheaper, its fantastic!
 
Last edited:
Top