AMD Cayman Taken Apart, PCB Pictured

[btarunr]

We've seen quite a few pictures of the AMD Radeon HD 6970 from its exterior, including some finer details observable. For the first time, we're getting to take a peek inside, thanks to a Chinese website that looks to be auctioning off an HD 6970 ahead of launch for a quick buck, if we're not terribly mistaken. The PCB shot reveals many details about the GPU and its board design:

• To begin with, the GPU indeed has a 256-bit wide memory interface, counting the memory chips on the obverse side, and looking at the size of the GPU package.
• The size of the die, and taken that Cayman is a 40 nm GPU, indicate that Cayman is not much bigger than Cypress, it should be about 400~500 million transistors higher compared to Cypress.
• Given the roughly 2500 million transistor count, the stream core count of 1536 seems more realistic. AMD is said to be using an architecturally superior VLIW4 stream processor design that increases performance per mm² die area.
• The board uses a high-grade 6+2+1+1 phase digital PWM voltage regulation design, draws power from 8+6 pin power connectors.
• The reverse side of the PCB has no memory chips, so AMD might be using 2 Gbit memory chips to get 2 GB of total memory

Images Courtesy: Taobao.com

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[gvblake22]

Surprisingly clean; almost looks incomplete! Hopefully that means it is efficient.

 

[Delta6326]

Yummy!!! can't wait for reviews!!!!!

 

[OneCool]

Can anyone point out in those pictures where the Texas Instrument chip is that was the "cause" of the delay?I know their small ....but..

 

[largon]

• 
  (...)
• The board uses a high-grade 6+2+1+1 phase digital PWM voltage regulation design, draws power from 8+6 pin power connectors.
  (...)

• 6+2+1+1?
  I see only 6+1+1+1:
  6× Volterra VT1165SF for vGPU
  1× Volterra VT1175SF for vDDCI (GDDR5 memctrl) (near CF fingers)
  1× Volterra VT242WF for memory vDD
  1× Volterra VT242WF for memory vDDQ

 

[chuchnit]

Looks almost copy/paste of 5870 PCB. Where are all these TI parts that caused the delays?

 

[arnoo1]

what gtx 400 series and gtx500 series power hungry, amd does the same now lol
fail for amd fanboys


nice card btw

 

[Swamp Monster]

Where are all these TI parts that caused the delays?

I don't see any TI DrMos here. This card could be test version with different power components. Will see when W1zzard shows review.

 

[DanishDevil]

Anybody else find it interesting that they switched from having the power circuitry near the display outputs (6870) back to where it is traditionally?

 

[KainXS]

I just got to see one, seems to trade blows with the 570 but had alot of driver problems mainly inconsistency

 

[_JP_]

what gtx 400 series and gtx500 series power hungry, amd does the same now lol
fail for amd fanboys

Wait, what?!
You either back that up with real info or I'm nailing you to the wall!

 

[theonedub]

Wait, what?!
You either back that up with real info or I'm nailing you to the wall!

Prob referring to the 8+6pin connectors on the board, which is a departure from the 5870 which only did dual 6pins. Might be evidence of higher power consumption.

 

[AsRock]

Anybody else find it interesting that they switched from having the power circuitry near the display outputs (6870) back to where it is traditionally?

Yeah 1st thing i noticed kinda liked the idea but maybe it was to much to put though the whole board so they put them were they normally are. Or maybe cost reason which sounds more like it.

Kinda glad they put it back as now hopefully Thermaltake will do a 3rd party VRM cooler for it . And hopefully some one will do a screw on type ram cooling unless the older 4970\90 one fits.

 

[wolf]

loving the backplate.

backplates float my boat.

 

[_JP_]

Prob referring to the 8+6pin connectors on the board, which is a departure from the 5870 which only did dual 6pins. Might be evidence of higher power consumption.

It might be that, but it was't said/mentioned. The HD 5870 only had dual 6-pin plugs but there was solder points for a 8+6-pin plug configuration. I guess ATi managed to avoid that in the reference card at that time. Also, considering that the 2 extra pins are grounds, I don't see that as a mandatory increase in power consumption.

 

[theonedub]

It might be that, but it was't said/mentioned. The HD 5870 only had dual 6-pin plugs but there was solder points for a 8+6-pin plug configuration. I guess ATi managed to avoid that in the reference card at that time. Also, considering that the 2 extra pins are grounds, I don't see that as a mandatory increase in power consumption.

Its all speculation at this point, I was merely pointing out a possible explanation for that user's comments. The news post does say 8+6 and the PowerColor 6970 also shows 8+6. It is very true that the connectors do not guarantee higher power consumption, but very rarely are they just for show. We shall see

 

[mtosev]

W1zzard's review coming soon

 

[v12dock]

1536 shaders.... :shadedshu

 

[jasper1605]

1536 shaders.... :shadedshu

I swear on my life I'll pistol whip the next person to do a shadedshu in reference to the shader count on a graphics card.

 

[CDdude55]

Still waiting for the reviews.

 

[Flibolito]

The backplates are sexy. As far as power consumption is concerned it's probably going eat more than the 6800s and maybe less that the 500 series but honestly in the high end gpu sector its something that should be expected. High res graphics with all the bells and whistles is going to eat power. I would rather it eat power and compete to bring the prices down, that will save you more money than saving $30 a year on the electric bill. Once my fermi was up and running I saw zero change in my power bill and I'm sure under load its well over 300 watts.

 

[v12dock]

I swear on my life I'll pistol whip the next person to do a shadedshu in reference to the shader count on a graphics card.

I lost all faith in this card

 

[D4S4]

sorry guys, but do you hear yourself? just stfu and wait for the damned review. it'll be here soon enough.

 

[arnoo1]

Wait, what?!
You either back that up with real info or I'm nailing you to the wall!

no thanks lol

6pin peg connector +8pin peg connector says enough, that around 300wat with the 75 watts you wil get out of the pci-e 2.0 slot

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

I swear on my life I'll pistol whip the next person to do a shadedshu in reference to the shader count on a graphics card.

Shaders . . .roll: