AMD Dual-GPU Radeon HD 7990 to Launch in Q1 2012, Packs 6 GB Memory

[btarunr]

Even 12 months ago, an Intel Nehalem-powered gaming PC with 6 GB of system memory was considered high-end. Now there's already talk of a graphics card taking shape, that has that much memory. On Thursday this week, AMD launched its Radeon HD 7970 graphics card, which features its newest 28 nm "Tahiti" GPU, and 3 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 384-bit wide memory interface. All along, it had plans of making a dual-GPU graphics card that made use of two of these GPUs to give you a Crossfire-on-a-stick solution. AMD codenamed this product "New Zealand". We are now getting to learn that codename "New Zealand" will carry the intuitive-sounding market name Radeon HD 7990, and that it is headed for a Q1 2012 launch.

This means that Radeon HD 7990 should arrive before April 2012. Tests show that Tahiti has superior energy-efficiency compared to previous-generation "Cayman" GPU, even as it has increased performance. From a technical standpoint, a graphics card featuring two of these Tahiti GPUs, running with specifications matching those of the single-GPU HD 7970, looks workable. Hence, there is talk of 6 GB of total graphics memory (3 GB per GPU system).



One can also expect the fruition of AMD's new ZeroCore technology. This technology powers down the GPU to zero draw when the monitor is blanked (idling), but in CrossFire setups, this technology completely powers down other GPUs than the primary one to zero state, when the system is not running graphics-heavy applications. This means that the idle, desktop, and Blu-ray playback power-draw of the HD 7990 will be nearly equal to that of the HD 7970, which is already impressive.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[JrRacinFan]

Just wondering something, why 6GB? I mean, it's nice but what right now would utilize it?

 

[Esse]

There's my little country

 

[de.das.dude]

probably good at 4GB. 6 GB looks over over-kill

 

[btarunr]

In multi-GPU setups, applications only see the memory of a single GPU, which is then mirrored to the memory of partner GPUs.

 

[pantherx12]

Just wondering something, why 6GB? I mean, it's nice but what right now would utilize it?

Because it's a dual GPU, so in reality it's only 3gb usable.

And eyefinity with several 4k monitors would use up 3gb easily : ]

 

[Sasqui]

Memory availability sounds almost like Raid 0

The power savings is brilliant (obvious but brilliant), like the later CPUs, cores not used are cores that doen't eat up much/any power Nom Nom Nom Nom...

 

[JrRacinFan]

Because it's a dual GPU, so in reality it's only 3gb usable.

And eyefinity with several 4k monitors would use up 3gb easily : ]

Nah I know that, i mean what I am saying is with all the not so grande ports we are getting as PC gamers and not many games really utilizing over 1.5GB I don't see the use.

 

[pantherx12]

Nah I know that, i mean what I am saying is with all the not so grande ports we are getting as PC gamers and not many games really utilizing over 1.5GB I don't see the use.

I dunno quite a few can use 1.5 if given the chance : ]

and that's just at HD.

I get slowdowns when I turn round in skyrim because it uses more than my 1gb.

and I only play @ 1680x1050.

Hate to use this line, but it's an enthusiast card the more over the top the better


Also as GPGPU becomes more popular having a lot of ram on your card could become very useful.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Even 12 months ago, an Intel Nehalem-powered gaming PC with 6 GB of system memory was considered high-end. Now there's already talk of a graphics card taking shape, that has that much memory. On Thursday this week, AMD launched its Radeon HD 7970 graphics card, which features its newest 28 nm "Tahiti" GPU, and 3 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 384-bit wide memory interface. All along, it had plans of making a dual-GPU graphics card that made use of two of these GPUs to give you a Crossfire-on-a-stick solution. AMD codenamed this product "New Zealand". We are now getting to learn that codename "New Zealand" will carry the intuitive-sounding market name Radeon HD 7990, and that it is headed for a Q1 2012 launch.

This means that Radeon HD 7990 should arrive before April 2012. Tests show that Tahiti has superior energy-efficiency compared to previous-generation "Cayman" GPU, even as it has increased performance. From a technical standpoint, a graphics card featuring two of these Tahiti GPUs, running with specifications matching those of the single-GPU HD 7970, looks workable. Hence, there is talk of 6 GB of total graphics memory (3 GB per GPU system).

[url]http://www.techpowerup.com/img/11-12-23/115a_thm.jpg[/URL] [url]http://www.techpowerup.com/img/11-12-23/115b_thm.jpg[/URL]

One can also expect the fruition of AMD's new ZeroCore technology. This technology powers down the GPU to zero draw when the monitor is blanked (idling), but in CrossFire setups, this technology completely powers down other GPUs than the primary one to zero state, when the system is not running graphics-heavy applications. This means that the idle, desktop, and Blu-ray playback power-draw of the HD 7990 will be nearly equal to that of the HD 7970, which is already impressive.

[url]http://www.techpowerup.com/img/11-12-23/115c_thm.jpg[/URL]

Source: Softpedia

That thing will cost more then a super charger on my 4.6 Mustang. Ill pass.

 

[Trackr]

The question here is not why AMD chose 6GB. It's why AMD didn't choose 4GB like the HD 6990.

The reason is, the HD 6970 has a 256-bit memory bus. This allows for 2048MB.

The GTX 580 has a memory bus of 384-bit. This allows for 1536MB.

So AMD had to choose between 1.5GB per GPU or 3GB per GPU.

And I think 6GB is great.

Besides, they will have to make the price competitive to stay above the HD 6990, so the extra RAM likely won't mean a higher price.

 

[bogie]

Green Goblin?

All quiet on the Green front!

lol

 

[buggalugs]

If idle power savings are really 75% its a game changer.

 

[RejZoR]

People complaining over 6GB thing. Please read the news again. It doesn't say anywhere that the cards have 6GB of VRAM. It just says that system with 6GB of RAM (regular system RAM that is!) was considered as high end till recently.
However it does say that it comes with 3GB of GDDR5 VRAM memory.

 

[ensabrenoir]

Just wondering something, why 6GB? I mean, it's nice but what right now would utilize it?

90% of out rigs arent fully utilized/overkill.... This will fit right in. we all need to push for better software though

 

[TheMailMan78]

Just wondering something, why 6GB? I mean, it's nice but what right now would utilize it?

Run Battlefield 3 or F1 maxed out on three 30" monitors and tell me the same thing.

 

[specks]

Cool! Straight to the big guns

 

[Platibus]

people complaining over 6gb thing. Please read the news again. It doesn't say anywhere that the cards have 6gb of vram. It just says that system with 6gb of ram (regular system ram that is!) was considered as high end till recently.
However it does say that it comes with 3gb of gddr5 vram memory.

↓

...from a technical standpoint, a graphics card featuring two of these tahiti gpus, running with specifications matching those of the single-gpu hd 7970, looks workable. Hence, there is talk of 6 gb of total graphics memory (3 gb per gpu system).

 

[bear jesus]

At 5040x1050 many games use between 1.5GB and 1.8GB, the highest i have seen is 2 GB in aliens vs predator but my 6970 runs out of GPU power so i think at a res higher than 5040x1050 with a 7990 the 3 GB per GPU could really be put to use.

I look forward to see how it performs in eyefinity resolutions.

 

[ironwolf]

Wished I had about ten kidneys to sell to afford one of these LOL.

 

[mtosev]

6gb omg. this will be a monster of a card. AMD isn't joking around

 

[Fx]

does the 6990 suffer from the micro stutter like crossfire does?

if not then I think I am going to start saving for this bad boy

 

[claylomax]

not many games really utilizing over 1.5GB

Metro 2033, Stalker CoP, Crysis 2, Cryostasis, Battlefield 3, etc ... they max out 1.5GB playing at 1900 x 1200 with 4xAA on my system.

 

[radrok]

Run Battlefield 3 or F1 maxed out on three 30" monitors and tell me the same thing.

I'm going to confirm this...
HD6990 CFX's 2GBs doesn't work like 8GB It's always 2GB, even with 4 GPUs right? Well anyway it can't cope with BF3 VRAM needs, had to remove AA samples.

 

[Velvet Wafer]

Finally, 8192x shadows in Skyrim are possible without major lag!