- Joined
- Dec 28, 2012
- Messages
- 3,877 (0.89/day)
System Name | Skunkworks 3.0 |
---|---|
Processor | 5800x3d |
Motherboard | x570 unify |
Cooling | Noctua NH-U12A |
Memory | 32GB 3600 mhz |
Video Card(s) | asrock 6800xt challenger D |
Storage | Sabarent rocket 4.0 2TB, MX 500 2TB |
Display(s) | Asus 1440p144 27" |
Case | Old arse cooler master 932 |
Power Supply | Corsair 1200w platinum |
Mouse | *squeak* |
Keyboard | Some old office thing |
Software | Manjaro |
It comes down to several things.What is the point of GDDR5X 256 on gtx 1080, if 356 bus of GDDR5 is still faster ... ? maybe i don't understand something....
A.) a 256 bit bus is much easier to wire up physically on a PCB than a 384 bit bus, to say nothing of a 512 bit bus. This reduces the number of faulty PCBs during manufacturing and decreased PCB complexity, increasing yields.
B.) a 256 bit bus does not require as many memory controllers (4 64 bit buses compared to 6 for 384 bit or 8 for 512 bit) which cuts down on not just power use, but chip complexity as well. Again, cheaper and easier to make with better yields than a 384 bit chip. This was also part of the reason hawaii was such a power hog, a 512 bit bus is hard to make power efficient.
C.) a 256 bit bus can outdo a 384 bit bus, depending on the memory tech behind it. We dont know how much bandwidth GDDR5X pushes on the 1080. It could very well push more data than a 384 bit GDDR5 bus. GDDR5X clocks much higher, and the final bandwidth number is what matters, not the number of bits. GDDR5X also has larger memory chips available than ddr5 does IIRC, making it cheaper to offer 8GB VRAM capacities. Fewer memory chips also means lower power draw.