Radeon HD 9000 Series Arrives This October: Report

[btarunr]

When AMD re-branded most of its Radeon HD 7000 series SKUs to HD 8000 series, for OEMs, we saw this coming from a parsec away. AMD's next discrete GPU family for the retail channel will be placed along the Radeon HD 9000 series, and it debuts no later than this October, according to a Guru3D report. Interestingly, the report states that the first parts in the family will be based on existing 28 nanometer silicon fab processes, and will be codenamed "Curacao" and "Hainan."

We've had our run-ins with "Curacao," from time to time. It's been rumored to be an upgrade of existing "Tahiti" silicon, with 2,304 stream processors based on Graphics CoreNext 2.0 architecture, 144 TMUs, 48 ROPs, and a 384-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface. The Guru3D report adds to that with the mention of an improved front-end, which adds four asynchronous computing engines (ACEs), and three independent geometry engines.

"Curacao" will make up most of the top-tier, likely Radeon HD 9900 series; while "Hainan" succeeds "Pitcairn," filling up the performance-segment. "Hainan" reportedly features 1,792 GCN 2.0 stream processors, 112 TMUs, 32 ROPs, a 256-bit wide memory interface, and fewer ACEs and geometry engines than "Curacao."

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[ISI300]

I call BS on this until there's an official announcement.

 

[ViperXTR]

Ahh the 9 series actually reminded me of the legendary 9700 Pro

 

[RCoon]

I call BS on this until there's an official announcement.

Me too, but TPU rarely posts something without having a small fraction of evidence to back it up.
Only 200 or so more stream processors. All in all the "reported" hardware side of curacao doesnt look to be very much of an improvement over the 7970. If this is true, it would be a small step up.

 

[Sempron Guy]

I think AMD's set-up from HD7xxx to HD9xxx is better than what nvidia is doing with their GTX 7xx series

 

[btarunr]

Me too, but TPU rarely posts something without having a small fraction of evidence to back it up.

That small fraction is the source link.

 

[nodata]

'384-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface'.. :shadedshu

 

[Frick]

Me too, but TPU rarely posts something without having a small fraction of evidence to back it up.
Only 200 or so more stream processors. All in all the "reported" hardware side of curacao doesnt look to be very much of an improvement over the 7970. If this is true, it would be a small step up.

If that is true, they should have gone with the 8xxx naming. Or they did this do be able to do some real naming with the 10 series. RADEON HDX! ASUS AMD Radeon HDX 10k990 XTPE DirectCU II rolls off nicely.

 

[librin.so.1]

Only 200 or so more stream processors. All in all the "reported" hardware side of curacao doesnt look to be very much of an improvement over the 7970. If this is true, it would be a small step up.

Tell me, when was the last time we had huge leaps in performance when going "from one series to another"? Exactly - long ago. Yes, I know that sux, but performance increases are getting smaller and smaller and there's nothing we can do about it and just have to love with it. The same is also true for CPUs. *sigh*

 

[btarunr]

'384-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface'.. :shadedshu

Is that a bad thing?

 

[Jorge]

Is that a bad thing?

No that's a good thing as more bandwidth is possible.

 

[Jorge]

As with CPUs, expect GPU performance gains to be evolutionary not revolutionary. There isn't a real need for more graphics power but some enthusiasts feel they need the latest and greatest so manufacturers are glad to oblige.

 

[Frick]

As with CPUs, expect GPU performance gains to be evolutionary not revolutionary. There isn't a real need for more graphics power but some enthusiasts feel they need the latest and greatest so manufacturers are glad to oblige.

If 2560x1440 are coming down sure we need more GPU power..

 

[librin.so.1]

If 2560x1440 are coming down sure we need more GPU power..

No, that's not it. The situation is vastly different.
Computing power is like Dakka - You can never have enough computing power. You'll always need more. And there is no such silly thing as "enough computing power".

 

[Patriot]

If that is true, they should have gone with the 8xxx naming. Or they did this do be able to do some real naming with the 10 series. RADEON HDX! ASUS AMD Radeon HDX 10k990 XTPE DirectCU II rolls off nicely.

They already using the HD8xxx naming scheme with the OEMs...
So to avoid more mass confusion HD9xxx ...

 

[birdie]

I skipped every generation of AMD/NVIDIA GPUs starting from 65nm and ending with 28nm.

This time I will be waiting till 14/16nm shrink which will happen somewhere around 2015.

 

[NdMk2o1o]

As with CPUs, expect GPU performance gains to be evolutionary not revolutionary. There isn't a real need for more graphics power but some enthusiasts feel they need the latest and greatest so manufacturers are glad to oblige.

They oblige? I thought they were out to make as much profit as possible, silly me

 

[JoePesci]

I Hope that the 9970 can compete with the Titan in Order to Start a Price war.

Also, we will soon Need Single GPUs which can Run Games at 3840 x 2160. The New Screen Resolution, which is Four Times as much as the current Standard, is more like a Revolution than an Evolution. This Stands in contrast to what every New Generation of CPUs and GPUs have to offer, which can be considered only as (small) evolutions Lately. I'm Interessed to See how this whole thing will Turn Out.

 

[hardcore_gamer]

I Hope that the 9970 can compete with the Titan in Order to Start a Price war.

Also, we will soon Need Single GPUs which can Run Games at 3840 x 2160. The New Screen Resolution, which is Four Times as much as the current Standard, is more like a Revolution than an Evolution. This Stands in contrast to what every New Generation of CPUs and GPUs have to offer, which can be considered only as (small) evolutions Lately. I'm Interessed to See how this whole thing will Turn Out.

Couldn't agree more. We have to move from 1080 since the consoles have caught up.

 

[afw]

Sheer performance aside AMD should work on the Performance per watt ratio cos the 7xxx aren't very efficient IMO ...

btw the dual GPU will be "9990" ... thats a lot of 9s ...

 

[AlienIsGOD]

meh i'll snag another 7870 at cheap prices rather than get a 8870 with its 256 bit interface, which seems like a castrated 7950 specs wise

 

[hardcore_gamer]

Sheer performance aside AMD should work on the Performance per watt ratio cos the 7xxx aren't very efficient IMO ...

btw the dual GPU will be "9990" ... thats a lot of 9s ...

Performance per watt of 78 and 77 series is good.

 

[KainXS]

this is probably going to be the last series of the Radeon HD line, wonder whats next

 

[btarunr]

this is probably going to be the last series of the Radeon HD line, wonder whats next

Radeon 4K 2000 series, of course.

 

[The Mac]

UD - Ultra Deffinition

lol