Radeon R9 390X Taken Apart, PCB Reveals a Complete Re-brand

[PCGamerDR]

well their new lineup looks like this
R9 Fury X (2015 Fiji)
R9 Fury (2015 Fiji)
R9 390 8GB (2013 Hawaii)
R9 390 8GB (2013 Hawaii)
R9 380 4GB (2014 Tonga)
R7 370 2GB (2012 Pitcairn)
R5 360 2GB (2013 Bonaire)

next year it might look like
R9 Fury Maxx (2016)
R9 Fury Maxx (2016)
R9 Fury X (2015 Fiji)
R9 Fury (2015 Fiji)
R9 390X 8GB (2013 Hawaii)
R9 390 8GB (2013 Hawaii)
R9 380 4GB (2014 Tonga)

TBH they seem to have aged well, the most impressive one being pitcairn that good ol' hd7870, oh the memories. -cryeveritym-

 

[Vayra86]

It is regrettable, but when there could be something out there, lurking in the mist it plays with the mind… While naysayers can minimize AMD this round, knowing AMD or a their design of FinFet and HBM2 might live and still out there, that unknown... it plays on folks, and that is good.

I don't believe you can say "makes shitty products" at least in the GPU (CPU completely different letdown let’s not get into that bigger topic);

I remember similar sounds coming from many people shortly after the FX procs were announced. The first time, and the second time when they updated the arch. Only a year later we concluded universally that the FX line was a shitty product.

Can you not see the parallel between the FX back then and the lack of innovation in GPU right now? AMD has started a trickle down attempt with HBM and forced itself into a third rebrand because HBM is too costly for anything but the top end card. Not a smart decision when Nvidia shows the world there is efficiency to be gained, and not just a little of it either.

It happens every time with AMD. Their lack of R&D is converted into a higher production cost, and they just fail to see it. Again. And Again. AMD's answer to lacking efficiency gains is 'more cores' which results in higher cost AND a product that is less competitive across the board. And because the product is less competitive, it goes for a lower price. All aspects of this way of doing business result in reduced margins and profit. Evidenced by the yearly results.

This is the essence of the problem. Now, to look ahead: what is the core setup of Zen again? Oh yeah, a many-core design.

 

[BiggieShady]

Not a smart decision when Nvidia shows the world there is efficiency to be gained, and not just a little of it either.

Nah, AMD did improve efficiency in Fiji by a healthy margin (compared to 200/300 series) but that is highly dependent on clocks, even GM200 looses much of it's efficiency in factory overclocked 980 ti cards ... that nano card is 2x efficient than 290X, and fury x is 1.5x more efficient ... all in all, given their position this was a pretty good launch IMO, since they couldn't have complete lineup made out of Fiji derivatives.

This is the essence of the problem. Now, to look ahead: what is the core setup of Zen again? Oh yeah, a many-core design.

Of course it is a multiple core design, what else would it be, the point is they are moving away from huge pipeline design and sharing modules between cores.

 

[HumanSmoke]

... all in all, given their position this was a pretty good launch IMO, since they couldn't have complete lineup made out of Fiji derivatives.

Personally I'd rate it a pretty good launch when the cards actually launch (and live up to the marketing of course). At the moment I'd rate it a pretty good tease.

 

[Vayra86]

Nah, AMD did improve efficiency in Fiji by a healthy margin (compared to 200/300 series) but that is highly dependent on clocks, even GM200 looses much of it's efficiency in factory overclocked 980 ti cards ... that nano card is 2x efficient than 290X, and fury x is 1.5x more efficient ... all in all, given their position this was a pretty good launch IMO, since they couldn't have complete lineup made out of Fiji derivatives.

Of course it is a multiple core design, what else would it be, the point is they are moving away from huge pipeline design and sharing modules between cores.

Heheh my previous comment was written before I read about the announcement of the Nano and stuff

Things have just changed.

 

[Casecutter]

Can you not see the parallel between the FX back then and the lack of innovation in GPU right now?

Lack of innovation in GPU... like a smaller 28mm Die and implantation of HBM that could best the larger GM200 isn't?

AMD’s R&D and wows from making Bulldozer are not absolutely same as the cash flow troubles that the GPU side is sullied with today. Sure the loss of profit on the CPU side has had an effect, but it’s the overall health of a lot of bad decisions that weigh on GPU side. To even make that parallel is simplistic.

I don't see the FX and these GPU's as drawing any parallel other than their implementation of Asynchronous Shading, and attaining actual use of multi-core that they hoped the software programing world would “get one board” too the usefulness of that back 7 years ago.

AMD is known to push technology well head of the industry (aka 64-Bit) the idea of true “multi-core” has been the courageous path, and AMD went “all in” on chip designs believing if we build it the industry will change... NOT. Not to say there wasn’t shortcomings even in the "core design" that hampered multi-path coding, yes. It was more AMD neglected to comprehend that single-core (hyper-thread) was "super embedded" and software writing wasn't going to change to their idea’s without a hook.

When we now look a Dx12, Asynchronous Shading, FX processor multi-core, the need to why AMD introduce Mantle… their direction is apparent. They’ve in some ways now nudged/forced Microsoft to step-up, and offer the significances that AMD's technologies have been building to (kind of 64-Bit all over again). We need to step back (realize) the David-Goliath(s) that are in the industry hold to what they like till they can offer it, in that vain the Intel/Nvidia consortium was not into Microsoft going to low level API. This time I see AMD pressing Mantle challenged Microsoft, showing they might be best to move, or see their dominance in PC Gaming (DX) brought down by other groups the likes Steam machines, Linux, even Apple as they seem to be looking at low level API gaming.

 

[BiggieShady]

At the moment I'd rate it a pretty good tease.

Fair enough, though I don't doubt it's plenty fast, they did show Fury X running Sniper Elite 3 on 5K screen on stage

 

[HumanSmoke]

Lack of innovation in GPU... like a smaller 28mm Die and implantation of HBM that could best the larger GM200 isn't?

I wouldn't pop the champagne corks just yet.
AMD's Fiji is less than 1% smaller than GM 200 - so while technically correct, I wouldn't tout it as a plus. The other point is that we've yet to see Fiji benchmarked, and the only implementations of GM 200 seen are a full part that is wattage constrained by a large framebuffer and adherence to the ATX spec, and a salvage part. Neither are representative of the zenith of the architecture. I am going to hazard a guess that if Nvidia plumbed the Titan X for dual 8-pin input and raised the board power limits accordingly, you would see some significant uplift.
If you were talking SKUs, I wouldn't make the comparison, since Nvidia tend to value the ATX and PCI-SIG spec and their warranties over outright performance, but you were talking architecture - and while Fiji and HBM is undoubtedly a big step forward, just like GM 200 is a scaled up GM 204 which made concessions in design itself, I suspect that Fiji grew out of Tonga and could well be making concessions of its own.

AMD’s R&D and wows from making Bulldozer are not absolutely same as the cash flow troubles that the GPU side is sullied with today. Sure the loss of profit on the CPU side has had an effect, but it’s the overall health of a lot of bad decisions that weigh on GPU side.

True. AMD's woes stem from decisions made at board level ten years ago.

 

[Vayra86]

Lack of innovation in GPU... like a smaller 28mm Die and implantation of HBM that could best the larger GM200 isn't?

AMD’s R&D and wows from making Bulldozer are not absolutely same as the cash flow troubles that the GPU side is sullied with today. Sure the loss of profit on the CPU side has had an effect, but it’s the overall health of a lot of bad decisions that weigh on GPU side. To even make that parallel is simplistic.

I don't see the FX and these GPU's as drawing any parallel other than their implementation of Asynchronous Shading, and attaining actual use of multi-core that they hoped the software programing world would “get one board” too the usefulness of that back 7 years ago.

AMD is known to push technology well head of the industry (aka 64-Bit) the idea of true “multi-core” has been the courageous path, and AMD went “all in” on chip designs believing if we build it the industry will change... NOT. Not to say there wasn’t shortcomings even in the "core design" that hampered multi-path coding, yes. It was more AMD neglected to comprehend that single-core (hyper-thread) was "super embedded" and software writing wasn't going to change to their idea’s without a hook.

When we now look a Dx12, Asynchronous Shading, FX processor multi-core, the need to why AMD introduce Mantle… their direction is apparent. They’ve in some ways now nudged/forced Microsoft to step-up, and offer the significances that AMD's technologies have been building to (kind of 64-Bit all over again). We need to step back (realize) the David-Goliath(s) that are in the industry hold to what they like till they can offer it, in that vain the Intel/Nvidia consortium was not into Microsoft going to low level API. This time I see AMD pressing Mantle challenged Microsoft, showing they might be best to move, or see their dominance in PC Gaming (DX) brought down by other groups the likes Steam machines, Linux, even Apple as they seem to be looking at low level API gaming.

It's more of a thing that AMD is ahead of the curve and suffering for it. Their timing simply isn't optimal. They act as industry leaders while they are not even close to being such a company, neither in size, assets, time to market ability and production capacity. Call it courageous, I'd rather call it unwise. Because they are trying to be ahead of the curve, they bleed millions every year. Mantle has done absolutely nothing to further AMD's position on the market and by the time the market has adjusted to DX12, they have no real advantages anymore over the competition because they have shown all their cards way ahead of time. Nvidia and Intel have ample opportunity to adjust now and do so WITHOUT bleeding market potential and have just used all the time before that to maximize profit.

Don't get me wrong, I like how AMD's philosophies are now coming to fruition, but the expenses are way too high.

 

[Casecutter]

Don't get me wrong, I like how AMD's philosophies are now coming to fruition, but the expenses are way too high.

Leaders are less about changing course, being the "scrappy" one or realizing the path less travel. We need AMD to be in the contest and work such innovative maneuvers. You more advocate they should just be good and get back in line wait your turn, that what the "Titans" want, which is an opportunity to hold a thumb on them. A lot of good that would do, meaning less than the "one-upmanship" that yes… hardly achieve now. Be good little companies and don't bring your innovative technology into our arena, we industry leaders are doing it "our way".

Innovation is the price of Greatness, and yes sometime it doesn't pay off. And sometime it take bold moves as when Apple on verge collapse bring back Steve Job's, he had to make cozy with Bill Gates. Every Apple fan decried the relationship, but it got Apple we have today. I think this time AMD wrangled Microsoft to include such that "innovations," which they weren't intending to include because "industry leaders" had the ear of MS. Then AMD said, here's what Gamers could have, and it isn't or doesn't need to be tied just to MS and their ecosystem...

Philo Farnsworth; an Idaho farm boy at the age 15 developed the working concept of TV, built the prototype and he got the Patent. Even won Patent injunctions, against RCA (the industry leader in radio) who poured exorbitant amounts of money to stifle him in court, completely stopping ever getting into production. RCA finally found a way to circumvent those patents and general public doesn’t know or acknowledges Farnsworth with the invention of TV.

I suppose I see it differently, as being more the basis of an American Sprit to innovation.

 

[Vayra86]

Leaders are less about changing course, being the "scrappy" one or realizing the path less travel. We need AMD to be in the contest and work such innovative maneuvers. You more advocate they should just be good and get back in line wait your turn, that what the "Titans" want, which is an opportunity to hold a thumb on them. A lot of good that would do, meaning less than the "one-upmanship" that yes… hardly achieve now. Be good little companies and don't bring your innovative technology into our arena, we industry leaders are doing it "our way".

Innovation is the price of Greatness, and yes sometime it doesn't pay off. And sometime it take bold moves as when Apple on verge collapse bring back Steve Job's, he had to make cozy with Bill Gates. Every Apple fan decried the relationship, but it got Apple we have today. I think this time AMD wrangled Microsoft to include such that "innovations," which they weren't intending to include because "industry leaders" had the ear of MS. Then AMD said, here's what Gamers could have, and it isn't or doesn't need to be tied just to MS and their ecosystem...

Philo Farnsworth; an Idaho farm boy at the age 15 developed the working concept of TV, built the prototype and he got the Patent. Even won Patent injunctions, against RCA (the industry leader in radio) who poured exorbitant amounts of money to stifle him in court, completely stopping ever getting into production. RCA finally found a way to circumvent those patents and general public doesn’t know or acknowledges Farnsworth with the invention of TV.

I suppose I see it differently, as being more the basis of an American Sprit to innovation.

I see what you mean, and there is much to be said for progressive thinking like you suggest. And you got it right, I think it has a lot to do with the thought of the American Dream, making something out of nothing, etc. I am from Holland, and us Dutch are known for being tight on spending Definitely a cultural influence there

 

[Casecutter]

Dutch are known for being tight on spending

I'm not a Trump!!!

The American Dream is... different the Sprite to dream and develop things; while there's something to be said when America still had some... idea of frugality.

 

[Casecutter]

Lack of innovation in GPU... like a smaller 28mm Die and implantation of HBM that could best the larger GM200 isn't?

I wouldn't pop the champagne corks just yet.

Opp's thought I read it as 569mm somewhere else, not the 596mm checking the TPU data base.
So true, not a "whit-worth" of difference.

 

[XFXSupport]

Nobody knows yet what minor tweaks have been made on the card R9 390/390X.

Here's what we do know.

1. The memory is sped up by 500-1000Mhz, advances in circuitry made this possible.
2. The VRM cooler is heavy, rough estimates are 20-30'C cooler from the previous 290s
3. Bigger cooler, more copper

More on that next week when i have parts on hand and reviews start coming in

 

[Breit]

Here's what we do know.

1. The memory is sped up by 500-1000Mhz, advances in circuitry made this possible.
2. The VRM cooler is heavy, rough estimates are 20-30'C cooler from the previous 290s
3. Bigger cooler, more copper

More on that next week when i have parts on hand and reviews start coming in

Or you can just read reviews that are already out: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/msi_r9_390x_gaming_8g_review/1