AMD: Polaris 10 targets mainstream desktop & high-end notebook

[Sweepr]

For the first time ever AMD has officially confirmed market positioning of upcoming Polaris chips. That said, Polaris 10 is officially aiming mainstream desktop segment and high-end notebook market, while Polaris 11 will also focus on notebooks.

...However since the quote also suggest Polaris 10 being used for high-end gaming notebook segment, we may need to look at Radeon M300 series first to understand how powerful this GPU could be.

AMD’s Radeon M300 high-end segment includes Radeon R9 M390 and R9 M380 series based on Tonga GPU. The same chip was also used in desktop R9 380 series, which as you can know is in fact part of ‘Performance’ segment (in 2014 it meant R9 M290X and desktop R9 285).

AMD demonstrated its “Polaris” 10 and 11 next-generation GPUs, with Polaris 11 targeting the notebook market and “Polaris” 10 aimed at the mainstream desktop and high-end gaming notebook segment. “Polaris” architecture-based GPUs are expected to deliver a 2x performance per watt improvement over current generation products and are designed for intensive workloads including 4K video playback and virtual reality (VR)...

http://videocardz.com/59248/amd-officially-confirms-polaris-10-and-polaris-11-market-positioning

Current products:

Radeon R9 380 Antigua Pro (Tonga Pro) 2048 SPs 256-bit GDDR5
Radeon R9 380X Antigua XT (Tonga XT) 2048 SPs 256-bit GDDR5
Radeon R9 M390X Amethyst XT Tonga 2048 256-bit GDDR5
Radeon R9 M395 Amethyst PRO Tonga 1792 SPs 256-bit GDDR5
Radeon R9 M395 Amethyst XT Tonga 2048 256-bit GDDR5

 

[tential]

HBM2 is a stopgap memory then?

 

[linkgoron]

So, basically nothing new?
Don't see why this merits a new thread, instead of posting it in the Polaris thread.

Also - AMD were (are?) basically non existent in the mid-range+ mobile segment, so I'm not really sure what we're supposed to take from their previous mobile efforts.

 

[el etro]

Targeted to succed R9 M395x at 125W TDP rate. I think that is a pretty nice idea.

 

[ShintaiDK]

HBM2 is a stopgap memory then?

Yes, just as HBM. Short lived, low usage. The next step is most likely HBM3. But one has to wonder if HBM is a done deal. They not only got density issues, they now also got speed issues (1.4Ghz on P100). If they cant fix that, its starting to look grim in gamer eyes.

 

[jpiniero]

So, basically nothing new?

AMD confirming that Polaris 11 isn't coming to the desktop (for now) would be new. So if yield is really that bad at GloFo they could sell cut P10 as the 480(X) and keep the full dies for any very high end mobile design wins.

 

[Erenhardt]

AMD confirming that Polaris 11 isn't coming to the desktop (for now) would be new.

Where you get this from?

 

[jpiniero]

Where you get this from?

From the quote from AMD right in the article?

 

[Erenhardt]

Can you highlight the part?

 

[ShintaiDK]

I guess its a natural development, considering the desktop users left moves upwards while IGP takes everything else. Wont be long before the cheapest GPU you can buy is 300$+.

Discrete GPUs for the mobile segment is also looking dire.

 

[jpiniero]

Can you highlight the part?

AMD demonstrated its “Polaris” 10 and 11 next-generation GPUs, with Polaris 11 targeting the notebook market and “Polaris” 10 aimed at the mainstream desktop and high-end gaming notebook segment

Notice how AMD doesn't say anything about desktops for Polaris 11 but does for Polaris 10. They could sell Polaris 11 on the desktop later I imagine but it sounds like it is not coming any time soon.

 

[maddie]

AMD confirming that Polaris 11 isn't coming to the desktop (for now) would be new. So if yield is really that bad at GloFo they could sell cut P10 as the 480(X) and keep the full dies for any very high end mobile design wins.

Notice how AMD doesn't say anything about desktops for Polaris 11 but does for Polaris 10. They could sell Polaris 11 on the desktop later I imagine but it sounds like it is not coming any time soon.

Do you see the huge assumptions you're making and claiming as fact?

 

[jpiniero]

Do you see the huge assumptions you're making and claiming as fact?

Don't you think they would have said something?

 

[Erenhardt]

I think mobile will get the lowest leakage parts, everything else that needs more volts will be dumped into desktop.
Mobile mainstream GPU is lowest tier entry level desktop GPU. It doesn't sound exciting when you say that mobile will get the bottom of the barrel GPU. That is why they didn't refer to it's desktop positioning at all.
AMD marketing learns something finally.

 

[Sweepr]

Also this is the first time AMD is officially confirming the market positioning of Polaris, previous news were rumours. If the Polaris 10 VGAs were faster than Fury/Fury X they could easily mention mainstream and performance/enthusiast segments. As a Tonga successor, it might beat Hawaii but it will probably end up slower than GP104.

 

[therealnickdanger]

So... what about high-end desktop?

 

[maddie]

Also this is the first time AMD is officially confirming the market positioning of Polaris, previous news were rumours. If the Polaris 10 VGAs were faster than Fury/Fury X they could easily mention mainstream and performance/enthusiast segments. As a Tonga successor, it might beat Hawaii but it will probably end up slower than GP104.

They do mention mainstream. Are we reading the same statement?

 

[Sweepr]

They do mention mainstream. Are we reading the same statement?

But not performance/enthusiast. Not looking like the Fury X killer some people were talking about, but hey, I love surprises.

 

[Erenhardt]

Wasn't Vega supposed to be enthusiast GPU?

 

[maddie]

Don't you think they would have said something?

What I think cannot be claimed to be a fact.

You said AMD confirmed no desktop (for now) for Polaris 11. This is a false statement. Simple.

 

[Noctifer616]

So... what about high-end desktop?

That would be Vega.

 

[maddie]

But not performance/enthusiast. Not looking like the Fury X killer some people were talking about, but hey, I love surprises.

A Fury X killer I can't remember seeing. A Fury X match, then yes, I have seen this mentioned.

 

[showb1z]

But not performance/enthusiast. Not looking like the Fury X killer some people were talking about, but hey, I love surprises.

Why wouldn't 14nm mainstream be equivalent to 28nm enthusiast? It would be pretty disappointing if it wasn't.

 

[therealnickdanger]

You said AMD confirmed no desktop (for now) for Polaris 11. This is a false statement. Simple.

Right, omission is not confirmation, however glaring that omission may be.

Total speculation: all the Polaris 11 desktop parts are going to the PS Neo and Xbone2.

 

[Erenhardt]

Right, omission is not confirmation, however glaring that omission may be.

Total speculation: all the Polaris 11 desktop parts are going to the PS Neo and Xbone2.

consoles are semicustom apus. I don't expect that to change.