BSNAMD’s Fusion Kaveri APU Supports GDDR5 Memory and PCIE3.0

[MightyMalus]

Wouldn't a "programming pattern" solve the whole issue?

I know that things that run in Virtual Machines are influenced a bit by the pattern one does things, at least, I have read about it. Actually, even direct to metal.

Considering that AMD is pushing HSA and these "ways/patterns" to do specific things with HSA capable hardware, unifying memory, using the right cpu or gpu core for the task and such things, does it actually matter if the system has different types of memory in it?

Isn't that part of the whole HSA ideal? For the hardware not actually matter that much and automatically be able to use all of it efficiently when and as needed?

 

[Phynaz]

I'm sure this whole rumor got started because of the PS4 using GDDR5.

Come on guys, it's BSN.

 

[Vesku]

I've thought about this too but then I remind myself that doing such a thing, breaking the unified memory space like that, would be an absolute step backwards against the whole "the future is fusion" strategy which has aspirations for someday creating a unified hardware model (HSA) for programs to run on APUs and so forth.

Doing what you propose would be the absolute best thing to do if all AMD wanted to do was advance the performance of their integrated GPU for graphics applications only. But they want these things to evolve into truly usable APUs and for that to happen they need a unified memory architecture.

Affirming this the article suggests using GDDR5 disables the DDR3 controller, only one type at a time.

 

[MightyMalus]

Affirming this the article suggests using GDDR5 disables the DDR3 controller, only one type at a time.

So how does it work on a PC running a game? If GDDR5 disables the DDR3 wouldn't that mess up the OS/system? Since with a dGPU, the game would be using the memory in the card.

 

[Vesku]

Means the GDDR5 would be shared between CPU and GPU, which is the main goal of AMD's HSA initiative. The Playstation 4 was revealed to be setup this way.

 

[lamedude]

I believe Samsung is making much larger chips now, c.f 8gb GDDR5 in PS4, but I can't find the source right now.

Samsung has 4Gb chips which limits you to 4GB with a 128bit bus. DDR4 will be out before 8Gb chips show up.

 

[itsmydamnation]

I'm sure this whole rumor got started because of the PS4 using GDDR5.

Come on guys, it's BSN.

i think you might see it in 25-45watt "ultrabook" style laptops where you cant upgrade the memory anyway. Remove crystal-wells GPU benefit on what is already a sunk cost ( GDDR5 memory controller) and likely same ball park cost for 4GB of GDDR5 compared to DDR3 + crystalwell. But once you hit DIMM's/Sockets no way.

 

[Pohemi]

So how does it work on a PC running a game? If GDDR5 disables the DDR3 wouldn't that mess up the OS/system? Since with a dGPU, the game would be using the memory in the card.

On current systems, the CPU isn't using the GDDR5 on the video card, the GPU is. They're not both integrated so the CPU doesn't need to have a GDDR5 controller, they're run concurrently but as separate parts of the system. At least that's what I'd think from my limited technical knowledge standpoint.