Leaked AMD Catalyst driver codenames for Volcanic Islands GPU's: Hawaii confirmed

[tweakboy]

LOL funny

how about Alaska and Washington and the rest of the states..

Stupid ars name, with poor drivers to boot since 1993

 

[Erenhardt]

He says all of the cards ere manually O/C'd. AMD cards usually win these comparisons.

oh... yea, right, overclocking was only viable with gtx460. Now it is just a gamble that gives marginal improvements to avg fps, increases stuttering, makes gpu draw more power, is a sign of poor wallet and act of desperation.😎

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Are you serious??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gB9-eIPLzM with latest drivers, even the R7950 outperforms the GTX680... no improvement over the last months, right...

And this counters my point how exactly?

Was it not until recently that the 256 bit 680 didn't do as good at 1440/1600 compared to what it offered at 1200 and below?

Is it a recent revelation that the 7970 doesn't have jack on 7950 clock for clock?

Suddenly the earth shifted and lower clocked due to power hungry uarch Radeons just recently began to overclock?


I know it's your first post, but when someone says "driver improvements" that means to counter it you need to produce something whereby say five months ago in these tests the 7970 didn't fare as well. Thus disproving the notion that driver improvements for released games from AMD have in fact improved whereas your post you just stated what everyone already knew and pretended it counter the point you were attempting to refute.

 

[RussianSensation]

The 7950 certainly does not perform better than the 680. You can see this in any current review from AT, TPU, CB etc. Who needs Linus...?

At 1:15 min mark Linus is discussing methodology. "We run all graphics cards overclocked because overclocking is free...."
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AmLKAgEko3SAdHFtby1jNTFvaTF2UHhaMzdMQ0FNM2c#gid=0

HD7950 OC can beat GTX680 OC at 1440p. That's what made 7950 a spectacular card for the price for the last 12 months. Many people who got GTX660Ti looked at worthless 7950 V2 reference cooler reviews on launch and ignored that HD7950 OC can trade blows with GTX680 OC for hundreds less and certainly with a GTX670 OC. This makes sense since a 1200mhz 7950 is nearly a 30% overclock over 925mhz V2.

--

I don't think AMD will release 20nm cards until 2014. RR has already stated he wants to produce products on the same nodes longer since there is more cost and risk to go down on nodes more quickly. The rumors around HD7970 refresh do not point to it being a 20nm part either. Last time AMD rushed 7970 to market with immature drivers and lower clocks. I would hope they learned from that and wait until 2014 to launch on more mature 20nm and with proper drivers in place. Also I am having a hard time believing NV is refreshing GTX600 series on 20nm if it was possible to fab GTX770/780 on 20nm in Sept-Oct.

 

[RussianSensation]

I know it's your first post, but when someone says "driver improvements" that means to counter it you need to produce something whereby say five months ago in these tests the 7970 didn't fare as well. Thus disproving the notion that driver improvements for released games from AMD have in fact improved whereas your post you just stated what everyone already knew and pretended it counter the point you were attempting to refute.

Look at early and current benchmarks with latest drivers of Crysis 3, Far Cry 3, Metro Last Light & Bioshock Infinite. 7970OC beats GTX680 OC in 3 of those 4 games - something that was not true at all in the beginning. AMD's performance in all those games has improved since the time those games came out. You also keep ignoring reviews like this one where the reviewer even comments on AMD's driver improvements.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

So you're saying the 7970 OC was slower than the 680OC in those titles and that recent improvements have changed that? Which drivers were those exactly RS?

I'm not ignoring anything, but linking to TR saying AMD's frame latency has improved since last year is a straw man, nice work.

 

[RussianSensation]

So you're saying the 7970 OC was slower than the 680OC in those titles and that recent improvements have changed that? Which drivers were those exactly RS?

I'm not ignoring anything, but linking to TR saying AMD's frame latency has improved since last year is a straw man, nice work.

Yes it was slower, especially in Crysis 3, Metro LL and Bioshock Infinite. I am not going to check through last 2-3 months of reviews for you. GTX680 was beating 7970GE without trouble in those 3 games, not anymore. It is now losing.

The TR review is not only talking about latency but framerates too.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Yes it was slower, especially in Crysis 3, Metro LL and Bioshock Infinite. I am not going to check through last 2-3 months of reviews for you. GTX680 was beating 7970GE without trouble in those 3 games, not anymore. It is now losing.

I don't think you've fully grasped what I've said, because fixing your driver a few days post release isn't what I was eluding to.

OC vs OC the 7970 would still easily win here.

When I said "given the total lack of any real improvements over the last 4-5 months I sure hope that is the case", I wasn't talking about post release driver updates to support a new release.

I was talking about the memory subsystem, crossfire, and overall performance of a bigger chip with more hardware.

 

[RussianSensation]

How can you make a statement such as "total lack of any real improvements over the last 4-5 months" and then now you backtrack and say oh well that doesn't include new game releases and follow-up drivers that boost performance in them or now you focus on CF only. What games are you talking about then if you want to ignore all driver improvements in recent titles? AMD already fixed stuttering in Skyrim and so on. So what games are giving you problems exactly?

If you are talking about the memory sub-system fix, AMD said it would take about a year to release that driver.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

How can you make a statement such as "total lack of any real improvements over the last 4-5 months" and then now you backtrack and say oh well that doesn't include new game releases and follow-up drivers that boost performance in them or now you focus on CF only. What games are you talking about then if you want to ignore all driver improvements in recent titles? AMD already fixed stuttering in Skyrim and so on. So what games are giving you problems exactly?

If you are talking about the memory sub-system fix, AMD said it would take about a year to release that driver.

Because I'm looking at the bigger picture.

Why would you even argue against the statement if that was what you thought it was saying? That doesn't even warrant a reply.

I have two 7950's, you wouldn't be able to relate.


Which is what I was talking about, including the frame metering, major issues, not game to game driver updates for newly released titles.

Edit: Let me also add where I'm coming from, here are my drivers since purchase.

13.3

Improve performance in Sim City 5 up to 16 percent
Improves performance in Far Cry 3 up to 5 percent
Improves latency performance issues seen in Tomb Raider and Hitman Absolution
Resolves slight corruption seen in Tomb Raider with TressFX enabled for CrossFire and single GPU configurations

13.3b3

Resolves OpenGL application issues seen with the AMD Catalyst 13.3 Beta2 driver

13.4 WHQL

13.5

Performance gains seen on the entire AMD Radeon™ HD 7000 Series for the following:
Far Cry 3: Improves performance up to 4% with Anti-Aliasing enabled
Shogun II: Improves performance up to 20% with 8x Anti-Aliasing enabled
Tomb Raider: Improves performance up to 6%
Bioshock: Improves performance up to 6%
Borderlands 2: Improves performance up to 17%
Corruption is no longer seen on the AMD Radeon HD 7790 when TressFX is enabled in Tomb Raider

13.6

Adds support for new APU's.



4 months = "Assuming of course AMD is fixing their drivers, and given the total lack of any real improvements over the last 4-5 months I sure hope that is the case."

If the shoe fits...

 

[RussianSensation]

Because I'm looking at the bigger picture.

Ok so say you are talking only about cross-fire drivers/frame metering with multiple GPUs. The way you made the statement is implicit of the entire product stack.

I have two 7950's, you wouldn't be able to relate.

I have many 7970s and 2 in my rig below. My profile doesn't show it because I don't feel like getting into discussions with you, and others about how your CF is broken in 1000 games. I don't really care to argue that.

13.5

Performance gains seen on the entire AMD Radeon™ HD 7000 Series for the following:
Far Cry 3: Improves performance up to 4% with Anti-Aliasing enabled
Shogun II: Improves performance up to 20% with 8x Anti-Aliasing enabled
Tomb Raider: Improves performance up to 6%
Bioshock: Improves performance up to 6%
Borderlands 2: Improves performance up to 17%
Corruption is no longer seen on the AMD Radeon HD 7790 when TressFX is enabled in Tomb Raider

4 months = "Assuming of course AMD is fixing their drivers, and given the total lack of any real improvements over the last 4-5 months I sure hope that is the case."

The information you provided contracts itself. You list performance improvements and game fixes and yet say there have been no real improvements in the last 4-5 months. When questioned, you provided 0 examples of what games you are having issues with. And then when I asked you what you are talking about, you then said Oh you meant only CF metering issues.

Everyone knows for multiple-GPUs, NV was the way to go but you continue to make statements about broken drivers and game issues without any examples and without specifically clarifying you are discussing CF.

Further, games like FC3 have stuttering issues with multiple GPUs regardless of NV/AMD. If you have tried FC3 maxed out with GTX660TI SLi and saw performance go under 60 fps, there is stutter. You seem to have failed to mention that some game related issues are game / game engine based.

You continue to complain non-stop about HD7950 CFX but at current prices, there is still no better alternative for the price than HD7950 OC CF. Nothing else even comes close when comparing HD7950 @ 1200mhz x 2 for barely more than $500.

Hopefully by the time AMD is on 20nm, they will have implemented hardware-based frame metering.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Ok so say you are talking only about cross-fire drivers/frame metering with multiple GPUs. The way you made the statement is implicit of the entire product stack.

Most importantly, performance across the board. Kind of like the Never Settle driver, except without all the problems. Which is directed at the entire stack.

I have many 7970s and 2 in my rig below. My profile doesn't show it because I don't feel like getting into discussions with you, and others about how your CF is broken in 1000 games. I don't really care to argue that.

Good thing since you'd be up against facts and that is always an uphill battle.

The information you provided contracts itself. You list performance improvements and game fixes and yet say there have been no real improvements in the last 4-5 months. When questions, you provided 0 examples of what games you are having issues with. And then when I asked you what you are talking about, you then said Oh you meant only CF metering issues.

I'd list them as trivial and infrequent.

No I meant CF and memory performance, general performance issues across the board where a large chip with better specs is competing with a mid-range card. I'm hopeful there is more potential to unlock, nothing more.

Everyone knows for multiple-GPUs, NV was the way to go but you continue to make statements about broken drivers and game issues without any examples and without specifically clarifying you are discussing CF.

Huh? I rarely say anything negative about my experience other than what it is. The only thing I've posted directly related to CF was Far Cry 3, seeking a fix that was never found.

You're projecting at this point, you're trying to find malice where there is none.

Further, games like FC3 have stuttering issues with multiple GPUs regardless of NV/AMD. If you have tried FC3 maxed out with GTX660TI SLi and saw performance go under 60 fps, there is stutter. You seem to have failed to mention that some game related issues are game / game engine based.

That's great but mine is still awful even at 100+ fps.

I haven't really mentioned anything, I don't need to of course though and you know that. Which is why you keep bringing up FC3, as if it wasn't an exception to the rule.

 

[Fastx]

I saw this posted today possible 20nm or 28nm. 🙂

In Q3 2013, AMD would expand their Never Settle bundle portfolio with newer titles, offer optimizations in games such as Thief, Battlefield 4 and at the same time improve the value of their HD 7000 series by offering various price cuts to pave way for a complete next generation experience. Also expect an update over the next generation of GPUs by the end of Q3 2013!

http://wccftech.com/amd-talks-graphic-industrys-trends-radeon-hd-7970-king-299-349-price-segment/

 

[tviceman]

Also expect an update over the next generation of GPUs by the end of Q3 2013![/b]

http://wccftech.com/amd-talks-graphic-industrys-trends-radeon-hd-7970-king-299-349-price-segment/

Awesome if true!

 

[tviceman]

But really, I'd rather see AMD just concentrate on getting their business and tech more competitive rather than spend time on B level youtube commercials and pointless press deck slides. Their flagship product is currently competing (and losing out of the box) with Nvidia's 3rd best product. Nvidia is literally doing whatever they want to with pricing. Imagine how much worse it will be at 20nm if the jumps AMD and Nvidia make over their existing architectures are similar to what each company did comparatively to their 40nm cards. Nvidia made noticeably bigger jumps in performance than AMD did.

 

[Elfear]

Their flagship product is currently competing (and losing out of the box) with Nvidia's 3rd best product. Nvidia is literally doing whatever they want to with pricing. Imagine how much worse it will be at 20nm if the jumps AMD and Nvidia make over their existing architectures are similar to what each company did comparatively to their 40nm cards. Nvidia made noticeably bigger jumps in performance than AMD did.

Not to nitpick, but a compilation of 6 different review sites shows the two neck and neck with a slight edge to the 7970Ghz.

I would love to see AMD come out with faster cards sooner rather than later as well but only a small percentage of an already niche market can afford $650 and $1000 GPUs anyway so most consumers don't care that Nvidia has two faster cards in their lineup.

 

[Fastx]

Imagine how much worse it will be at 20nm if the jumps AMD and Nvidia make over their existing architectures are similar to what each company did comparatively to their 40nm cards. Nvidia made noticeably bigger jumps in performance than AMD did.

For me I am fine with around 55-65% increase on a AMD 20nm if its Q4-Q1 even when/if Nvidia brings out a faster 20nm. It will save me from buying another 7950 or 7970GE and going CF if Q4-Q1 and also Nvidia pricing.

I am thinking if AMD only releases a 28nm in Q3-Q4 and they swing for the fences (780/Titan) and bring out a higher spec/ bigger die 28nm (+30%>7970GE) like I read in this thread and are successful, I know I will be very tempted to buy one depending on the final spec's and bm's. So I am kind of hoping they don't per above in a way so it makes me wait for the 20nm for sure.

 

[3DVagabond]

oh... yea, right, overclocking was only viable with gtx460. Now it is just a gamble that gives marginal improvements to avg fps, increases stuttering, makes gpu draw more power, is a sign of poor wallet and act of desperation.😎

Was that directed at me? I was just stating a fact... The cards were manually overclocked and AMD typically is faster when both brands are overclocked.

At stock speeds it's generally (depending on benchmarks used) 7950-> 670/7950 boost-> 7970->680-> 7970GHz.

As I said, it depends on the benchmarks used. You can skew it pretty wildly in one direction or the other by cherry picking benches that favor one brand.

 

[RussianSensation]

Their flagship product is currently competing (and losing out of the box) with Nvidia's 3rd best product. Nvidia is literally doing whatever they want to with pricing.

HD7970GE was beating GTX680 since June 2012 by larger %s than GTX770 is beating HD7970GE by. All of a sudden GTX770 is "winning" by 2-5% but when GTX680 was getting beaten by 8-10%, the GTX680 was "trading blows" with the 7970GE. Also, look at BF4 alpha VRAM usage. This is a scary thought for a $400 GTX770 2GB for next gen titles coming down the pipeline in the next 12-18 months:

When PC gamers are willing to pay $450 for a GTX770 4GB, how is AMD 100% to blame for these high prices due to its supposed lack of competitiveness when NV's loyal customers are willing to pay $100-150 more for a card that's barely faster? AMD continues to provide class leading price/performance with 7950/7970/7970GE and yet NV isn't lowering prices. That tells me even if AMD released cards faster than NV, people would still buy NV products. :biggrin:

Imagine how much worse it will be at 20nm if the jumps AMD and Nvidia make over their existing architectures are similar to what each company did comparatively to their 40nm cards. Nvidia made noticeably bigger jumps in performance than AMD did.

Ya, but they are asking an arm and a leg for that.

GTX780 --> $650 - 1920x1080 4AA - 64% faster than GTX580
You are paying $10.17 for each 1% increase over the 580

HD7970GE --> $350 - 1920x1080 4AA - 64% faster than HD6970
You are paying $5.47 for each 1% increase over 6970

1080P 4AA
GTX780 ($650) - 117% - paying 86% more for 17% increase
GTX770 4GB ($450) - 102% - paying 29% more for 2% increase
GTX770 2GB ($400) - 102% - paying 14% more for 2% increase
HD7970GE ($350) - 100%
http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/grafikkarten/2013/nvidia-geforce-gtx-770-im-test/4/

Even if you take the higher ends of the range of GTX780 being 22-25% faster, it's still massively overpriced. Take 8-10% for the most overclocked 770s, and it's also still overpriced vs. the 7970GE.

NV will continue to price its products high not because of AMD but because consumers seem to not care about price/performance as was the case from 2008 to 2011. In that case, GPUs are becoming luxury products like headphones. NV seems to have finally figured this out and their pricing structure is no longer in-line with AMD's. They are now adding their own NV features/brand name/marketing premium and as long as consumers are paying, it's unreasonable to say that NV can do anything they want because of AMD. NV is doing it because consumers are placing more value on everything other than price/performance and NV was the first firm to capitalize on this. Now if AMD releases a card that's faster than 780, they won't price it at $499 either; just look at HD7990's price. Once NV tested the new $1000 price levels for 690/Titan and AMD went to $1000 with HD7990, game over for cheap GPU prices (i.e., HD4870 $299, HD5870/6970 $369). Higher wafer prices for lower nodes mean that at launch new generations won't be cheap any longer.

Keep in mind in the past when NV beat HD2900XT/3870/4870/5870/6970 with their large die flagships (476-530mm2 die chips), they didn't price them at $1000. NV finally tested the new $1000 price bracket and since consumers paid, what we are experiencing is the same thing that happened in the high-end headphone market. Consumers are nearly 100% to blame for this because they embraced these prices. We can point the finger at AMD/NV but we are the ones buying $500 mid-range cards and $1000 flagships. AMD/NV are loving this. Having said that, the cost of PC software is so much cheaper over time than console games, that even if prices of GPUs doubled, the cost of PC gaming long-term is still very competitive against console gaming over 7 years+ and hundreds of purchased games. This is probably why AMD/NV have been able to raise prices on hardware knowing that PC gamers understand that the total cost of ownership is hardware + software (PC) vs. hardware + software (console). I am just amazed it took this long for AMD/NV to realize this. HD4870/5870/6970 pricing was really the golden era of GPU prices.

 

[Fastx]

Anyone think (or read) if AMD will address the CF issue with a hardware fix on the new AMD VI cards coming out Q4?

I know about the new CF FP driver fix coming 7/31 with setting options but hoping and prefer of course they can implement a hardware fix.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Anyone think (or read) if AMD will address the CF issue with a hardware fix on the new AMD VI cards coming out Q4?

I know about the new CF FP driver fix coming 7/31 with setting options but hoping and prefer of course they can implement a hardware fix.

I thought it was already settled that even Nvidia only has a hardware solution on the gtx690. None of the other cards use it.

I'm almost positive about that.

 

[tweakboy]

I would buy only if it said Alaska .. 🙁

 

[Fastx]

I am just wondering and thinking with all this publicity which AMD is acknowledging now on the CF issue if AMD might/could go for a hardware fix on the new cards coming out. Since they are researching all this as of late for a fix maybe they could go to a hardware fix on the new cards coming out and perform even better (even more fps performance w/HW?) than a driver fix alone?

 

[Fastx]

Oh one other thing also I didn't know all Nvidia cards (except 690) had sofware/driver solution I thought they had a hardware solution.

 

[Fastx]

I thought it was already settled that even Nvidia only has a hardware solution on the gtx690. None of the other cards use it.

I'm almost positive about that.

Check this video out at 1:19:24 which Tom Peterson from Nvidia stating all 600 series Kepler w/sli have a hardware solution for frame metering for SLI.

http://www.pcper.com/news/Editorial/PCPer-Live-Frame-Rating-and-FCAT-Your-Questions-Answered-0


The below is just part of what prompt my question (#94) above on this subject in this thread.

Nvidia started doing hardware frame metering with the launch of the GK104 chips in the 600 series GPU's, however long ago that was. AMD had nothing comparable, and still doesn't. Their frame compositing engine is still software based too.

Their prototype driver fix doesn't even completely fix the frame time variance issues, although it does make them better. They probably can't fix it completely, since they're trying to do in software, what Nvidia is doing in hardware