Mystery X2-card from AMD, HD 5970 on 19 november?

[MarcVenice]

Look for yourself. I'm in the know about AMD's videocards, but I can tell you right now, I haven't heard from nor seen that mystery card. So maybe I'm not in the know, or maybe AMD really doesn't want anybody to know.

Erm, google it for yourself. Link was removed by a mod



The link has been restored with permission from the forum administration:

http://alienbabeltech.com/main/?p=12931

Video Mod BFG10K.

 

[Denithor]

How do they seriously plan to execute this launch? They cannot even keep stores stocked with the single-gpu-core 5850 and 5870 models...

 

[ScorcherDarkly]

That's my question too. They can't supply enough single GPU cards, how in the world do they expect to supply dual GPU cards?

 

[bigriggg]

maybe they gonna have a mass shipment of chips they got stashed away

 

[jaded25]

Maybe they might be holding back a few cards but whats the point if there selling like crazy now

 

[Ratinator]

Original (I think)
http://alienbabeltech.com/abt/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17968

Link with the benchmarks (removed on original site)
http://www.nordichardware.com/news,10152.html

Related links
http://www.dailytech.com/Return+of+...d+to+Seize+Performance+Crown/article16709.htm
http://en.expreview.com/2009/10/30/radeon-hd-5970-seen-in-all-its-might.html

 

[error8]

Is Dell going to buy all of these too?

 

[nitromullet]

While I think a 5970 with dual gpus would be a cool card, I personally think it would be a strange move on ATI's part given the lack of availability of 5870s and the resulting increase in price of the 5870s. I understand that 5850 availability is doing to be dependent upon cores that don't make the cut for 5870, so that is somewhat out of ATI's hands. However I don't see the sense in in launching a 5970 that will sell for less than double the 5870, but requires two gpus. ...unless they are able to sell them for $800...

 

[shangshang]

c'mon this is a pre-emptive strike on ATI's part, a little gamesmanship, trying to rub some salt on NV. Basically, ATI is saying to consumers..."if you think bout getting Fermi, we have 5970 now". I'll bet the 5970 had always been planned in as the "X factor" to Fermi.

I don't think ATI is seriously looking to sell massive quantity of 5970's because like you guys said, they (or rather TSMC) can't even keep up with demand for 58xx cards.

 

[ZipSpeed]

Or maybe TSMC has gotten the yields up and AMD is getting ready to flood the market with 5800 and 5900 series cards. Right, right, right?

 

[T2k]

That's my boy, 5850 X2 aka 5950!

 

[Tempered81]

That's my boy, 5850 X2 aka 5950!

Many different versions!

 

[KIAman]

No worries, I've already secure several hundred million and plan on buying up every last drop. You can start taking orders from me now at a 200% markup.

 

[Schmide]

Many different versions!

picture snip

Thank you so much not only of the pictures, but for the excellent formatting. All you big picture post stretchers take note!

 

[nOOky]

Sweet. A card that I can run any game out there at any setting and resolution I want, and I can beat a robber to death with it if I catch one trying to steal my computer.

 

[Hauk]

Clocks and memory size, that's what I want to see. 725 core as reported with the engineering sample? Say it isn't so. And 1GB per GPU? Insert sad face here [ ].

Regarding timing and availability, why not launch? In demand cards at all performance/price points, scarce demand, who cares? Look at their timeframe, they can do what they want for months it appears..

 

[dguy6789]

c'mon this is a pre-emptive strike on ATI's part, a little gamesmanship, trying to rub some salt on NV. Basically, ATI is saying to consumers..."if you think bout getting Fermi, we have 5970 now". I'll bet the 5970 had always been planned in as the "X factor" to Fermi.

I don't think ATI is seriously looking to sell massive quantity of 5970's because like you guys said, they (or rather TSMC) can't even keep up with demand for 58xx cards.

I think this is exactly what it is. It doesn't have to be widely available at first to have a huge marketing impact.

 

[YBS1]

That's my question too. They can't supply enough single GPU cards, how in the world do they expect to supply dual GPU cards?

If we're assuming the rumors of reduced clock speeds for the X2 versions are true, then the same way they are supplying limited 5850's...With the chips that don't make the cut as 5870's.

 

[cbn]

maybe they gonna have a mass shipment of chips they got stashed away

Aren't these HD5970 chips basically low binned Cypress cores (in order to make TDP).

If that is the case maybe we can say Goodbye to the idea Cores being saved up for HD5830s?

 

[cbn]

That's my question too. They can't supply enough single GPU cards, how in the world do they expect to supply dual GPU cards?

I'll bet they make more money by selling two GPUs on a single board than if they made two separate lower priced video cards.

Of course, after demand fills at the high end/first adopter tier....then they start selling value to the rest of us.

 

[nitromullet]

If we're assuming the rumors of reduced clock speeds for the X2 versions are true, then the same way they are supplying limited 5850's...With the chips that don't make the cut as 5870's.

The 5850 is more than just a reduced clockspeed 5870. It also has a reduced number of stream processors and texture units. The 5850 gpu is basically made from a 5870 gpu that has a portion of it that doesn't work because of a manufacturing defect. The gpu is designed to allow ATI to disable the non-functional potions and still use a gpu intended to be a 5870 as a 5850. So, the gpu on a 5850 might still clock as high as a 5870, but ATI can't use these gpus to make 5970s.

The gpus on the 5970 are most likely clocked slower than the 5870 because of heat or power issues. I doubt ATI would be putting two chips that don't qualify to be in a single gpu 5870 into their dual gpu flagship card. That seems like a terrific way to piss off your high end (high margin) customers, which is who buys dual gpu cards.

 

[jvroig]

I doubt ATI would be putting two chips that don't qualify to be in a single gpu 5870 into their dual gpu flagship card. That seems like a terrific way to piss off your high end (high margin) customers, which is who buys dual gpu cards.

Agreed. Still, the supply problems c/o TSMC are a mystery here. If they don't use 5870 rejects for the 5970, where would they get them from? Will they cut back even more on 5870 parts to sell a few 5970s?

 

[v8envy]

Allow me to invoke IDC's favorite shmoo plot. It's entirely possible to produce chips which won't run at 850-875mhz at acceptable voltage (or at all) but are perfectly stable and well within power and thermal spec at 750 mhz. It doesn't have to be a malfunctioning rendering unit which renders the chips unsaleable as a 5870.

We'll know for sure once the cards are out and people try to overclock them. If they have next to zero headroom or require lots more voltage and cooling to get there -- there you go.

 

[T2k]

Many different versions!

Yes and this is my preferred one!

 

[Tempered81]

looks like it will be using the top design: