Its not terrible, but I have to say I would definitely take dual 6950s or 6970s (or SLI 560/570/580) over a 6990. Guess we'll see about the NV's dual GPU card, but I don't expect it to be a lot better.
The only way I could see this making sense is if you have a monster multi-display setup (or say an actual 8K projector), have 4 of these (which can Crossfire even scale to that?) with at least 2 CPU system (which again, not sure if it would even scale enough), and a cooling setup to support it.
The cooler is a big disappointment. I think it would have made more sense to take the shroud off and just put a bit 3 slot cooler on it. With the length, you might as well flip your front fan around to pull air out as well, and have your intake be from below, in which case you might as well take the shroud off.
Good thing a new process is on the way, I don't even want to think about what they'd have to do with the next gen.
They're getting to the point where it would make sense for them to start thinking about dedicated GPU power supplies. In which case, might as well start looking at just making it an external box, where for general tasks these new CPUs with onboard GPUs can do it so you can basically shut the external GPU off entirely if you want. How much of an issue would some extension cables to plug them into the PCI-e slots be? If they created a new connector it could be a big boon for laptops where you could have a nice svelte portable computer, and then when you're at home you plug in the gaming setup. Really, it could actually be a boon for gaming in general, where it would function as an entire console (say if Microsoft made the Xbox into this). Maybe each module would have two gaming CPU cores, a mid-range (like GTX460 level) GPU, and then like 2GB of shared RAM and 4GB of flash/SSD to load the game on and then it'd just scale from there.
Er, sorry for the rambling mess.
The only way I could see this making sense is if you have a monster multi-display setup (or say an actual 8K projector), have 4 of these (which can Crossfire even scale to that?) with at least 2 CPU system (which again, not sure if it would even scale enough), and a cooling setup to support it.
The cooler is a big disappointment. I think it would have made more sense to take the shroud off and just put a bit 3 slot cooler on it. With the length, you might as well flip your front fan around to pull air out as well, and have your intake be from below, in which case you might as well take the shroud off.
Good thing a new process is on the way, I don't even want to think about what they'd have to do with the next gen.
They're getting to the point where it would make sense for them to start thinking about dedicated GPU power supplies. In which case, might as well start looking at just making it an external box, where for general tasks these new CPUs with onboard GPUs can do it so you can basically shut the external GPU off entirely if you want. How much of an issue would some extension cables to plug them into the PCI-e slots be? If they created a new connector it could be a big boon for laptops where you could have a nice svelte portable computer, and then when you're at home you plug in the gaming setup. Really, it could actually be a boon for gaming in general, where it would function as an entire console (say if Microsoft made the Xbox into this). Maybe each module would have two gaming CPU cores, a mid-range (like GTX460 level) GPU, and then like 2GB of shared RAM and 4GB of flash/SSD to load the game on and then it'd just scale from there.
Er, sorry for the rambling mess.
To be far, Anandtech did open up the card, and take the cooler off, with those thermal pads not working as well after such.
That said yeah... cards are noisy... aprrently they make more noise than the 480 did, its not just 1 site its many sites that have 6990>480 when it comes to noise.
The 6990 needs to have a Custom Cooler designed by Asus, or oneone, so it ll be less hot, less noisy, then this card would be a huge win.
at 699$ price tag, and being like ~65% faster than 1 x 580, that usually costs ~500$.
Value wise... its a better buy than a 580.
That said yeah... cards are noisy... aprrently they make more noise than the 480 did, its not just 1 site its many sites that have 6990>480 when it comes to noise.
The 6990 needs to have a Custom Cooler designed by Asus, or oneone, so it ll be less hot, less noisy, then this card would be a huge win.
at 699$ price tag, and being like ~65% faster than 1 x 580, that usually costs ~500$.
Value wise... its a better buy than a 580.
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Skurge
Diamond Member
- Aug 17, 2009
- 5,195
- 1
- 71
Techpowerup only tested with 4xAA? with 6990 Xfire?
It looks like CPU limit to me. Maybe the AMD slides were done with Bulldozer.
The card is way to loud though, thats just inexcusable. Im sure they could have come up with a better cooler design, maybe drop the shroud and get a triple slot or something.
It looks like CPU limit to me. Maybe the AMD slides were done with Bulldozer.
The card is way to loud though, thats just inexcusable. Im sure they could have come up with a better cooler design, maybe drop the shroud and get a triple slot or something.
waffleironhead
Diamond Member
- Aug 10, 2005
- 7,122
- 622
- 136
notty22
Diamond Member
- Jan 1, 2010
- 3,375
- 0
- 0
Why would AMD allow people to pull the card apart ?
Anand did not take the card apart, Ryan mentions in the comments, AMD was adamant about this and AMD provided all the disassembled photos.
This has been my experience with some laptops. The torquing and initial squish / balance has to be exact over many heat shedding parts.
Very nice performance, easily the fastest card money can buy. But it would never find its way into my case, even if it was the same price as two 6970's... the reviews all pretty much seem to agree that this thing is way too loud. I'm sure there will be some nice third party designs, but AMD could have done a lot better in the noise department. I have to wonder if they would have been better off making this a tripple slot part.
How do you figure this card is useless? It's a very high end part that will sell in low volume. It's nothing more than a halo product at $700. But that is what it's supposed to be, it's not for everyone.
How do you figure this card is useless? It's a very high end part that will sell in low volume. It's nothing more than a halo product at $700. But that is what it's supposed to be, it's not for everyone.
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Just stop posting please, you have nothing to contribute to this thread.
The 6990 just as the 590 are cards that are not for everyone, it's meant to target a portion of the market that is very small yet has the most money.
OILFIELDTRASH
Lifer
- May 13, 2009
- 12,333
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I don't understand why they didn't go with a 3 slot? You know this thing would rock with the asus direct 2 cu cooler as someone else mentioned. You could have dual gpu performance while only taking 3 slots and have better temps and noise levels. It would have reasonable temps and noise levels and since the gpu's are binned for low voltage it might be a pretty reasonable power/performance performer. I think what kills it in the end is the price too. $600 seems much more reasonable. Shouldn't there be a discount for buying 2 gpu's and on top of that wouldn't it be cheaper for them to produce this instead of 2 6970's?
...Each supplier modifies their coolers as they feel is needed. I'm sure asus will release a DCU II 6990 eventually.
LOL 77 dbs WTF? Isnt that higher than the FX 5800? Oh god...
Who will buy this thing? Even if you got the money, youd be an idiot not to wait for custom versions
Who will buy this thing? Even if you got the money, youd be an idiot not to wait for custom versions
mnewsham
Lifer
- Oct 2, 2010
- 14,539
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How is 600 more reasonable? Please i want someone to explain how a single card being more expensive then two cards is a surprise or something bad.... it is ALWAYS like this. two 6970's is $680 ($640 AR) the 6990 is $699 that makes sense as it takes up less space and uses less power.
OILFIELDTRASH
Lifer
- May 13, 2009
- 12,333
- 612
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Because I would be buying 2 gpu's instead of one. And also I'm sure it cheaper to produce this instead of two full 6970's. So why shouldn't some of the savings be passed on to the consumer?
mnewsham
Lifer
- Oct 2, 2010
- 14,539
- 428
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So if i buy 2 GTX 460's for $320 that match a 580 for $400-$450 i shouldn't expect the 580 to cost less then $320 should i?
It's 2 HIGH END GPUs running within 12in of space...what do you expect? Specially with stock coolers.
You really aren't getting what he is saying, or are purposely trying to get around what he is saying. He is talking about actual material costs... One PCB and 2 GPUs on the same board should cost less than 2 GPUs on two different PCBs. It has nothing to do with the size of the GPUs (since they are the same), or the memory cost (since they are the same). I'm guessing they are trying to get some R&D costs reimbursed with this product...
waffleironhead
Diamond Member
- Aug 10, 2005
- 7,122
- 622
- 136
There is always a price premium for the fastest single card solution. Business' do not base their pricing on passing down savings to the consumer. its about charging the most that the market will allow.
OILFIELDTRASH
Lifer
- May 13, 2009
- 12,333
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Not even the same thing. The 580 is a true single gpu. The 6990 is a microstuttering crossfire card. There is a premium for the best single gpu. Most people don't want the extra heat/power a sli/crossfire setup requires and we also don't need the stuttering that comes with it.
And btw the 460 sli is not equivalent to a 580. When they can guarantee the stuttering is gone 100% and the 460 sli can get the same minimum fps then it could be called equal. What it comes down to is how does the games play when you start playing and in that regard 460 sli is not even in the same league as the single 580.
OILFIELDTRASH
Lifer
- May 13, 2009
- 12,333
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I hope the market determines this thing falls flat on it's face as it should at current pricing. The fastest single card solution is the 580 and whatever aftermarket cooler you decide to have on it. This is an overpriced mini oven.
mnewsham
Lifer
- Oct 2, 2010
- 14,539
- 428
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Yes but they would lose profit by making it cost less, they spent a lot of time and money on this card, they need to try and make money on it, considering you are only paying ~60 bucks more without having the extra power connectors (2 6 pin and 2 8 pin for the 6970's vs 2 8 pin for the 6990) and less space. 60 bucks for less cables and using less space seems like a fair trade off. And if doing quad-fire you are paying a $120 premium for 2 6990's vs 4 6970's. the 6970's however would need 4 pcie slots vs 2 they would also need 4 6 pin PCI and 4 8 pin PCI vs 4 8 pin PCI. I really dont see what the big fuss is. For anyone who is even thinking about 6970's in x-fire the convince of a single card solution is probably worth the 60 "fee"
Not an excuse... Its been done before several times and it wasnt nearly this bad
I cant blame Tom's for what they said, 70+ dbs is just unacceptable
OILFIELDTRASH
Lifer
- May 13, 2009
- 12,333
- 612
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This card is fail. I wonder how long before you ruin your hard drives with this thing becoming essentially a hair dryer and toasting your hard drives and whatever else gets in the heat blast. The temps of the drives in anandtech's review went up almost 10c if I remember correctly. I thought gpu manufacturers learned last time around consumers don't like mini furnaces.
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