Tuesday, December 20th 2016

AMD "Polaris 12" Surfaces in Linux Drivers

by
btarunr
 Discuss (24 Comments)
Apparently AMD is working on a third GPU based on its "Polaris" (4th generation Graphics CoreNext) architecture, dubbed "Polaris 12." Snooping into the code of AMDGPU DRM kernel driver, PCI-IDs 0x6980, 0x6981, 0x6985, 0x6986, 0x6987, and 0x699F, were pointing to a descriptor "Polaris 12." There are no other known specifications of this chip.

Going by convention of Polaris 11 (Radeon RX 460) being a smaller chip than Polaris 10 (RX 470, RX 480), it's likely that Polaris 12 could be an even smaller chip. On the other hand, a chip slower than Polaris 10 makes very little sense, because it would compete with "free" integrated graphics. Another possibility is that Polaris 12 is a Polaris 10 refresh on an improved process, or even made at TSMC, in which case the higher number would mean that it's a newer chip.
Source: Phoronix

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24 Comments on AMD "Polaris 12" Surfaces in Linux Drivers

#1
IceScreamer
Doesn't the number next to Polaris mean the time when the chip was made, bigger the number latter the manufacture (or design or whatever) date.

My guess is this is only a refresh with possibly some new features.
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#2
ratirt
if true maybe it's for laptops? Smaller in size (if that what it's referring too) could be an attempt to get those RX's for laptops?
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#3
Fishymachine
Given the whole Vega 10 > Vega 11 thing, I'm guessing Radeon's chip naming scheme is uArch 10+no of released chips, meaning Polaris 11 <12 < 10 (<10XT) could be a thing, and if they do release a revised P10 that can clock better, it would make sense to have something in between fighting the nV 1050/Ti
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#4
pidgin
This article is a pain to read
Posted on Reply
#5
TheinsanegamerN
ratirtif true maybe it's for laptops? Smaller in size (if that what it's referring too) could be an attempt to get those RX's for laptops?
but why tho? the 460 mobile chip is already a 35 watt part, they have the radeon 455 underneath that, and anything lower has been decimated by integrated graphics. there just isnt a big market there anymore.

AMD needs bigger chips, not smaller ones.
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#6
ADHDGAMING
IceScreamerDoesn't the number next to Polaris mean the time when the chip was made, bigger the number latter the manufacture (or design or whatever) date.

My guess is this is only a refresh with possibly some new features.
correct which could mean this is a refinement . But most AMD refinements get slapped with an XT at the end .. there is the possibility that this is even smaller than Polaris 11 .. Cellphone sized Chip maybe? . or it could just be a refinement of the already existing OEM small laptop type chips that arent APUs
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#7
hojnikb
>>On the other hand, a chip slower than Polaris 10 makes very little sense, because it would compete with "free" integrated graphics.

Actually, amd makes even shitter gpus for laptops, which makes absolutely no sense with good igpus. But they still sell them and you see designs with them.
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#8
kruk
In current naming scheme there seems to be no place for a new chip between RX 470 and RX 460, since xx5 are reserved for refreshes. Also Polaris 10 refresh will probably be named Polaris 10 XT2 (similar to Tahiti XT2) as others have already pointed out. IMHO, his must either be something that fills the R line of GPUs or something that will be introduced in RX 5xx series.
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#9
ADHDGAMING
hojnikb>>On the other hand, a chip slower than Polaris 10 makes very little sense, because it would compete with "free" integrated graphics.

Actually, amd makes even shitter gpus for laptops, which makes absolutely no sense with good igpus. But they still sell them and you see designs with them.
whatever it is it will be better than the Intel option at that level so....
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#10
Mirkoskji
Maybe a small chip with the same specs of an integrated Apu for symmetric crossfire support on laptops?
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#11
HD64G
Polaris 12 might be either a 2 X P10 GPU or a P10 refresh that is rumoured for 2 or more months now. And AMD Radeon group is naming the chips according to their design finish date, not to their size. That is well known even before RX480 got out.
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#12
refillable
hojnikb>>On the other hand, a chip slower than Polaris 10 makes very little sense, because it would compete with "free" integrated graphics.

Actually, amd makes even shitter gpus for laptops, which makes absolutely no sense with good igpus. But they still sell them and you see designs with them.
None of those shittier GPUs are 14nm, and Nvidia is doing those shitty GPUs as well. Why not?
Posted on Reply
#13
Fx
pidginThis article is a pain to read
Unless it was edited after your comment, I don't see what you are talking about.
Posted on Reply
#14
Arnulf
Does it have to be discrete GPU? My integrated HD 530 gets its own PCIe Vendor ID and Device ID and APUs with Polaris-based GPU are due to be released in 2017 (Raven Ridge).
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#15
prtskg
ArnulfDoes it have to be discrete GPU? My integrated HD 530 gets its own PCIe Vendor ID and Device ID and APUs with Polaris-based GPU are due to be released in 2017 (Raven Ridge).
They are in 2nd half of 2017. There is no reason AMD would be bringing Ravenridge's codes now in linux.
Hopefully polaris 12 will be bigger, better and more efficient than present desktop polaris gpus.
Posted on Reply
#17
TheGuruStud
hojnikb>>On the other hand, a chip slower than Polaris 10 makes very little sense, because it would compete with "free" integrated graphics.

Actually, amd makes even shitter gpus for laptops, which makes absolutely no sense with good igpus. But they still sell them and you see designs with them.
320 cores with top end APU. What a joke. A total waste of 2GB gddr5. Would be cheaper to use the fastest ram in dual channel and still achieve better performance (not to mention double ram capacity, a good marketing spec).
Posted on Reply
#18
Arnulf
prtskgThey are in 2nd half of 2017. There is no reason AMD would be bringing Ravenridge's codes now in linux.
H2 2017 is just a tad more than 6 months away.

Ellesmere and Baffin have been added to Linux drivers under these designations no later than March 2016 yet the cards themselves were only released in August.

I believe the bits of code (PCIe device defines) have actually been added earlier (omitting the names and any other Polaris references).
Posted on Reply
#19
prtskg
ArnulfH2 2017 is just a tad more than 6 months away.

Ellesmere and Baffin have been added to Linux drivers under these designations no later than March 2016 yet the cards themselves were only released in August.

I believe the bits of code (PCIe device defines) have actually been added earlier (omitting the names and any other Polaris references).
www.phoronix.com/forums/forum/phoronix/latest-phoronix-articles/919417-amd-publishes-polaris-12-support-for-amdgpu-radeonsi-linux-driver#post919537
Bridgman confirms it's not an apu.
Posted on Reply
#20
IceScreamer
This looks like they are filling the gap between RX 460 and the RX470, kinda like that RX 470 DE or whatever, possibly for the global market.
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#21
jabbadap
IceScreamerThis looks like they are filling the gap between RX 460 and the RX470, kinda like that RX 470 DE or whatever, possibly for the global market.
Uhm with a chip much weaker than polaris 11?

If I have to guess, it's a chip which goes to matrox graphics cards. And maybe lowest end(RX 450, Radeon 4/40/50/60) with capable of hybrid crossfire with apus. Do look the new naming scheme from amd
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#22
Lionheart
Oh please let it be the RX 490 or at least something better than the RX 480 AMD, not a RX 450 or something low end
Posted on Reply
#23
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
LionheartOh please let it be the RX 490 or at least something better than the RX 480 AMD, not a RX 450 or something low end
TBH I am much more interested in how much performance you can get for about €75 than how much performance you can get for €500. GDDR5 in that space will kick ass, as even low end chips are held back by DDR3.
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