Monday, March 23 2009
Following our report of ASUS preparing an overclocked Radeon HD 4890 accelerator with clock speeds well above 900 MHz (core) and 1000 MHz (memory), the possibility has come to surface that AMD has carved out a new range of Radeon HD 4890 accelerators from the unusually high overclocking headroom the RV790 GPU has. The credit also goes to the reference-design PCB, which is known to possess some of the highest quality digital PWM components to handle power, and 4 GT/s GDDR5 memory, which is now known to have a good overclocking headroom.

It has surfaced on the forums of Chinese tech community PCInLife, that the RV790 rather effortlessly reached the 1 GHz mark, the slider-limit of Catalyst Control Center, sparking off fresh rumors that AMD partners may be creating a fresh niche of highly-overclocked cards shortly after Radeon HD 4890 comes to be. The overclocker reached speeds of 1 GHz (core) and 1125 MHz (4.50 GHz effective, memory). At the said speeds, the card was put through 3DMark Vantage with its eXtreme settings. It churned-out a score of X5480, which puts its performance somewhere between those of the GeForce GTX 280 and GeForce GTX 285. It should also be taken into account that the drivers RV790 users the world over have been using, are preliminary beta drivers. AMD plans to release Catalyst 9.4 with the release of Radeon HD 4890, which just may impact positively on the performance of the product.



Factory-overclocked cards based on ATI Radeon have since now been a formality. Even cards with the iconic HIS IceQ TurboX branding, haven't been known to have high (~15~20%) increase in clock speeds. With this feat surfacing, it has been established that the RV790 holds the capability to reach some very high clock speeds. On course to the 1 GHz mark, the overclocker at PCInLife comfortably reached 925/1025 MHz (X5021) and 950/1075 MHz (X5202). It sounds plausible that these speeds could be the speeds factory-overclocked cards come at, with a branding system similar to what NVIDIA uses: a tier-1 (light overclock), tier-2 (moderate overclock), tier-3 (high overclock), and tier-4 (extreme overclock). At any rate, this is turning out to be an exciting fortnight for the high-end GPU industry.

Source: PCInLife
posted by btarunr - 5:12 AM |  Related News

User comments
1 to 26 of 103 | Go to Page 1 2 3 4 5    Previous | Next
by Binge (March 24th - 5:20 AM) - Reply
I have to say 1 ghz on an RV790 is very impressive. If it behaves better than it's predecessor I suspect this card will be a contender.
by [I.R.A]_FBi (March 24th - 5:23 AM) - Reply
orally? you dont say ... 1 ghz?

trying to find out what cooling
by nafets (March 24th - 5:25 AM) - Reply
I'd take these results with a grain of salt.

When I see hardware review sites pushing near 1GHz with retail HD4890s, then I'll be impressed...
by Binge (March 24th - 5:25 AM) - Reply
that pic shows the fan at 100%. Yeah, I can believe they'd need it. That sucker must be LOUD.
by Weer (March 24th - 5:34 AM) - Reply
What I want to know is what exactly did they do to th RV770 core to be able to clock it this high. Same process, since configuration, same amount of pipes and the exact same layout. What the heck is the difference between RV770 and RV790?! It feels like ATI is cheating, and it's annoying. But what am I supposed to accuse them of - using magic?
by wolf (March 24th - 5:36 AM) - Reply
a GTX260 core 216 easily gets between a GTX280 and 285 when overclocked. this isnt revolutionary but as i suspected you've gotta clock the nuts off it for it to be a solid contender to GTX280/285's
by [I.R.A]_FBi (March 24th - 5:37 AM) - Reply
by: Weer
What I want to know is what exactly did they do to th RV770 core to be able to clock it this high. Same process, since configuration, same amount of pipes and the exact same layout. What the heck is the difference between RV770 and RV790?! It feels like ATI is cheating, and it's annoying. But what am I supposed to accuse them of - using magic?
fairy dust :)

one thing is certain, its not the same core
by tofu (March 24th - 5:44 AM) - Reply
1GHz is not so special, if you consider the 2900XT was also doing 1GHz pre-release. In the end, it was not indicative of its average user performance at all. I think AMD should scrap any plans for an overclocked SKU and just drop two RV790's on a revised R700 PCB, 4890X2 heh. That should be enough to take on the GTX295.
by X-TeNDeR (March 24th - 5:51 AM) - Reply
Considering the upcoming price-cuts and 4890 price tag we get on launch, AMD has a pretty good lineup imo.
But i can't stop thinking about HD5xxx series... :rolleyes:
by OzzmanFloyd120 (March 24th - 5:58 AM) - Reply
Looks good. Keeps making me considering going red on my next graphical adventure.
by btarunr (March 24th - 6:04 AM) - Reply
by: Weer
What I want to know is what exactly did they do to th RV770 core to be able to clock it this high. Same process, since configuration, same amount of pipes and the exact same layout. What the heck is the difference between RV770 and RV790?! It feels like ATI is cheating, and it's annoying. But what am I supposed to accuse them of - using magic?
No, different process, not the one used in making the RV770: http://www.techpowerup.com/?86006

Also while it's the same specs, it's a remake of the RV770. The two GPUs aren't exactly the same. The RV790 has a larger die, different ASIC, package.
by Wile E (March 24th - 6:05 AM) - Reply
by: Binge
that pic shows the fan at 100%. Yeah, I can believe they'd need it. That sucker must be LOUD.


If they are anything like myself, the fan automatically gets set 100% for benching, whether it actually needs it or not.
by erocker (March 24th - 6:25 AM) - Reply
I want a 1ghz GPU out of the box. Where do I sign up/send the check to?
by alwayssts (March 24th - 6:50 AM) - Reply


You see that 8-pin connector that means it consumes between 225-300W? Yeah...That's the fairy dust. The 'standard' 4890 will have 2 6-pin plugs. Undoubtedly this is of the 'extreme edition' group that will 'be up to 950mhz out of the box.' Watch as the standard models crap out right below that from running out of juice...right around where a volt-modded 4870 would...when it hits the power-draw wall.

They could have called 4890 and '4890 8-pin power connector edition' 4870+ and 4890. Like the 4850 with lower voltage and 1 6-pin connector vs the 4870 with higher voltage (1.263v) and 2 6-pin. This is just a redesign on the high speed 55nm process, and stepping it up one (1.3v) and two (1.3v+, 8-pin) more notches. The realistic difference between rv770 and rv790 is voltage, and I'd bet rv790 standard hits the 225W wall when overclocking, just like a volt-modded rv770, at a little over 900mhz, while rv790EE obviously will not. On top of that, ASUS is going to have software vgpu control (surely our man W1zzard will make one for the rest of us) to use up every last inch of that 300w threshold, there-by squeezing every last breath from rv770..erm, 790.

It's the voltage and power connectors that are the point, and getting into that 225-300W camp for this little chip surely means that the new PWM and high-speed process will come in handy...but don't be deceived for how simple of an update this REALLY is.


http://www.nordichardware.com/news,8986.html

I think this is an excellent strategy from AMD. Milk that rv770 (design) with more voltage and power until it clocks high enough to to compete with it's portly step-brother!

Makes sense to me.

Waiting for announcement of announcement of GTX290 with 8-pin plug in 3...2....1....
by AltecV1 (March 24th - 7:53 AM) - Reply
what is wrong with you people you can buy a 1ghz hd4870 and you start whineing:mad:
by erocker (March 24th - 7:56 AM) - Reply
by: AltecV1
what is wrong with you people you can buy a 1ghz hd4870 and you start whineing:mad:
Nobody is whining. I think you are confusing Ghz with Gb's (Gigahertz/Gigabytes). You can certainly buy a HD 4870 with 1Gb of video memory but 1Ghz GPU's are not available.
by AltecV1 (March 24th - 8:27 AM) - Reply
by: erocker
Nobody is whining. I think you are confusing Ghz with Gb's (Gigahertz/Gigabytes). You can certainly buy a HD 4870 with 1Gb of video memory but 1Ghz GPU's are not available.


i ment 1ghz!!!!!!!learn do read dude:shadedshu 4890 is tweaked 4870:rolleyes:thats all it is a tuned up 4870
by Imsochobo (March 24th - 8:29 AM) - Reply
I dont care, they overclock better, and probaly wont have 300W power consumtion, a 4870x2 @ 850 doesnt exceed 300 W by my guess.

I HIGHLY doubt a 750 W psu can handle 2x 4870X2 @ 825//1000 and a PHII @ 3800 mhz. with 6 harddrives + watercooling!


I know it can do about 825-850 W peak, if the cpu is atleast 125 W @ 3.8 ghz, +2x 300 W+ motherboard+drives+watercooling(15W)+Fans.

My point is, it isnt renamed, its diffrent, they are taking the safe path, not going high end 40NM which isnt tested very good, and could lead to bad gfx.(high end market)

surely not too big of an diffrence from 4870 which by my opinion best buy ive EVER done.

*PS: not telling you guys buy ATI, cause buy what games favour, GTX series are good now ;)
by Hayder_Master (March 24th - 8:41 AM) - Reply
i still remember when i say this statement when i read the title of 4890
("imagine this card can overclock at 1GHz")
by ChaoticAtmosphere (March 24th - 9:15 AM) - Reply
Bring it on!!!
by InnocentCriminal (March 24th - 10:16 AM) - Reply
by: AltecV1
i ment 1ghz!!!!!!!learn do read dude:shadedshu 4890 is tweaked 4870:rolleyes:thats all it is a tuned up 4870


What?

You can't get a 1GHz GPU on the market today - you're wrong! erocker was only stating that a 1GB card is available, not a 1GHz GPU - he's right.

Can you provide a link to your claims?
by AltecV1 (March 24th - 11:00 AM) - Reply
by: InnocentCriminal
What?

You can't get a 1GHz GPU on the market today - you're wrong! erocker was only stating that a 1GB card is available, not a 1GHz GPU - he's right.

Can you provide a link to your claims?
where did i say that i can get it TODAY:eek: no seriously man if you can find it on sale i will go and buy it:p I MENT IN THE FUTURE you guys need do learn do read:nutkick:
by Lillebror (March 24th - 11:29 AM) - Reply
by: AltecV1
what is wrong with you people you can buy a 1ghz hd4870 and you start whineing:mad:


Your actualy saying you can BUY it - not that its gonna be out in the future ;)

Im so gonna by that card, when it gets out! Even tho its a small improvement, everythings gonna help.
by crtecha (March 24th - 11:33 AM) - Reply
by: Binge
that pic shows the fan at 100%. Yeah, I can believe they'd need it. That sucker must be LOUD.

Hahaha that was the first thing I saw before the clocks :roll:

Very nice OC id like to see a more in depth article though.
by eidairaman1 (March 24th - 11:59 AM) - Reply
Im Pretty sure they maxed the fan out so they don't have to test for BSODs, because for 1 BSODs can corrupt Graphics drivers and make them continue to crash.
1 to 26 of 103 | Go to Page 1 2 3 4 5    Previous | Next
8271 Users online, 5.35 mbps
Quick Search
Already a member?
Username:
Password:
Register Here!
TechPowerUp on Facebook 
TechPowerUp on Google+ 
New Forum Posts
14:16 by Outback Bronze
6970 + RBE Bios = BSOD (1)
14:12 by rangerone766
$48.99 Samsung 30nm DDR3 1600 hitting 2133?!? (193)
14:03 by FreedomEclipse
qubit's Sandy upgrade (154)
13:56 by FordGT90Concep...
Battlefield 3 Clubhouse (11425)
13:54 by INSTG8R
Dear Esther (13)
13:42 by W1zzard
OpenCl not checked for HD 6520G (1)
Popular Reviews

Latest VGA Drivers

ATI Catalyst 12.1 WHQL

XP32 | XP64 | W7 32 | W7 64

NVIDIA GeForce 285.58 WHQL

XP32 | XP64 | W7 32 | W7 64