AMD Extends Graphics Performance Lead, Launches World's Fastest Graphics Card… Again!

[btarunr]

AMD today announced the launch of the fastest graphics card in the world, the AMD Radeon HD 6990, packing so much raw performance it delivered a new single graphics card world record score of P11865 in the industry standard 3DMark11 benchmark. AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards are available immediately from retailers worldwide, with select models starting at US $699 MSRP.

Designed for the power gamer, AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards include AMD’s second-generation, Microsoft DirectX 11-capable architecture, advanced image quality features for the best looking games, and AMD PowerTune intelligent technology to enable higher clock speeds and faster gaming. The AMD Radeon HD 6990 offers the ultimate in immersive HD gaming and computing with native support for up to five displays using AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology, with six display support possible via DisplayPort 1.2 components available for purchase later this year. The AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards also feature a dual-BIOS toggle switch, allowing enthusiast gamers to unlock the card and rev up the clocks and voltages for even more performance. Finally, AMD HD3D technology provides a cutting-edge stereoscopic 3D gaming and movie experience, thanks to HDMI 1.4a support.



“Packing more raw performance than any consumer graphics card ever created, the AMD Radeon HD 6990 provides the latest for the ultimate gaming advantage,” said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, GPU division, AMD. “Coupled with AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology, AMD PowerTune power management and AMD HD3D, this card is so powerful it can take on even the most demanding ultra-enthusiast tasks.”

Leading Graphics with second-generation DirectX 11-capable Technology

• New AMD PowerTune technology: Designed to perform real-time intelligent power management, AMD PowerTune technology on the AMD Radeon HD 6990 automatically enables higher clock speeds and faster performance in the hottest games.
• Increased memory for higher image quality: With 4GB of ultra-fast GDDR5 memory, gamers can enjoy superior detail in their favorite games, even on up to five simultaneous displays.
• The Ultimate Visual Experience: As AMD’s most advanced DirectX 11-capable GPU, AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics processors also enable an exceptional game play experience in DirectX 9, DirectX 10, DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL titles in single card or multi-card AMD CrossFireX configurations.
• Improved image quality: Advanced anti-aliasing features enable dramatically enhanced image quality for intensely realistic gaming. Enhanced-Quality Anti-Aliasing (EQAA) uses a new sampling technique to help improve visual quality, while Morphological Anti-Aliasing (MLAA) uses DirectCompute acceleration to provide anti-aliasing on any DirectX 9, DirectX 10, or DirectX 11 application.

An Immersive Gaming Experience with AMD Eyefinity Technology and Advanced Display Options

• Simple, flexible, affordable multi-display computing with AMD Eyefinity technology: Providing an expanded and more immersive field of view, AMD Eyefinity technology continues to be the most affordable multi-display solution available, offering dozens of possible configurations of up to five simultaneous displays.2 New to the AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics processor is the ability to configure up to five monitors in portrait mode. Making innovative technologies more affordable and accessible than ever before, the AMD Eyefinity Validated & Ready Testing Program helps ensure a seamless customer multi-display experience, with more than 70 tested and validated AMD Eyefinity-compatible titles for the greatest assurance of quality and interoperability. Continued industry leadership in multi-display computing: AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards offer support for both DisplayPort 1.2 features and HDMI 1.4a, offering enthusiasts incredible multi-monitor configuration options, flexibility in display selection, and new DisplayPort audio features.

Faster Applications and Brilliant Video with AMD EyeSpeed Technology

• AMD EyeSpeed visual acceleration technology lets you do more, faster: Tapping the tremendous power of the AMD Radeon HD 6990, enthusiasts will enjoy clearer and more vibrant videos, as well as improved performance and new features in top media, entertainment and productivity applications with AMD EyeSpeed technology.
• Incredible compute capabilities: Featuring leading support for IEEE 754 double precision floating point ops, the AMD Radeon HD 6990 is equipped to dominate computationally intense workloads.
• Enhanced video quality features: AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards feature Unified Video Decoder 3 (UVD3), a dedicated video playback accelerator that helps users get the most out of HD video, online video and Blu-ray 3D, while enjoying a range of video quality improvements such as advanced post-processing and scaling, dynamic contrast enhancement, color correction and more.
• 3D entertainment choices with AMD HD3D technology: AMD continues to deliver a broad and affordable selection of 3D solutions with AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards, featuring AMD HD3D technology, backed by AMD’s open 3D initiative for stereo 3D gaming and movies.

For more information, visit the product page.

[15th Warlock]

Pricing is actually a lot better than I expected!

I see the review is up already at TPU! You guys rock Just as I expected, almost perfect scaling from a single GPU card...

The King is dead, long live the King!

[HUSKIE]

they kills are pocket wha the priced is that.... howaaaaaaa

[Praetorian]

I told you that preorder crap price was...crappy! )

[IndigoGoose]

That is incredible if only i had one

[H82LUZ73]

Actually the price is about right ,After all you are buying 2 6970`s which go for(the cheapest i have seen) $370 a pop so a 6990 is 2 $370 +370 is $740 +$59 for it being new and need to turn a profit coin... =$699

[Praetorian]

Originally Posted by H82LUZ73

Actually the price is about right ,After all you are buying 2 6970`s which go for(the cheapest i have seen) $370 a pop so a 6990 is 2 $370 +370 is $640 +$59 for it being new and need to turn a profit coin... =$699

How musch is 2x370$ again???

[zhadlp]

how musch is 2x370$ again???

$740

[IndigoGoose]

Originally Posted by Praetorian

How musch is 2x370$ again???

I think its errrm $740

[Hayder_Master]

they should say "Fastest dual GPU card"

[Praetorian]

Originally Posted by hayder.master

they should say "Fastest dual GPU card"

Why? Remember 3DFx?? VooDoo 1 had 2 GPUs, VooDoo 2 had 3 GPUs, VooDoo 5 had 2, V6 went with 4 GPUs, but nobody made a big deal of it.

[H82LUZ73]

lol hehe my bad type Oh no ..thnx guys new key board and this the most i have typed on it plus not enough coffee..... was trying to go for the yeah it still cheaper then 2 at ounce.....

[Red_Machine]

Originally Posted by Praetorian

Why? Remember 3DFx?? VooDoo 1 had 2 GPUs, VooDoo 2 had 3 GPUs, VooDoo 5 or 6 went with 4 GPUs, but nobody made a big deal of it.

Actually, the Voodoos 1, 2, 3 & 4 were all single GPU cards, however you could SLI them. The 5 cards were multi-gpu, however.

[Silver_]

Far out, i swear why did i buy two 5870's mid last year for.. $500 each.
This generation seems to be much cheaper, when the 5970 came out was worth at least $900.
Feel like cutting myself if this video card is at $800.

[Praetorian]

Originally Posted by Red_Machine

Actually, the Voodoos 1, 2, 3 & 4 were all single GPU cards, however you could SLI them. The 5 cards were multi-gpu, however.

VooDoo1 had 2GPUs, VooDoo2 had 3GPUs and VooDoo5 5500 had 2GPUs, while the unreleased VooDoo5 6000 was planed to have 4GPUs...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo2

...The Voodoo2 had an increased chip-count compared to the original two-chip Voodoo card...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo_5

[HookeyStreet]

Om nom nom. Looks tasty!

[jpierce55]

Certainly better than the pre-order prices posted a day or two ago. I have seen 6970's for $350, but usually you see g-cards for sale at less than the msrp once they get stocked up. I am sure we will see them on Newegg for $650 in the near future. Performance is better than I expected. The power consumption is a little (little) better than posted last week. What really surprised me is the 580 took it on one resolution on the review, but as resolutions went higher the 6990 moved far ahead.

It should have the king of overkill award!

[Delta6326]

have mercy

[Dogshitjoint]

Originally Posted by Delta6326

have mercy

This means pricedrops, for all of you who plan to buy new GPU/s.

It seems to be a great card priced right.

Will read more in detail about this monstercard later...

Thx for the info btarunr

//Dog

[Dave65]

I wonder how this thing would Fold?

[newfellow]

'the box'

700$, right.. plus AMD locked down features which NVIDIA offers for free since 8800 GTX is kinda funny.

[SvB4EvA]

Ah, a new single card king... As I say with new tech, "SHORT LIVE THE KING!"

[Red_Machine]

Originally Posted by Praetorian

VooDoo1 had 2GPUs, VooDoo2 had 3GPUs and VooDoo5 5500 had 2GPUs, while the unreleased VooDoo5 6000 was planed to have 4GPUs...

So? Just because a card has an increased chip count, doesn't mean that it had more GPUs. Those extra 3dfx chips on the cards aren't GPUs, they are all different components of the SAME GPU. They just weren't integrated into one unit. The first 3dfx card to have more than one GPU was the Voodoo5.

[Jack Doph]

I just like how it says "extends graphics performance lead", when clearly, that's not the case at all.
"Our dual GPU outperforms your single-GPU!"
Well, duh.
So it should.

In a fair apples-to-apples comparison, AMD still lags behind, which is unfortunate.

No, I'm not a "whatever-camp" fanboy.
Up until a few months ago, I used both camps in my PC.
Hell, give me Matrox over either of these 2 camps any day .. well, if they weren't so slow