960 SP-laden RV870 in the Works, and more

[btarunr]

Sources at TSMC told Hardspell that the next graphics processor (GPU) by ATI/AMD, the RV870 in the works have specifications such as:

• 40nm or 45nm fab process
• 140 sq. mm die size
• 192 ALUs, 960 stream processors
• 256-bit GDDR5 memory controller

It is believed that this GPU could perform 1.2 times better than RV770, purely based on the paper-specs.

Another interesting news is that R800, unlike its predecessors the R700 and R680, might not be a dual-GPU card but the world's first dual-core GPU.

Source: Hardspell

[From_Nowhere]

That is a small die size because the RV670 is 192mm2, but anyways, a dual core GPU? Should be interesting to see how that performs.

[indybird]

Wouldn't it be nice if they launched the R800 first or along with the RV870s?

RV870 isn't a huge deal (as the R700 is probably way faster), but I absolutely can't wait for the R800.

-Indybird

[trt740]

now thats crazy

[candle_86]

lol i dont expect alot from this thing its not gonna be that fast

[Megasty]

Its not that impressive at all, for one core. Who knows, the RV870 may be the dual core itself - that would be something

[captainskyhawk]

Originally Posted by candle_86

lol i dont expect alot from this thing its not gonna be that fast

Come on dude, you're not even trying anymore. Nvidia's going to stop sending you checks if that's the best you can do.

[candle_86]

they where never even paying me for all the PR i did, but i suppose if you want a candle fanboy statement i can do it one more time

You can't seriously expect this card to do anything can you, its just a few extra SP's tacked onto the core and a 512bit bus (which all the ATI fanboys said was stupid) and i doubt this thing will touch even a GTX260 let alone the 280, its gonna be total crap.

there a fanboy statement

[FreedomEclipse]

Im curious about the Dual Core GPU's myself Especially Since ATi have the support of AMD behind them - there shouldnt be a reason why they cant make it do'able.

[Kursah]

Originally Posted by btarunr

Sources at TSMC...

Another interesting news is that R800, unlike its predecessors the R700 and R680, might not be a dual-GPU card but the world's first dual-core GPU.

Source: Hardspell

It would be about damn time that we see a true dual-core GPU! I've been stating and waiting for years that this is the direction that should be taken, yeah it would probably mean a step back in fab tech, and maybe that's what they were waiting for..I know processing power on GPU's is insane these days, even if tuned for more specific jobs...just think of 3-4 years ago or so when the first dual core CPU's started coming out (iirc).

I really hope NV and AMD take the dual-core route over the dual-GPU route in the future, sure it may mean better cooling technology, but I think it will be a great step forward for consumer value and performance.

[Nkd]

I Honestly think that rv870 might represent a separate clock for shader domain, I mean if it indeed has only 100+ more shaders, and looking at that die size, they could easily have the shaders running at 2ghz+, for them to take it easy on the sp's seems like they will certainly clock the shaders high, and that might just double the performance of rv770, or even more. that would seem like a perfect product to me, because higher shader clock really makes a big difference.

[Kursah]

The heat output over almost 1000 sp's in the core would be pretty insane at 2GHz clocks though...but it could be very possible...really I'd rather see dual core GPU's w/around 500 sp's each and see what happens...of course if the dual core can't be properly utilized this could be a very bad thing, but I hope it will be possible to better utilze dual-core than dual-gpu...if the dual-core is id'd as one gpu, and with the threading possiblities already prevelant in graphics for gaming, I really hope to see some greater good of this.

[Winterwind]

Originally Posted by candle_86

they where never even paying me for all the PR i did, but i suppose if you want a candle fanboy statement i can do it one more time

You can't seriously expect this card to do anything can you, its just a few extra SP's tacked onto the core and a 512bit bus (which all the ATI fanboys said was stupid) and i doubt this thing will touch even a GTX260 let alone the 280, its gonna be total crap.

there a fanboy statement

HD4870 is as fast as GTX260

[candle_86]

winter someone asked me for a fanboy comment, i wasnt serious :P

[Kursah]

Originally Posted by Winterwind

HD4870 is as fast as GTX260

For now...both cards are young and the drivers are very untapped on both...give it a few months to mature before true statements can be ushered with serious relevance...yeah for the "now" you're right from what I've read...but hard saying what will be truth in the fall after driver maturity happens. Hopefully they're more even than not imo.

[From_Nowhere]

I don't think by just the increasing shader clock on it will make it twice as fast as the RV770, maybe 20-30%.

Anyways; with an increased shader clock, increased core clock, and 32 more stream processors the RV870 should be around 60%-70% faster than the RV770.

[indybird]

So when is all this coming out Q4 08? Q1 09? Q2 09?

-Indybird

[tkpenalty]

Guys use your brain... whats the point of dual core for GPUs? Its the same as just doubling the shaders/ROPs .

Is this AMD's tactic to get shareholders to hold onto their shares?

[phanbuey]

bta. you da man.

also... INTEL.

[ShadowFold]

If they get a good performing dual-core gpu out I am gonna sell my intel rig and go AMD. Thats just crazy

[Nkd]

Originally Posted by Kursah

The heat output over almost 1000 sp's in the core would be pretty insane at 2GHz clocks though...but it could be very possible...really I'd rather see dual core GPU's w/around 500 sp's each and see what happens...of course if the dual core can't be properly utilized this could be a very bad thing, but I hope it will be possible to better utilze dual-core than dual-gpu...if the dual-core is id'd as one gpu, and with the threading possiblities already prevelant in graphics for gaming, I really hope to see some greater good of this.

well ati sp's at a 40nm process would not make that much heat output, if the heat stays the same going from 320 to 800, I don't think there should be any heat problems at all. ati's 800 sp's are 160 true shaders that can do 5 instructions at one time, So truly they are 160x5, thats how ati couts it. it is 160 fat shaders that can do a lot of things.

nvidia already has overclocked gtx 280's running to 1.5ghz sp's and 1.4 billion transistors, if they can do it, anything is possible lol.

[Nkd]

Originally Posted by tkpenalty

Guys use your brain... whats the point of dual core for GPUs? Its the same as just doubling the shaders/ROPs .

Is this AMD's tactic to get shareholders to hold onto their shares?

I think most people are using there brains when they talk about dual core gpu, just think about it, it might just eliminate the crossfire or sli issues that we all have to go through, it would be step in the right direction, and I think that is the way amd is going, on 40nm process it is very possible. and will probably be cheap as hell to make too.

[Kursah]

Nkd you your two consecutive posts have some great points man, and I hope to see all of this come to light, until then it's just more speculation...but at least it's such that I have been waiting to hear from one side or the other. Gotta say the vid card business hasn't been boring for years now lol!

[tkpenalty]

Technically speaking its still two GPUs one one card; the R800. I'd assume its two RV870 cores which are fused in one package with an intergrated interconnect. However this is.... what Nvidia was doing; monolithic GPU as its in one package.

[candle_86]

yup dual core GPU is monolithic except it has to split everything up