Hardware News

AMD RV790 Architecture: A Shrink or Something Different?

Patrick "MACMAC" MacMillan

2009-03-12 08:00:00.0


PC Perspective have posted an article in which they discuss the possibilities for AMD's upcoming RV790 architecture.

Here's an excerpt:

"In the future AMD will of course go to 40 nm, but not until it makes sense to do so. If TSMC suddenly improves its power figures for the 40 nm process, then AMD has the ability to do a dumb shrink of the RV790 and reap the benefits. But in terms of getting a product out which could conceivably dethrone the fastest single chip card currently out (the GTX 285), plus increase AMD’s visibility in the GPGPU world, then this would be a masterstroke for AMD if they can actually get out a product as I have described above. Not only would they have a 6 month lead on NVIDIA in getting out a new high end card, but they can do it in a more cost effective manner than what NVIDIA is stuck with in the GT200b part (larger die size, more complex PCB with 512 bit memory bus, reliance on GDDR-3). If AMD is able to keep the power and heat envelopes in the same general area as the current RV670, then the dual chip cards could be true performance monsters in their space, both in terms of gaming and high performance computing. 3.4 TFLOPs of single precision and 1.6 TFLOPs of double precision in one card sucking up 250 watts of power is almost mind boggling. Almost. This is of course assuming that AMD can in fact clock this new chip in the 900 MHz range. "


Given their success with the current Radeon HD 4000 series, it will be interesting to finally find out what ATI does to reinvigorate the high-end of their product line.

Click here to read the full article.

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