Dual-GPU GeForce GTX 590 next month, AMD to respond later

[dividebyzero]

My own theory on why AMD wants Nvidia to release its dual-GPU card first is based on my observations regarding the availability of AMD's 6900 series versus that of Nvidia's GTX 500 series at the computer stores where I buy my PC stuff. I've noticed that there are several brands of GTX 500 cards which are widely available. On the AMD side, only the 6800 series are easily available with the 6950 series being represented by Gigabyte and Sapphire, both more expensive than the GTX 560 Ti with the Sapphire card especially so since it sports only a 1-GB buffer.

Yours is probably a case of restrictions/availability/pricing due to geographic location and where your area fits in the distribution heirachy. A case in point would be my location where factory OC'ed GTX560Ti's are on par (pricing) with HD6950's (both 1 abd 2Gb), yet HD6970's carry a 10-20% pricing premium over GTX 570's -most of which sport factory overclocks- when the MSRP/RRP's suggest that pricing difference should be minimal. We too have a relative dearth of vendor options (MSI in very short supply, no Diamond, VisionTek, PoV, Biostar, Sparkle, PNY (workstation only) and ECS for example). I'm not aware of any widespread (worldwide) supply constraints on either card.

I'm guessing that AMD does not have that many 6970 GPUs in the first place which is probably why they're turning a blind eye toward the people flashing their 6950s with 6970 BIOSes. AMD wants Nvidia to launch first, not because it doesn't want to give Nvidia time to tweak the 590's performance, but probably because they don't have enough 6990's in stock to make a proper product launch.

Personally I would think that both AMD and Nvidia have been binning low voltage leaking GPU's from day one. If anything, I'd say that nvidia has a little more leeway in their binning process due to the GF110 using both a lower input voltage and a wider voltage range -for instance a lot of GF110's work at <0.9v, whereas I don't think there is a CypressXT core in existance that can work when undervolted to 1v.

The BIOS flashing 6950 to 6970 scenario I think is just AMD not being fully in tune with the people they sell cards to. The whole 6970/6950 launch reeked of "rush-job" and I don't think the guys at AMD took note of the fact that enthusiasts will always look at two SKU's derived from the same GPU and try to gain some free performance (see selected GTX465 > GTX470 as a recent example).
The other option is that AMD skipped the laser fusing-off of shader blocks either as a cost cutting/time constraint or gamble that consumers wouldn't attempt the BIOS flash in great numbers and hence cannibalize 6970 sales.

I didnt say the Antiles core will run cooler if it has 1980 stream processors insted of 1536, all i said is that if it did have 3960 it might outperform the GTX590, and if it doesnt.....

Oh, my bad. I thought when you said it would run cooler, I thought you meant it would run cooler:

The 6990 should have higher clock speeds than the GTX 590 due to less heat created

Your whole premise is that IF the HD6990 has 3960 shaders. i.e. a joke. IF the CypressXT has 1980 shaders then they damn well would have released the 6970 with them enabled to ensure AMD grabbed the "fastest-GPU" PR crown. The only reason they would not do this (if the extra shaders existed) would be because the 1980 shader version was so power hungry it turned into a mini-blast furnace (see the original GF100 512-shader core as reference)- yet you believe that AMD decided to forego the having the fastest single GPU in preference to using the core in a limited edition part of very limited appeal.
On a related note...
1. CypressXT does not have 1980 shaders. Never had- never will
2. You're asking people to believe that someone who skipped grammar and vocabulary in school is somehow in possession of GPU facts that chip engineers and enthusiasts are totally ignorant of. You don't see a fundamental flaw in your argument do you ?
3. Why whine on about the GTX590 having 2x8pin power yet constantly reference the Asus Ares (a dictionary definition of PR stunt), a card that has 2 x 8pin AND 6pin power delivery.
4. Take your trolling somewhere else.

 

[cyriene]

sarcasm said:
I don't know what's the point anymore. There really aren't any PC games that will even take advantage of even a single GTX 580 let alone a Dual GPU one.

Uh, wrong. Once you set the resolution to 2560x1600 (or higher) and crank the AA and IQ to max many games benefit from the extra power. Metro 2033 for example and of course Crysis.

 

[red1776]

Your whole premise is that IF the HD6990 has 3960 shaders. i.e. a joke. IF the CypressXT has 1980 shaders then they damn well would have released the 6970 with them enabled to ensure AMD grabbed the "fastest-GPU" PR crown. The only reason they would not do this (if the extra shaders existed) would be because the 1980 shader version was so power hungry it turned into a mini-blast furnace (see the original GF100 512-shader core as reference)- yet you believe that AMD decided to forego the having the fastest single GPU in preference to using the core in a limited edition part of very limited appeal.
On a related note...
1. CypressXT does not have 1980 shaders. Never had- never will
2. You're asking people to believe that someone who skipped grammar and vocabulary in school is somehow in possession of GPU facts that chip engineers and enthusiasts are totally ignorant of. You don't see a fundamental flaw in your argument do you ?
3. Why whine on about the GTX590 having 2x8pin power yet constantly reference the Asus Ares (a dictionary definition of PR stunt), a card that has 2 x 8pin AND 6pin power delivery.

Geez Chef...you have no imagination, I mean C'mon now, The guy has a point 1980 shaders x2 is definitely doable !

https://www.techspot.com/gallery/member-galleries/p4200-oh-chef-2c-c-27mon-now.html

(I know ,I know, I had six minutes to PS it before taking the kids sledding) :wave:

 

[dividebyzero]

CrossfireX might pose a challenge for cable management !

 

[red1776]

CrossfireX might pose a challenge for cable management !

Indeed! Especially for the wire management challenged such as myself.

....still...I'm thinking quad...I am assuming this dude has 8 way figured out as well.:haha:

 

[Regenweald]

UPDATE: you might be interested to know that [H] already has a 6990 in house testing. Somehow I doubt that reviewers have been provided with cards and are now expected to sit on them for a month. 8th March looks more likely. Techpowerup, 3d Center.

 

[dividebyzero]

@ Regenweald
Please try to keep up (note from post #46 posted a little over a day ago)

Oddly enough we were attempting to confine our HD6990 speculation to the HD6990 thread....nutty huh?! This is the GTX590 thread, until it got derailed by deranged troll (shock horror)

 

[Regenweald]

Nah, wasn't keeping track in the forums....hence the lateness. i don't mind the 6990/590 threads getting muddied up, they are after all, cousins...