AMD's counter to the GTX 680 (HD 7970 GHz Ed.)

apoppin · Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 5:21 pm

http://www.atomicmpc.com.au/News/299279 ... boost.aspx
What we predicted. However, it is probably too little and too late as the GTX 680 OC's editions should be out soon

Quote:

That's right, AMD are going to boost their reference core clock from 925MHz to 1GHz in order to contend for the single GPU crown. Of course there are already cards shipping with around 1050MHz core clock, and those cards are indeed faster than a reference GTX 680 in some tests, though AMD prefer to make things official.

The cards will launch as "GHz Edition" cards, the same as on their 7870 range of GPUs currently. Most vendors are expected to pick up the range, especially those who typically stick to reference board and cooler design, such as Sapphire and HIS.

When questioned as to why AMD were launching a GHz edition now, and didn't originally, they explained that yields are now better, their average voltage required to hit 925MHz is much lower than it was on early ES revisions, and most chips are happily hitting 1250MHz now. It's time to let the GPU stretch its legs a little as yields improve.

tviceman · **Joined:** Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:02 pm **Posts:** 1152

Too little, too late IMO. They lost the luster, were too slow to react with price cuts, and are now going to get embarrassed by the gtx670 nearly equaling an hd7970 for $80 less.

SickBeast · **Joined:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:57 pm **Posts:** 4011

This is why I overclock rather than paying someone else to do it for me.

I've been hearing about the GTX 680 hitting 1500mhz on air and I wouldn't doubt that at all with proper voltage adjustment.

AMD seems to be dead set on pricing their GPUs at least $50 too expensive this round. It's not as though they have that much brand loyalty, either.

apoppin · Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 7:02 pm

AMD didn't have a lot of headroom when the 7970 launched or they would not have fixed the clocks at 925MHz. Now that they have a more mature process, they can up the clocks by +75MHz on the core.

However, the GTX 680 easily beats a 1000MHz HD 7970 and only gets barely equaled at 1050MHz; so they are still behind. And it looks like Nvidia can allow their partners to up the clocks to keep the performance gap or increase it - at will.

AMD is left "reacting" again. An awful place to be in for a company.

The worst part of it - if the rumors are true about Nvidia's upcoming card - AMD will have to drop its pricing *twice* in a month

What a way to alienate fans (other than to fire them).

SickBeast · **Joined:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:57 pm **Posts:** 4011

I thought that the 7970 was easily capable of 1200mhz on the core, just like the 7850.

apoppin · Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 7:23 pm

Where did you hear that nonsense?

SickBeast · **Joined:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:57 pm **Posts:** 4011

apoppin wrote:

Where did you hear that nonsense?

That was just the impression I was under after reading some reviews. Didn't you get 1200mhz out of yours?

apoppin · Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 7:34 pm

i don't remember reviews regularly hitting 1200MHz. With my PowerColor HD 7970's fan cranked way up to 95% and voltage at maximum - sure; and not +5MHz more

It certainly isn't a competitor to the overclocked GTX 680 which is cool and quiet - and the HD 7970 draws over 100W more power than the GTX 680 to not quite match its performance!!
(hamster)

apoppin · Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 7:36 pm

The only hope for AMD is the 7980. i predicted its necessity last December before 7970 launched
:think:

A respin that AMD should have been working on since December - if their CES was not just blowing hot air about being the "aggressor"

They had absolutely no clue about Kepler and it looks like they were expecting another late GTX 480.
- their market analysis appears to suck for a major corporation.

SickBeast · **Joined:** Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:57 pm **Posts:** 4011

You mean "predator".

AMD's counter to the GTX 680 (HD 7970 GHz Ed.)

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