AMD Delays Next Generation Radeon launch to Q1 2012

[kaktus1907]

AMD are delaying the launch of their hotly anticipated next generation Radeon cards featuring Graphics Core Next Gen architecture to Q1 2012, despite previously targeting Q4 '11 for launch.

Rage3D's sources indicate that the problem is on the production side, not the design side, possibly indicating TSMC's 28nm process Q4 volume ramp up isn't enough to launch the new line up for Christmas.

Rage3D

[labs23]

Tbh, I find this a good thing(not just) for me, IMO. LOL.

[Manicdan]

that says GCN is coming out in Q1/12, but i thought the consensus was we only expected a VWI4 gpu to be out by year end. if so then this is not news at all

[Dimitriman]

Sounds about right,
1- No point in doing a paper launch, as they do not earn any revenue therefore the Christmas shopping season only works if you have volume
2- Current gen graphics cards are more than enough for all games on the market
3- The console port fever is not going to change any soon, therefore point 2 will remain true for a while
4- Nvidia is also late with 28nm

BUT.. I still think they could fit some kind of refresh with either lower power consumption or more performance...

[Lanek]

I was waiting to clean my watercooling setup with new wc for them and new rads, new clean tubes ( like that i have not to pass 3 hours to clean each parts ), but look like i will need do it before they come finally.


I will wait a 100% confirmation, as there's no link listed ( AMD source ? )

[M.Beier]

Not postponed, was plan all along...
Repost of old news..... Which was faulty back then, too....

[antiacid]

Sounds about right,
1- No point in doing a paper launch, as they do not earn any revenue therefore the Christmas shopping season only works if you have volume
2- Current gen graphics cards are more than enough for all games on the market
3- The console port fever is not going to change any soon, therefore point 2 will remain true for a while
4- Nvidia is also late with 28nm

I wholeheartedly agree with you.

[LordEC911]

Not postponed, was plan all along...
Repost of old news..... Which was faulty back then, too....

Not sure what you heard but a Nov launch was the original plan back when TSMC was stating end of Q3 for the start of volume production. Then summer rolled around and TSMC stated delays to volume production. I haven't heard anything since then but I'm assuming the plan went from a Q4 release to a hopeful Q4 release or at least a ship for revenue so they can launch before CNY.

[Doumz]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...0-GPUs-to-2012

September news

[bill_d]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...0-GPUs-to-2012

September news

the news i get out of it is they are going the jack up prices

However, we've seen with the 5800, 5900 and 6900 series that AMD aren't afraid to move up the price ladder if they feel the performance warrants the price. With the HD 6990 retailing well over $700USD, will the single GPU replacement really be in the same price bracket as the $400 6970?

[FischOderAal]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo [...] oooooooo

Oh, what the hell. For TF2 and L4D2 Llano might be enough.

[mAJORD]

Sounds about right,
1- No point in doing a paper launch, as they do not earn any revenue therefore the Christmas shopping season only works if you have volume
2- Current gen graphics cards are more than enough for all games on the market
3- The console port fever is not going to change any soon, therefore point 2 will remain true for a while
4- Nvidia is also late with 28nm

BUT.. I still think they could fit some kind of refresh with either lower power consumption or more performance...

I would argue that for BF3 (one of the biggest games atm) on Ultra + AA/AF, both the GTX580 and HD6970 aren't enough for consistently high FPS

I know a few people eager for a next gen card for this game, and not wanting to multi-GPU

[Sparky]

I thought it was supposed to launch Q1 2012?

[Particle]

2- Current gen graphics cards are more than enough for all games on the market

That something wouldn't be fully utilized is never a good reason to slow down the progress of technology. This is an all too frequent argument around here.

[Pantsu]

I could only wish 7970 would be as fast as 6990 like they claim. In any case I think I'll switch my 6950 CF for a 7950/70 unless CrossFire magically gets a lot better in 2-3 months.

[Lanek]

I could only wish 7970 would be as fast as 6990 like they claim. In any case I think I'll switch my 6950 CF for a 7950/70 unless CrossFire magically gets a lot better in 2-3 months.

Well, for be honest i use SLI and CFX since the 6600GT-6800Ultra and CFX since the X1900XTX ( X1950XTX+ x1900xtx in my case ), in the rare moment past the 3-4 series i have need to disable my cfx or my SLI for a game who was not support it well, seriously i have never complain... why ? i have all times the fastest single cards available in single, and i get more with 2x of them ....... for be honest i have got less trouble in my life with the CFX and SLI ( who was each time overclocked to the max i can for bring scores before all , under subzero ( and i have not the money to get system for OC records and system for my games, works ) i will have got with any single gpu cards .....

Im a happy dual cards owners .... 6-7 years and still happy .... ( if not more )

[blindbox]

That something wouldn't be fully utilized is never a good reason to slow down the progress of technology. This is an all too frequent argument around here.

I agree with this. With more graphics power, there are always new ways to utilize it. Texture mods, SSAA, etc, all require more graphics power.

[lutjens]

AMD delayed a product?????

Nah....can't be true

[Pantsu]

Well, for be honest i use SLI and CFX since the 6600GT-6800Ultra and CFX since the X1900XTX ( X1950XTX+ x1900xtx in my case ), in the rare moment past the 3-4 series i have need to disable my cfx or my SLI for a game who was not support it well, seriously i have never complain... why ? i have all times the fastest single cards available in single, and i get more with 2x of them ....... for be honest i have got less trouble in my life with the CFX and SLI ( who was each time overclocked to the max i can for bring scores before all , under subzero ( and i have not the money to get system for OC records and system for my games, works ) i will have got with any single gpu cards .....

Im a happy dual cards owners .... 6-7 years and still happy .... ( if not more )

So I bet you're going to buy two of the new cards as well? I guess it's not a problem if one updates to the two fastest cards available, but getting a budget CF/SLI is a big mistake imo. Still way too many issues with profile updates, scaling and stuttering. AMD doesn't even support CF under HD3D.

[Lanek]

So I bet you're going to buy two of the new cards as well? I guess it's not a problem if one updates to the two fastest cards available, but getting a budget CF/SLI is a big mistake imo. Still way too many issues with profile updates, scaling and stuttering. AMD doesn't even support CF under HD3D.

On this, i completely agree with you .. it's something as a bad advertisment they make believe peoples, they will get high end perf with 2 low cards ... it's true when all works well, but this is not the case when problem happend, they will sit there with just a low end card ... and with the war between AMD and Nvidia, both using games developpers for their own, sadly lately we have seen more problem of the past .


I can understand someone who have buy 2x 5770 is not happy when his new games don't work well ... something ofcourse we don't care with 2x GTX580 ... we can pass on 1 week without SLI on a particular game.

Without saying, the system used is important, an high end motherboard and PSU, and if you want good results, you want to have a good cpu power.

About 2 high end models, yes, AMD or nvidia 28nm, when they will be there... upgrade from 2x 5870 to 2x 6970 or 580 was not needed, the cost ( specially with waterblock ) was not a good compromise with the few gain i will have got. not a so bad choice as i can still play BF3 in ultra with 85-110fps average and never goes under 60fps minimum with thoses good old 5870's.

[zanzabar]

is it really amd delaying it, amd and NV have both had massive delays from TSMC, and TSMC said no mass production until late q4

[Olivon]

Foundries have 28-nm yield issues, say execs - EETimes

[Making] bulk silicon HKMG at 28-nm is hard. All foundries are having yield issues and defect density issues right now," he said, speaking along the same lines that executives at a couple of chip manufacturing equipment vendors had done a few days before.

Johnson said that the foundries were taking the push out in demand at 28-nm as an opportunity to try and effect yield improvements. "In 2012, total 28-nm HKMG shipments will not exceed 200,000 300-mm wafers; or less than 4 percent of foundry' revenue. Shipments won't start until 2012 and its coming slower than people had previously thought," Johnson said.

[Pantsu]

TSMC just announced last month that they started 28 nm mass production. I think Qualcomm also said they will be the first to launch a 28 nm chip. Last year AMD had made the first mass production Cayman Chips in October (week 42 chip), and they released in mid January. I'd reckon it would take at least as much time this time around, considering 28 nm ramp probably isn't as good.

[Mats]

When was the last time TSMC didn't have a delay of a new process?

[SKYMTL]

TSMC just announced last month that they started 28 nm mass production. I think Qualcomm also said they will be the first to launch a 28 nm chip. Last year AMD had made the first mass production Cayman Chips in October (week 42 chip), and they released in mid January. I'd reckon it would take at least as much time this time around, considering 28 nm ramp probably isn't as good.

There are a number of issues here.

First and foremost "mass production" doesn't imply large volume. It just means that they are out of the preliminary testing phase and can begin moving taped out chips through the initial phases of standardized production.

Also, due to the cancellation of 32nm and the lack of competition (Globalfoundries' 28nm is months behind TSMC) there is a large amount of pent up demand for 28nm which will have a huge number of companies vying for the same production space at TSMC.

Many of us rolled our eyes when we heard Q4 2011 for a broad AMD launch on 28nm as the process just wasn't anywhere close to ready for mass scale rollout. It obviously still isn't.

I also have to mention that something isn't delayed unless it is actually ANNOUNCED in the first place. I can't see anywhere in the official AMD investor meeting documentation where a Q4 2011 date was mentioned for these new GPUs...