HD 6990 Preview/Review

[Utnorris]

Well if it is truly $700 then I guess I will pass. Dual GPU's had historically been less than two separate equal GPU's unless they were a special card like Asus' Ares card. I will also wait for some more reviews since I am surprised it would beat two HD6970's in CF when clocked the same since they are supposed to be sharing the same GPU.

[Lanek]

I honestly did think that a single 6990 was going to beat 2 x 5970s. After all the 6990 is a dual-GPU card, and of a newer generation.

In fact I was already wondering if someone was going to make a waterblock for it and I had set money aside to buy both.

Which is why I'm so perplexed.

Sadly " this generation " is not what we was waiting... it's not like pass from a 4870 to 5970 or even to a 5870 ... AMD have need redesign is 32nm new architecutre in 40nm and so " perf / specs etc " was way less .. it's just 2x 6970 packed .. only and just that. it will not change the spec and perf of the 6970's

Well if it is truly $700 then I guess I will pass. Dual GPU's had historically been less than two separate equal GPU's unless they were a special card like Asus' Ares card. I will also wait for some more reviews since I am surprised it would beat two HD6970's in CF when clocked the same since they are supposed to be sharing the same GPU.

It was allready happend in some really rare case with 5970 vs 5870 ( rare, i remember 1-2games )... even if i have allways ask me if it was not the reviewers who have mess something doing the bench.

[InCredible]

I honestly did think that a single 6990 was going to beat 2 x 5970s. After all the 6990 is a dual-GPU card, and of a newer generation.

In fact I was already wondering if someone was going to make a waterblock for it and I had set money aside to buy both.

Which is why I'm so perplexed.

but like said you have a total of 4 gpus with 3200sp..so 6400sp vs 30xxsp
even if its a newer tweaked version its not that great..that would have to make the 6970 2x a 5870 ...which isn't what it is..

[MrToad]

but like said you have a total of 4 gpus with 3200sp..so 6400sp vs 30xxsp
even if its a newer tweaked version its not that great..that would have to make the 6970 2x a 5870 ...which isn't what it is..

Yeah, I see what you mean now... I got confused with the product code

5970 = 2 cores, 6970 = 1 core.

Compare 5870 to 6970 = good.

Compare 5970 to 6970 = no good.

Compare 5970 to 6990 = good.

[Manicdan]

is there any game where you would need more than a 6990 with just a 1080p monitor?

[InCredible]

@ manicdan. not really..Metro at 1920x1200 averages 60fps..its just you might hit some lag here n there..since of course thats average fps and not min. which is where you'll see the lag..but all games should run flawlessly on this single card at the res and max settings.

[MrToad]

is there any game where you would need more than a 6990 with just a 1080p monitor?

In my case, no. The only reason why I have two 5970s is because I only paid for the waterblocks, the cards were free

When it comes to the 6990 one does me fine. If I can flog the 2 x 5970s for a good price I might get one, now that InCredible has patiently dissipated the fog that was clogging my mind.

[Pantsu]

If it's more expensive than 2x6970 I dont see much reason for buying it. In any case you'll still need water cooling if you don't want the blow dryer sound effect applied to all your games.

[DarthShader]

In my case, no. The only reason why I have two 5970s is because I only paid for the waterblocks, the cards were free

oooh, I want to buy some waterblocks too, sign me up, sign me up!!

You are going to be CPU limited for most stuff at such low resolution anyways. I'd invest in some monitors.

[Heinz68]

First review for HD 6990

http://www.inpai.com.cn/doc/hard/144777.htm

Looking good, probably will buy one. Waiting for more reviews and price.

[Heinz68]

If it's more expensive than 2x6970 I dont see much reason for buying it. In any case you'll still need water cooling if you don't want the blow dryer sound effect applied to all your games.

It's going to be cheaper than two HD 6970 and if it needs water-cooling I will not buy the card. It should run cooler than HD 6970 CF or GTX 580 SLI, specially if the cards are installed side side like in my case.

Here is the full load temperature benchmark running FurMark comparing to other cards, mostly single GPU.

[xdan]

For GTX 580 the temperature is a fake, the real temperature is 79-82C(reference cooler) dependig on ambient, case air flow.

If it's more expensive than 2x6970 I dont see much reason for buying it. In any case you'll still need water cooling if you don't want the blow dryer sound effect applied to all your games.

+1.
For a 700-800$ card 6990 has as always a poor cooler from Amd.
Remember 4870X2 vs GTX 295.

[JohnZS]

It's close to release...

John

[STEvil]

I remember seeing a lot of those 90c+ numbers for a lot of cards, like my GTX480. Stays under 82c most of the time for me though, so i'll wait to see some "better" numbers.

[Caparroz]

Seems great. Almost the same performance as 2x6970. Can't wait for reviews from more reputable sites tomorrow...

Any review lacking an Eyefinity setup will be useless, imo. I'll probably go to a 5760x1080 or 3240x1920 setup later this month and this card is overkill for 90% of the games available even at 2560x1600.

[[XC] hipno650]

not bad. It performs like a 6970 CFX, draws power like 6970 CFX, produces heat like 6970 CFX. the only thing is that I bet it is a good bunch louder then a 6970 CFX i honestly am not sure what people were expecting. this is great to see this out of a single card but unless it is priced at $550 for MOST people a pair of 6950 2GB's would be a better and cheaper option.

but then again you always get 2 of these for some serious ePeen action

[Manicdan]

I remember seeing a lot of those 90c+ numbers for a lot of cards, like my GTX480. Stays under 82c most of the time for me though, so i'll wait to see some "better" numbers.

i like seeing temp and power consumption in gaming. furmark is nice and reliable and all that, but there are reasons why more roadblocks are being built to prevent such tests from working.

i also think the should post fps in furmark, aswell as temps and load to show efficiency.

[STEvil]

i like seeing temp and power consumption in gaming. furmark is nice and reliable and all that, but there are reasons why more roadblocks are being built to prevent such tests from working.

i also think the should post fps in furmark, aswell as temps and load to show efficiency.

Agree. I dislike that we are not being allowed to use the GPU to its full potential, but I do realize there are limits to what can be done :/

[JohnZS]

The card retails for nearly $900 and none of you batted an eyelid?!?
John

[[XC] hipno650]

The card retails for nearly $900 and none of you batted an eyelid?!?
John

maybe off shore but in the US AMD would need to be utterly stupid to do that. I'm guessing it slides right into the 5970 spot. maybe around $700 at launch and then dropping to to some-ware in the $600's

[Caparroz]

(...) I honestly am not sure what people were expecting. this is great to see this out of a single card but unless it is priced at $550 for MOST people a pair of 6950 2GB's would be a better and cheaper option.

I was expecting a significant gap between 2x6970 vs. 6990 considering mem clock difference. But as I said im my previous post I'm interest in Eyefinity only. The mem. clock gap might be an issue at ultra-high res.

[JohnZS]

maybe off shore but in the US AMD would need to be utterly stupid to do that. I'm guessing it slides right into the 5970 spot. maybe around $700 at launch and then dropping to to some-ware in the $600's

You are right
US price is $730!

John

[JoeBar]

Well if it is truly $700 then I guess I will pass. Dual GPU's had historically been less than two separate equal GPU's unless they were a special card like Asus' Ares card. I will also wait for some more reviews since I am surprised it would beat two HD6970's in CF when clocked the same since they are supposed to be sharing the same GPU.

I totally agree with u. I've tried these dual card/singe slot solutions and i can say that if you want CF/SLI do it the right way...

[Utnorris]

Maybe in a few months. If it does not have a MSRP of $600 they won't sell many when you can get two HD6970's for around $640 or two HD6950's for around $550 or less. The only thing this time around is that Nvidia will release a competing card and hopefully will keep the HD6990's price down unlike the HD5970 which actually sold for way more than MSRP due to lack of availability and competition.

[Manicdan]

I was expecting a significant gap between 2x6970 vs. 6990 considering mem clock difference. But as I said im my previous post I'm interest in Eyefinity only. The mem. clock gap might be an issue at ultra-high res.

looking at the one review, the perf difference at 1920x1200 is like 1-2%, but at 2560x1600 was like 2-5%, so i can only imagine it gets worse as you go higher