AMD 8000 Series Graphics Cards - 'Sea Islands' - Coming 2013

[Offender_Mullet]

Well that was fast. Obviously there isn't a lot of info but the new cards, as well as some other new hardware are confirmed.

The recent firings from Advanced Micro Devices apparently reduced not only marketing and PR personnel, but also engineers. Fired in November, 2011, a hardware designer from AMD has disclosed the code-name of the company’s next-generation of graphics processors – Sea Islands – over at his profile in LinkedIn social network.

Alexander Shternshain, a former MTS design engineer at AMD, who is looking for a new job now, has unveiled the name of AMD’s future graphics processors: Sea Islands. The new family will likely emerge in 2012 or in 2013 and will be most probably be made using 28nm fabrication process at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. According to VR-Zone web-site, Sea Islands name “directly refers to the chain of islands on the USA's Atlantic coast”.

Link: http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/graphic...rocessors.html

The bulk of products that Advanced Micro Devices will be shipping in 2013 will be made using 28nm process technology, according to plans for the year 2013 that were disclosed at the company's Financial Analyst Day. AMD expects to roll-out three brand-new architectures next year: Steamroller high-performance x86, Jaguar low-power x86 and Sea Islands family of graphics chips.

All product lineups that AMD promises to release next year will be substantially different from what is available today, hence, they will not be just product shrinks or refreshes. 28nm process technology alone is likely to allow AMD to boost performance and feature-set of its chips without increasing power consumption compared to existing solutions that are made using 32nm or 40nm fabrication processes. Unfortunately, AMD did not disclose which of its 28nm chips will be made at Globalfoundries and which at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

The new Steamroller x86 high-performance cores will improve performance by boosting efficiency of execution and will also include design elements from low-power architectures to reduce power consumption. While it is unknown whether code-named Kaveri accelerated processing unit will turn the page for AMD in terms of x86 performance, the company hopes that further integration of x86 and stream processing architectures will boost overall user experience.

The forthcoming Jaguar low-power x86 architecture is expected to boost performance while trimming energy consumption, which will let AMD to better compete for tablets and similar devices. Thanks to thin process technology, AMD's code-named Kabini and Temash APUs will also integrate input/output capabilities, which will greatly simplify system design.

Finally, the code-named Sea Islands graphics processors promise to bring "major GPU architecture enhancements" and skyrocket performance for both graphics and computing.

What is a bit surprising is that a high-performance FX-class x86 chip featuring Steamroller cores is absent from the 2013 plan, but the Steamroller will still become available with the code-named Kaveri accelerated processing unit. Apparently, AMD plans to continue selling its enthusiast-class FX chips code-named Vishera with Piledriver cores due to be introduced in 2012 next year as well.

Link: http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/dis...verywhere.html

[supersix4]

lol offender you make me not even want to get a card with how quick next gen news comes out

[Trogdor2010]

Ok, (not that I can afford it), but where the hell are those cards with the XDR2 memory they were promising?

[PS3-Playb3yond]

Wow! 8000 series already, why not make the last 7000 series support Sea Islands?

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by PS3-Playb3yond

Wow! 8000 series already, why not make the last 7000 series support Sea Islands?

Really... This is what in my opinion has killed PC gaming.

[Offender_Mullet]

Originally Posted by supersix4

lol offender you make me not even want to get a card with how quick next gen news comes out

lol Sorry supersix, I just caught the articles last night. Now there's really no reason to get a 7970/7950 card.....but.....not sure if I could holdoff another year before the video card upgrade bug starts itching.

[PrivatePixel]

Originally Posted by Offender_Mullet

lol Sorry supersix, I just caught the articles last night. Now there's really no reason to get a 7970/7950 card.....but.....not sure if I could holdoff another year before the video card upgrade bug starts itching.

This article has me re-evaluating my planned decision to purchase a 7xxx series card later this year (as I'm in the process of putting together a new build). With the 8xxx series coming out next year, I'll just get an inexpensive 6xxx card for now, so I'll have something to tide me over till next year.

I understand planned obsolescence in this industry, but this is a bit ridiculous, even for me.

[PS3-Playb3yond]

I'm still waiting for the price to drop on the 7000 series.

Originally Posted by supersix4

Really... This is what in my opinion has killed PC gaming.

Are you thinking about getting a GPU card as well?

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by PS3-Playb3yond

I'm still waiting for the price to drop on the 7000 series.

I'm debating putting money into my pc with how little its used for graphics intensive stuff. That being said I'd still love to see the Original Crysis running 60+ fps on extreme settings, and maybe a few other older games I was impressed by.

Other problem is availability and how it always seems they never have enough stock for the cards.

[Offender_Mullet]

Originally Posted by Trogdor2010

Ok, (not that I can afford it), but where the hell are those cards with the XDR2 memory they were promising?

The XDR2 was rumored early on with the 7900 Series, but was obviously squashed. I'm sure within a few months there will be plenty of (what usually end up being fake anyway) spec slides for me to post in regards to the 8000 series.

Originally Posted by PrivatePixel

This article has me re-evaluating my planned decision to purchase a 7xxx series card later this year (as I'm in the process of putting together a new build). With the 8xxx series coming out next year, I'll just get an inexpensive 6xxx card for now, so I'll have something to tide me over till next year.

I understand planned obsolescence in this industry, but this is a bit ridiculous, even for me.

I was waiting for custom 7970's (new pcb, better power phases, etc.) but unless the prices drop considerably over the next 8 months or so, I'll just hold off for the 8000. I'm really surprised they leaked info this early on. The 7900 cards are still infants.

[supersix4]

the funny thing is dual 5970s still seem like power houses (at least to me they do )

Originally Posted by Offender_Mullet

lol Sorry supersix, I just caught the articles last night. Now there's really no reason to get a 7970/7950 card.....but.....not sure if I could holdoff another year before the video card upgrade bug starts itching.

At least if I get an 8000 and feel all special you can come on the week after my post and say "9000 series announced".

You are saving me money with this because I just continually hold off

[PS3-Playb3yond]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I'm debating putting money into my pc with how little its used for graphics intensive stuff. That being said I'd still love to see the Original Crysis running 60+ fps on extreme settings, and maybe a few other older games I was impressed by.

I agree, I still don't have a GPU and still use my i7 2600K (Intel HD Graphics) to do all the work....which isn't much since I don't game.

Other problem is availability and how it always seems they never have enough stock for the cards.

Have you checked at Micro Center? Or you could get one online but I doubt they will be cheaper than MC.