A Beyond3D forum member posted a mysterious picture of two graphics cards that could very well be engineering samples of AMD's true next-generation Radeon HD 7900 "Tahiti" graphics cards. The final products most probably won't look like these, with a bare red PCB, but it does look like the reference cooler design is ready. A more important feature in that picture is the spotting of traces for at least 11 memory chips, the 12th one (not highlighted) is apparently near the PCIe slot interface. The presence of 12 memory chips gives rumors of Tahiti featuring a 384-bit wide memory interface a shot in the arm. This will be the first AMD GPU in over 5 years to feature a memory bus wider than 256-bit. The R600 Radeon HD 2900 GPU featured a 512-bit GDDR4-capable memory interface.

117 Comments on AMD Radeon HD 7900 ''Tahiti'' Pictured, 384-bit Memory Bus Confirmed?

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#1 radrok

Oh god can't wait, give me 2 no no wait 3 :roll: Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 18:42 Reply

#2 robal

At last ! Some picture p0rn ! Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 18:43 Reply

#3 Volkszorn88

stfu already and take my money Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 18:44 Reply

#4 theoneandonlymrk

no disclosure on what its use is though damn Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 18:46 Reply

#5 Aetherius

Cool! Im ready for these to release!! :D Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 18:50 Reply

#6 btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator spot the 12th memory chip.



This?





BTW, that is a huge GPU package. Let's playThis?BTW, that is a huge GPU package. Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 18:53 Reply

#7 Zubasa

btarunr BTW, that is a huge GPU package. So is the GTX 580, and we know what a beast that is ;) So is the GTX 580, and we know what a beast that is ;) Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 18:55 Reply

#8 LAN_deRf_HA

Is there anything about the solder points on the back of those chips that indicates whether or not it's GDDR5/XDR? Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 18:57 Reply

#9 radrok



Also found this magnification Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:01 Reply

#10 Super XP

From what I've found out they are going with GDDR5. Also it seems AMD has been pushing for DDR memory for some time now. Though XDR would have been interesting indead. Now for the questions? Do I wait for another HD 6970 and do CrossfireX or do I sell my HD 6970, add a few more $$ and go for the upcoming HD 7970 :twitch: It all depends on Price/Performance :D Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:01 Reply

#11 radrok

Super XP From what I've found out they are going with GDDR5. Also it seems AMD has been pushing for DDR memory for some time now. Though XDR would have been interesting indead. Now for the questions? Do I wait for another HD 6970 and do CrossfireX or do I sell my HD 6970, add a few more $$ and go for the upcoming HD 7970 :twitch: It all depends on Price/Performance :D Just by experience, go for the newer series... AMD/ATI drivers have always been the best when using the latest gen cards Just by experience, go for the newer series... AMD/ATI drivers have always been the best when using the latest gen cards Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:03 Reply

#12 btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator LAN_deRf_HA Is there anything about the solder points on the back of those chips that indicates whether or not it's GDDR5/XDR? Looking at the picture radrok posted, those traces look GDDR5. That said, it is rumored that Tahiti will feature support for both GDDR5 and XDR2, but they'll need two different PCB designs for GDDR5 boards and XDR2 ones. They're nowhere near pin-compatible. So this has to be that GDDR5 board.



Although there's just a small possibility that Tahiti will support XDR2, looking at these pictures is no way of dismissing that possibility. We'll have to wait for the products to actually launch, or any pre-release info to kill that "Tahiti-XDR2" rumor. Looking at the picture radrok posted, those traces look GDDR5. That said, it is rumored that Tahiti will feature support for both GDDR5 and XDR2, but they'll need two different PCB designs for GDDR5 boards and XDR2 ones. They're nowhere near pin-compatible. So this has to be that GDDR5 board.Although there's just a small possibility that Tahiti will support XDR2, looking at these pictures is no way of dismissing that possibility. We'll have to wait for the products to actually launch, or any pre-release info to kill that "Tahiti-XDR2" rumor. Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:06 Reply

#13 robal

LAN_deRf_HA Is there anything about the solder points on the back of those chips that indicates whether or not it's GDDR5/XDR? I doubt it.



Especially that XDR2 controller is compatible with GDDR5.

That means, even if it is integrated in Tahiti die, memory interfaces will look identical. Even same memory packages, probably.



Cheers, I doubt it.Especially that XDR2 controller is compatible with GDDR5.That means, even if it is integrated in Tahiti die, memory interfaces will look identical. Even same memory packages, probably.Cheers, Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:06 Reply

#14 radrok

If I were from AMD I would honestly fear to have something to do with Rambus even though XDR2 would have been surely intriguing Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:08 Reply

#15 Hayder_Master

At laaaaaaaaaast Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:13 Reply

#16 cadaveca

My name is Dave



Sucks to see a red PCB, and dual 8-pin connectors though. 375W monster? btarunr Let's play spot the 12th memory chip.



This?

img.techpowerup.org/111208/bta4098dc.jpg



BTW, that is a huge GPU package. What about the IOMMU that has been confirmed already? That could be used as teh "12th chip".





Shit. I was really expecting 128-bit IOMMU and 256-bit memory bus. Does GCN really need that much bandwidth? I'm so confused!!! Shit...maybe I'm totally off on what I'm expecting. How very interesting.Sucks to see a red PCB, and dual 8-pin connectors though. 375W monster?What about the IOMMU that has been confirmed already? That could be used as teh "12th chip".Shit. I was really expecting 128-bit IOMMU and 256-bit memory bus. Does GCN really need that much bandwidth? I'm so confused!!! Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:17 Reply

#17 Super XP

radrok If I were from AMD I would honestly fear to have something to do with Rambus even though XDR2 would have been surely intriguing AMD can really benefit by using XDR2 memory. They just need to get some sort of aggreement in place so they cannot screw each other over. I mean RAMBUS can surely use the money and exposure by working with AMD. AMD can really benefit by using XDR2 memory. They just need to get some sort of aggreement in place so they cannot screw each other over. I mean RAMBUS can surely use the money and exposure by working with AMD. Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:18 Reply

#18 Zubasa

radrok If I were from AMD I would honestly fear to have something to do with Rambus even though XDR2 would have been surely intriguing Guess what? Rambus has a hand in just about anything memory related.

Good luck avoiding them. Guess what? Rambus has a hand in just about anything memory related.Good luck avoiding them. Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:18 Reply

#19 Super XP

cadaveca Sucks to see a red PCB, :eek: Let's keep ATI alive :toast: :eek: Let's keepalive :toast: Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:21 Reply

#20 btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator cadaveca Sucks to see a red PCB AMD high end card engineering samples (the ones made in Canada) have no backplate, and have red PCB. The mass production cards over the past two generations had black PCB and backplate. cadaveca What about the IOMMU that has been confirmed already? That could be used as teh "12th chip".





Shit. I was really expecting 128-bit IOMMU and 256-bit memory bus. Does GCN really need that much bandwidth? I'm so confused!!! IOMMU can be integrated into the GPU die. It doesn't have to be a separate chip. AMD high end card engineering samples (the ones made in Canada) have no backplate, and have red PCB. The mass production cards over the past two generations had black PCB and backplate.IOMMU can be integrated into the GPU die. It doesn't have to be a separate chip. Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:21 Reply

#21 cadaveca

My name is Dave I understand that iommu doesn't need a chip. that was my point.:laugh:



I've been talking about iommu for much longer than nearly anyone else. This has to be the most exciting thing about GCN for me. Most don't even have a clue what it'd be used for. Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:29 Reply

#22 pantherx12

cadaveca Shit...maybe I'm totally off on what I'm expecting. How very interesting.



Sucks to see a red PCB, and dual 8-pin connectors though. 375W monster?







What about the IOMMU that has been confirmed already? That could be used as teh "12th chip".





Shit. I was really expecting 128-bit IOMMU and 256-bit memory bus. Does GCN really need that much bandwidth? I'm so confused!!! It's 2 x 6 pin dude, although having said that the card underneath is 8 and 6. It's 2 x 6 pin dude, although having said that the card underneath is 8 and 6. Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:32 Reply

#23 X800

I found this picture. Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:32 Reply

#24 btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator X800 I found this picture. Nice, so the missing chip (marked 1 in that picture) is right where we thought it would be. Nice, so the missing chip (marked 1 in that picture) is right where we thought it would be. Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:34 Reply

#25 cadaveca

My name is Dave pantherx12 It's 2 x 6 pin dude, although having said that the card underneath is 8 and 6. Um, that's not what I see(I see 8+6 in both cards, and pinout for 8x8):



Um, that's not what I see(I see 8+6 in both cards, and pinout for 8x8): Posted on Dec 8th 2011, 19:35 Reply