It turns out that the "Radeon HD 8950" that Lenovo's Erazer X700 ships with, is yet another example of GPU makers shamelessly rebranding previous-generation GPUs, to the whims of pre-built PC makers. One of our forum members spotted this page on AMD's website, which lists the specs-sheets of nine OEM-exclusive Radeon HD 8000 series SKUs, which reveal them to be complete rebrands of their HD 7000-series counterparts. If you're into pre-built PCs, and planning to buy one soon, watch out what's crunching pixels in it.

61 Comments on AMD Rebrands Radeon HD 7000 Series GPUs to HD 8000 for OEMs

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#1 acperience7

Wow. Not just the budget cards, but the "top end" models as well...Are they that strapped for cash? Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 5:49 Reply

#2 cadaveca

My name is Dave acperience7 Wow. Not just the budget cards, but the "top end" models as well...Are they that strapped for cash? I don't see it as being a money thing. I see it as a way to prevent users from buying a useless upgrade, while giving them time to tweak new designs further. We don't see any launch info from NVidia either right now, so it's not like this leaves AMD behind in GPU performance. I don't see it as being a money thing. I see it as a way to prevent users from buying a useless upgrade, while giving them time to tweak new designs further. We don't see any launch info from NVidia either right now, so it's not like this leaves AMD behind in GPU performance. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 5:52 Reply

#3 eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman acperience7 Wow. Not just the budget cards, but the "top end" models as well...Are they that strapped for cash? NV has been guilty of this plus releasing weaker SKUs of certain Desktop Models under same name for OEM yet the Desktop Models are beefier than OEM parts NV has been guilty of this plus releasing weaker SKUs of certain Desktop Models under same name for OEM yet the Desktop Models are beefier than OEM parts Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 5:58 Reply

#4 newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder eidairaman1 NV has been guilty of this plus releasing weaker SKUs of certain Desktop Models under same name for OEM yet the Desktop Models are beefier than OEM parts When did they do that? When did they do that? Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 5:59 Reply

#5 eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman newtekie1 When did they do that? www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-660-oem/specifications



whats funny NV site doesnt specify shader count, transistor count etc. whats funny NV site doesnt specify shader count, transistor count etc. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 6:06 Reply

#6 Widjaja

No need to go on like this is a new thing for AMD and that they are doing this because they are strapped for cash because they have done this in the past. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 6:08 Reply

#7 btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator I think OEMs are just as culpable. They tell GPU maker to offer chips that at least look new on the specs sheet, or they'd pick the other's. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 6:09 Reply

#8 cadaveca

My name is Dave Explains why there are next to ZERO GHZ cards for sale locally(never has been, just the initial launch cards).



However, I got to say it:



Does this make the ASUS MARS II a 8970x2?



:roll: Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 6:16 Reply

#9 Delta6326

At least this is OEM's only and not AIB's... Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 6:21 Reply

#10 The Von Matrices

So I guess the Sea Islands refresh will be the 9000 series then? Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 6:32 Reply

#11 Nordic

I think it is more by OEM's request. Maybe even to move old 7000 stock. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 6:36 Reply

#12 Widjaja

The Von Matrices So I guess the Sea Islands refresh will be the 9000 series then? Could be.

The 8xxx series appears to be more of a tweaked 7xxx series.

Basically like what happened when nVidia went from the 8800 series to the 9800 series.



Fair enough since AMD are still refining their drivers for GCN architecture. Could be.The 8xxx series appears to be more of a tweaked 7xxx series.Basically like what happened when nVidia went from the 8800 series to the 9800 series.Fair enough since AMD are still refining their drivers for GCN architecture. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 6:37 Reply

#13 btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator Sea Islands still is Radeon HD 8000 series. These are OEM-only models. If anything, it will hurt OEMs, not AMD. People will avoid buying pre-built PCs even after the real HD 8000 "Sea Islands" series launches, because they'd suspect re-branded HD 7000 cards in them. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 6:44 Reply

#14 HumanSmoke

cadaveca Explains why there are next to ZERO GHZ cards for sale locally(never has been, just the initial launch cards).

However, I got to say it; Does this make the ASUS MARS II a 8970x2? :roll: Ares nameplate is AMD, Mars is Nvidia.



In any case the eidairaman1 NV has been guilty of this plus releasing weaker SKUs of certain Desktop Models under same name for OEM yet the Desktop Models are beefier than OEM parts If you're making a case for Nvidia's prior indiscretions, I seem to remember ATI "updating" the Rage Pro to Rage Pro Turbo that came with drivers optimized for synthetic benchmarks and shittier gameplay performance- and that was sometime around the beginning of 1998 (February I think) - so I wouldn't bother playing the historical card. Ares nameplate is AMD, Mars is Nvidia.In any case the Mars II is a dual GTX 580 card ...unless you're thinking about this one If you're making a case for Nvidia's prior indiscretions, I seem to remember ATI "updating" the Rage Pro to Rage Prothat came with drivers optimized for synthetic benchmarks and shittier gameplay performance- and that was sometime around the beginning of 1998 (February I think) - so I wouldn't bother playing the historical card. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 6:45 Reply

#15 NHKS

YAY! new year, new series, new g..p.. no wait!!



btw.. now that we are seeing more re-brands i am curious to know, what will users of these oem systems get to see when they use GPU-Z or how are their drivers different from retail models? do the drivers detect them as 8xxx(OEM)? Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 7:00 Reply

#16 GSquadron

I think it is a more problem that you didn't post the nickname of that 'forum member',

(or whoever ordered you not to) rather than a rebranding from some companies.

I wrote in a thread "both disappointing" (Nvidia + AMD) and we already are in GPU Dark ages



Personally, I think this is quite normal. They can do whatever they want, seriously. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 7:07 Reply

#17 HumanSmoke

NHKS what will users of these oem systems get to see when they use GPU-Z Do OEM system buyers use, or even know what GPU-Z is? Aleksander Dishnica I think it is a more problem that you didn't post the nickname of that 'forum member' Shouldn't be too hard to figure out from a Do OEM system buyers use, or even know what GPU-Z is?Shouldn't be too hard to figure out from a post in a related article posted just before this one Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 7:09 Reply

#18 NHKS

^ valid question!.. but I dont underestimate ppl generally..

anyways, I am just curious to know.. thats all Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 7:13 Reply

#19 McSteel

I remember reading somewhere that the mobile HD8xxx naming and architecture would more closely follow the desktop counterparts than ever before. I just didn't expect the desktop parts to adjust to mobile practices, hoping it would be the other way around.



It's not like nVidia never did anything like this, but damn AMD sure does have crappy timing. Pulling a stunt like that just when they seemed to be able to get ahead is quite the slip-up. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 7:29 Reply

#20 btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator HumanSmoke Do OEM system buyers use, or even know what GPU-Z is? If they know what a graphics card is, and know they're choosing a PC with "HD 8950" in it, then surely they'll know what GPU-Z is.



We have plenty of OEM desktop users reporting their GPUs to us. If they know what a graphics card is, and know they're choosing a PC with "HD 8950" in it, then surely they'll know what GPU-Z is.We have plenty of OEM desktop users reporting their GPUs to us. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 7:34 Reply

#21 Nordic

McSteel Pulling a stunt like that just when they seemed to be able to get ahead is quite the slip-up. They are only doing this with OEM parts not the 8000 series in general. They will still put out the next gen that will actually be a next gen. They are only doing this with OEM parts not the 8000 series in general. They will still put out the next gen that will actually be a next gen. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 7:35 Reply

#22 Roph

I'd change my sig if I could be bothered. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 7:46 Reply

#23 McSteel

james888 They are only doing this with OEM parts not the 8000 series in general. They will still put out the next gen that will actually be a next gen. And that makes it ok?

It's not like the OEM market is insignificant - if it was, AMD wouldn't be doing business in it. And I for one wouldn't enjoy being screwed over just because I wanted to buy a Lenovo or a Dell. This will hurt sales, and it is a crappy move, no matter how you look at it. And that makes it ok?It's not like the OEM market is insignificant - if it was, AMD wouldn't be doing business in it. And I for one wouldn't enjoy being screwed over just because I wanted to buy a Lenovo or a Dell. Thishurt sales, and ita crappy move, no matter how you look at it. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 7:50 Reply

#24 Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop Aleksander Dishnica I think it is a more problem that you didn't post the nickname of that 'forum member',

(or whoever ordered you not to) rather than a rebranding from some companies.

I wrote in a thread "both disappointing" (Nvidia + AMD) and we already are in GPU Dark ages



Personally, I think this is quite normal. They can do whatever they want, seriously. GPU dark ages? Why? GPU dark ages? Why? Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 8:09 Reply

#25 NC37

To be fair, this happens a lot in laptop GPUs. Heck nVidia's 600M series has a bunch of Fermi parts in it. Some of them high end ones. It is just easier to get away with it because people don't expect laptop GPUs to be the same as desktop. Posted on Jan 8th 2013, 10:00 Reply