Possible AMD Polaris Line-Up

[mpc007]

Hi!

Just as most of you guys, I'm very eager to see AMD's next generation cards launched, and compare them to the new Nvidia Pascal listings (GTX 1080 / 1070). But a lot of news sites, like WCCF Tech, are speculating in different directions to which chips the new ones are going to replace. It is understandable, since last years were easy with almost only rebrands, and now suddenly there is suddenly guessing work involved. However, it's relevant to see how the new silicon is going to be positioned, because that will decide the retail price - and if's really going to be the bang for buck warrior as is now rumored.

So, the new Polaris 10 chip is the most interesting, because it will be in the high midrange and will probably wage war with the GTX 1070. Still, some sources claim it will be the successor to the R9 380(X), and some say it will replace R9 390(X). I don't know why there isn't more discussion about this, because its a FUNDAMENTAL difference. x90 parts sell for over 300 dollars, x80 parts closer to 200. It makes it an entirely different market. Back in the mining days, the 280X was very popular for its great price-performance ratio. But when that was over, interest in the chip dropped and 390 started to gain supporters.

So, my best guess for a line-up (edited):

Radeon Pro Duo (Dual Fiji, ultimate enthousiast) ~$1000
Fury / Fury X / Fury Nano (Fiji, top end) ~$500
R9 490/490X (Polaris 10, subtop) ~$300 / claimed perf of 390X at lower price / tdp
R9 480/480X (Antigua > Tonga Rebrand, high end) ~$230
R9 470/470X (Polaris 11, midrange) ~$180 / claimed perf of 370X at lower tdp

R7 460/460X (Tobago > Bonaire Rebrand, low midrange) ~$120
R7 450/450X (Cape Verde Rebrand, entry) ~$100

R5 430/440 (Oland Rebrand, discrete) ~$80


As said, there are also sources which claim Polaris 10 at the x80 placeholder, and Polaris 11 at the x70 spot. But that only shifts the question, because which chips are going to fill the new blanks then? Rebrands are not the solution this time, who buys a 470 rebrand (which would be triple rebrand from Pitcairn > Curacao > ?) if you can have same performance at lower price and tdp with the 460.

Please feel free the join this discussion. I think its very relevant and overlooked in recent speculations.

 

[Gam3r01]

The reason there is no discussion is there is nothing to discuss.
Nobody knows how the cards are going to perform, once we get closer to launch the lineups will be cleared up, but until then its just speculation on speculation which means nothing.

 

[mpc007]

I disagree. More than enough information has already been confirmed for a basis to discuss the future line-up. I'd be delighted if you could care to share your opinion about it.

 

[Gam3r01]

We can discuss polaris as an architecture, but not what card will replace what, thats something we cant do at this point in time.
Polaris needs to do well, thats all I know.

 

[Math Geek]

some interesting leaks right now but overall, most of what has leaked has been mobile chips related. those look very intriguing but not exactly desktop related.

but the idea of a 390x level card for under $300 is rather inciting (one of the bigger rumors i have seen). amd will have more information very soon but not actual line-up related yet, more architecture and features. once there is a bit more confirmed i'm sure it will get collected into one place like the nvidia 1000 series megathread started a couple weeks ago. i'm sure there will be an amd equivalent once there is truly enough to base one on.

 

[mpc007]

I think there is enough to create one of those already. Besides, the idea the leaked details are all mobile is also just speculation and not AMD confirmed. And even if they are in fact mobile parts, there is a big chance they do not differ that much from the desktop parts because TDP is cut so significantly that there is no need for them to be tuned down versions.

AMD will have to move fast, and I think they will, otherwise an pretty important bunch of Polaris buyers (including myself) will consider the GTX 1070.

 

[Math Geek]

isn't that the whole point of the rumor mill?? none of it is confirmed, but still fun to speculate/dream about

supposed to be 2 big amd events this month and the second one on june 1 should be more info about a new line-up. at least that's what the rumors are saying that i've been reading. either way, looking forward to see what they have coming out

 

[mpc007]

But whats your guess, Polaris 10 going to be 490 or 480 cards? Or both?

 

[Math Geek]

not sure there yet how they are going to name them. but amd has confirmed and released the mobile specs http://www.amd.com/en-gb/products/graphics/notebook/r9-m200#

so can make some numbering guesses based on the mobile names. 470, 470x and 485x so far. from what i am reading it seems the polaris 10 should be mid-range and up cards. with the polaris 11 being lower end cards and laptop models. could be very interesting considering the power usage that is rumored.

again all just guessing but it i'm kind of excited to see what is coming. not making any buying decisions for at least a few months and will most likely wait until nov for black friday sales to buy anything. buying pascal right now seems rather risky until we know what they are both going to be offering at what prices. i forsee a lot of "why didn't i wait for polaris?" type threads in the next month

 

[mpc007]

Well you could be right there, I will defintely wait until all details are clear. But based on what we know, I probably think GTX 1070 is going to be a bit more expensive than Polaris 10, since the latter is said to be under 300 and 1070 around 370. Which will probably match with the performance of those cards.

About the mobile details, yes of course that is true. But i think its possible to predict desktop range as well. I mean, Polaris 10 should be the 490 cards, since otherwise there is a gap between 480 and Fury. They cant fill that with a 390 rebrand, since it would be equally powerful as the cheaper 480 if thats Polaris 10. Understand my point?

Which means they'll use something else for the 480 placeholder. Could be a Tonga rebrand, if i was held at gunpoint I'd say they go for that in order to fill things between Polaris 10 and 11.

 

[Math Geek]

recall what happened when the 970 came out cheaper than the 390 which it matched in performance? that's of course what will happen if polaris matches the 1070 for less. nvidia will have to drop the price to match. that's what i am waiting for myself if the amd card does what is being rumored.

anything else amd releases will of course cause price changes in nvidia as well. there is always an early adopter tax for new cards and this time it may be even bigger when amd makes its move and nvidia has to drop prices to match. too many variables to make any truly smart choices yet.

you can speculate on naming of the new amd cards if you wish, but honestly it does not matter much to me what they call them. just how they perform. so i'll leave that bit to you to debate