Will Polaris use Directx 12.1 and what to buy?

[GlockonDock]

Hi guys!
I got a few questions about the new cards coming in...
Namely does Polaris use Directx 12.1, assuming AMD is working closely with Directx, they'd be able to feature that in as well right?
Also the competition is big, the GTX 1080 seems to be monstrous, then again I feel that Nvidia seems threatened and is urging to send out their cards fast before AMD arrives maybe they are trying to sell their cards fast before they get outperformed?
If Polaris uses 12.1 I think there is no doubt to buy AMD.

 

[rgd1101]

Polaris is mid level gpu from amd, most likely match 1070.

 

[GlockonDock]

Polaris is an architecture not a card is it not? It should have a high end to match 1080 (or beat it), mid class to beat 1070 and entry class for so called future 1060 (ti) shouldn't it?

 

[Sakkura]

I assume you mean DirectX 12 feature level 12_1. There isn't a DirectX 12.1 API yet.

Polaris will most likely support feature level 12_1. I don't know if that's been officially confirmed yet, since AMD was talking a lot more about things like power efficiency in their initial announcement of Polaris.

BTW, Polaris is a "macro-architecture" while the basic GPU architecture is GCN 4. Vega will be the high-end chip based on GCN 4, and will compete against Nvidia's GP100 high-end cards coming (probably) next year.

 

[GlockonDock]

So in conclusion, I should wait for GTX 1080 and maybe sell it next year for an AMD product? Upgrade is crucial for me.
I thought AMD would give these cards competition already this year..

 

[Sakkura]

So in conclusion, I should wait for GTX 1080 and maybe sell it next year for an AMD product? Upgrade is crucial for me.
I thought AMD would give these cards competition already this year..

AMD will give these cards competition this year. Polaris 10 is their new midrange GPU, just like the GP104 chip in the GTX 1080 and 1070 is Nvidia's new midrange GPU.

Based on rumors/leaks, Polaris 10 may be a little smaller than GP104, so it's possible the top card will perform more like the GTX 1070 than 1080, but then it would also be cheaper for AMD to manufacture, which could allow AMD to offer superior value for money. This is all speculation, it's best to wait and see the various reviews this summer.

 

[rgd1101]

rumor is Polaris 10 will be R9 480/480x.

 

[Shaun o]

It`s always been the same when it comes to the release of a new GPU architecture.

Claims are made by Nvidia, and Amd before the cards are released, and have had a chance to be properly bench marked and tested as to there true performance. By Toms HW, and other tech review sites.

One company tries to beat the other to try and get initial new hardware out of the door before its close competitor.
And then everyone holds there breath waiting for the results of the competitors new graphics card released a few days or weeks behind it.

So they can see the true comparison, other than the claims Nvidia or Amd have made about there cards before public release.

And then the fanboys kick in devoted to Nvidia or Amd.
For Sla##ng match on forums.

No time for it myself.
Mark my words though, Seen it too many times now.
It will be the same cycle again without doubt.

 

[Gnuffi]

sigh.. it doesnt matter if Polaris or even Vega "uses"/supports DX12.1 or dx13 or dx195...
simply because its up to the application you use, not the gpu, if a game doesnt support DX12 it literally doesnt matter if your GPU does or not, the GPU wont perform worse/better because of it in that application,
it will/can only improve in an application that actually uses DX12
so if a game doesnt even use DX12.1 features (which many currently dont and prob wont for a long time thank you consols) it has no direct impact on the GPU hardware performance
and since Nvidia already supports the features its a mute point to use that as comparison tool, even if DX feature mattered
what will matters most is the direct hardware capabilities, which for Polaris, and Vega are mostly speculation at this point, until we get the cards in hand and can compare them directly in test against Pascal

Nvidia isnt releasing "early" because they are threatened by AMD. The launch was always supposed to happen before AMD, only the specific date was in question, what reasoning AMD has to launch later is another matter. more testing, working out some kinks, strong quality control? feel free to speculate. in end then only the end result will matter
weather or not Nvidias "brute" force tactic will end up resulting in a better performing card than AMDs architecture we simply cannot know until the cards are in 3rd party hands to be tested and compared
but weather or not a card supports an API feature lvl or not will have no impact on the specific hardware performance, ONLY software performance in software that uses that API. so never let that be a deciding factor when "selecting a winner"
never compare "nvidia dx12/12.1" vs "amd dx12/dx12.1", only hardware capabilities in direct match up tests, until API tests can be made
which again, remmeber DX12 is far from the common standard yet, + we got Vulcan on the rise too

a good example would be AMD and Nvdia both supported dx12, however neither "truly" supported 100% of dx12 features,
AMD architecture just meant that their latest cards benefited strongly when used in combination with dx12 api, despite Nvdia cards also supporting dx12., and the same cards had reverse results when tested in dx11 api
so you cannot speculate on which is stronger in a purely software bound performance until the actual tests are out.

 

[GlockonDock]

Well that explains a lot, I'd really want to see Polaris 10 on top, it's a shame that Nvidia gimp cards, and Intel and Nvidia both price their cards just like how they want, like t here was no competition, I hope AMD does better.

 

[Gnuffi]

the best thing that could happen for the market is AMD ends up doing well and their new lineup will floor Nvidia pascal, forcing Nvidia to innovate a bit more and be better/more consumer friendly priced,
instead of having them produce and price in a way that clearly reflect their enormous market share

personally im so curious about AMD's lineup that i've decided to hold off and not buy the 1080 at launch but wait and see if AMD's card ends up being better performance/dollar ratio than Pascal,
and if they perform equally good across the board between API's since it would suck if its "only good" in dx12 and not dx11, or only good in Vulcan and not DX and so on

 

[GlockonDock]

I would also see AMD Zen+ make a great comeback as well, Intel has been setting the prices how they want to, i7 6700k is such a small improvement over the rock solid 4790k which I tend to have and yet the price is over 400 euros, AMD making a comeback with improved single core performance and way more cores that would be utilized in the new Dx and Vulcan API-s would make Intel back off a little as well.

 

[Gnuffi]

indeed, in fact the only reason i went with 6700k, was at the time of my build they were priced identically for some hilarious reason, and then, "why not", just go with the latest gen
Intel could indeed use a slap and bucket of cold water wake up from AMD same as Nvidia 😉
one can hope
waiting with great expectation to see what the future brings with AMD