The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
 Next page →

    ATi Mobility HD 6000 series Roadmap

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Arioch, Jun 10, 2010.

  1. Arioch

    Arioch Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    109
    Messages:
    138
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    31
  2. catacylsm

    catacylsm Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    423
    Messages:
    4,135
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Hmmm blackcomb i likey :D decent bus size, coupled with fast GDDR5, with the cards today that'd boost performance nicely, but there will probably be a doubling of stream processors maybe?
     
  3. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    An increase is hopeful but a doubling isn't likely since Islands will be on the same 40nm fab, and the 256-bit memory bus by itself could potentially kick the whole card's TDP up to near GTX 480M level.


    Islands is more about efficiency improvements (especially to tessellation) than entirely new architecture.
     
  4. mobius1aic

    mobius1aic Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    240
    Messages:
    957
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    GDDR5 should've been standard in the first place, and I hope Blackcomb is a 1600 SP part. Sure GDDR5 and a 256 bit memory interface will give a huge boost, but ATi needs something to compete against Nvidia's 460, 470, and 480. Even if we count out those particular Nvidia parts, who knows how their other GPUs will perform. ATi needs to beat them again with a better price/performance ratio, better battery life and power management, as well as features. ATi's 4 and 5 series low and medium end mobile GPUs have been wildly successful, and it's important that they focus on the whole range.

    If it's possible, I'd love to give my Sony CW a nice graphical boost in the future with something like the Capliano or Whistler may be: 400 or so SPs, 128 bit interface and GDDR5, assuming it meets the thermal requirements and my lappy has an MXM slot (not too sure, there are other models of the CW with MXM). Either way, the per clock performance and memory bandwidth of those possible products would be as good as a desktop Radeon 5670, just lower clocked of course.
     
  5. Kevin

    Kevin Egregious

    Reputations:
    3,289
    Messages:
    10,780
    Likes Received:
    1,782
    Trophy Points:
    581
    I'm definitely waiting for Blackcomb.

    1120 shaders would be nice. 1440 is probably asking too much. Expecting 1600 is the path to disappointment.
     
  6. DEagleson

    DEagleson Gamer extraordinaire

    Reputations:
    2,529
    Messages:
    3,107
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Think i read somewhere that the ATI Radeon HD 6000 series will just be a improved refresh of the current 5000 series, but AMD will improve both performance and power usage.
    If they succed with lowering the power requirements i bet we will see even more impressive notebook GPUs.
     
  7. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
  8. Tristan

    Tristan Garrosh Did Nothing Wrong

    Reputations:
    800
    Messages:
    1,219
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Oh interesting. Thanks for the links and pics
     
  9. hxh_x2

    hxh_x2 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    95
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    why all the cards are GDDR3 except for HD 5830 and 5650 ??
     
  10. JohnnyFlash

    JohnnyFlash Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    372
    Messages:
    2,489
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Hopefully I'll be able to drop a blackcomb into the W870CU I just ordered.
     
  11. trvelbug

    trvelbug Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    929
    Messages:
    4,007
    Likes Received:
    40
    Trophy Points:
    116
    hopefully i can drop a blackbomb in mine too
     
  12. Cakefish

    Cakefish ¯\_(?)_/¯

    Reputations:
    1,643
    Messages:
    3,205
    Likes Received:
    1,469
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Go away stupid 6000 series you're making me feel outdated already :(

    But I'll survive :)

    I couldn't really wait for these anyway, I wanted my laptop now. Anythings better than an intel gma 4500m (what I have at the moment)!!!
     
  13. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Blackbomb sounds like the name of a roach spray.
     
  14. ziddy123

    ziddy123 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    954
    Messages:
    2,805
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Hopefully Asus will release the Blackcomb using the same width and MXM slot for the G73jh also.
     
  15. Kevin

    Kevin Egregious

    Reputations:
    3,289
    Messages:
    10,780
    Likes Received:
    1,782
    Trophy Points:
    581
    Blackcomb will be >75W.

    Book it.
     
  16. trvelbug

    trvelbug Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    929
    Messages:
    4,007
    Likes Received:
    40
    Trophy Points:
    116
    as long as its not as ridiculous as the 480m ill take it

    blackbomb! the roach killer
     
  17. SaYyId

    SaYyId Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    56
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    well, i'd be taking it already because nothing is worst than the 480m :)
     
  18. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    I'll take the 100W TDP as long as ATI keeps, or improves on, the performance/watt efficiency of Evergreen.
     
  19. daranik

    daranik Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    57
    Messages:
    865
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hopefully a new BIOS for the M17x will be dropped and I can throw 2 in tha machine.
     
  20. trvelbug

    trvelbug Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    929
    Messages:
    4,007
    Likes Received:
    40
    Trophy Points:
    116
    id actually take the 100tdp too but my laptop wont :(
     
  21. KipCoo

    KipCoo Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    99
    Messages:
    591
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    There is nothing the 5870m can't handle right now. However I would like to drop a 6870m in my laptop. Let's hope the w870cu supports this...I'm not holding my breath seeing that it can't handle the gtx480m.
     
  22. nobodyshero

    nobodyshero Notebook Speculator

    Reputations:
    511
    Messages:
    879
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Why is this?

    Lack of BIOS support? All you would need is a larger PSU to support it in the W870CU, I seriously doubt the extra inch in the W880CU is the make or break on being able to handle the 480.
     
  23. Kevin

    Kevin Egregious

    Reputations:
    3,289
    Messages:
    10,780
    Likes Received:
    1,782
    Trophy Points:
    581
    1080p + anti-aliasing comes to mind.
     
  24. nikeseven

    nikeseven Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    259
    Messages:
    786
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Do you know which will be paired with switchable graphics?
     
  25. Blacky

    Blacky Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,049
    Messages:
    5,356
    Likes Received:
    1,040
    Trophy Points:
    331
    No 28nm. I am sad.
     
  26. narsnail

    narsnail Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,045
    Messages:
    4,461
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    6000 allready? Yikes, these last couple years they have just been busy little bees :)
     
  27. DEagleson

    DEagleson Gamer extraordinaire

    Reputations:
    2,529
    Messages:
    3,107
    Likes Received:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    116
    I think the ATI Mobility HD 6000 series will feature switchable graphics similar to Nvidia Optimus.
    It makes sense since Intels new notebook cpus (Includes quad core) will include IGPs just like the dual core arrendale.
     
  28. Botsu

    Botsu Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    105
    Messages:
    624
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    There's nothing official in this roadmap regarding dates of release and hardware specs. But I hope we will see some mid-range GPUs with GDDR5 memory and a slightly increased shader count, that'd be awesome. That & switchable graphics combined with Huron River ftw.
     
  29. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    AMD/ATI already has a version of Optimus in the works that could be out by the end of the year.

    Optimus is just a version of Hybrid SLI adpated to work with the Intel IGP because Nvidia got kicked out of the chipset business. Both Nvidia and ATI have been using their own versions of hybrid graphics for years now.
     
  30. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
  31. Blacky

    Blacky Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,049
    Messages:
    5,356
    Likes Received:
    1,040
    Trophy Points:
    331
  32. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    613
    Messages:
    6,705
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    so how much better on average is the 6000 series going to be because i have a dilema of waiting or not waiting? Is it going to be a big improvement over 5000 series or quite similar?
     
  33. Botsu

    Botsu Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    105
    Messages:
    624
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    The consensus right now is that it won't be as much of an improvement as 4000 to 5000 was. It's still 40nm after all and ATI has made statements about how it would be an optimization of Evergreen with some of Northern Islands' features (ATI's supposed next "big leap" that was delayed because of 28nm process being delivered only sometime in 2011).
     
  34. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

    Reputations:
    5,955
    Messages:
    10,196
    Likes Received:
    91
    Trophy Points:
    466
    The source

    Probably just the desktop variants, but we can expect the mobility 6870 to follow shortly afterwards.
     
  35. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

    Reputations:
    7,383
    Messages:
    8,222
    Likes Received:
    182
    Trophy Points:
    231
    Define "shortly" lol Hopefully they are compatible with the current setup.
     
  36. Aikimox

    Aikimox Weihenstephaner!

    Reputations:
    5,955
    Messages:
    10,196
    Likes Received:
    91
    Trophy Points:
    466
    You're right there's no guarantee. Intel is pushing Sandy Bridge so it might appear before Christmas, but we also know that there's no new MXM type ready yet.
    My assumption is that both 480M and MR6870 will be available for the same platform. The question is when AW/Dell deploys them and whether or not there will be a new system (M18x?).
     
  37. nobodyshero

    nobodyshero Notebook Speculator

    Reputations:
    511
    Messages:
    879
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Great Aiki thanks. This means we'll probably be seeing high end mobile SB + ATI 6K together in Q1 2011 instead of initial projections of Q2.
     
  38. Uda998877

    Uda998877 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    But why 40nm?
     
  39. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Because 32nm bulk was canceled at both TSMC and GloFo and 28nm won't be ready for production until next year.
     
  40. ziddy123

    ziddy123 Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    954
    Messages:
    2,805
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Uh where did you hear this? The 480M is going to use the current MXM 3.0 which was the whole point everyone was making since Nvidia will be breaching the maximum power etc of the MXM 3.0.
     
  41. Blacky

    Blacky Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,049
    Messages:
    5,356
    Likes Received:
    1,040
    Trophy Points:
    331
  42. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
  43. Blacky

    Blacky Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,049
    Messages:
    5,356
    Likes Received:
    1,040
    Trophy Points:
    331
    I was hoping for a 10-15% boost in performance, but they are saying it's a "minor improvement" so I reckon it is going to be less than 10%. This is why I was disappointed. If Nvidia wants to catch up with ATI, this is their chance.

    But reading the article you posted gives me hope. I guess they are right, "it is truly too early to speculate on performance, and S. Islands could yet have a trick or two up its sleeve. "

    So then I will wait for more news from you :).
     
  44. sean473

    sean473 Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    613
    Messages:
    6,705
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    well i really hope so.. i don't want NVDIA having a monopoly over the GPU market and giving us rebagged old tech.. rather have ATI with something newer each time however i'll be happy enough with a 5870.
     
  45. Botsu

    Botsu Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    105
    Messages:
    624
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    They don't know that we haven't already learned so they're just speculating. They may most likely be right but we won't know until this new range of GPUs is released.
     
  46. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    With expectations already that low you shouldn't have been so easily disheartened. :wink:

    10-15% is what I would consider a minor improvement and if ATI changes nothing but the uncore on the new cards they should be able to at least produce that much of a performance bump.

    There's still plenty ATI can get out of Evergreen without major changes to the architecture....especially in the mobile market where the 5000 series did not take much out of the die shrink.
     
  47. Hrithan2020

    Hrithan2020 Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    87
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Agreed!! 10-15% seems definitely possible..
     
  48. Histidine

    Histidine Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    657
    Messages:
    1,608
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Just because it isn't 28nm, doesn't mean it's just a 5% overclock and a re-brand of 5000. Who do you think they are, Nvidia? :p
     
  49. Phinagle

    Phinagle Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,521
    Messages:
    4,392
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
  50. Botsu

    Botsu Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    105
    Messages:
    624
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I guess that was to be expected but I have faith that the new 6xxx series will be a nice improvement to the mobile range. Transition from 4xxx to 5xxx on desktop parts brought major change while lowering power consumption, where as it wasn't really the same success on laptops. That makes me believe that ATI did kind of a sloppy job back then and can still squeeze a nice increase in performance of the 40nm at least on mobile parts.
     
 Next page →