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AMD 2014 GPU Shaping Up
It looks like AMD has changed its mind about 8000 series graphics, part of the Solar System range of products are slowly showing up in the market.
We got an idea that at some point in the latter part of 2013 there will be some new Sea Islands based graphics line from AMD. What we refer to as the HD 8000 series will come at some point, but AMD can actually end up branding some of these new parts as HD 7000 series products as well.
We were more interested in the big picture, when and whether we will see an entirely new generation in 2014, let’s call it 9000 series for now. Multiple sources have told us that AMD will stick with discrete graphics for the foreseeable future. In 2014, we should see the new HSA generation as well as a steady roadmap for the future beyond 2014.
Remember, AMD still makes quite a bit of money on graphics. It doesn’t makes a lot, but it doesn’t build GPUs at a loss either. Its graphics integrated in CPUs, APUs if you will, also help AMD sell more cores and this is why AMD will stick with making new graphics cores in the future. Technology developed for high-end discrete graphics will trickle down to APUs over time.
Winning all three consoles, including the already launched Nintendo Wii U as well as the soon to launch Xbox 720 (next) and Playstation, 4 will definitely help AMD to perform even better in the future and build closer relations with developers.
Nvidia will have someone to fight in this market and AMD will continue to make discrete graphics cards, as well as notebook chips. Both companies will fight for as much market share as they possibly can and analysts who claim either of them is about to ditch the discrete market is dead wrong.
Radeon 8000 HD Expected In Q2
Since we only have one month left in 2012 and due the fact that graphics companies rarely announce something big in December, it is obvious that Radeon HD 8000 slipped to 2013.
Our well informed industry sources are confirming that the next generation, based on Sea Islands, architecture is coming in 2013 and some of them dare to say that it will be Q2 2013 rather than Q1 2013. Some people were expecting to see the cards in Q1 2013 but even according to AMD’s own roadmap Sea Islands, the new GPU architecture with HAS features was scheduled (or should we say delayed. Ed) for 2013.
AMD has already communicated this schedule loud and clear in its February 2012 roadmap update, and even then it killed hopes that Sea Islands or HD 8000 cards are coming in very late Q3 or Q4 2012, as was previously expected.
We won’t get into any specific details like the 8000 branding, or die sizes as we simply don’t know this at the time being. It’s safe to say that these cards will end up faster than 7000 series and at similar TDPs to the previous generation, all manufactured in 28nm.