Return of the King: AMD HD 5970

New AMD Radeon HD 5970 card will be the most powerful solution on the market when it lands late this month;
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=16709

This is exciting to see this card finally get into consumers hands around Thanksgiving, and I think that was the time frame from the beginning anyways. Would like to know two things, the approx price ? And will there be a 4gb version, or not for months ?

My only concern is, will this beast of a dual GPU card actually be slower than a single 5870 in games like WoW, where it is said to not take advantage of SLI or Crossfire systems at all, and will actually be slower on those cards, compared to a faster single card ?

I read the article. They said an 8 pin + 6 pin connector. wth is an 8 pin connector?!?

Its like a 6 pin, except there are 2 more.

8pins are found on newer PSUs rated 700+ watts or so I've got them on my 750HX.

That freakin' card is huge! I dunno, but I wish I could have even fit a 5870 in my rig. Although I'm happy with the 5850, I wanted a 5870, but it just wouldn't fit. I'd have to get a new case just to get that 5970 in.

I hope it won't turn into another 5850x2 fail. Great card, but wouldn't fit!

The real card is actually 12.1 inches + long.

The card that ABT took pics of is an engineering sample w/ prototype cooler.



and here's the card that AMD officially showed off at one of their conferences like a month or so ago...



http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...ghlight=5870x2

Dear ATI/AMD:

Please, PLEASE name this card the 5870X2 - or the 5970X2 (if you've revised the core much in the way the 4970's received an update over the 4870s).

Don't pull an nVidia and go hogwild on the naming schemes. Nobody agrees with that tactic. Keep your nomenclature constant between generations, and keep the number of SKU's being offered reasonable.

kthxbye.

seconded...

My 5870 only has about 1" of room to fit into my Thermaltake Element G...a pretty new mid-tower case. I have to think that unless you have a special case or do some mod work, you'll need a full tower to fit one of these.

5970 is better in my opinion then 5870 X2. You may still have some people thinking a 5850X2 is not as good as a 5870, since the 5870 has a higher number. I personally always thought AMD should have named their cards without the X2 on it.

ATI still has room to expand refreshes anyway. Be it with a 5890 only, or even a 5860 and 5880.

There never was a 4970 either. That was a 4890.

a lian li pc-6 series case will fit these cards if the user removes the hdd cage.

Is it taped out and being built, packaged and wrapped in the factories in preparation for the holiday shopping, or can they keep working and perfecting it since there's no competition for it?

I'm curious about this.

Call me when the drivers are ready.

Originally Posted by MrLonghair

Is it taped out and being built, packaged and wrapped in the factories in preparation for the holiday shopping, or can they keep working and perfecting it since there's no competition for it?

I'm curious about this.

If they're going for an end of November launch, the hardware would have had to been complete and tested 2-3 months ago. So no, they won't be making any substantial hardware updates before launch. However, the driver team is still without a doubt very busy.

They're being rolled out in mass now at the manufactuers, then will start shipping to vendors week of the 16th or the following.

How will this play out with TSMC's lagging production?

Originally Posted by phide

How will this play out with TSMC's lagging production?

maybe this is the reason behind it?

Originally Posted by Astrodave

Call me when the drivers are ready.

Ha. So so so so true.

Originally Posted by maverick0817

Its like a 6 pin, except there are 2 more.

LOL

Originally Posted by Arcygenical

Dear ATI/AMD:

Please, PLEASE name this card the 5870X2 - or the 5970X2 (if you've revised the core much in the way the 4970's received an update over the 4870s).

Don't pull an nVidia and go hogwild on the naming schemes. Nobody agrees with that tactic. Keep your nomenclature constant between generations, and keep the number of SKU's being offered reasonable.

kthxbye.

I find 5970 the far better name and applaud AMD for the change.

Speculation on pricing?

My guess is that the 5970 @ $699 and the 5950 @ $499.

Originally Posted by vjcsmoke

Speculation on pricing?

My guess is that the 5970 @ $699 and the 5950 @ $499.

Sounds entirely right. I might expect the 5970 prices to be slightly lower, simply because 700$ seems a little out of reach. I'd predict 649.99 for the 597 and 449.99 for the 5950 to give people incentive over crossfire.