For the first time on a dual-processor flagship started talking last summer. Then the Executive Director of AMD Lisa su introduced the single-chip version of the Radeon R9 Fury/Fury X, but casually mentioned a high-performance solution with two GPUs onboard Fiji. This, to cope with the games in virtual reality mode. Almost a year has passed. Accelerator AMD Radeon Pro Duo officially went on sale.
The iron shop No. 34. All about the AMD Radeon Pro Duo
Dual-chip graphics cards enthusiasts will be surprised. Almost every generation of AMD and NVIDIA adapters are present “many-headed” flagships. From the latest in “green” — GeForce GTX TITAN Z. GeForce Pro Duo has replaced the Radeon R9 295X2 (review), which is known also used for cooling the GPU pairs a maintenance-free water cooling system.
Water cooling system for powerful graphics cards is becoming commonplace
The final cost is, perhaps, the most shocking “feature” Radeon Pro Duo. Yes, there is an example of a $ 3000 GeForce GTX TITAN Z. Yes, everyone knew that the new AMD a priori will not be cheap. However, I did not expect that “red” will be asked for your flagship as three Radeon R9 NANO. But in these graphics cards are used identical processors Fiji XT. Selected, with excellent performance and high energy efficiency.
AMD Radeon Pro Duo
AMD Radeon R9 NANO (review)
AMD Radeon R9 (review)
Fury X AMD Radeon (review)
The name of the chip
2x Fiji XT
Fiji XT
Fiji PRO
Fiji XT
Process technology
28 nm
28 nm
28 nm
28 nm
Stream processors
2x 4096
4096
3584
4096
Blocks Compute Unit
2x 64
64
56
64
Texture units
2x 256
256
224
256
Blocks of raster operations
2x 64
64
64
64
Clock frequency
To 1000 MHz
To 1000 MHz
To 1000 MHz
To 1050 MHz
Memory
HBM, 500 MHz, 2x 4GB
HBM, 500 MHz, 4 GB
HBM, 500 MHz, 4 GB
HBM, 500 MHz, 4 GB
Memory interface
4096 bits
4096 bits
4096 bits
4096 bits
Memory bandwidth
2x 512 GB/s
512 GB/s
512 GB/s
512 GB/s
The power connector
8+8+8 pin
8 pin
8+8 pin
8+8 pin
The maximum power consumption of the graphics card
350 W
175 W
275 W
275 W
Cooling reference card
Water
Air
Air
Water
Price
$1500
$500
$500
$600
“Magic” Radeon Pro Duo simple. The engineers took two of the chip Fiji XT and soldered them on the same PCB. Between the GPUs communicate through the PLX bridge and CrossFire. Assigned to each GPU at the latest of the four stacks of HBM the first generation (about technology) with capacity 4 GB. Marketers at each step will repeat about 8 GB, but we know that in CrossFire “brains” don’t add up. In fact, this is the second minus of the device. The graphics card is positioned as the ideal solution for VR. Indeed, virtual reality requires more resources, but here each processor Radeon Pro Duo processes the image for each eye.
Circuit Board AMD Radeon Pro Duo
By itself, the substrate with the GPU, memory and additional elements is large, but this arrangement certainly takes up less space than a bunch of GPUs and several memory chips GDDR5, soldered around it. The result is simplified wiring, and also takes less space textolite. Length Radeon Pro Duo is only 267 mm, the Radeon R9 295X2 by 33 mm long.
Dual-chip Radeon Pro Duo is even shorter than the reference GeForce GTX 980
In addition to the Fiji XT and a pair of PLX-bridge, each block has seven power phases. In Radeon Pro Duo used the chips from the Radeon R9 NANO, since the total maximum consumption of the graphics card is 350W. To operate the device you need to connect three 8-pin connector.
AMD Radeon Pro Duo
Externally Radeon Pro Duo reminiscent of the Radeon R9 X. it’s the same Design, the design elements are similar. Is used maintenance-free water cooling system Cooler Master with two CPU sockets. Directly behind the heat meets thick (64 mm along with a fan) one-block radiator. To put such a block in front, and behind, above and below the housing. Hardly “Proshka” is located in a cheap case from foil. Hose length — 545 mm.
According to the official results of the AMD, under load FurMark two flagship chip just heat up to 54 degrees Celsius. An excellent result for the 350-watt accelerator! Low temperature is an important criterion in the HBM memory. The AMD Radeon R9 X, as you know, under load is heated to 60 degrees Celsius. However, Radeon Pro Duo I have to reset the frequency to 760 MHz. Apparently, officially declared 1000 MHz on the chip in games will not.
One more thing. Cool the processor means that the graphics card is not heated. Remember the Radeon R9 X, she crystal also works with a fairly comfortable temperature, but ill-conceived cooling subsystem power leads to the PCB from the findings is heated to 100+ degrees Celsius. About the noise level of the Radeon Pro Duo is not known.
Graphics cards will produce a limited number. Are only references, so the difference between the models of different brands will not. Will have to try to find the dual-chip flagship on sale. This is evidenced by the fact that at the time of the embargo on the publication of any information regarding Radeon Pro Duo has not left any review. Devices media representatives did not provide.
Radeon Pro Duo will be available in limited quantities
While satisfied with the results that were given to the representatives of AMD’s own test laboratories. As practice shows, they can be trusted, however it is necessary to understand that “red” has picked up the game and customize them in such a way as to promote Radeon Pro Duo in the best light.
Usually the benchmarks have multiprocessor systems. Here and in 3DMark Fire Strike the novelty convincingly plays the “muscle”. In regular mode the card passes Radeon R9 X to 42.6% and the GeForce GTX 980 Ti by 36.2%. With the activation of the Ultra preset the difference is only increased by 63.8% and 66,3% respectively.
The test results AMD Radeon Pro Duo
Synthetic is synthetic. It is interesting mostly for overclockers, benchmarks don’t play. Most importantly: Radeon Pro Duo how to behave in games. In the beginning, I wrote that “twin-engine” AMD is now the fastest gaming graphics card. And yet there are a few “buts”. Firstly, the game app should be well optimized for CrossFire technology. Otherwise, Radeon Pro Duo will even concede Radeon R9 NANO at three times the difference in price. For example, Quantum onli DX12″ Break the technology does not support CrossFire. Recently such examples accumulated a mass.
The efficiency of the Radeon Pro Duo depends on optimizing the game for CrossFire
Secondly, only Radeon Pro Duo 4 GB memory per core. In games that uses more “brains” would have an impact. Especially in Ultra HD.
Thirdly, we should not exclude architectural features and processorswith. It has long been known that NVIDIA Maxwell chips in lower resolutions looks preferable to AMD GCN. A good example is Crysis 3. In Full HD-resolution Radeon Pro Duo is ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti 21.8%, and in 4K already 57.7%.
The test results AMD Radeon Pro Duo
Or another example. Compare the performance of the Radeon Pro Duo with GeForce GTX 980 Ti in the Witcher. In Full HD “red” card is faster “green” odnosima only 15.9%, and in Ultra HD is already 45.7%.
In General it is quite logical that in games where CrossFire works, Radeon Pro Duo is consistently faster and Radeon R9 X and GeForce GTX 980 Ti.
The test results AMD Radeon Pro Duo
Radeon Pro Duo is a very interesting device, but this is where it ends. At a cost of $ 1,500 the owners of a graphics card will be 2,5 enthusiast. The accelerator does not give the performance that would justify its inflated price tag. If you love AMD, if you want a powerful tool for VR, then buy two Radeon R9 will be released on 500 dollars cheaper, but even faster.
It is believed that Radeon Pro Duo is “the Caliph for an hour”. In the summer of both the manufacturer will present the new video cards on the basis of 14/16-nanometer processes. NVIDIA presents GeForce GTX 1070/1080, AMD will show the Polaris 10, which is rumored to impose competition to the GeForce GTX 980 Ti at $350. Already in 2017, will present a single-core tops, which, dare I say, surpass Radeon Pro Duo in most games.