Vr-Zone wrote:
Pg.1 - Radeon X2000 Series!
ATi's 2000 series was announced to the media during the late April to beginning of May period, at various locations throughout the world. I attended the Press Briefing Day in Malaysia and caught sight of the much awaited Radeon X2900XT in action. Not only was this high-end model introduced to us, the lower-end series in the 2000 Family was also talked about.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … unch/4.jpgTwo demo Setups were employed during the Press Briefing, each housing a Radeon X2900XT, both running AMD Processors. Notice the 680w Power Supply used seen above.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … unch/2.jpg1 x PCIE 8pin Connector with 1 x PCIE 6pin Connector. The card will run fine with 2 x PCIE 6 pin power connector as well.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/32.jpgWe were first introduced the 3 segments of the market the HD 2900, 2600 and 2400 are gunning for. The speaker answer our queries regarding power consumption of the above-mentioned cards - over 200w for X2900XT, around 45w for X2600 and 25-35w for X2400.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/12.jpgAmong some of the new features of the 2000 series include a programmable Tessellation Unit. This feature enables the GPUs to apply image enhancements when support is written in games such that game developers have a much easier time doing up simpler graphics, and letting the GPU do the image enhancements. This also supposedly saves on GPU Horsepower as you can see below. You get 2.3x performance compared to a conventionally rendered scene.
Pg.2 - New Anti-Aliasing
Anti-Aliasing gets an upgrade with ATi's new CFAA
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/16.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/17.jpgCustom-Filter Anti-Aliasing's wide-tent filter takes more points of sampling for the final AA output. We'll see how Anti-Aliasing improves later on.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/31.jpgEdit: In finality, CFAA goes up to 24x at the Edge Detect Filter mode with 8x, even in single-card, but the newer beta drivers.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/13.jpg320 Stream Processors onboard the X2900XT Core. Branch Execution Units take the work from the Stream Processors in handling data flow towards 'division of labour specialization' to improve efficiency at which Stream Processors work.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/21.jpgRadeon 2000 series also integrate full HDCP support with integrated audio controller on card to provide audio path from motherboard through Northbridge to the PCIE slot into the card and out via HDMI connectors for on-stop video/audio output.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/22.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/23.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/33.jpgPaper specifications of the 2000 series family. This is basically trying to pale the floating point processing power of a modern day CPU in comparison to a 2000 series GPU.
Pg. 3 - Direct X10 Demos
We were also shown a neat Ruby Demo running on DirectX 10:
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … unch/9.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/10.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/11.jpgThen later, another DirectX 10 demo, this time a new upcoming game called Call of Juarez:
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/18.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/19.jpgBelow, you see how different the game looks running DirectX 9 vs DirectX 10:
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/15.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/14.jpgThe most obvious difference is seen when looking at the much better-looking water effects, and High Dynamic Range effects.
Pg. 4 - Radeon Mobility 2000 Series
The ATi Radeon Mobility 2000 series were also talked about:
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/25.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/26.jpgWe should expect to see first batch of 2000 series mobile GPUs in July.
And finally, price point, what most people will want to see:
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/24.jpgSome of the Partner's cards:
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … unch/6.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … unch/5.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … ch/126.jpgThe small crew from ATi:
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/27.jpgPg. 5 - Radeon HD X2600, X2400 Pictures
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/48.jpgNotice that there is no need for PCIE Power Connector, which says something about the power drawn being small.
Radeon HD X2400 Series:
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … nch/44.jpgPg. 6 - Radeon X2900XT Pictures
USD$399 for a top-of-range graphics card from ATi seems to be really attractive. Let's see how this card performs and a more in-depth look at this red new gem.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … ited/1.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … ited/2.jpgA red translucent shroud similar to what we see on the X1950XT covers the main body of the card's cooler.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … ited/4.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … ited/5.jpgThe card implements a 6-pin PCIE power connector with another 8-pin power connector to feed the card. A minimum of 2 x 6-pin power connector is needed to run the card, similar to rival NVIDIA's 8800GTX.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … ited/3.jpgOf course all the heat from the supposedly very hot running card has to go somewhere... that's how the shroud comes into the picture, ducting the hot air out of the case via the exhaust grille at the second slot it takes up. You wouldn't want all that heat in your casing for sure.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … ited/6.jpgSomething we have not seen on the X1950XT is seen on this new flagship: the Cross-Fire connector is now embedded onboard, two in fact for forward and backward data transfer between primary and secondary boards. No more troublesome Dongle nor a need to differentiate between Master and Slave cards.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg/Shamino … ited/7.jpgThe back of the GPU is full of capacitors as is the norm nowadays. The traditional ATi back-plate holds the main weight of the cooler. Nothing much more can be explored on the card without stripping off the cooling solution so I proceeded to do just that.
Pg. 7 - X2900XT Cooling
Let's take a look at the cooling solution employed.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … ted/16.jpgThe cooling solution comprises of 5 main parts: The front heatspreader, back heatspreader, blower fan, plastic shroud, and the main copper heatsink aided with heatpipes.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … ted/14.jpgThe front of the card is cooled directly by 2 components, the main heatsink and the red-colored aluminum heatspreader. The heatspreader mainly taps the heat away from the BGA GDDR3 Memory lying on the front of the card, and makes contact with some power management modules. It is also somewhat able to transfer heat to the main chunk of copper heatsink.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … ted/17.jpgAh yes, the main cooling unit. This is a lovely massive chunk of shiny copper, fully arrayed with 32 rows of fine long fins. To hasten the process of heat transfer from the main base to the outer area of the fins, 2 copper heatpipes are employed to aid the transfer. So heat is tapped upwards from the base and also outwards. One of the best cooling units around for a GPU I would have to say!
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … ted/18.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … ted/15.jpgThe back heatspreader does the same job as the front heatspreader except that it draws the heat away from the Memory on the back of the card.
Pg. 8 - More Pictures
Pictures of the naked card:
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/39.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/40.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/42.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … ted/13.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … ted/11.jpgATi Theater 200 chipset.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … ited/9.jpgAnd there you see the brain of the board, the R600 GPU, a rather big core for sure.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … ted/10.jpgWow it's quite new, made in week 11 of year 2007.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/43.jpgThe R600 Core
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … ited/8.jpgHynix 1.0ns GDRR3 RAMs are employed to make up the 512MB of onboard GPU Memory.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … ted/12.jpgThe X2900XT uses a full digital PWM for the power management of the GPU core and Memory VDDQ. Volterra VT1165 digital regulator is the governor for Core and another one of the same does it for Memory VDDQ. GPU Core is powered by a 6-phase module (2+4). Volterra VT233 regulates Memory VDD Voltage.
Pg. 9 - Clock, Heat, Power
With the AMD GPU Clock Tool, one can check out the 2D and 3D clockspeeds of the X2900XT.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/54.jpg2D clockspeed is 506MHz Core and 513MHz Memory, while 3D brings about 743MHz Core and 828MHz Memory. 2D voltage for GPU is 1.08v and 3D voltage is 1.18v.
One can also check and monitor running temperature of the card with this tool:
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/63.jpgIn my bare-open Test setup, the X2900XT definitely runs hot, as hot or even slightly hotter than the 8800GTX. Idle, you can see core at around 54C while loaded it goes to 71C without any overclocking. And this is one setup lying naked, imagine it in a case! Definitely one of the hottest cards around. The temperature-controlled fan on the card has little time in slow-spin operation, spinning up not long from start of operation, and perpetually all the time when 3D is ran. Not too much of a worry since it's not loud, but the noise is definitely audible. What about Power Consumption?
I used a Power Clamp Amp-Meter to measure the total power consumption of the setup during idle and load situations.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/50.jpg3D Mark 06 SM3.0 Test "Canyon Flight" was ran to record the power consumption. The whole setup was the same except for Video Cards. Setup Specs on the next page.
Power Consumption of Total System Idle Load
PowerColor HD X2900XT 245 watts 365 watts
Inno3D 8800GTX 575/900MHz 250 watts 348 watts
ASUS EN8800GTS 640MB 513/792MHz 240 watts 300 watts
EVGA 8800GTS 320MB Superclocked 576/850MHz 235 watts 276 watts
ASUS EN1950XTX 195 watts 325 watts
This card is definitely the most power-hungry bugger around, consuming 40w more power than it's predecessor X1950XTX and 65w more power than a 8800GTS 640MB, though at idle it eats the same amount of power as the 8800GTS 640MB. Against the 8800GTX, with regular clockspeed, it consumes about 17w more power. A regular setup I would suggest at least a reliable brand-name 500w Power Supply and upwards.
Pg. 10 - Test Platforms, Drivers
When I first started testing the card, I was using the 8.36 Catalyst Drivers.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/51.jpgThen after I have finished running the test runs for the X2900XT, the 8.37 came and I had to rerun everything.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/52.jpgThus, I took the chance to also compare the difference between these two slight Driver update. On the 8.37, there is no option of the 'High Quality' under AF options with the X2900XT while there is on the 8.36. There is the option when I put in the X1950XTX as well.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/86.jpghttp://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/87.jpgSeeing that the High Quality option for Anisotropic filtering was missing on the X2900XT on the 8.37 Drivers when it was present on the 8.36 drivers, I guessed that AF was automatically set at best quality when enabled for the X2900XT on this new set of drivers. So I ran a check between the 2 drivers with Oblivion to check out the Anisotropic Filtering. 1600x1200, 16x AF (High Quality when option was there), Temporal Anti-Aliasing at 8x Level and Wide-Tent Filter set at 16x Sampling.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/71.jpgThe Filtering on the 8.37 is definitely at least on par or even better than the High Quality setting on the 8.36. You get the faint impression that textures seem to be slightly more detailed on the 8.37. So I didn't really care that the High Quality Option was missing on the 8.37 drivers with the X2900XT.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/30.jpg
One look and you can tell which segment this video card is gunning for: the USD$399 price point where the GeForce 8800 GTS resides, it's direct competitor.
Drivers Used on X2900XT and X1950XTX is Catalyst 8-37-4-070419a. Drivers used for 8800GTS 320/640MB and 8800GTX is Forceware 158.22.
MipMap Detail setting on all drivers set to maximum level of High Quality. 16x Anisotropic Filtering was turned on.
http://resources.vr-zone.com.sg:81//Sha … nch/89.jpgAs of time of testing, we did not have the latest build just issued out 3 days before NDA was lifted. We were running 8-37-4-070419a.
The latest 8.37.4.2_47323 drivers is supposed to implement a new intelligent algorithm that increases FPS while applying similar image quality when running Adaptive Anti-Aliasing. In Oblivion, performance several times faster than previous drivers using the new adaptive AA algorithm was claimed to have been acheived. New optimizations for HDR applications in general resulted in a 5-30% increase in performance.
The 8.37.4.2_47323 is actually a pre-alpha driver, but it includes a preview of new 12xAA and 24xAA modes. These modes use an advanced edge detection filter that delivers edge quality while eliminating blurring.
Own Edit: Sweet, pictures are back up.
