PC Graphics

[colesdav]

RDNA2, RDNA Refresh, and "Big Navi" Launch and Reviews.

It looks like it will not be long before real information will start to get released about RDNA2 and "Big Navi". 

I am opening this thread to capture information about RDNA2, RDNA Refresh, and Big Navi Launch and Reviews.

I will only include information such as:

Benchmarks or Reviews of XBOX Series X and PS5 which include "RDNA2" GPU.

Information released by AMD on RDNA2 and Big Navi.

Information about any "RDNA Refresh" of the RX5000 series GPUs.

Benchmark data from AMD and YouTube Benchmarks and Reviews.

I will be watching out for the information and reading reviews anyhow so I will post data here if I see it.

If anyone has useful data such as described above then can you please add information here?

Please avoid wild speculations from "Tech YouTubers" who seem to make outrageous performance improvement claims based on "rumours" from "reliable leakers".

They often seem to yoyo their conclusions on a weekly basis just to get better viewing numbers or deny their predictions were complete rubbish when they get it wrong, and huff about it.

[pokester]

Pretty cards. Bet they are pretty pricey too. 

[ajlueke]

I'm sure the LC version will be pushing $800.

[colesdav]

I saw that ASUS ROG info  a while ago, but I cannot find those GPUs available with product numbers on ASUS Web Site. 
Not sure when they would be available. 
I really like that Dual Fan AIO Cooler on the LC Version - they should have put one of those on RX Vega 64 Liquid. 
Thanks.

[colesdav]

Video uploading now.

[colesdav]

AMD RDNA2 Map in Fortnite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jibogUlpLqE

[colesdav]

HD7000 series no longer supported in latest Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise Drivers.

[pokester]

I was looking through all the links to the partner cards you supplied today. I noticed on the 6800 series cards the power requirements really change from the AMD spec of 650, to 700 on the asrock and 750 on the Nitro from saphire. 

So if you are in the market for one of these make sure you have the power supply you need and don't assume the 3rd party card requirements will match that reference spec of 650. 

I have to say the cards from AMD and Nvidia this time around have surprised me at how much power they consume. Makes me wish I had bought a bigger power supply last time. 

[colesdav]

AMD Rage Mode... will be interesting to see how much of a power slider increase they set...
 
Lucky I went for Corsair AX1200i and AX1600i. 

FYI - PowerColor site still only shows AMD Reference GPU versions: 
https://www.powercolor.com/products?id=1492658578&type=1604387035

[colesdav]

I watched a few unboxing Videos earlier - I set the videos to start at timestamps: 

1. Paul's Hardware

"https://youtu.be/CCzJtgxXh0E?t=284"

[colesdav]

2.  JayzTwoCents
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K48-nO441pg

[colesdav]

3. ShortCircuit: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbb3qkcuMuk

[colesdav]

4. Hardware Unboxed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71zH0N8hrH0&feature=emb_logo

They discuss unboxing and availablity and data uptated for the benchmarks.

[colesdav]

I am interested in small form factor ITX Pc builds. 

5. Optimum Tech 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFA01wF48HM

[colesdav]

For Linux users.

6. LevelOneTechs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv8DlszPJvI

[colesdav]

Reviews are out. 
I list them here. 
I have no comment to make.

https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/amd-rx-6800-xt-review/

https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/dominic-moass/amd-rx-6800-review/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLVGL7aAYgY

https://www.hardwareluxx.de/index.php/artikel/hardware/grafikkarten/54610-endlich-wieder-ein-duell-a...

[colesdav]

Another one from OC3D UK: 
https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/amd_radeon_rx_6800_and_rx_6800_xt_review/24

[colesdav]

Given these Big Navi GPUs are supposed to be for "4K Gaming".

Based on Gamers Nexus RX6800XT Review I took the following points. 

(1). Cooler not great. 
(2). Nvidia trounces it at 4K w/o use of DLSS. 
(3). Nvidia beats it at  Ray Tacing. 
(4). Rage mode is hit and miss and often makes performance worse. 
(5). SAM on lets AMD win a few times on a few games, but Nvidia will have it soon. 

So. 

RX6800XT is sitting below between RTX3080 reference and  RTX3070. 
I feel like I am watching the RX Vega 64 and RX5700XT launch all over again. 

One good point is if you want to game at 1080p at ridiculously high refresh rates then buy an AMD RX6800XT 4K gaming GPU.

Looks like AMD needed to use HBM2e and a liquid cooler to beat RTX3080 at 4K after all.

[ajlueke]

"RX6800XT is sitting below RTX3080 reference and RTX3070." 

How is it sitting below the RTX3070?

Also, I don't think a 5% aggregate loss equates to " Nvidia trounces it at 4K w/o use of DLSS."

As for Ray tracing, that fell pretty much in line with what I had posted earlier.  It makes sense that AMD would be slower here just based on the implementation.

"Looks like AMD needed yo use HBM2e and a liquid cooler to beat RTX3080 at 4K after all."

Or you can just buy a RX 6900 XT, which has none of those things and will certainly make up that 5%.  

[colesdav]

I meant to say between RTX3080 and RTX3070. 
Honest typo. 
Corrected. 
RX Vega 64 was in same position - Between GTX 1080 and GTX1070. 
In any case. 
Paper launch...

[ajlueke]

The launch actually reminds me of the Fury X, where NVidia had to release the 980 Ti to compensate, which is similar to what is happening with the 3080 Ti.

But yes, this launch actually seems even worse that the RTX 3000 launch as far as stock goes.  I didn't think it was possible. 

[pokester]

---

@colesdav wrote:

I meant to say between RTX3080 and RTX3070. 
Honest typo. 
Corrected. 
RX Vega 64 was in same position - Between GTX 1080 and GTX1070. 
In any case. 
Paper launch...

---

I tend to agree it's a paper launch for lack of better term to use. 

They said it would be better than what Nvidia did and should not have claimed that if it wasn't going to be. 

I watched comments from review sites even a manger a guy interviewed from Micro Center said that users would be disappointed with how much was available. Apparently in some parts of the world the got next to nothing if anything at all. 

One of the tech sites, I think it may have been red gaming said to expect up to 6 months for stock. 

I realize demand is high but wow you can't even get the older cards in most places. Although navi still seems to be available which must mean people don't want them, as even lowly RTX 2060 6gb cards are even impossible to find. 

I thinks they would have been much better off to just have published what stock numbers really were from the start and been honest. People at that point are more disappointed than mad. 

I had six retailers up in my browser this morning and never saw anything but sold out in seconds. So either they had no stock to begin with or bots won again.

[colesdav]

AMD promised at Shareholders Meeting at the start of the year that they would: 

(1). Launch Big Navi by end 2020. 

(2). Refresh the Navi 10 lineup. 

Even if they have insufficient GPUs and just do a Paper Launch they meet (1). above. 
That is all that really matters. 

I wait to see what they announce about (2). 
Nvidia entire product stack much more competitive so I am not sure where Navi 10 RX5700XT lives now. 

Bye.

[pokester]

Maybe waiting to see how Nvidia counters is part of the strategy for AMD too. So they can also adjust if need be. It seems based on reports of high overclockabilty they could offer higher performance sku if need be.

[colesdav]

Gamers Nexus RX 6800 XT Teardown Video: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s7bOaa6X9E

[pokester]

Well after watching many videos from the top tech sites it looks like the RDNA2 are pretty much what was expected. As person who really just enjoyed the heck out of Control. A game I could play with DLSSS and RTX on High @1440p on my RTX 2070 super at 60 FPS pretty consistently it was painful to see what you would have to settle for with AMDs RT. I do think it is a good effort and first product but I sure think they should have had a DLSS alternative out of the gate as I bet I'm not alone in this being a bit of a deal breaker. I could swallow this a bit more if it wasn't for the software features also just being so lacking by comparison as well. Then lastly seeing the productivity numbers for the most part being so sub par to the green team it is just lack luster. I realize the latter is because the industry as a whole went cuda instead of open cl. Reality though dictates the choice. At the end of the day the price is still the killer to me. All the shortcoming would be easier to swallow had these cards been 75-100 bucks cheaper. I still think they are just too much for the trade offs. I really do applaud though how far the moved their bar on the rasterization and really think the next gen might be the one that brings back parity. It is looking like none of will be able to actually buy a current gen card though. So maybe next gen will be out first? LOL

[ajlueke]

I think the RTX 3080 Ti is all but confirmed at this point.

[colesdav]

PowerColor Red Devil info released. 
Not for me, I am not a fan of the "Devil" branding and "Devil Club" . Info here for those who are o.k. with it. 
https://www.powercolor.com/new?id=1605680077

[colesdav]

MSI  AIB RX6800 series GPUs: 
https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/joao-silva/msi-introduces-radeon-rx-6800-gaming-ser...

[colesdav]

Paul's Hardware review, very pro AMD RX6800XT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbqFCuEZOPY

[colesdav]

Hardware Unboxed RX6800XT review - very positive about Rasterization performance. Not really interested in Ray Tracing and DLSS as says too few games. Glad to see a good AMD reference design compared to previous reference GPUs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtxrrrkkTjc

[colesdav]

Hardware unboxed RX6800 Review: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y26liH-poM

[colesdav]

JayzTwoCents Review of RX6800 GPU:

Likes the rasterisation performance. 
Likes the AMD Reference GPUs.
Says AMD have come a long way from Radeon VII and RX Vega - feels sorry for AMD fans who bought them. 
Does not like Radeon Adrenalin 2020 software.
Buggy frequency reports. 
Driver improvements needed on some games. 
Says RX6800 is the better buy than the RX6800XT. 
Talking about the old "flash 6800XT with 6800 VBIOS" story. 

Excited to see RDNA3 now. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXRvqjXf4Sc

[colesdav]

LevelOneTechs RX6800XT Review.
Definitely worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMz-5uP8sBw&feature=emb_logo

[pokester]

---

@colesdav wrote:

Hardware Unboxed RX6800XT review - very positive about Rasterization performance. Not really interested in Ray Tracing and DLSS as says too few games. Glad to see a good AMD reference design compared to previous reference GPUs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtxrrrkkTjc

---

I have to say I really disagree with his take on Ray Tracing. I get that it isn't hugely adopted but I can't get beyond the fact that a few of the games I have played with it are just some of the best, most immersive graphics I have seen and can't wait for all games to start incorporating this feature. 

I completely disagree that this generation doesn't need ray tracing or isn't important. I could buy that last gen but with so many users buying cards like consoles every 5 or so years I think a lack of features will be something you feel the hurt on in the near future. I feel the same way about Nvidia being stingy on the ram as usual. 

Steve at Gamers Nexus in a video last night made me laugh. He sure tells it like it is. Literally said that half the Navi buyers of last gen have issues with problems due to bad drivers. Mentioning it in hopes that RDNA2 doesn't suffer the same fate. 

[left4dead666]

HBM2e is to expensive! look at the RADEON VII 1 year after release you were not able to buy the card again

[colesdav]

Sure HBM2/e memory is expensive but prices were falling as it is used in more applications. 
Tends to get used for professional / HPC applications. 

AMD is using it on their latest Instinct MI100 Accelerator. 
Memory Bandwidth = Up to 1228.8 GB/s with full ECC support. 
It has 32GB of Memory so factor that into the bandwidth comparison of the RX6800XT with 16GB.
Specs here: 
https://www.amd.com/en/products/server-accelerators/instinct-mi100

[colesdav]

Excellent RX6800XT review from Optimum Tech:
1. Great rasterisation performance. 
2. Slower than Nvidia with Raytracing on. 
3. AMD need a response to DLSS.
4. AMD RX6800XT way behind RTX3080 in Blender. (This is not a surprise to me, but maybe AMD will invest and improve this).
5. Lower power consumption and quiet GPU. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bKaJDbKVt0

[colesdav]

AMD Hanger Technology Demo RDNA2 Ray Tracing: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3--dTmKDHhk&feature=emb_logo

Annotated Version: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHTqrGwH95s

[colesdav]

Last RX6800XT review I will post today.

Linus Tech Tips RX6800XT review - more rounded summary than just focussing on gaming. Overall Nvidia RTX3080 wins if you want a GPU for more than just rasterised gaming performance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUzCn-ITJ_o

I look forward to see RX6900XT performance, and hope they will be available from AIB partners in 2 slot AIO Liquid Cooler version.  

[pokester]

---

@colesdav wrote:

Last RX6800XT review I will post today.

Linus Tech Tips RX6800XT review - more rounded summary than just focussing on gaming. Overall Nvidia RTX3080 wins if you want a GPU for more than just rasterised gaming performance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUzCn-ITJ_o

I look forward to see RX6900XT performance, and hope they will be available from AIB partners in 2 slot AIO Liquid Cooler version.  

---

You promise? We will hold you to it! LOL

I really liked what LTT had to say. They do cover a bigger picture of things.