AMD has quietly rolled in a product update for notebook graphics. The chip company's Mobility Radeon line has now been filled out with a range-topping HD 8900M GPU, designed for high-performance gaming laptops that target the so-called enthusiast. Here's how AMD now positions the new GPU:
This Radeon HD 8000M-series line-up infers there's been a significant change in the composition of the new GPUs, and while AMD can rightfully claim that their new series has a top-to-bottom GCN architecture first debuted on the desktop, the HD 7900M and 'new' 8900M are far more similar than you may at first think.
More of the same
AMD conveniently ignores comparisons against HD 7900M for one obvious reason: both GPUs are practically identical. They feature the same GCN architecture, have 1,280 compute cores a-piece, and run GDDR5 memory at an identical 4,800MHz. The only meaningful performance difference between the two, as far as we can discern, is that the HD 8970M's core is able to boost from the HD 7970M-like 850MHz to 900MHz when there's ample thermal/voltage headroom to do so. This means the newest performance GPU may be merely a few per cent faster in some gaming titles.
The Radeon 8970M is the only 8900-series mobile part being released at the moment, and given the obvious similarities between it and the nomenclature predecessor, high-end notebook vendors will simply switch out the pin-for-pin-compatible GPUs. If we're being cynical, they'll probably just flash the BIOS if incumbent HD 7970Ms and, hey presto, up pops the HD 8970M. This is perhaps why MSI has been able to kit out its GX70 with the HD 8970M at seemingly short notice.
Rebrand or not, the HD 8970M, AMD says, is faster than the comparable GeForce GTX 680M from NVIDIA. It's clear that AMD would choose the games and settings that show its top-end mobile graphics processor in the best-possible light, but it's reasonable to assume the GPU is a good fit for gaming-orientated notebooks that feature a 1,920x1,080 (full-HD) screen.
Competition is coming
Shipping products tend to lag behind announcements to some degree, more so in the notebook space where manufacturers need to align launches with certain CPU refreshes. It's clear that Intel's fourth generation Core architecture, codenamed Haswell, due in a few weeks, is likely to be an opportune time for notebook vendors to launch new-and-improved models, with the performance machines toting discrete gaming graphics. AMD has showed its hand with the HD 8970M - which, in truth, represents a minor performance bump over HD 7970M.
NVIDIA is also planning on upgrading the GeForce GTX 680M in the very near future, to coincide with the Haswell launch. Whether the GTX 780M follows an AMD-esque upgrade is yet to be seen, but the chances are, without a brand-new architecture in the offing anytime soon, the green team will follow suit. Our advice would be that those interested in high-end gaming laptops should wait at least two weeks before laying down lots of cash; the industry is in the throes of upgraditis.
