Tech preview: AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 and 64

Graphics cards 1048 Page 3 of 3 Published by

teaser

High Bandwidth Cache Contoller & Radeon RX Vega Packs

HBCC - High Bandwidth Cache Contoller

To manage all that stacked memory requires memory controllers. AMD has revamped them and added a number of things while they were at it, including it to be an IO gateway. The High Bandwidth Cache Controller as AMD touts it, enables AMD to access 512TB virtual address space (and no I did not misspell that... Terabyte). It enables the GPU to have adaptive, fine grained data movement throughout the chip and whatever it is connected to. The HBCC isn't just managing and accessing pools of HBM memory also links to NVRAM (Non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM) is random-access memory that retains its information when power is turned off i.e. non-volatile), as well as your System DRAM aka your system memory aka Dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). This literally means that the graphics card and utilize your system memory as a cache for say HQ Textures or something. AMD will implement a selectable HBCC into the drivers. So if you have 32GB of system memory, with a slider in the driver control panel you can set an extra HBCC cache buffer with a page-file size to whatever you like to to be, say 8 GB or even 16GB. Using the HBCC can speed up games, and while we still have to validate it performance increases could rise up-to 5% or more. So again, HBCC is going to get an option in the driver, you can add a part of your system memory towards the graphics configuration with the help of a slider in the catalyst driver. That cache size number is variable, so you can select more or less memory into the configuration. There are other new features to be implemented as well, we'll talk about them in the reviews, but one of interest is. Rapid Packed Math where mixed precision is now an option, so a rendered scene can make use of FP16 or FP32 in certain objects. More on that later though. 

Introducing Radeon RX Vega Packs

While you will be able to purchase all cards separately, AMD is also going to introduce bundles that can get you more discount. AMD is rolling out Radeon Packs in an effort to make it easier for people to upgrade to an enthusiast gaming experience, and thus they introduce hardware and software bundles you can opt with your choice in graphics card.

  

Untitled-9

 
Based on your purchase of a Radeon RX Vega graphics cards, you can combined your purchase with a Radeon Pack. Radeon Packs include a $200 discount on the 34” Samsung CF791 curved ultrawide FreeSync monitor, and a $100 discount on select Ryzen 7 processors and X370 motherboard combos -- $300 in combined hardware savings. They will also throwing in $120 worth of new games (titles vary by region but think AMD supported titles like Prey and Wolfenstein II) which every purchaser of a Radeon Pack will receive. These discounts are applied at the time of purchase, and gamers can take or leave pieces as they see fit. So if you already have a great system and just want RX Vega, a new monitor and the games, you can do that. If you only want RX Vega and the free games, you can do that too.
 

Untitled-1

 
Some examples, you could purchase a Radeon Black pack Vega aircooled (alone 499 USD) for 599,- But combined with the purchase of the 34” Samsung CF791 curved Ultrawide FreeSync monitor and a Ryzen 7 CPU, you can get 200 off the monitor and 100 USD off the Ryzen 7 processor. Plus you get two games bundled. So you just paid an extra 100 USD, but gained 300 USD in discounts and two free games. If you buy the Aqua pack at 699 USD, you get the Vega 64 LCS with two games. Then the Red pack bundle is an extra 100 USD for the Vega 56, but here again you can gain the discounts. AMD will offer more information on this soon at their website + detail on how they exactly are planning to do this. Later on we do expect AMD to expand to other hardware deals as well, right now that 200 USD monitor discount only applies specifically to that incredibly expensive Samsung CF791 monitor. That's it for now guys and gals. In our reviews we'll go more in-depth into the technology behind Vega and obviously will detail more precisely what the several models will have to offer.

Radeon Vega RX On Shelf Availability & Reviews August, 2017 TBC

- Hilbert

Below some extra photos to bite your teeth in.

Vegarx_silver_aircooled_12

Vegarx_silver_aircooled_7

Vegarx_silver_aircooled_9

Vegarx_silver_aircooled_2

Vegarx_silver_aircooled_1

Vegarx_silver_aircooled_6

Vegarx_silver_aircooled_10

Vegarx_silver_aircooled_11

Vegarx_silver_aircooled_5

Vegarx_silver_aircooled_4

Share this content
Twitter Facebook Reddit WhatsApp Email Print