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AMD drops support for non GCN based graphics cards
AMD halts supporting graphics cards (drivers wise) that are not based on their Graphics Core Next-architecture. That means that multiple graphics cards in the Radeon HD 5000, 6000 and a couple of 7000 series now have been tagged with legacy status.
Realistically this means graphics cards based on VLIW-architecture, Radeon series HD 5000 and 6000 with type numbers HD 7600- and HD 8400-or lower will drop from driver support. AMD also halts support for APUs based on VLIW, the GPUs in Llano-, Trinity- and the Richland-series.
The legacy status means there no longer will be anymore new drivers. According to AMD this choice clears up valuable engineering resources for the driver development team for newer GPUs and APUs based on GCN-architecture.
Please be aware that owners of these older cards and APUs still can make use of the bèta AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition-driver released today. However A certified WHQL-driver will not be an option and thus that makes the Catalyst-version 15.7.1 WHQL the final certified driver. AMD launched the GCN-architecture in 2011.
Yxskaft
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#5195343 Posted on: 11/24/2015 08:00 PM
I expected this considering AMD's previous support cycles.
No new drivers at all is a bit surprising though, previous Legacy cards got drivers for bug fixes for a year.
I expected this considering AMD's previous support cycles.
No new drivers at all is a bit surprising though, previous Legacy cards got drivers for bug fixes for a year.
Clouseau
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#5195346 Posted on: 11/24/2015 08:03 PM
About time. Good move on their part. Now they can move forward; not that they really gave much attention to the non-gcn cards lately. Now just need to wait for the next crop before upgrading. Guess it is time to start planning to fill the Core X-9 case now.
About time. Good move on their part. Now they can move forward; not that they really gave much attention to the non-gcn cards lately. Now just need to wait for the next crop before upgrading. Guess it is time to start planning to fill the Core X-9 case now.
zer0_c0ol
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#5195356 Posted on: 11/24/2015 08:10 PM
about damn time...
about damn time...
waltc3
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#5195361 Posted on: 11/24/2015 08:14 PM
Lol...
nVidia does the same exact thing. They have to if they are going to make progress. Bear in mind that just as people continue to run XP today, some of them with no overt problems, the same will be true of so-called Legacy 3d cards. Those cards will not stop working with all of the games they work with now, which basically means D3d9/10 & maybe even some 11 games will continue to run on that hardware for years to come.
Not a big deal. Nothing is forever--not your cpu, your gpu your motherboard, your ram your hdd's, etc. Or your 3d cards...It's simply the way things work.
They really try hard to go down under do they? 
Lol...
nVidia does the same exact thing. They have to if they are going to make progress. Bear in mind that just as people continue to run XP today, some of them with no overt problems, the same will be true of so-called Legacy 3d cards. Those cards will not stop working with all of the games they work with now, which basically means D3d9/10 & maybe even some 11 games will continue to run on that hardware for years to come.
Not a big deal. Nothing is forever--not your cpu, your gpu your motherboard, your ram your hdd's, etc. Or your 3d cards...It's simply the way things work.
Yxskaft
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#5195369 Posted on: 11/24/2015 08:22 PM
And why do you think that?
Dropping VLIW won't magically increase GCN performance. They aren't running the same code.
The effect this will have for GCN drivers depends on how many engineers AMD still had devoted to the VLIW DX11 cards.
Well, at least these cards' support ended at a better time than the DX10 cards did.
about damn time...
And why do you think that?
Dropping VLIW won't magically increase GCN performance. They aren't running the same code.
The effect this will have for GCN drivers depends on how many engineers AMD still had devoted to the VLIW DX11 cards.
Well, at least these cards' support ended at a better time than the DX10 cards did.
Demrock
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#5195390 Posted on: 11/24/2015 08:36 PM
Fully understand this.
They should use all recources for the future at this point as their $$$ is running out and something has to give.
Currently using 970's now but cant wait for the 14nm gpu's and will go back to team Red 100%
Fully understand this.
They should use all recources for the future at this point as their $$$ is running out and something has to give.
Currently using 970's now but cant wait for the 14nm gpu's and will go back to team Red 100%
Turanis
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#5195391 Posted on: 11/24/2015 08:40 PM
Every major hardware manufacturer do this:Intel,Nvidia,Samsung,even Apple.
Can't do anything for oldest HW in these days.What to improve?Nothing.
The world evoluate to new hw.
Every major hardware manufacturer do this:Intel,Nvidia,Samsung,even Apple.
Can't do anything for oldest HW in these days.What to improve?Nothing.
The world evoluate to new hw.
schmidtbag
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#5195397 Posted on: 11/24/2015 08:43 PM
I noticed whenever a game or benchmark supports a new version of DX or OpenGL (or in this case, Vulkan), shortly after AMD transitions incompatible hardware to legacy. It seems nvidia does the same thing but they wait several months longer. Nvidia also does a better job at maintaining their legacy drivers. As a linux user, AMD is a decent choice if you want long-term support. The HD2000 series and newer are actively maintained, though it does take a seat behind the HD7000 series and newer.
I noticed whenever a game or benchmark supports a new version of DX or OpenGL (or in this case, Vulkan), shortly after AMD transitions incompatible hardware to legacy. It seems nvidia does the same thing but they wait several months longer. Nvidia also does a better job at maintaining their legacy drivers. As a linux user, AMD is a decent choice if you want long-term support. The HD2000 series and newer are actively maintained, though it does take a seat behind the HD7000 series and newer.
KissSh0t
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#5195398 Posted on: 11/24/2015 08:43 PM
Makes building drivers for DX12 easier I guess...
Makes building drivers for DX12 easier I guess...
Yxskaft
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#5195403 Posted on: 11/24/2015 08:51 PM
Every major hardware manufacturer do this:Intel,Nvidia,Samsung,even Apple.
Can't do anything for oldest HW in these days.What to improve?Nothing.
The world evoluate to new hw.
Nvidia's Legacy support for its DX10 products will continue until April 2016.
Nvidia has very long support cycles for its older products.
And drivers aren't just about performance, but also about bug fixes. All new games are not demanding, but may require a driver fix to work correctly.
Newer drivers can also mean proper support for newer Windows.
Every major hardware manufacturer do this:Intel,Nvidia,Samsung,even Apple.
Can't do anything for oldest HW in these days.What to improve?Nothing.
The world evoluate to new hw.
Nvidia's Legacy support for its DX10 products will continue until April 2016.
Nvidia has very long support cycles for its older products.
And drivers aren't just about performance, but also about bug fixes. All new games are not demanding, but may require a driver fix to work correctly.
Newer drivers can also mean proper support for newer Windows.
Black_ice_Spain
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#5195404 Posted on: 11/24/2015 08:52 PM
Dropping support is not performance unless something really terrible happens
is just not blowing up things and keeping them working with newest windows, thats about it
aka wasting resources for something that rarely happens but... who knows
Dropping support is not performance unless something really terrible happens
is just not blowing up things and keeping them working with newest windows, thats about it
aka wasting resources for something that rarely happens but... who knows
nhlkoho
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#5195409 Posted on: 11/24/2015 09:02 PM
How old is GNC now? 4-5 years old? I can't believe they were still supporting stuff prior to this.
How old is GNC now? 4-5 years old? I can't believe they were still supporting stuff prior to this.
icedman
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#5195455 Posted on: 11/24/2015 09:32 PM
I hope this means better drivers for relevant cards though i am a little disappointed since my richland apu isn't really that old.
I hope this means better drivers for relevant cards though i am a little disappointed since my richland apu isn't really that old.
zer0_c0ol
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#5195476 Posted on: 11/24/2015 09:58 PM
And why do you think that?
Dropping VLIW won't magically increase GCN performance. They aren't running the same code.
The effect this will have for GCN drivers depends on how many engineers AMD still had devoted to the VLIW DX11 cards.
Well, at least these cards' support ended at a better time than the DX10 cards did.
when i said about damn time i meant to say they are finally putting the 5000 series into legacy after 6 years of support
And why do you think that?
Dropping VLIW won't magically increase GCN performance. They aren't running the same code.
The effect this will have for GCN drivers depends on how many engineers AMD still had devoted to the VLIW DX11 cards.
Well, at least these cards' support ended at a better time than the DX10 cards did.
when i said about damn time i meant to say they are finally putting the 5000 series into legacy after 6 years of support
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They really try hard to go down under do they?