AMD is working on a Navi 10 GPU dedicated to cryptocurrencies

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 10/23/2020 09:03 AM | source: phoronix | 18 comment(s)

Not a bad idea really, as it would free up graphics card sales for gamers. A new Linux patches seem to point towards a cryptocurrency-focused graphics card from AMD, that the patches add descriptions for a “Navi 10 Blockchain GPU”.

The graphics card in question carries a device ID of 0x731E. As Phoronix mentions, the main distinction between this secret GPU and the normal Navi 10 offering is that both the Display Core Next (DCN) and Video Core Next (VCN) engines are disabled. This lack of support indicates that the graphics card will likely arrive without display outputs. Navi 10 is based on AMD's RDNA 1.0 architecture and is based on TSMC's 7nm FinFET manufacturing process. With an IDE of 251mm², the Navi 10 houses up to 10.3 billion transistors and generally houses 40 CUs (2,560 Stream Processors).

AMD uses Navi 10 on four of its graphics cards: Radeon RX 5700 XT, RX 5700, RX 5600 XT and RX 5600. Considering the timing of the Linux patch information, Phoronix estimates a release no earlier than 2021. While the GPU cryptocurrency mining market is not what it used to be, there is still a huge market that AMD can take advantage of.

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Maddness
Senior Member

Posts: 1525
Joined: 2014-10-24

#5845779 Posted on: 10/23/2020 09:59 AM

This is great news. Nvidia should do the same, that's if they could get the Ampere release sorted.

Backstabak
Senior Member

Posts: 742
Joined: 2015-11-13

#5845785 Posted on: 10/23/2020 10:21 AM

It seems great, but you need to consider that the chips for it still have to be manufactured by someone. Also, I'm not sure if the cards would be as appealing since they have very little resale value, because you can only use them for mining.

spine
Senior Member

Posts: 152
Joined: 2005-05-04

#5845787 Posted on: 10/23/2020 10:25 AM

*ahem* Turing !??!?

Nvidia tried, they failed, they re-labelled it DLSS/RTX

Mineria
Senior Member

Posts: 4534
Joined: 2007-05-05

#5845795 Posted on: 10/23/2020 11:07 AM

Who cares about resell value if the solution might be way more cost efficient?
I would guess that they sell these type of cards way cheaper to make them attractive for crypto miners, hence the lack of outputs.

Kaarme
Senior Member

Posts: 2439
Joined: 2013-03-10

#5845798 Posted on: 10/23/2020 11:11 AM

I wish all the relevant countries in the world banned crypto currencies. A massive amount of coal has been burned and atmosphere polluted for the sake of absolutely nothing, to power that idiotic scheme only useful for drug dealers and others like that. Of course AMD/Nvidia were glad to sell the GPUs and power companies the electricity, but that's it.

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