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Early Batches of Radeon RX 480 4GB cards actually do have 8GB memory
For reviewers AMD has been circulating a BIOS that would allow 8GB versions to be tested at 4 GB. However it was stated that all 4GB retail cards do physically have 4GB and not 8GB. That it seems was not true for some batches. Some users have reported purchasing a 4GB RX 480, that in fact physically holds 8GB of memory.
A user called bertieX over at Dutch website Tweakers.net reported that he purchased a 4GB PowerColor RX 480. The card has 8 memory chips and when he watched the GDDR5 ICs closely, he noticed Samsung K4G80325FBHC25 chips, these are confirmed 8Gbit. With eight of them that does make a total of 64 Gbit and thus indeed there is 8 GB of GDDR5 memory present on the PCB.
The card however is recognized and utilizing 4GB as model, this means that the remaining 4 GB is disabled in the BIOS. In theory it would be possible and very simple to activate the remaining 4GB to 8GB with an 8GB SKU BIOS update. It is very doubtful that AMD will keep delivering 4GB models with physical 8GB on the cards, likely this was a snap decision or quantity discount to get the cards out fast. At this time it is uncertain if all 4GB cards sold in fact carry 8 GB of memory, according to more rumors the XFX cards also have 8GB present on the 4GB models.
The 4GB Radeon RX 480 costs 219 euro whereas a 8GB model will cost 269 Euro. Currently you'll be hard-pressed to spot a store selling 4 GB models as they are out of stock everywhere.
Stairmand
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Posts: 135
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Senior Member
Posts: 135
Joined: 2007-07-25
#5300824 Posted on: 07/04/2016 11:17 PM
Like the opposite of NVidia, they sell you a 4GB card with only 3.5GB!
Like the opposite of NVidia, they sell you a 4GB card with only 3.5GB!
SirDremor
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Posts: 586
Joined: 2008-06-20
Senior Member
Posts: 586
Joined: 2008-06-20
#5300827 Posted on: 07/04/2016 11:23 PM
why is it a hardware issue to disable half of the RAM via bios if production cost for a 4GB version would be higher due to the need of a second production line?
do you know what those memory chips cost in procurement? 50 cent per 8gbit, x4 makes 2$ per 4gbyte.
now if switching production line costs same or more than 2$ per card. why not just produce all as 8GB version and limit via BIOS.
You are very mistaken on GDDR5 costs, especially in 8gbit chips. That is first.
Second - there are no altruistic companies in this world. Even if there are, AMD is not one of them. As such I highly doubt they will be losing profits, just to sell you the same card.
why is it a hardware issue to disable half of the RAM via bios if production cost for a 4GB version would be higher due to the need of a second production line?
do you know what those memory chips cost in procurement? 50 cent per 8gbit, x4 makes 2$ per 4gbyte.
now if switching production line costs same or more than 2$ per card. why not just produce all as 8GB version and limit via BIOS.
You are very mistaken on GDDR5 costs, especially in 8gbit chips. That is first.
Second - there are no altruistic companies in this world. Even if there are, AMD is not one of them. As such I highly doubt they will be losing profits, just to sell you the same card.
HeavyHemi
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Joined: 2008-10-27
Senior Member
Posts: 6263
Joined: 2008-10-27
#5300831 Posted on: 07/04/2016 11:33 PM
go to https://www.alibaba.com/
enter part no. of samsung, elpida, hynix memory chips.
chinese suppliers sending them to end(!!)-customers for around ~2-3$ per piece.
that means if you buy "millions" of them because you actually ordered them via a frame agreement from your contractor... well. you can imagine right?
Why would I do your research for you? I know the BOM for the Playstation 4 is over $80 dollars per unit just for the GDDR5.
go to https://www.alibaba.com/
enter part no. of samsung, elpida, hynix memory chips.
chinese suppliers sending them to end(!!)-customers for around ~2-3$ per piece.
that means if you buy "millions" of them because you actually ordered them via a frame agreement from your contractor... well. you can imagine right?
Why would I do your research for you? I know the BOM for the Playstation 4 is over $80 dollars per unit just for the GDDR5.
Fender178
Senior Member
Posts: 3771
Joined: 2004-09-28
Senior Member
Posts: 3771
Joined: 2004-09-28
#5300832 Posted on: 07/04/2016 11:39 PM
Very interesting. Reminds me of the old cards from Nvidia and ATI/AMD where you could unlock additional pipelines. I wonder why nobody from AMD's tech division or QA department tested these cards to make sure they were truly 4Gb cards and not 8Gb cards with disabled memory chips. To me if anyone who bought any of these early batch cards and found this out AMD could lose some money on the Sales of the 8Gb version.
Very interesting. Reminds me of the old cards from Nvidia and ATI/AMD where you could unlock additional pipelines. I wonder why nobody from AMD's tech division or QA department tested these cards to make sure they were truly 4Gb cards and not 8Gb cards with disabled memory chips. To me if anyone who bought any of these early batch cards and found this out AMD could lose some money on the Sales of the 8Gb version.
HeavyHemi
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Senior Member
Posts: 6263
Joined: 2008-10-27
#5300834 Posted on: 07/04/2016 11:44 PM
The odd thing to me is there is so much conflicting information after the card is released. Sure we had the GTX 970 stuff but that was just a single issue.
Very interesting. Reminds me of the old cards from Nvidia and ATI/AMD where you could unlock additional pipelines. I wonder why nobody from AMD's tech division or QA department tested these cards to make sure they were truly 4Gb cards and not 8Gb cards with disabled memory chips. To me if anyone who bought any of these early batch cards and found this out AMD could lose some money on the Sales of the 8Gb version.
The odd thing to me is there is so much conflicting information after the card is released. Sure we had the GTX 970 stuff but that was just a single issue.
vase
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Senior Member
Posts: 1653
Joined: 2015-03-20
#5300837 Posted on: 07/04/2016 11:50 PM
apart from the different views on prime cost (non-retail) of gddr5 chips.
the rumour that 8GB cards are sold as 4GB cards has been validated 2 days ago:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.php?p=5298752&postcount=33
i didnt ask you to perform research for me.
i already did research enough, i was just offering you to convince yourself of that, if you had doubts.
we're talking 4 chips of 32x256M (as listed on page 7, s/n: K4G80325FB-HC)
http://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/global/file/insight/2015/08/PSG2014_2H_FINAL-1.pdf
apart from the different views on prime cost (non-retail) of gddr5 chips.
the rumour that 8GB cards are sold as 4GB cards has been validated 2 days ago:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.php?p=5298752&postcount=33
Why would I do your research for you? I know the BOM for the Playstation 4 is over $80 dollars per unit just for the GDDR5.
i didnt ask you to perform research for me.
i already did research enough, i was just offering you to convince yourself of that, if you had doubts.
we're talking 4 chips of 32x256M (as listed on page 7, s/n: K4G80325FB-HC)
http://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/global/file/insight/2015/08/PSG2014_2H_FINAL-1.pdf
Glottiz
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Joined: 2006-11-18
Senior Member
Posts: 470
Joined: 2006-11-18
#5300853 Posted on: 07/05/2016 12:20 AM
Hold on a moment and let me get this right. So when MSI/Asus had slightly different BIOS in review 1080 cards there was a huge outrage from online communities, but when AMD does have different BIOS from retail cards no one says a thing?
Hold on a moment and let me get this right. So when MSI/Asus had slightly different BIOS in review 1080 cards there was a huge outrage from online communities, but when AMD does have different BIOS from retail cards no one says a thing?
vase
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Posts: 1653
Joined: 2015-03-20
#5300854 Posted on: 07/05/2016 12:24 AM
?
1.) the outrage about the case you mention was directed against asus/msi trying to improve their benchmark placings in the first reviews the aib cards.
2.) there is nothing to rage against when a company gives you (in case you take the risk of biosmodding/-flashing) a free +4GB VRAM
or how do you imagine an outrage to look like in that case??!?!
being curious!
Hold on a moment and let me get this right. So when MSI/Asus had slightly different BIOS in review 1080 cards there was a huge outrage from online communities, but when AMD does have different BIOS from retail cards no one says a thing?
?
1.) the outrage about the case you mention was directed against asus/msi trying to improve their benchmark placings in the first reviews the aib cards.
2.) there is nothing to rage against when a company gives you (in case you take the risk of biosmodding/-flashing) a free +4GB VRAM
or how do you imagine an outrage to look like in that case??!?!
being curious!
alanm
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Posts: 8890
Joined: 2004-05-10
#5300861 Posted on: 07/05/2016 12:51 AM
?
1.) the outrage about the case you mention was directed against asus/msi trying to improve their benchmark placings in the first reviews the aib cards.
2.) there is nothing to rage against when a company gives you (in case you take the risk of biosmodding/-flashing) a free +4GB VRAM
or how do you imagine an outrage to look like in that case??!?!
being curious!
Maybe he understood it backwards (promised 8gb but giving 4gb)?
Or else we may have witnessed the worst logic, sense of equivalence ever posted on the internet.
?
1.) the outrage about the case you mention was directed against asus/msi trying to improve their benchmark placings in the first reviews the aib cards.
2.) there is nothing to rage against when a company gives you (in case you take the risk of biosmodding/-flashing) a free +4GB VRAM
or how do you imagine an outrage to look like in that case??!?!
being curious!
Maybe he understood it backwards (promised 8gb but giving 4gb)?
Or else we may have witnessed the worst logic, sense of equivalence ever posted on the internet.
OnnA
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Posts: 9424
Joined: 2014-10-25
Senior Member
Posts: 9424
Joined: 2014-10-25
#5300864 Posted on: 07/05/2016 01:12 AM
In Europe they sold 26.000+ RX 480 4/8GB GPUs already !
LOL That's amazing IMO.
Hmm Hot Cakes?
In Europe they sold 26.000+ RX 480 4/8GB GPUs already !
LOL That's amazing IMO.
Hmm Hot Cakes?
Koniakki
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Joined: 2009-09-15
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Posts: 2843
Joined: 2009-09-15
#5300865 Posted on: 07/05/2016 01:16 AM
If I even gotten that 8GB card by mistake, I would had returned it and demand my 4GB card!
Maybe he understood it backwards (promised 8gb but giving 4gb)? Or else we may have witnessed the worst logic, sense of equivalence ever posted on the internet.
Or else we may have witnessed the worst logic, sense of equivalence ever posted on the internet.If I even gotten that 8GB card by mistake, I would had returned it and demand my 4GB card!
Loophole35
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Posts: 9350
Joined: 2011-09-21
#5300867 Posted on: 07/05/2016 01:35 AM
I agree with that as I am the same, I Love all hardware regardless of brand and love to talk about it too. Unfortunately, I have to filter through people who are blindly bias to a particular brand who turn the conversation volatile.
Your last five posts have been you attacking Nvidia or nvidia users just because. No reason. Just like your attack on me over my avatar which isn't what you think it is. Look close at it and see if you can figure it out.
In Europe they sold 26.000+ RX 480 4/8GB GPUs already !
LOL That's amazing IMO.
Hmm Hot Cakes?
That's good. Is this shipped or sold and do they include OEM?
I agree with that as I am the same, I Love all hardware regardless of brand and love to talk about it too. Unfortunately, I have to filter through people who are blindly bias to a particular brand who turn the conversation volatile.
Your last five posts have been you attacking Nvidia or nvidia users just because. No reason. Just like your attack on me over my avatar which isn't what you think it is. Look close at it and see if you can figure it out.
In Europe they sold 26.000+ RX 480 4/8GB GPUs already !
LOL That's amazing IMO.
Hmm Hot Cakes?
That's good. Is this shipped or sold and do they include OEM?
HeavyHemi
Senior Member
Posts: 6263
Joined: 2008-10-27
Senior Member
Posts: 6263
Joined: 2008-10-27
#5300875 Posted on: 07/05/2016 01:55 AM
apart from the different views on prime cost (non-retail) of gddr5 chips.
the rumour that 8GB cards are sold as 4GB cards has been validated 2 days ago:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.php?p=5298752&postcount=33
i didnt ask you to perform research for me.
i already did research enough, i was just offering you to convince yourself of that, if you had doubts.
we're talking 4 chips of 32x256M (as listed on page 7, s/n: K4G80325FB-HC)
http://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/global/file/insight/2015/08/PSG2014_2H_FINAL-1.pdf
In other words, nothing on your original link with Alibaba with pricing. I already looked up that P/N and several others with the results of... Your search "K4G80325FB-HC" did not match any products.
But of course you know that so???
apart from the different views on prime cost (non-retail) of gddr5 chips.
the rumour that 8GB cards are sold as 4GB cards has been validated 2 days ago:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.php?p=5298752&postcount=33
i didnt ask you to perform research for me.
i already did research enough, i was just offering you to convince yourself of that, if you had doubts.
we're talking 4 chips of 32x256M (as listed on page 7, s/n: K4G80325FB-HC)
http://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/global/file/insight/2015/08/PSG2014_2H_FINAL-1.pdf
In other words, nothing on your original link with Alibaba with pricing. I already looked up that P/N and several others with the results of... Your search "K4G80325FB-HC" did not match any products.
But of course you know that so???
Fender178
Senior Member
Posts: 3771
Joined: 2004-09-28
Senior Member
Posts: 3771
Joined: 2004-09-28
#5300877 Posted on: 07/05/2016 01:59 AM
Yeah with the over current issues before and now AMD accidentally selling cards with a disabled 4Gb which could effect sales of the 8Gb model. The 970 had only a minor issue with the memory and the way Nvidia did the memory with that card but that really effect sales too much. AMD is really batting a thousand right now.
The odd thing to me is there is so much conflicting information after the card is released. Sure we had the GTX 970 stuff but that was just a single issue.
Yeah with the over current issues before and now AMD accidentally selling cards with a disabled 4Gb which could effect sales of the 8Gb model. The 970 had only a minor issue with the memory and the way Nvidia did the memory with that card but that really effect sales too much. AMD is really batting a thousand right now.
Click here to post a comment for this news story on the message forum.
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go to https://www.alibaba.com/
enter part no. of samsung, elpida, hynix memory chips.
chinese suppliers sending them to end(!!)-customers for around ~2-3$ per piece.
that means if you buy "millions" of them because you actually ordered them via a frame agreement from your contractor... well. you can imagine right?