AMD Radeon HD 8790M: Next-Gen Mobile Mainstream Graphics Preview
Test Setup And Benchmarks
Again, because the new Radeon HD 8000M-series GPUs aren't yet shipping in notebooks, we're using a desktop-oriented setup with a PCI Express interposer to preview the performance of AMD's GCN-enabled mainstream mobile graphics processors. Although we could have used an overclocked Core i7-3770K to crush the potential of a platform-oriented bottleneck, we stepped down to a Core i5-2500K instead. Though still fast, this part running at its stock settings is perhaps a better match to the performance of what you might find in a notebook (even if its 95 W TDP is way out of bounds).
Test Hardware | |
---|---|
Processor | Intel Core i5-2500K (Sandy Bridge), 32 nm, 3.3 GHz, LGA 1155, 6 MB Shared L3, Turbo Boost Enabled |
Motherboard | MSI Z77A-GD80 |
Memory | Kingston Hyper-X 8 GB (2 x 4 GB) DDR3-1333 @ DDR3-1333, 1.5 V |
System Drive | OCZ Vertex 3 240 GB SATA 6Gb/s |
Graphics | AMD Radeon HD 7670M 1 GB GDDR5AMD Radeon HD 8790M 2 GB GDDR5 |
Power Supply | Seasonic 760 W, 80 PLUS Gold |
System Software and Drivers | |
Operating System | Windows 7 x64 Ultimate |
DirectX | DirectX 11 |
Driver | Graphics: Catalyst 9.011 beta RST: 11.5.0.1207 Virtu: 1.1.101 |
Benchmarks | |
---|---|
Hitman Absolution | 1280x720, 1600x900, 1920x1080, Low and Ultra Quality Presets |
Far Cry 3 | 1280x720, 1600x900, 1920x1080, Low and High Quality Presets |
The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim | 1280x720, 1600x900, 1920x1080, High and Ultra Quality Presets |
World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria | DX11; 1280x720, 1600x900, 1920x1080, High and Ultra Quality Presets |
Battlefield 3 | 1280x720, 1600x900, 1920x1080, Low and Extra Quality Presets |
Call of Duty: Black Ops II | 1280x720, 1600x900, 1920x1080, Normal and Extra Quality Presets |
LuxMark | v2.0, Sala Scene |
CLBenchmark | v1.1.2, Physics SPH Fluid Simulation |
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shikamaru31789 Wow, can't say I expected to see any 8000 series/700 series benchmarks for at least a few months. Looks prettyimpressive for a mobile GPU, can't wait to see what the high end mobile and desktop cards can do.Reply -
A Bad Day Sometimes I wonder why instead of CFing or SLIing two high end mobile GPUs, a desktop GPU would've achieved the same performance but without the stuttering or driver issues.Reply
And if thermal management is an issue, then the desktop GPUs could always be undervolted (but of course more expensive because of the extra step). -
A Bad Day Also, I'm interested to see if the MxM cards of the 8000s are available for retail purchase. I'd like to buy a 15" laptop that supports MxM and is on sale, and swap out the weak GPU.Reply -
Novuake Second review I have seen that uses this module method. Interesting way of doing it. Thanks Toms and AMD.Reply -
mayankleoboy1 Nice preview, Aku and AMD.Reply
Though i suspect you and Chris already have large 'hints' about the HD8000 series performance, but under NDA. -
SteelCity1981 looks like the value brand hit the end of the line with the 7000m series and id expect that with the APU's becoming the standard now for value graphics.Reply -
acku mayankleoboy1Nice preview, Aku and AMD.Though i suspect you and Chris already have large 'hints' about the HD8000 series performance, but under NDA.Reply
In the words of Sgt. Schultz "I know nothing." =_=
Cheers,
Andrew Ku
Tom's Hardware -
amuffin ackuIn the words of Sgt. Schultz "I know nothing." =_=Cheers,Andrew KuTom's HardwareReply
That's what they all say! ;) -
Robert Pankiw A Bad DaySometimes I wonder why instead of CFing or SLIing two high end mobile GPUs, a desktop GPU would've achieved the same performance but without the stuttering or driver issues. And if thermal management is an issue, then the desktop GPUs could always be undervolted (but of course more expensive because of the extra step).Reply
If you look, there is only one chip (shown on this page) which means it is not being CrossFired. I agree that 8780M would be a better name than 8790M. Andrew Ku, maybe on the front page you can clarify this?
About using desktop parts, it is my understanding that they sometimes do exactly that. Take the 7970M, which as far as I can tell, is an 78XX part (I forget which one) except the mobile chip has MUCH higher binning than the desktop 78XX. -
A Bad Day If the 7970M uses two 78XX, why not use a highly binned and undervolted 79XX? Again, better driver stability, more supports from games, more consistent performance scaling, and less micro-stuttering.Reply