Allen
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Joined: Oct 1999
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Ohio USA
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AMD Vows to Resolve GPU Shortage: We Are Ramping Production
Last year, AMD finally released a family of graphics processors that can compete against Nvidia's high-end offerings in terms of performance. Unfortunately, AMD could not meet demand for new GPUs. But apparently there is light at the end of the tunnel as AMD is ramping up production.
Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, during the company's latest earnings call. "We expect Radeon 6000 series GPU sales to grow significantly over the coming quarters as we ramp production."
Per article, "Ramping Production" takes "Quarter years" -- not weeks or months. We're still probably looking at late Summer for the initial "ramp" in production to hit shelves.
For now, I'm assuming some time in 2022 for MSRP GPUs. Naturally, I hope I'm being too pessimistic
Allen
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Ohio USA
Gigabyte has updated its BIOSs to 1.2.0.2 USB fix. They took down the BIOS with the preliminary 1.2.0.1 fix. Shown are my MBs, for illustration.
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X570 AORUS PRO WIFI (rev. 1.0)
1 Checksum: 8A4D 2 Update AMD AGESA ComboV2 1.2.0.2 3 Fix USB 2.0 devices stability and compatibility
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X570 I AORUS PRO WIFI (rev. 1.0)
1 Checksum : 2530 2 Update AMD AGESA ComboV2 1.2.0.2 3 Fix USB 2.0 devices stability and compatibility
My ASRock MB was previously updated to the 1.2.0.2 fix.
All the above merely to indicate the industry is moving forward on the BIOS update for those needing USB fixes. My stuff never had noticeable issues, but I don't stress USB to the limit.
Allen
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Joined: Oct 1999
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Ohio USA
Rumor, Rumor regarding the next generation AMD Navi GPUs:
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AMD RDNA 3 Based Navi 31 Flagship Gaming GPU For Radeon RX Graphics Card Reportedly Almost 3x Faster Than Big Navi RDNA 2
We all think of the current Big Navi (21) GPU being an insanely powerful chip but based on the rumors we are now hearing for the next-generation parts, the Big Navi (31) GPU is going to make us forget the existing parts.
You will be getting dual 80 Compute Unit dies, each featuring 5120 stream processors for a total of 10,240 stream processors. The AMD RDNA 3 based Radeon RX GPU SKUs will also be based on a brand new process node from TSMC, reportedly 5nm
The AMD RDNA 3 'Navi 3' GPU lineup of Radeon RX graphics cards will be competing with NVIDIA's own MCM GPUs based on either the Ada Lovelace GPUs. As of now, the next-gen parts still aren't expected till the end of 2022 or early 2023 so treat this information with a slight grain of salt.
Effectively, this is two GPUs inside one card -- like Crossfire, in a way. I've been waiting for that approach which AMD hinted at years ago.
If this rumor gets legs, I'll probably wait for the next generation GPU -- at MSRP.
Allen
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Ohio USA
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Intel DG2 gaming GPU family is ‘right around the corner’
While Intel did repeatedly confirm that DG2 is a 2021 product, it was never confirmed whether that applies to desktop or mobile variants.
The DG2 family features as many as five SKUs, equipped with 96 to 512 Execution Units. The top-tier 512EU model is now rumored to compete with NVIDIA’s upcoming RTX 3070 Ti
Just vague suppositions based on little data. Still, there may be a new GPU competitor this year -- Intel. Competition is good
Allen
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Ohio USA
Things will continue to be slow. A summary of a long article:
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Why We Can’t Build Our Way Out of the Semiconductor Shortage
To summarize:
Foundries can’t build chips more quickly because every single part of the silicon manufacturing process is an exercise in patience. The market is in the position its in because demand for certain types of silicon grew in ways the industry didn’t foresee 10+ years ago. There is no immediate solution to this problem because of how long it takes to bring new foundries online.
It’s the pandemic, cryptocurrency demand, increased adoption of AI in many markets, and the growth of 5G base stations and smart home shipments.
This semiconductor shortage .. will gradually get less bad over time as product shipments and consumer demand align more closely... Foundries do increase shipments over 6-12 month time periods and yields on parts also tend to improve, so we should see continued production increases over the course of 2021
I did come across an "in stock" AMD R7 5800X literally below MSRP yesterday. Also a "to be in stock" PowerColor Red Devil AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT "pre-order" at ~2.5X MSRP (no thanks).
Meanwhile, to occupy time over the weekend I took some of my "spare/leftover parts", added a new "sale priced" uATX GIGABYTE B550M DS3H AC MB, and built an HTPC (not like we needed another one). The build highlights were a "spare" AMD R5 3600 CPU and "old/retired" AMD HD7970 GPU. Plays Grim Dawn, ultra settings at a steady 1080p 60FPS. I guess Grim Dawn just doesn't need that much
I did come across an "in stock" AMD R7 5800X literally below MSRP yesterday.
Assuming the info I found just now for MSRP ($450) is correct , the local MicroCenter has the 5800X for $50 less. They are also swimming in 5600X, 5900X and 5950X CPUs for the past week or two; all at or below MSRP. It took several months, but it would appear they caught up. Of course, they had stock a few weeks ago as well, but it was at 'full' MSRP and was gone in a day or so. So it won't last in all likelihood. I keep going back and forth on buying in, but I need more computers like a submarine needs screen doors.
Of course, I do realize not everyone is fortunate enough to live close enough to a MicroCenter to get one from them. You could always ask someone online (like here) who does live close enough to one to grab one for you, pay shipping and still come out ahead.
Allen
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Ohio USA
Originally Posted by kksnowbear
Of course, I do realize not everyone is fortunate enough to live close enough to a MicroCenter to get one from them.
Yes, screen doors abound in my house -- some very old creaky ones. Meantime, thanks for the pricing and MicroCenter info. We do have one about 40 minutes from here -- but, I haven't been there in well over a year.
Mostly I was thinking of those who aren't within an hour of one. 25 stores, 16 states - mostly northeast and mid-west...leaves a lot of people out.
I built a few Zen3 platforms already since late last year, and they are truly remarkable machines (USB issues laid aside, but so far I've seen no instances of this, knock on silicon...).
Your area looks pretty blessed with MicroCenters...more per area than most anywhere else I'd say. What a great place. After Frys closed a while back, MC is the only place left where you can walk in and buy everything you need to actually build a machine (well...if it's in stock anyway lol). Priceless. And speaking of price, they compete pretty well in that area, too. I sometimes go there to buy stuff even though I'm paying a few bucks more; hopefully the support helps keep them open. I also know one of the Sales Managers and he's been invaluable...I buy quite a lot of parts and he treats me like a king I wish more businesses were like this.
AMD has already released Navi 21, which is carrying a codename of “Sienna Cichlid”, as well as Navi 22 codenamed “Navy Flounder”. AMD is yet to release Navi 23 “Dimgrey Cavefish and Navi 24 “Beige Goby”. The former is expected to debut under Radeon RX 6600 series, while Navi 24 should launch as RX 6500 or 6400 series.
AMD Navi 24 is likely the last member of the Navi 2X family based on RDNA2 architecture.
1024 RDNA2 cores should make for a very good "entry level" gaming GPU -- if the MSRP is "entry level".
Allen
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Ohio USA
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AMD and GlobalFoundries Update Wafer Supply Agreement: Orders Through 2024, Now Non-Exclusive
Under the terms of the amended seventh amendment, AMD will see out its existing commitment to use GlobalFoundries through 2024, with the latest amendment setting purchase targets for 2022, 2023, and 2024. Beyond those new targets, however, the agreement releases AMD from all further exclusivity commitments to GlobalFoundries. AMD is now free to use any fab on any process node that it wants
Allen
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Ohio USA
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AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT Overclocked To A Record Breaking 3.3 GHz, Scores Over 41,000 Points in 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Benchmark
AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT With Navi 21 XTXH GPU Achieves Record-Breaking 3.3 GHz Overclock, Demolishes All Single-GPU World Records in 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Benchmark
The Navi 21 XTXH isn't just a binned GPU with higher clocked speeds, it also opens up 4.00 GHz maximum clock limits allowing overclockers to hit record speeds with LN2 cooling.
Gamer's won't overclock to this level. But, its interesting to know that some AMD GPUs overclock as well as any GPU ever has (in Fire Strike).
Allen
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Joined: Oct 1999
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Ohio USA
The near future for memory technology will impact AMD and Intel designs.
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Corsair teases DDR5-6400 memory, the technology to arrive later this year
DDR5 technology is currently not supported by any platform
DDR5 may not be affordable from the beginning it arrives
DDR5 technology will double the bandwidth, while requiring less power (1.1 vs 1.2V). A much higher capacity of single memory modules going up to 128GB, which is four times as much as the current DDR4 standard
But, will it initially matter to gaming speed? Will it need new CPUs designed to make worthwhile use of such speed?
Allen
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U.S. Senators Close to Inking $52 Billion Semiconductor Funding Plan
The chip industry support plan is set to include funding of R&D and production and the establishment of national programs. The $52 billion five-year plan pales in comparison to South Korea's intention to support its semiconductor industry with $450 billion over the next 10 years. Still, the real question is if we can compare the plans directly.
Various companies in the U.S. design the vast majority of chips used globally, yet only 12% of semiconductors are produced on American soil. The microelectronics industry funding bill is designed to at least partially change that and bring more chip production [of advanced chips] back to the USA.
This has not happened yet. So, its a "wait and see".
I personally want to see the USA and Europe start producing their own highest-end CPUs, GPUs, etc. -- in addition to buying from Asian sources. Competition across the globe is good for design-progress, good for prices, and good for customers (gamers in our case)
Allen
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AMD Ryzen 5000 “Vermeer” on B2 stepping is only to improve production and availability
AMD confirms that B2 stepping has no effect on performance or functionality and will require no BIOS upgrade from the user.
[Per AMD] "AMD will gradually move AMD Ryzen 5000 Series Desktop Processors to B2 Revision over the next 6 months. The revision does not bring improvements in terms of functionality or performance, furthermore, no BIOS update will be required".
B2 CPUs will not be better. So, no need to "wait" or "look for B2" when purchasing.
Allen
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China’s Setting up a Hotline for Snitching on Cryptocurrency Miners
The Financial Times reports that the Inner Mongolia Development and Reform Commission (IMDRC) plans to set up a hotline for reporting suspected mining operations.
The report arrived shortly after Reuters reported that China banned financial institutions from offering “clients any service involving cryptocurrency
FWIW: Maybe less mining means more GPUs for gamers -- eventually??
Allen
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Ohio USA
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AMD CEO Lisa Su Doesn’t Seem All That Worried About the Chip Shortage
AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su doesn’t seem all that worried about the global chip shortage. In fact, she said in an interview with Bloomberg that this is just a “megacycle” the semiconductor industry has to go through. It's the type of thing she says she has watched the industry go through similar periods of demand far outpacing supply throughout her career.
This too shall pass and CPUs/GPUs will again be MSRP.