Tag Archives: Volcanic Islands

Khronos Group, the organization responsible for multiple open-standard application programming interfaces (APIs), such as OpenCL, OpenGL and WebGL, this week announced intention to rebuild the OpenGL API from scratch. The purpose of this is to be able to compete against Microsoft’s DirectX 12, AMD’s Mantle and other possible APIs (e.g., …

The first pictures of what is claimed to be AMD Radeon R9 285 graphics cards have been posted online along with some additional information about the new graphics processing unit code-named Tonga. The publication of the images indicates that the graphics cards will be released shortly from now. VideoCardz web-site …

Perhaps, A-series accelerated processing units (APUs) from Advanced Micro Devices do not offer extreme levels of performance, but since AMD does not really update its top-of-the-range FX-series products, many of its fans turn their heads to the hybrid Fusion chips that feature both x86 and graphics processing engines. In a …

Although many game developers have decided to support AMD’s proprietary Mantle application programming interface (API), whereas Intel Corp. even expressed interest in exploring the API, Nvidia Corp. has been relatively quiet about one of its arch-rival’s key technologies. This does not mean that the company does not have any opinion …

Advanced Micro Devices has reportedly chosen to take a rather conservative approach to development of its desktop platforms. Instead of adding support of the DDR4 memory to its next-generation code-named “Carrizo” accelerated processing unit, the company decided to stick to the DDR3 and therefore the FM2+ socket. While this is …

Advanced Micro Devices this week started a mysterious “Core is back” campaign by publishing a video on its Facebook page. The campaign is clearly designed to promote AMD’s Fusion accelerated processing units, heterogeneous chips containing x86 and highly-parallel graphics processing cores. The video shows how applications (depicted as monsters) fight …

The first specifications as well as a block-diagram of AMD’s next-generation code-named “Carrizo” accelerated processing unit (APU) have been published by a web-site. Despite expectations, the “Carrizo” will not support high-bandwidth memory (HBM) technologies, at least, in its mainstream implementation. Nonetheless, the new chip will carry a fair amount of …

Although Advanced Micro Devices said earlier this year that it would use 20nm process technology from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. for its future chips, it looks like the company readies two new graphics processing units (GPUs) that will be made using TSMC’s 28nm HPM [high-performance mobile] process technology. Synapse Design, …

One of the advantages that some of Intel Corp.’s integrated graphics processors (IGPs) have compared to AMD’s IGPs is a large level four cache that is used to store frequently used data. While at present AMD’s integrate graphics adapters are still faster compared to Intel’s, in the future the latter …

Advanced Micro Devices on Thursday introduced a new accelerated processing unit (APU) based on the code-named “Kaveri” design that is aimed at mainstream desktops with limited power consumption. The new APU comes without unlocked multiplier and thus cannot be easily overclocked, however, it has user-selectable thermal design power (TDP), which …

Advanced Micro Devices is reportedly proceeding with the plan to release its new graphics processing unit (GPU) code-named Tonga already in August. The new GPU will reportedly offer performance similar to that of the Radeon R9 280-series graphics cards, but it is completely unclear whether it will actually replace the …

Diamond Multimedia, a supplier of graphics adapters and other hardware, on Thursday announced the Diamond AMD Radeon R9 295X2 graphics card giveaway competition. The company will give the world’s highest-performing dual-GPU graphics solution to one lucky winner in early July. In a bid to join the contest, you need to …

Intel Corp. has asked its arch-rival Advanced Micro Devices to provide it access to the Mantle application programming interface (API), AMD said last week. While in its current form Mantle can hardly bring any tangible benefits to Intel, the latter could redesign the API in order to allow software developers …

Back in early January it was reported that the Hawaii graphics processing unit from Advanced Micro Devices might be more powerful than AMD publicly disclosed because of deactivated units. So far the theory has not been proven, but this may change soon. A famous overclocker said on Friday that AMD …

Advanced Micro Devices on Thursday unveiled a rather bold strategy called 25X20 under which it intends to dramatically increase energy efficiency of its accelerated processing units by the year 2020. In the next six years AMD plans to further optimize power consumption of its chips and also increase their performance, …

Sales of graphics cards significantly dropped in the second quarter this year, according to a media report. In fact, shipments of discrete desktop graphics processing units have been declining for years now, but this time the drop of demand is attributed to crypto-currency miners. While the actual sales figures of …

High-performance graphics cards are not really affordable, so are high-quality gaming headsets. But what if you need to have both? Make compromises? Apparently, Asustek Computer and Overclockers UK have a solution: you buy an Asus Radeon R9 290-based graphics card and get a headset for free. For a limited time …

Advanced Micro Devices this week introduced its first accelerated processing units (APUs) based on the code-named Kaveri design aimed at mobile computers . The new chips bring AMD’s latest technologies, including the heterogeneous system architecture (HSA) and the Radeon graphics with the GCN architecture, to mainstream and thin laptops. The new …

Asustek Computer this week officially unveiled its new Ares III dual-GPU graphics card that belongs to the Republic of Gamers family of products. The new graphics board is expected to provide performance that will be higher compared to that of the dual-chip Radeon R9 295X2 thanks to very high overclocking …

Asustek Computer is well-known for innovative cooling solutions for its graphics cards. Those coolers not only allow the company to offer factory-overclocked graphics adapters, but also to make its boards quieter compared to reference designs by AMD or Nvidia. This month the company made one step closer to perfection, it …

Sales of discrete graphics processing units (GPUs) for both desktop and laptop computers were down in the first quarter because of seasonality, according to Jon Peddie Research, a leading market tracker. Nvidia Corp. managed to remain the king of discrete GPUs, whereas AMD remained the No. 2. As mainstream PCs …

Since shipments of personal computers in the first quarter of the year dropped again both sequentially and annually, it is not surprising that sales of graphics adapters (both discrete and integrated) also contracted in the Q1 2014. Advanced Micro Devices suffered most from the declines and its overall share of …

VisionTek this week announced a $100 (€73, £59) discount on its CryoVenom R290 and CryoVenom R290LE graphics cards that come with water-blocks and are designed for enthusiasts, who assemble custom cooling solutions. With a $100 discount, the custom-built graphics cards look rather attractive. From now on and until the 3rd …

Advanced Micro Devices on Tuesday introduced its new family of embedded accelerated processing units (APUs) and central processing units (CPUs) with heterogeneous system architecture (HSA) capabilities. The new chips code-named “Bald Eagle” are based on the design known as “Kaveri”, which is already available for desktops. The fresh family of …

While Advanced Micro Devices was late to market with its chips for netbooks, the company’s accelerated processing units for inexpensive low-power laptops are quite popular nowadays thanks to relatively high performance, rich functionality and low cost. Unfortunately, AMD’s APUs designed for tablets still have not become any popular. Although AMD …

Advanced Micro Devices is reportedly on the finish line with its new graphics processing unit (GPU) code-named Tonga. Actual graphics cards based on the chip are now projected to hit the market in the next two or three months. But while the arrival of almost every new GPU is an …

The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) on Monday announced that the future implementations of the DisplayPort 1.2a standards will feature Adaptive Sync technology that is supposed to synchronize refresh rates of displays with actual frame-rate that is displayed. The feature will make games and video run much smoother than currently. …

Sapphire Technology has quietly started to sell the most powerful single-chip graphics card based on AMD Radeon R9 290X graphics processing unit, the Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Vapor-X. The graphics board is exclusively available from Overclockers.co.uk now, but over time it can reach different stores as well. The Sapphire Radeon …

Advanced Micro Devices on Monday announced details concerning its longer-term roadmap. The firm disclosed plans to develop its own ARMv8 core implementations as well as pin-compatible microprocessors and accelerated processing units based on ARM and x86 architecture. But while the company unveiled a clear and logical strategy regarding low-power and …

The market of discrete graphics cards for desktop computers has been shrinking for some time now, pushing smaller vendors out of the market. It looks like this year some second-tier and third-tier manufacturers may decide to cease selling graphics boards as well due to lack of prospects. Traditionally, sales of …