After leaking a few early images of their new AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics card back at the end of February, AMD has now officially launched the beast and, for the time being, claims the title of the ‘World’s Fastest’ graphics card.
The new monster graphics card is equipped with a huge 4GB of GDDR5, 3,072 Stream Processors, 64 ROPs, and an 830MHz core clock speed. Together with a dual-BIOS switch, it will let you overclock it to 880MHz with a corresponding increase in voltage. But with this sort of specification, expect it to eat up juice; first reports estimate that the card requires 375W.
Performance and Specifications
The AMD Radeon HD 6990 is designed to deliver top-tier performance for gaming enthusiasts and professionals who demand the best. The 4GB of GDDR5 memory ensures that the card can handle high-resolution textures and complex scenes without breaking a sweat. The 3,072 Stream Processors provide the computational power necessary for rendering detailed graphics and running demanding applications.
The dual-BIOS switch is a notable feature, allowing users to toggle between two different performance profiles. The default setting runs the card at 830MHz, which is already impressive. However, for those who crave even more power, the switch can be flipped to boost the clock speed to 880MHz. This overclocking capability is complemented by an increase in voltage, ensuring stable performance even under heavy loads.
Power Consumption and Efficiency
One of the trade-offs for such high performance is power consumption. The AMD Radeon HD 6990 is estimated to require 375W, making it one of the more power-hungry cards on the market. This means that users will need a robust power supply to ensure stable operation. Additionally, the card’s thermal design will require efficient cooling solutions to prevent overheating during extended gaming sessions or intensive computational tasks.
Despite its power requirements, the Radeon HD 6990 is designed with efficiency in mind. Advanced power management features help to optimize energy use, reducing consumption during less demanding tasks. This balance between performance and efficiency makes the card a versatile choice for a wide range of applications.
It will be interesting to see just how long the AMD Radeon HD 6990 card can keep the World’s Fastest title with the imminent release of NVIDIA’s GTX 590 graphics card. The competition between AMD and NVIDIA has always been fierce, and the GTX 590 is expected to bring its own set of impressive specifications and features to the table. We will keep you informed as more details emerge.
For those interested in diving deeper into the performance and capabilities of the AMD Radeon HD 6990, several reviews are available. You can read detailed analyses and benchmarks on the AMD monster here: Hot Hardware & Hexus.
As the graphics card market continues to evolve, it will be fascinating to see how AMD and NVIDIA push the boundaries of performance and innovation. The AMD Radeon HD 6990 represents a significant milestone in this ongoing competition, setting a high bar for future releases.
Via Engadget
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