We still know very little about AMD’s upcoming R9 300 series of GPUS. We know that its flagship, the R390X is going to be a beast. Initial rumours suggested the rest of the cards in the series were set to be rebrands of previous generations GPUS. Later ones said that AMD was making an all new set of GPUS for the middle and lower segment. Now, it looks like the initial ones may have been true.
According to Videocardz.com, the latest beta Catalyst drivers give more than a few hints that the next AMD cards will be little more than a series of rebrands.
AMD Radeon R9 370: Trinidad
Based on the device Identifiers within the drivers, it looks like AMD’s R9 370 – codenamed Trinidad – is based on AMD’s Curacao, which was the same chip that powered its R9 270X. What you may not know is that Curacao is itself a rebranded Pitcairn GPU – which is the same core tech behind the Radeon HD 7870 from 2012. If true, this would be the fourth time AMD has used the same chip to pad out its GPU lineup.
AMD Radeon R9 360: Tobago
The R9 360, with the codename Tobago, seems to be a rebranded Bonaire GPU, which is the same 896 stream core GPU found in the Radeon 7790, and not far removed from the graphics chip inside the Xbox One.
From there on, things veer very much in to uninteresting, entry-level tech. AMD and Nvidia both have a habit of rebadging its GPUS, especially for OEM purposes as manufacturers want higher numbers on their spec sheets – even though they’re built with essentially the same tech as models with lower numbers. It’s not at all unusual, but if true, this would be terribly disappointing for AMD fans that had hoped the company’s middle order was padded out with cards based on the same tech behind its upcoming flagship R9 390x.
Of course, these rumours could just be based on some faulty interpretation of AMD’s drivers – so it may yet be worth waiting for AMD’s reveals, which should be around June.
Last Updated: March 24, 2015
Ranting Raptor
March 24, 2015 at 14:05
If AMD wants to grab back some of its lost foothold its midrange cards need to be on a new chipset and not rebranded ones. They have no choice. They need to try catch up here.
Speely
March 24, 2015 at 16:19
I’m not sure I necessarily agree with that. If your 3-year-old midrange architecture is still competitive in today’s midrange, why would you need a new one? Most of the R7- and R9-200 series are rebranded 7900 and 7800 series GPUs and they still compete with Nvidia’s midrange 700’s and 900’s.
AMD believes they’ve got an architecture that can last, and they’re clearly making that happen. And it gives them the chance to focus their (already extremely limited) R&D budget on their newest versions of it for their highest-end GPUs. They’re making the best of a bad situation and it seems to be working for them, at least.
Ranting Raptor
March 24, 2015 at 17:21
Can’t really argue with that
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 24, 2015 at 14:09
I’m waiting to see the 380(X). Otherwise I’ll have to decide between a 290(X) or a 970.
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 14:18
Go for the 970 Man, Payday is only a few days away till I can get mine
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 24, 2015 at 14:23
But I really want a 4GB card 😉
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 14:27
I’d also like a 4GB card but unfortunately we all have to make sacrifices
Said every Nvidia engineer :p
Honestly with so many things that Nvidia locks to their cards it means either go Green or have less lean graphics, that was a fail rhyme but you get the point
Also Eskdom already can’t supply power and you want to contribute to the problem with a 290, how dare you :p
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 24, 2015 at 14:31
lol, but winter is coming & my room gets cold.
Admiral Chief
March 24, 2015 at 14:31
*cave
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 14:39
I’d Love a cave, with maybe a flowing waterfall a pimped out black i10 dubbed the batmocaddie(Patent pending and also not the car I really have or want, seriously no one wants it,I do apologise to those that own one though) and plastic model of a batwing along with a b?u?t?l?e?r? loyal Man Servant who’ll do all my whims and patch me up when I’m exploring Durban
Matthew Holliday
March 24, 2015 at 14:42
i10 with a body kit, sound, rims and a matte black paint job.
be the hero that Durban deserves.
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 14:49
Don’t give someone that idea though Just now someone attempts to tokyo drift around the corner on those things they call wheel’s :p
Was thinking a Focus,Fiesta or even Chevy Sonic would be ideal ride for any V?i?g?i?l?a?n?t?e?
Superhero enthusiast
Can pickup a durban curry and a Crime that needs solving all in one go :p
Matthew Holliday
March 24, 2015 at 14:52
Tokyo already has the hero it deserves: Lil bow wow
Green lantern corps has juristiction in Tokyo
http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/attachments/transformers-fan-art/102764d1228019912-fast-furious-skids-digibash-future-repaint-s6000146a.jpg
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 24, 2015 at 14:57
HULK WANT OUT OF PUNY CAR
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 14:57
Damnit Beat me to it
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 14:57
Thing is, Hulk wasn’t trying to get in, he was trying to get outta it kinda like bow wow
Matthew Holliday
March 24, 2015 at 14:57
get out of my car, get into my DC universe.
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 24, 2015 at 15:00
Oh wow, you’ve just incurred the wrath of Darryn with that comment. Be afraid, be very afraid. Or mildly amused.
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 15:07
Sounds like a Family Sedan:p
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 14:42
Yes April 13th at 3AM :p
But seriously there is other ways of burning down your home and saving electricity just not that way else you like burning down home’s
Right now my PC is getting flipping hot dunno why, either need to get more fans or look at aircon
Matthew Holliday
March 24, 2015 at 14:47
pc fans pull heat out, out of your pc and into your room.
same with water cooling, i think.
more fans = hotter room = more need for air con.
could always go the liquid nitrogen route 😛
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 14:56
Great I’d lose a hand in said experiement, or maybe I’d flip a switch and flames will start coming out and the clock speed’s will go crazy :p
But point made…Fan’s = baked potato
Brady miaau
March 24, 2015 at 14:51
Aircon. Always. Bedroom, Tv Room. great. Lounge must wait, it needs a much more sizeable one, stupid open plan lounge, dining area.
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 15:00
Would work for me since Bed,PC and 40″ in nicely tied together in one package :p
But how affordable and lightweight is it? I mean as in DIY possible or no muss no fuss type of thing, maybe portable?
Matthew Holliday
March 24, 2015 at 15:03
Ive got a free standing one which you can vent out a window, they come with funny stretchy tube things, because the air they blow out feels like theres a sun burning inside of it.
theyr portable & pretty effective though, even in bigger areas.
there are also cheaper ones which you just feed ice and it blows cold air.
its an option and works well in small areas.
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 24, 2015 at 15:03
Don’t waste your time with portable, they’re mostly evap coolers & don’t really cool things down much when it gets really hot. Depending on the size unit you need you can get a decent make for R3/4k, with another couple for installation.
Matthew Holliday
March 24, 2015 at 15:05
ive got a portable one that costs about the same R3/4k, works pretty well, not as well as a permenant one, but its mobile atleast.
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 15:15
Aww damn was looking into those portable’s but now that you mentioned that it kinda is pointless then
Price isn’t to bad to put a fixed one in though
Thanks
Ryanza
March 24, 2015 at 14:47
Last year’s winter I was like, winter was not that bad, didn’t feel cold at all. Thank you AMD.
Matthew Holliday
March 24, 2015 at 14:51
pretty much the same, this winter, ive added a second R9 270 to my pc since last winter though, so Im all set to rough it out again.
workinlate
March 25, 2015 at 10:44
i got 2 ………if they give me witcher 3 free I’ll forgive them
Corrie
March 25, 2015 at 11:27
Still surprised nothing has happened at all, Nvidia seem to have brushed it off and more worried about pimping their Titan X atm
Naxirian
March 24, 2015 at 23:14
The 290X is a better card if you game at 1440p or above, it consistently outperforms the 970 at those higher resolutions, but if you get a 290X, get a Sapphire Vapor-X model. They’re the best coolers for the 290X’s, and they run in the low 70’s typically. Don’t under any circumstances get the Asus models. Asus usually make excellent coolers but the cooler they’ve used on the 290X was originally designed for the GTX 780/780 Ti, which is a smaller GPU, and it does not sufficiently cool the 290X. Asus 290X’s regularly go into the high 80’s.
Jack
March 25, 2015 at 11:13
consistently ???
Haaha sure pal
Naxirian
March 25, 2015 at 13:47
Yup. Generally the 290X is slightly better at 1440p and at 4k they completely dominate the 970. At 4k they even beat the 980 occasionally. AMD have always been better at higher resolutions, though if you’re gaming at 1080p, you’re better with the 970 as it’s slightly faster at that resolution. I know, I have Nvidia and AMD rigs at home.
Corey Alden
March 25, 2015 at 23:49
But you will be paying over double for a 390X than you would be for a 970.
Naxirian
March 26, 2015 at 17:25
You mean just like you pay over double for a 980 than you do for a 970 for about 15% more performance? I can get a 970 for £250 here and a 980 is about £530. The top end cards never have an efficient cost/power ratio, people buy them simply because they’re the best.
r0llinlacs
March 31, 2015 at 18:11
I have an XFX 290X DD and it never goes over 70c…
Corey Alden
March 25, 2015 at 23:44
I’d say get the 290x or 970 now. I went with a 970 FTW! a few weeks ago and no regrets so far.
Nic
March 29, 2015 at 04:26
I think I’ll wait till the 300 series comes out than see what they have available and probably go for a GTX 970 because the price should be significantly lower….
Admiral Chief
March 24, 2015 at 14:13
So, basically I have a 370X?
Corrie
March 24, 2015 at 14:20
That’s a glorious thing, I mean for Console owner’s it just means that their potato is still the same potato.
Admiral Chief
March 24, 2015 at 14:22
Bwahahaha
Dutch Matrix
March 24, 2015 at 14:31
I remember the Riva TNT…
Admiral Chief
March 24, 2015 at 14:34
As do I, quite fondly actually
Thats_how_I_Troll
March 24, 2015 at 14:55
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia,87.html
Mossel
March 24, 2015 at 15:11
I had a TNT2…runned Quake 3 like a charm!
CrasH
March 25, 2015 at 10:14
Only if you manually updated and enforced the openGL driver
😛
Oh yea… that was quake 2….
Matthew Holliday
March 24, 2015 at 16:14
my graphics card knowledge only goes back as far as the geforce 5500
AMD knowledge only starts at the AMD 5770, after they dropped the radeon tag.
i feel so little.
cr1t
March 24, 2015 at 14:37
I thought that was the price
Brady miaau
March 24, 2015 at 14:38
indeed, yes. But only we saffers see that
Admiral Chief
March 24, 2015 at 14:43
Hahaha, love dat profile pic
Dutch Matrix
March 24, 2015 at 14:37
See? this hardware thing makes me sad. My gaming rig at home is not THAT bad. 8GB of Ram, a decent enough graphics card. I mean, I cannot even read a damn loading screen.
But my I3 (I think) CPU. That is what keeps me back. And to be honest, I know if I want to upgrade the CPU, I am going to need a new motherboard, which means new RAM which means a new power supply and a new display card and so on…
Admiral Chief
March 24, 2015 at 14:42
Intel, I see your problem right there!
Brady miaau
March 24, 2015 at 14:44
How so?
FoxOneZA
March 24, 2015 at 14:50
Which socket you running on that i3? Older Intel CPU’s from 2012 are still around.
Dutch Matrix
March 24, 2015 at 14:53
I have no idea. Sorry. Been a console fanboy for a few years hence my tech know-how equals that of the charm of Jar-Jar Binks
Potty391
March 24, 2015 at 19:25
If you want to upgrade your i3 there are still a few second hand CPUs of the old sockets around, mostly i5’s and i7’s. Otherwise, such a upgrade would require a new motherboard which doesn’t necessarily mean new RAM (if it’s DDR3 in the machine currently, which it should be, it should work) – your PSU might also still be sufficient. Then lastly, the graphics card will definitely work on a new motherboard, unless it’s AGP, which is ancient so that’s unlikely.
Go download CPU-Z from http://www.cpuid.com to see exactly what CPU, RAM (Remember the RAM frequency is shown as half what is advertised in the shop) and GPU you have. Post those specs here and we can let you know what you’ll need to upgrade.
Ghost In The Rift
March 24, 2015 at 14:44
Is it to much to hope that they will be the same price as the old ones?!?!
Ryanza
March 24, 2015 at 14:45
Why do you think AMD cards are so cheap. AMD makes a fucking good top of the ranch card and then that card comes down the range as the years go by, re-branded.
I’m just waiting to see how much that 390x will cost. Should make a nice upgrade from the 7970 lightning boost edition I have, which is a 280x re-branded, and most likely a 370x re-brand.
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 24, 2015 at 14:47
Don’t support rebranding, Radeon 300 series is coming.
FoxOneZA
March 24, 2015 at 14:49
LOL!
Mageoftheyear
March 26, 2015 at 22:55
The R9 390x is rumoured to have an RRP of $700.
Can’t wait to see how it performs against Titan X at 4K resolutions.
FoxOneZA
March 24, 2015 at 14:51
I have the 260x which supposedly is a rebrand of the 7790 but it’s miles ahead of that card. Rebranding isn’t necessarily as bad as made out to be.
Kromas is drunk with power!
March 24, 2015 at 15:34
Rebranding is a bit vague. They should call it remastering as even though the chipset is the same they do tweak the living crap out of it.
Kikmi
March 24, 2015 at 16:57
LOL. Oh team red.
Tong Chang
March 25, 2015 at 08:21
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-epgzTOGB6rA/T3oWJC_L4wI/AAAAAAAAAro/sgR5yiLw4rk/s1600/China+Siberia.gif
Maybe they will hold down some Nvidia prices
Herpaderp
March 25, 2015 at 10:11
I only view the comments on articles like this to see people saying “my (insert shite card here) plays Crysis 3 at 1440p, 230fps!!!” and laugh at how pitiful most peoples rigs are.