AMD’s RX 560 graphics card is now accessible worldwide in two various loadouts, albeit beneath the identical identify – one with the complete 16 CUs and 1,024 Stream Processors, and one other with 14 CUs and solely 896 Stream Processors. But it’s seemingly as much as the shopper to verify they delve into the specs sheets and buy the fitting one.
Want to know the way all these Compute Units translate to efficiency? Here are the best graphics cards round.
The cut-down RX 560 is nothing new for AMD. The card is basically a rebadged RX 460 designed for the Chinese PC cafe market, with a ‘D’ suffix hooked up to permit prospects to find out the semi-skimmed model from its full-fat sibling. Unfortunately, whereas the cardboard has now been made accessible to the remainder of the world, the figuring out nomenclature has had a little bit extra bother crossing borders.
The RX 460 had initially seen a bump in GCN Compute Units with the refreshed Polaris 20 and 21 GPUs when it was shifted over to the 500 sequence, and the 560D primarily reverts this generational enchancment. Unfortunately, reviews of shoppers who’ve already fallen prey to the shortage of distinction between the ‘old’ RX 560 and the ‘new’ RX 560 are rising, usually solely discovering out about their three-digit Stream processor depend, and Polaris 11 ‘Baffin’ GPU, as soon as the cardboard is put in.
“End users will definitely need to double check specs on variants. Typically the RX 560 14cu version will sell lower than 16cu version, 14cu version will have lower power consumption,” AMD say to Tom’s Hardware “This allows our GPU partners to offer differentiation between different SKUs for different power and pricing segments.”
It appears AMD have thrown the ball very a lot into their AIB companions court docket to make the differentiation, however it appears this has, as a substitute, rolled straight to the shopper – who now should be further vigilant when buying graphics playing cards. Unfortunately, the variety of CUs or Stream Processors just isn’t usually accessible on AIB accomplice’s product bins, or on some retailers web sites, leaving the shopper in a tough place.
With producers, AIB companions, and retailers all passing the buck, absolutely AMD must step as much as the plate and provide some clear tips on the additional sale of those cut-down playing cards? Users are coining the phrase ‘896’d’ for these unlucky to have purchased an RX 460 in RX 560 clothes. AMD would possibly need to wrap this challenge up earlier than they get ‘970’d’, too.
Rebranding playing cards, or providing cut-down alternate options, just isn’t a uncommon prevalence for giant GPU makers, however it’s unacceptable to depart the burden of choosing the right card – by way of intricate specs alone – to the shopper. The buck will all the time finish at AMD to police this challenge amongst their AIB companions, ideally with some figuring out denomination that’s clearly indicated, and never go away their prospects in the dead of night over identically named choices.
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