AMD: No HD 7000-Series Replacement For 2013

[SKYMTL]

If reports are to be believed, AMD may not be releasing a new graphics architecture this year. Instead, the HD 7000-series could remain front and center until 2014.

Even Graphics Core Next was introduced within the Southern-Islands architecture, members of the press and forum goers were talking about future desktop GPU developments. Names like Sea Islands and GCN 2.0 were bandied about with rumors pointing to a release date sometime in 2013. Even AMD’s own CES 2013 slides clearly showed the Solar System / Sea Islands architectures atop a roadmap for 2013. Granted, past announcements have been overly mobile-related but all indications pointed to a gradual phasing out of the HD 7000-series regardless of some rebranding on the OEM side.

Read more here: AMD: No HD 7000-Series Replacement For 2013 | Hardware Canucks

I know we're a bit late on this news but I was waiting for an official response from AMD. Looks like this is all but confirmed.

[great_big_abyss]

Oh, Wow. All eyes upon Nvidia at this point.

I wonder what the heck happened at AMD. This can't be good for them...

[JD]

Originally Posted by great_big_abyss

I wonder what the heck happened at AMD. This can't be good for them...

If rumours are true, they own the "next-gen" console market, which should be good for them.

[SKYMTL]

The issue with the consoles is the low profits on a per-chip basis. The benefits come with volume, but even then the margins are razor thin.

[great_big_abyss]

I can't figure out just how bad news this is, if it is indeed bad news.

On the one hand, if Nvidia chooses to sit this one out, too, progress slowed and the consumer suffers. Even if Nvidia releases a new generation, they don't have to work as hard to make it competitive, or they can price it higher, and the consumer suffers.

On the other hand, it's not like games are getting more demanding. The current crop of cards are more than capable of handling current gaming loads. Also, for those of us that bought into the current generation of cards, our cards will stay relevent for longer.

[b1lk1]

Why do we even need a new release from anyone right now? The top tier cards are not being 100% challenged by anything. Would be nice to see the upgrade cycle slow down for everything for a few.

[IRQ Conflict]

It would be much nicer if AMD and nVidia helped game devs move away from consoles. Pipe dream...I know.

[Phill]

Originally Posted by b1lk1

Why do we even need a new release from anyone right now? The top tier cards are not being 100% challenged by anything. Would be nice to see the upgrade cycle slow down for everything for a few.

I do not agree. Take a high card + high res + a demanding game = FAR < 60 avg FPS never mind avg min FPS. How is that not challenged? Add in 3D and one can easily crush a high end card. I should say that these opinions are based off of some experience. I own a 680 Lightning and a higher than avg display (2560X1440).

[SKYMTL]

I have to agree. I would rather GPU manufacturers work with game devs on optimizations rather than focusing on unnecessary new hardware. As it stands, PC games require the resources they do because of sub-optimal coding rather than a lack of resources.

[Phill]

Sure it would be great if they worked on improving coding but I find it hard to agree with b1lk1 that current high end cards "are not being 100% challenged by anything".