AMD Vega Architecture: Radeon RX 490, HBM2 & Compute Power

There are lots of rumors about the specs of AMD's upcoming graphics card based on Vega GPU architecture, Radeon RX 490. While many carry unconfirmed rumors and leaks, it's important to note that some are really sources of trusted information and provided evidence which has been proven correct later.

Such is the case of VideoCardz.com where it released the information about the Vega GPU graphics card to be integrated with HBM2. Of course, there could be changes on the size of RAM- Radeon RX 490 might probably come out with either as low as 4GB HBM2 or as high as 16GB HBM2. What is more important is that one quotient, HBM2.

What is HBM2?

Short for second generation High Bandwidth Memory, HBM2 pushes the boundaries of what is possible, as posted on AMD. It is the latest innovation of CPU/GPU memory wherein graphic cards will have vertically stacked memory chips. The simplest description for these stacks is a building; each floor on top of the other.

With the communication between these stacks or towers closer, the faster data flows. These towers are connected to the main GPU via interconnect called 'interposer'. So it would be easier to differentiate a normal graphics card from the one with HBM2, the new one looks like a box, or as what AMD engineers believe, is like a physical 3D graphics card, and not just bigger in terms of X and Y dimensions.

How does it work: HBM2 and Compute Power?

With the integration of HBM2, AMD was able to increase bandwidth/watt efficiency by about 3.5 times than what it usually supplies. This translates to more performance produced using low power consumption. Given this scenario would mean that applying standard power from current GPUs means achieving greater heights in terms of performance.

Higher performance of course, translates into better user experience - higher memory bandwidth, higher compute output. Virtual reality, powerful application server, high-level graphics - these are just a few of what HBM2 could translate into even more powerful tool. And this can be provided by the first graphics card under AMD's Vega architecture which integrates HBM2 - Radeon RX 490.

To check AMD's White Paper on High Bandwidth Memory, click here.