AMD’s next architectures are Vega and Navi – Polaris skips HBM2

During AMD’s “Capsaicin” event at GDC 2016, it is not only game developers and the VR-oriented graphics card Radeon Pro Duo that are in focus. With the headlights aimed at it, the company also takes the opportunity to reveal its future graphics architectures, where approaching Polaris is followed by Vega and Navi.

With the Polaris architecture expected to appear during the summer, AMD promises 2.5 times higher energy efficiency than today’s graphics circuits. This is attributed to both architectural changes and the transition to 14 nanometers with “FinFET” technology or so-called 3D transistors.

Shortly after Polaris, Vega arrives, judging by the product plans in early 2017. The fact that the launch takes place so close suggests that Vega should coexist with Polaris and not replace the architectures directly. Perhaps most interesting about this is that HBM2 is listed as one of the big news, which can be seen as a clear indication that the memory technology will not be used with Polaris.

There will be two graphics circuits by Polaris named Polaris 10 and Polaris 11, which judging by the new information will probably use GDDR5 or updated GDDR5X. Subsequent Vega shall also consist of a duo circuits according to the same naming scheme: Vega 10 and Vega 11.

Later in 2018, Navi arrives and here AMD does not reveal as many details, but leaves it to the architecture to become scalable and benefit from a new generation of memory technology – “Nexgen Memory”.