AMD Radeon 'Topaz XT' GPU Spotted in The Wild - Full DirectX 12 Mobility Card?

Note: This is a highly exploratory editorial and while all sources are given, nothing in this write up is presented as the gospel truth for you to believe.

Something pretty interesting came my way recently. The mobile codenames of AMD, 'Topaz XT' has been spotted in the newest iteration of GPU-Z. Curiously withal, this GPU is slated to be the R7 M255/R7 M260/R7 M265; a space which is currently occupied by an Opal Pro/XT fries. It is also mentioned as a total fledged DirectX12 GPU, something which combined with the lack of any public data only adds to the mystery. AMD Topaz GPU

AMD 'Topaz XT' codename surfaces in the wild - an OEM rebrand or a characteristic level 12 capable mobile GPU?

Since this unabridged matter is pretty chaotic, let me start from the kickoff. The start clue can be found in the changelog for the new GPUZ 0.8.0, which was posted online and supported a very enlightening detail. Seeing is assertive, then the following is an extract (which can exist found here):

"Preliminary back up is added for AMD "Topaz" GPU."

This phrase 'preliminary support is added for xyz' is a very well known phrase to the aspiring hardware enthusiast. Because generally, it indicates a GPU that is just virtually to be released. The first thing I did when I started was burn down off an electronic mail to AMD; and every bit soon every bit they reply (if they answer), I will update this article. Or if its significant plenty to warrant it, a new write upwardly. Searching TechPowerUps database brought me to the the mobile GPUs named R7 M260 and R7 M265. Both of these GPUs were codenamed 'Topaz XT'. PCI Devices, who list preliminary machine identification information, yielded the same nomenclature and codename. Autonomously from clock speed differences and a major divergence in the noted launch date, both these GPUs accept exactly the same specs. These are 384 Stream Processors with 24 TMUs and 8 ROPs.

At present heres the affair. The nomenclature R7 M260 was previously occupied past the Opal Pro/Mars fleck, and information technology supported an almost identical configuration. Infact, when I say identical, I hateful exactly the aforementioned. Fifty-fifty the die size is exactly 77mm^2. It doesn't aid that the TPU database lists Topaz XT as having been released for quite some fourth dimension, when there is next to no data almost information technology. Some farther digging effectually led to the surprising conclusion that the chip as been effectually for some time.

Information technology comes in three variants: Topaz Pro (R7 M255) Topaz XT (R7 M260) and Topaz XT (R7 M265). The nomenclature previously occupied by Sun and Opal Pro/XT variants. Did AMD just alter the name?

Some more earthworks led to a very very interesting freebsd data dump. This one non only mentions the Topaz XT GPU variants only also mentions the Amethyst XT which is the supposed codename of the R9 M295X. Wait, stop, wasn't that the Tonga GPU you inquire? Well, aye it is, infact the R9 M295X is an optional upgrade in the Apple tree iMac. Information technology helps to call up that the data dump is quite outdated.

Alternatively, the Amethyst XT codename could be an alternative code proper name for the same R9 M295X chip (Tonga). A fleck that is approximately equal in power to a GTX 580.

My next end was HWbot.org, where no surprise, the R9 M260 (Topaz) entry was pretty much empty. It is worth mentioning that this could be a mere coincidence. Mobile GPUs rarely get whatever attention, simply usually they accept at least 1 entry on HWbot.org, which isn't the case here. And it is at this signal, that I wrote this pseudo-ed. To summarize it all, the Topaz XT seems to be a new gpu that is very old. It seems to exist a widely bachelor gpu that is nowhere to be constitute. But mayhap most exasperatingly, it appears to exist a brand new chip that already exists under a unlike name (Opal/Mars) unless the TPU entry is inaccurate. In all probability I am getting worked upwardly over nothing, perhaps an OEM rebrand, but the question(s) however remain. If this is just a rebrand and nothing more than, firstly, why does GPUZ require an update to find it, and secondly, what is the indicate of just changing its name from Opal PRO/XT/Mars to Topaz?

You might recall that the Kaveri Mobility leaks a very long fourth dimension back depicted ii different variants of R7 M260 and 265. It would make sense if we are looking at dual-variant SKUs since this is the part of AMD'due south lineup which has very very thin documentation.