Unveiling Powerhouse Radeon HD 6990 Deep Dive
- 1 Radeon HD 6990 Deep Specs
- 1.1 What is in the box?
- 1.2 Radeon HD 6990: Technical Specifications
- 1.3 Radeon HD 6990: Design & Cooling Features
- 1.4 Benchmarking The Performance
- 1.5 Legacy and Impact
- 1.6 Thermal Management and Power Use
- 1.7 Radeon HD 6990’s Technology CrossFireX
- 2 Should I buy it?
- 3 Conclusion
- 4 Frequently Asked Questions
In Shorts:
- The Radeon HD 6990 is a graphics card powerhouse that changed the gaming and graphics business.
- AMD released the Radeon HD 6990 2011, a dual-GPU graphics card that pushed performance and innovation.
- Two 830 MHz Cayman GPUs made the Radeon HD 6990 a pioneering graphics card.
- Its 5.1 teraflops of computational capability made this dual-GPU combination a visual powerhouse in 2011.
The card’s red and black design, dual-fan cooling, and switchable dual-BIOS were unusual for ordinary, overclocked settings. Its 4 GB of GDDR5 video memory at 1250 MHz on a 2×256-bit interface gave gamers and professionals significant memory bandwidth. Radeon HD 6990’s CrossFireX feature lets users link two cards for a quad-GPU configuration, setting new graphics power standards. Despite power and heat management challenges, the HD 6990 represented AMD’s commitment to high-performance graphics for gaming and professional applications. Our essay covers the Radeon HD 6990’s essential features, technical details, performance benchmarks, and lasting influence.
Radeon HD 6990 Deep Specs
| Specification | Details |
| GPU Architecture | Dual Cayman GPUs |
| GPU Clock Speed | 830 MHz per GPU |
| Stream Processors | 3072 (1600 per GPU) |
| Texture Units | 192 (96 per GPU) |
| ROP Units | 64 (32 per GPU) |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 |
| Memory Size | 4 GB (2 GB per GPU) |
| Memory Clock Speed | 1250 MHz |
| Memory Interface | 2×256-bit (512-bit total) |
| Memory Bandwidth | 320 GB/s |
What is in the box?
- The Radeon HD 6990 graphics card is the main component.
- Manufacturers give installation, setup, and troubleshooting instructions in their user manuals. The graphics card installation process is smooth with its guidance.
- Boxes usually contain driver and software installation discs.
- Power adapters may be included to connect the Radeon HD 6990 to the power supply unit, depending on its power needs.
- For CrossFireX configurations with another Radeon HD 6990 or comparable graphics card, a CrossFire bridge is usually provided.
- DVI-to-VGA converters, HDMI or DisplayPort adapters, and other accessories for connecting display devices may be supplied.
Radeon HD 6990: Technical Specifications
The Radeon HD 6990 was an engineering wonder with groundbreaking specs. The card included two 830 MHz Cayman GPUs with 5.1 teraflops of computing power. With 3072 stream processors (1600 per GPU), 192 texture units, and 64 ROP units, the HD 6990 offered superior graphics processing. Radeon HD 6990 excelled in memory, too. The card has 4 GB of GDDR5 video memory at 1250 MHz on a 2×256-bit memory interface. The card could easily handle the most demanding games and apps because of its 320 GB/s memory bandwidth. The Radeon HD 6990 included two DVI connectors, four mini-DisplayPorts, and one HDMI port. AMD’s Eyefinity technology connected numerous displays for immersive gaming or work.
Radeon HD 6990: Design & Cooling Features
The Radeon HD 6990 design was stunning. The dual-slot card was red and black, like AMD’s Radeon line. A unique dual-fan system kept the powerful GPUs cool even under severe loads. Switchable dual-BIOS made the Radeon HD 6990 unique. Users could choose between conventional and overclocked BIOS profiles. This lets enthusiasts push the card past its standard performance limits, albeit at the expense of power and heating.
Benchmarking The Performance
Radeon HD 6990 pioneered performance. The card routinely beat its competition in benchmark testing, making it a top pick for gamers and graphics experts. Radeon HD 6990 established a new milestone for dual-GPU graphics cards in 3DMark 11, a prominent graphics benchmarking program. The HD 6990 easily produced excellent frame rates and superb images even at high settings in Crysis 2, Battlefield 3, and The Witcher 2.
Legacy and Impact
The graphics card industry remembers the Radeon HD 6990. Its revolutionary architecture, breakthrough performance, and support for advanced technologies set a milestone for GPU development. The card’s ability to run demanding games and apps at high resolutions sets a bar for future graphics cards. AMD’s Radeon HD 6990 showed its dedication to strong and competitive graphics. The card catered to gamers and found a place in the workflows of content creators and professionals who demanded uncompromising performance for tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and graphic design.
Thermal Management and Power Use
The Radeon HD 6990 was powerful yet power-hungry. The card’s 375-watt TDP required a powerful power source to run well. The dual-GPU architecture and high clock rates increased power needs, requiring a dependable, high-wattage PSU. Radeon HD 6990 has sophisticated cooling to handle GPU heat. The dual-fan setup, coupled with a vapour chamber and a large heatsink, effectively dissipated heat and maintained optimal temperatures during extended gaming sessions. The cooling solution was not whisper-quiet, and strong loads caused fan noise.
Radeon HD 6990’s Technology CrossFireX
The AMD CrossFireX feature set the Radeon HD 6990 apart. Because of this, users could build a quad-GPU system in CrossFireX using two HD 6990 cards. Due to its exceptional graphics power and performance, the Radeon HD 6990 became popular among gamers seeking the ultimate gaming experience.
Note: Please be aware that the quad-GPU setup had certain shortcomings. Users voiced concerns about power consumption, driver optimisation, and compatibility with CrossFireX installations. Despite these challenges, AMD’s Radeon HD 6990 demonstrated its commitment to graphics innovation.
| PROS | CONS |
| Switchable dual-BIOS for standard and overclocking was a revolutionary feature of the card. Under extreme conditions, the ideal temperatures were maintained via a dual-fan cooling system with a vapour chamber and a heatsink. | The Radeon HD 6990’s 375-watt TDP needs a robust power supply. Due to excessive power consumption, users required a sufficient PSU, raising electricity rates. |
| No graphically intensive program or game will run out of steam with the 4 GB of GDDR5 visual memory, which has a fast clock speed and a 2×256-bit memory interface. | The cooling approach worked, but the dual-GPU design and high clock rates caused heat. Fans can create noise under load, affecting user experience. |
| Thanks to CrossFireX, users may connect two Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards to create a quad-GPU setup, allowing for unprecedented visual performance. | |
| Thanks to AMD’s Eyefinity technology, users of the Radeon HD 6990 may link several displays for more immersive gaming or productive work. |
Should I buy it?
- The Radeon HD 6990 was amazing, but modern games and applications are more demanding. Gaming and graphics-intensive apps may benefit from newer GPUs with better designs and technologies.
- RHD 6990 requires a lot of power; thus, be sure your PSU can handle it. The card’s size may also affect compatibility in smaller spaces.
- Compare used Radeon HD 6990 prices to newer graphics cards. Older ones may be better if you get a newer card with better performance for the same price.
- As an outdated model, Radeon HD 6990 driver support may be restricted. Drivers should function with OS, apps, and games.
- Buying old tech may limit its lifespan. Updates and software releases benefit from modern GPUs.
- Assess your budget and possibilities. Modern graphics cards may perform better, save energy, and be more functional, depending on your budget.
- Radeon HD 6990 may work for budget-friendly systems with light workloads. For high-resolution games or new apps, choose a current GPU.
Conclusion
AMD’s innovative Radeon HD 6990 graphics card was a powerhouse. Dual-GPU architecture, great specifications, and advanced technologies made it popular among fans and pros. Despite power consumption and heat management difficulties, the card-shaped the industry. Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards revolutionised gaming and graphics technology with their performance and ingenuity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the key feature of the Radeon HD 6990?
The Radeon HD 6990 has two Cayman GPUs in one card. This design targeted high-end graphics.
How much electricity does the Radeon HD 6990 use?
The Radeon HD 6990’s 375-watt Thermal Design Power (TDP) may require a powerful power supply unit (PSU) for reliable operation.
Does Radeon HD 6990 support CrossFireX?
Radeon HD 6990 supports AMD’s CrossFireX technology, allowing multi-GPU setups with two cards for better visuals.
What is the memory configuration of the Radeon HD 6990?
The Radeon HD 6990 has 4 GB of GDDR5 video memory (2 GB per GPU) at 1250 MHz over a 2×256-bit interface.
