RX480 (Reference Design) Fails to Meet PCIE Specifications -- Can Be Detrimental to Your Motherboard

scrimshaw on 30/06/2016 - 12:58
Last edited 30/06/2016 - 12:58

https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/4qfwd4/rx480_fails_pci…

QUOTE

From forum post

https://hardforum.com/threads/amd-radeon-rx-480-video-card-review-h.1903637/page-3#post-1042386067[1]

"With Tom's Hardware reporting that the RX 480 draws (substantailly) more than the 75W allowed from the motherboard (for example, the PCI Express high-power card spec allows a mazimum of 66W to be drawn from the 12V pins of the PCI Express slot, and the RX 480 averages79W from the 12V lines alone) AMD seems to be violating the PCI Express(R) spec.

According to the licensing contract for the spec, if they do not fix this within 3 months, AMD will NOT be able to call the card a PCI Express card. If they do, they face not only litigation, but if my understanding is correct an action before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to ban the importation of the card as counterfeit goods. You might think the PCI-SIG will give AMD a pass, but if they do, they risk loosing the trademark entirely. An unforced trademark gets invalidated. The SIG won't let that happen.

So what does this mean to the consumer? I think there are two possibilities, if we assume AMD will not choose to remove the PCI Express logos from these cards: Either they will alter the boards to have an 8-pin socket and to more power from there, or they will neuter the card to ensure it doesn't draw more power than the PCI Express specification allows. I don't see any other options.

Disclaimer: I am an attorney, but I practice patent law, not trademark law. This post does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship".

It could damage low end motherboards, and since this will go in many oem systems, it could become a problem

From Tom's Hardware

We skipped long-term overclocking and overvolting tests, since the Radeon RX 480’s power consumption through the PCIe slot jumped to an average of 100W, peaking at 200W. We just didn’t want to do that to our test platform

What this means to you:

  1. If you're using multiple RX480's, drawing too much power from your motherboards PCIE slots could cause damage in the long term. Similarly for other users who's already drawing a lot of power from PCIe, can experience power-related issues.
  2. There's zero overclocking headroom
  3. You should probably wait for it to be sorted or otherwise end up buying a card that has no resale value if there's ever a version 2.0 of the hardware.
Computing

Comments

  • kywst on 30/06/2016 - 13:45

    Perhaps IEEE will revise the spec for next gen MB but really everyone is thinking AMD … umad? Even the 6pin is overdrawn …

  • kasp on 30/06/2016 - 13:55
    +4

    Cards going over the rated spec is common. Nvidia has done it before, AMD did it with the 6990. The PCI enforcement company doesn't give a shit it's more to do with OEM setups. Why are people making out like the sky is falling in?

    • kywst on 30/06/2016 - 14:09

      For similar reasons VW copped it even though it was known prior to the media frenzy. Scandals generate traffic. Traffic generates money.

    • vid_ghost on 30/06/2016 - 16:11
      +1

      Yep.. pretty much same old same.. :) this has zero effect on anything and is a non issue.. sounds like Nvidia trying to slow down the loss of market share any way they can.

      • kasp on 30/06/2016 - 16:48
        +2

        Considering the 960 did the same thing it and noone really gave a shit.

        The fact that this is such a big deal when previously it hasn't been is very suspect.
        http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-gtx-960,4…

        My guess is it does so damn well that is really the only thing they can grab at. However if it is an issue wait for the non reference cards which will have 8 pins and awesome cooling and curb stomp any issues you might have.

        • vid_ghost on 01/07/2016 - 10:34

          Better over clocks too :) i want a RX 480 clocked at 1.6Ghz

    • Diji1 on 30/06/2016 - 19:55

      Because people like making non-issues into issues in order to feel socially validated on platforms such as Reddit and forums.

      And because made up scare stories sell page impressions.

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