A few weeks ago, rumours of a 1GB version of AMD's Radeon HD 6950 started doing the rounds, before AIB-partner HIS all but confirmed the card by posting a product page on its website. Yet, we still hadn't heard anything official from AMD. It's hardly unusual for leaks and partner slip-ups to pre-empt a manufacturer, though, so we sat tight and waited for the press release.
But now things have gone a step further. Anandtech has posted a full performance review of the new card, comparing it to the GTX 560 TI and the 2GB HD 6950. To clarify, these aren't leaked performance numbers or an early preview, but a complete review from a well respected source. But still, AMD has remained tight lipped on the card's existence.
For the record, the review found that the $259 (around £200 inc VAT) 1GB card performed almost identically to its better-endowed older-brother at resolutions up to 1,920x1,200px. Even at 2,560x1,600, the difference in frame-rates between the two versions would depends on the specific game. This also means that it bests the stock-clocked GTX 560, while costing about the same price.
But even though the hardware was identical to the reference 2GB HD 6950 - save for the frame buffer - the review was of an engineering sample, not final hardware. It's not as if there were cards on sale at a major retailer...actually, that's exactly what there was. NewEgg has three custom cooled cards - one from Sapphire, two from XFX - available and shipping right now.
So, despite reviews being out and cards being available to buy, we still don't have any official word on when these cards will be widely available. Only a few retailers in the UK seem to have any the cards listed, and stock levels seem patchy at best, which makes us think that AMD may have gone for a partial or soft launch so that it would have something to soften the blow from NVIDIA's GTX 560 TI.
For now, we're going to keep on waiting patiently for that AMD press release.
