AMD has announced their latest server oriented GPUs, the FirePro S7150 and the FirePro S7150 x2. The Tonga based cards are AMD's first, fully hardware virtualized GPU products. Both cards are aimed at the virtualization market with key focus on emerging experiences that include remote workstation, cloud gaming, cloud computing and VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure).
AMD Announces FirePro S7100 Series Server GPUs - FirePro S7150 and FirePro S7150 x2 Rocking The Tonga GPUs
Back at VMWorld 2015, AMD demonstrated their Multiuser GPU for the first time and today, we finally get to see the cards officially. First of all, both cards are Tonga based hence the use the latest GPU feature set that is available on the current GCN architecture. Both cards are server GPUs designed to handle workloads based around Virtualization. AMD will be making use of the SR-IOV standard that will deliver consistent results, both performance and time wise.
AMD's Multiuser GPU technology, based on SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization), a PCI Express standard:
- Delivers hardware GPU scheduling logic with high-precision quality of service to the user.
- Preserves the data integrity of Virtualized Machines (VM) and their application data through hardware-enforced memory isolation logic preventing one VM from being able to access another VM's data.
- Exposes all graphics functionality of the GPU to applications allowing for full virtualization support for not only graphics APIs like DirectX and OpenGL but also GPU compute APIs like OpenCL.
AMD FirePro S7150:
AMD is offering two cards which are based on the 28nm process. First one, we have the FirePro S7150 which is based on the Tonga XT GPU core and features 2048 stream processors. The card packs a good 8 GB of GDDR5 VRAM that runs along a 256-bit bus interface and has a TDP of 150W which is delivered by a single 8-Pin power connector. The card will be able to handle 16 users (per card) in a Virtualized environment and comes in both active and passive cooling options. The FirePro S7150 has a retail price set at $2399 US.
AMD FirePro S7150 x2:
On the other hand, we are looking at the first Tonga based Dual GPU offering. Now it means little for gamers as this card is solely aimed at the server market. The FirePro S7150 x2 packs two full Tonga chips on board its PCB. It has 2048 stream processors per core which round up to 4096 stream processors on the board itself, the exact same number of stream processors are featured on AMD's flagship Fiji XT GPU core. The card packs a whole 16 GB of GDDR5 VRAM (8 GB per GPU) and has a 256-bit bus interface. The card comes in a 265W package which makes it just as beefier as the Fury X in terms of TDP. It will be available in passive cooled options only and be able to support maximum of 32 users. The FirePro S7150 x2 has the price set at $3999 US.
"The AMD hardware virtualization GPU product line is another shining example of our commitment to offer customers exceptional cutting edge graphics in conjunction with fundamental API software support," said Sean Burke, corporate vice president and general manager, Radeon Technologies Group, AMD. "We created the innovative AMD FirePro S-series GPUs to deliver a precise, secure, high performance and enriched graphics user experience -- all provided without per user licensing fees required to use AMD's virtualized solution." via AMD
Based on AMD's Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture to optimize utilization and maximize performance, the AMD FirePro S7150 and S7150 x2 server GPUs feature:
- AMD Multiuser GPU (MxGPU) technology to enable consistent, predictable and secure performance from virtualized workstations with the world's first hardware-based virtualized GPU products to enable users with workstation-class experiences matched with full ISV certifications.
- GDDR5 GPU Memory to help accelerate applications and process computationally complex workflows with ease.
- Error Correcting Code (ECC) Memory to ensure the accuracy of computations by correcting any single or double bit error as a result of naturally occurring background radiation.
- OpenCL 2.0 support to help professionals tap into the parallel computing power of modern GPUs and multicore CPUs to accelerate compute-intensive tasks in leading CAD/CAM/CAE and Media & Entertainment applications that support OpenCL allowing developers to take advantage of new GPU features.
- AMD PowerTune is an intelligent power management system that monitors both GPU activity and power draw. AMD PowerTune optimizes the GPU to deliver low power draw when GPU workloads do not demand full activity and delivers the optimal clock speed to ensure the highest possible performance within the GPU's power budget for high intensity workloads.
Both cards support Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 operating systems for guests while hosts can additionally run the cards from a Linux platform. The cards support the DirectX 11.1, OpenGL 4.4 and OpenCL 2.0 APIs. NVIDIA has launched their own Virtuliaztion GPUs last year which are built on the 28nm Maxwell architecture and are powering their GRID platforms.
AMD FirePro S7150 and S7150 x2 Specifications:
| Graphics Card | FirePro S7150 | FirePro S7150 x2 |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Name | Tonga XT | Tonga XT |
| GPU Process | 28nm | 28nm |
| Graphics Card Design | Single Chip | Dual Chip |
| Max Users (VDI) | 16 Users | 32 Users |
| Stream Processors | 2048 SPs | 4096 SPs |
| VRAM | 8 GB GDDR5 | 16 GB GDDR5 |
| Bus Interface | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Cooling | Active/Passive | Passive Only |
| TDP | 150W | 265W |
| Price | $2399 US | $3999 US |
