ATI FireGL V8600

High-performance professional graphics cards in the AMD camp are represented by two solutions: ATI FireGL V8600 and ATI FireGL V8650. These two cards are practically identical, the only difference between them is in the amount of onboard graphics memory. At the time of the review we managed to get our hands on the less expensive ATI FireGL V8600 model equipped with 1GB of graphics memory. But even its price seems outrageous: it retails for $1600. The modification with 2GB of memory, ATI FireGL V8650, will cost you additional $800. However, CAD and CAM applications very rarely require that much video memory, so most users will be ok with ATI FireGL V8600.

This graphics card from the upper price range is based on the same R600GL chip as ATI FireGL V7600. However, in this case it runs at higher frequency of 688MHz. So, the theoretical filtrate provided by ATI FireGL V8600 reaches 11GPixel/s. ATI FireGL V8600 has one more distinguishing feature. Although this graphics card is based on the same GPU as ATI FireGL V7600, it has more streaming processors: 320. Together with higher core frequency it affects the performance. The memory on ATI FireGL V8600 also works faster (they used GDDR4 SDRAM). Its frequency is 1.73GHz and the bus is 512bit wide. As a result, ATI FireGL V8600 boasts over 110GB/s memory bus bandwidth.

AMD chose a pretty advanced GPU from R600 series for its high-performance CAD and CAM graphics cards, however, once the newer graphics processors, such as RV670, appeared, it doesn’t seem that advanced any ore. However, despite this fact, ATI FireGL V8600, like ATI FireGL V7600, is fully compatible with DirectX 10, Shader Model 4.0 and OpenGL 2.1. The only thing about ATI FireGL V8600 that doesn’t meet the today’s standards is the absence of PCI express x16 2.0 support.

ATI FireGL V8600 exceeds ATI FireGL V7600 from all aspects, but doesn’t have any gaming analogues. It is similar to Radeon HD 2900 XT, but not more than that. This professional graphics card features a lot of onboard video memory running at higher frequency. And it means that AMD had to develop unique PCB layout specifically for ATI FireGL V8600 graphics card.

ATI FireGL V8600 looks really impressive. It is a full-size PCI Express x16 graphics card 285mm long. There is a metal plate on the bottom side of the PCB that ensures robustness of the card and is used to lock the card securely in special workstation cases. Of course, you can remove this pate and fit ATI FireGL V8600 into some regular cases, but there are very few cases it will fit in, so you will have to put up with this fact.

The cooling system is also highly original. It looks like a stretched cooler that we saw on ATI FireGL V7600: the heatsink ribs are also made of copper and you can see two heatpipes inside, there is a centrifugal fan and the whole thing is covered with a similar casing. However, ATI FireGL V8600 cooler features a unique base: it is a massive aluminum plate that covers the entire card and features a pin-heatsink above the voltage regulator circuitry. As a result, ATI FireGL V8600 can be called the heaviest graphics card, because it is dressed up in “plated” metal armor.

The size of this cooling system suggests that this card requires pretty serious power supply. True, as there are two power connectors on the PCB: a 6-pin one and an 8-pin one. You should use both of them at all times. Moreover, the 8-pin connector is compatible with six-pin plugs. AMD recommends using at least 650W power supply units in systems with ATI FireGL V8600.

Note that the card also has a connector for a daughter board with Genlock and Framelock functionality. However, as far as we know, AMD doesn’t offer boards like that at this time. ATI FireGL V8600 also has the same useless Crossfire connectors.

Like all other representatives of the FireGL family, ATI FireGL V8600 supports up to two monitors with 2560x1600 maximum resolution that can be connected to two Dual-Link DVI Outs. The card is bundled with DVI → D-Sub and DVI → Component HDTV adapters. There is also a connector for stereoscopic glasses on the card’s rear panel.