AMD FirePro V5900

Lightsmark is not the most demanding OpenGL Linux benchmark, but it provides a unique workload compared to the other Linux OpenGL tests. With this OpenGL 2.1 test, the V5900 performance had also regressed compared to the FirePro V5800. Hopefully a future Catalyst driver update will correct the situation.

The AMD FirePro V5900 is expected to launch today with an MSRP of $599 USD, which is noticeably higher than the retail price of the current FirePro V5800 that is at approximately $430. While there is a sizable price difference, the initial Linux test results do show the FirePro V5900 as being noticeably faster than the previous Juniper part. In some workloads, the V5900 is even comparable to the FirePro V7800, which is currently priced at $630. Other differences for the FirePro V5900 compared to the FirePro V5800 is that the memory interface is upped from 128-bit to 256-bit, the new AMD GeometryBoost Technology, the video memory capacity has been doubled to 2GB, and PCI Express 2.1 (instead of PCI-E 2.0) compliance.