AMD 7000 “Southern Islands” to launch Q2 2011

No sooner than the dust has settled on the 68xx launch and the 69xx confirmation, that it appears AMD are revving up for another huge launch: the 7xxx series “Southern Islands” chips, currently rumored to be launching Q2 of 2011.

Previous sources clearly gave us an indication of these cards being released in the third or fourth quarter of 2011, but with Nvidia sitting firmly on 28nm chip samples, AMD aren’t prepared to let Nvidia get the last laugh, thus meaning the cards are expected to release on the 28nm fabrication processes, hugely incresing the amount of transistors that could be potentially crammed onto it. Other details are very scarce at this present time.

There is also the possibility that AMD is intending to add 1100 to the number of each product, which could indicate that the 5970 is receiving a replacement n the form of the 7070, perhaps with the same fabrication process of the 6970, leaving the numbering system clear and simple for the 7170 (6870 successor) and 7270(6970).

This would benefit AMD, as they could then sell the 40nm dual chip 7070 alongside the 7170.