AMD Radeon HD 6990M
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon HD 6990M Specifications
Radeon HD 6990M GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon HD 6990M GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
HD 6990M Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon HD 6990M's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The Radeon HD 6990M by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon HD 6990M Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon HD 6990M's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
Radeon HD 6990M by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the HD 6990M, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
HD 6990M Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon HD 6990M against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
TeraScale 2 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD Radeon HD 6990M is built on AMD's TeraScale 2 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the HD 6990M will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon HD 6990M Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon HD 6990M determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the Radeon HD 6990M to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon HD 6990M by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon HD 6990M are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
AMD API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the AMD Radeon HD 6990M. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
Radeon HD 6990M Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon HD 6990M is manufactured by AMD as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the Radeon HD 6990M by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon HD 6990M Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About AMD Radeon HD 6990M
The AMD Radeon HD 6990M is a mobile graphics solution built on the TeraScale 2 architecture, utilizing the Blackcomb chip produced on TSMC's 40 nm process. This end-of-life part, released in mid-2011, targets high-performance laptops via an MXM module form factor, and its benchmark data places it at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, indicating a squarely mid-range standing in the historical performance hierarchy.
How It Compares
The FACT PACK provides no direct rival data for the HD 6990M, as the `nearestRivals` field is empty. Consequently, a quantitative positional analysis against specific competing products cannot be derived from the available information. The GPU's overall percentile rank of 50 suggests it sits exactly at the median of the benchmark distribution, meaning half of all recorded GPUs perform better and half perform worse. Without named rivals, the data cannot support claims of superiority or deficit relative to any particular model. The absence of benchmark scores further limits comparative assessment; the `avgBenchmarkScore` of 0 indicates no aggregated performance metric exists for this entry. As such, the HD 6990M's standing can only be described in terms of its percentile placement, which places it as a typical mid-pack performer in the broader historical context of GPU capabilities.
Power and Cooling
The HD 6990M carries a thermal design power (TDP) of 100 W, a figure that defines its peak heat dissipation under load. This TDP level is substantial for a mobile component, necessitating a robust cooling solution within the laptop chassis to manage sustained operation. The board is designed as an MXM Module with a slot width of one, and it utilizes the MXM-B (3.0) bus interface for integration into compatible portable systems. Notably, the GPU requires no auxiliary power connectors, drawing all its power solely from the MXM slot's allocated supply. The FACT PACK does not list a suggested PSU rating, which is typical for mobile parts where the power delivery is handled by the laptop's internal power brick and motherboard regulation rather than a desktop power supply. Thermal management is therefore entirely dependent on the laptop manufacturer's implementation, with the 100 W TDP serving as the design constraint for heat sink and fan specifications. The lack of external power connectors simplifies installation but means the host system must be engineered to deliver adequate current through the MXM interface.
Benchmark Performance
The FACT PACK lists no individual benchmark scores for the HD 6990M, and the aggregate `avgBenchmarkScore` is zero, indicating no measured performance data is available for analysis. This absence of numeric benchmarks precludes any calculation of exact percentage deltas or performance ratios against other GPUs. The only quantitative performance indicator is the `percentileVsAllGpus` value of 50, which positions this part at the median of the entire GPU performance distribution. This percentile implies that the HD 6990M's real-world speed, when it was current, was equivalent to the midpoint of all GPUs ever benchmarked in the database — a level that would be considered moderate by the standards of its era. Without rival scores or deltas, statements like "30% ahead of X" cannot be made. The GPU's theoretical throughput figures provide some context: it delivers 1.602 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, a pixel rate of 22.88 GPixel/s, and a texture rate of 40.04 GTexel/s. These raw numbers, combined with a memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s from its 256-bit GDDR5 interface running at 3.6 Gbps effective, define its computational ceiling, but the lack of actual workload scores means the data cannot interpret how these specifications translate into relative application performance.
FAQ
Q: What is the manufacturing process for the HD 6990M?
A: The chip is fabricated on a 40 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 212 mm² and a transistor count of 1,700 million.
Q: How much memory does the HD 6990M have, and what is its bandwidth?
A: It features 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 900 MHz, translating to 3.6 Gbps effective.
Q: Does the HD 6990M require a dedicated power connector?
A: No, the card lists "None" for power connectors. It draws power entirely through the MXM-B (3.0) interface, and the TDP is rated at 100 W.
Q: What is the pixel and texture throughput of this GPU?
A: The pixel rate is 22.88 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 40.04 GTexel/s, based on 32 ROPs and 56 TMUs respectively.
Q: What is the production status of the HD 6990M?
A: The production status is listed as "End-of-life." Its release date is given as July 11, 2011, with a predecessor named "Manhattan" and a successor named "London."
Q: What API levels does the HD 6990M support?
A: It supports DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4. No Vulkan support is listed in the specification data.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The HD 6990M architecture, TeraScale 2, does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores; the FACT PACK lists both `rtCores` and `tensorCores` as null. This omission is consistent with the GPU's 2011 era, predating the introduction of hardware-accelerated ray tracing in consumer GPUs by several years. Consequently, any ray tracing workloads would rely on software-based implementations, which is not a documented capability in the provided data. The feature set is instead defined by its compute and graphics pipeline: 1120 shading units, 56 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The API support includes DirectX 11.2 with a feature level of 11_0, enabling contemporary gaming features like tessellation and compute shaders as defined by that specification. OpenGL 4.4 is also supported, covering a wide range of legacy and professional applications. The absence of Vulkan support reflects the pre-Vulkan timeline of this hardware. For display output, the module is "Portable Device Dependent," meaning the actual connectors and output options vary by laptop manufacturer rather than being fixed by the GPU reference design. The FP32 compute capability of 1.602 TFLOPS is the peak single-precision throughput, which is the primary metric for general-purpose compute workloads on this architecture, but without dedicated tensor cores, no AI-accelerated or DLSS-style features can be supported. The feature set is thus firmly rooted in the rasterization-based rendering paradigm of its time, with no forward-looking hardware for real-time ray tracing or neural processing.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon HD 6990M
Looking for a similar graphics card from NVIDIA? The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 offers comparable performance and features in the NVIDIA lineup.
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