http://videocardz.com/39202/nvidia-geforce-700-and-amd-radeon-hd-8000-series-postponed-to-q4-2013

I am sad about this news. I was looking forward to upgrading to an 8850 however it seems that won't be possible until the end of the year, even early next year. Posts on other sites that have reported this news say it is because AMD is focusing its efforts on the CPU and GPU architecture of the next-gen consoles Durango and Orbis on top of already supplying the Wii U GPU.

Here's hoping for a year end Sea Islands release.

Shame, I was expecting to see the new cards to upgrade with either one of them or with one of the, by then cheaper, HD7xxx cards. So, it will be 2 years without launching a new family of cards for ATI AMD, I wonder if that's a record for them.

Anyway, I think that this is a taste of what will happen in the next years. With smaller fab process taking more time to be ready it will be harder for them to release new cards that outperform the previous gen without increasing the power consumption.

If I'm not mistaken AMD has a roadmap where the slower evolution of manufacturing processes later in this decade outright fails Moore's law for the first time ever. Hopefully the lesser demand for more powerful graphic solutions, led by a decrease on the graphical improvement returns, won't outright crash or stagnate the market. We've already moved towards bigger and hotter to offset demand for more powerful units before their time, during the early 00's, it can hardly be done again.

Anyways I hope the cards turn out alright in the end, since I'm going to build a new PC in 18 months, and AMD doesn't suffer with their delays.

The thing with this though (and I'm no expert so feel free to correct me) is that the rumors suggest that the HD 8000 series won't be a big jump over the current line-up. Something like 10-30%, which I've heard is entirely possible to reach with current cards by overclocking them. Seeing how they've been using driver updates to get big boosts to the latest games, I don't know if Sea Islands will have a huge impact anyway.

I myself want to replace my 6870 (among other things). But considering how I'm no power player, I wouldn't mind getting a 7950 and then just waiting for the 9000 series. It's not like I play many games on PC anyway, and the ones I do aren't super taxing.

Most video card gens are only 15% of a jump. The 470 to 570 wasn't really much of a jump as 570 to 670 was. Honestly 470 to 670 is only 25% ish depending on the game being tested. They may have newer features or techniques but over all performance it seems better to skip a gen each upgrade. Atleast on the Nvidia side.

That's confirm the Orbis and Durango using a HD 7000 instead HD 8000.

My thoughts exactly.

Makes me glad I bought a 7000 series a month ago and didn't wait until March like I was told to do.

That's a shame. I was looking forward to the 8870.

I knew it. Thats almost 2 years after 7000 series. Jump should be pretty big then. By that time Nvidias GK110 will also come out.