[Updated at the end. Ed.]
AMD just launched the Radeon HD 5700 series for the mid-range segment after launching the Radeon HD 5800 series for the performance users just a few weeks ago. We got word that the Radeon HD 5900 is being prepared for launch, but perhaps not for another couple of weeks, or even months, depending on how the development of Fermi goes over at NVIDIA.
As you perhaps remember back in April AMD brought in the slightly refreshed RV790-based Radeon HD 4890 to fight off NVIDIA’s new high-end chips. The Radeon 5900 series will probably be somewhat of a deja-vu experience, where NVIDIA presents its news performer and AMD brings out the big guns.
“ATI Radeon HD 5900 Series” = ati2mtag_Evergreen, PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_689C
“ATI Radeon HD 5900 Series ” = ati2mtag_Evergreen, PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_689D
Update: Radeon HD 5900 is most likely not a refresh or shrink, but Hemlock, and as you can see from the driver there will be two versions.
Update 2: Radeon HD 5970 confirmed as Hemlock, the second driver string is most likely Radeon HD 5950 shipping later on.
