According to AMD's roadmap we will see the first graphics cards with dual graphics circuits in Q4. The card code-named Hemlock will launch as HD 5970 but despite the naming it will sport clock frequencies on the same level of Radeon HD 5850. Stock frequencies of 725MHz per GPU isn't enough for everyone though, and today we've learned that XFX will present an overclocked Radeon HD 5970 of the Black Edition series at launch.
The exact launch isn't set yet, but will be by the end of the month, and when the launch does happen XFX will be ready to unveil its new card, and XFX are expected to release additional Black Edition models.
Both Radeon HD 5850 and 5870 are expected to appear as Black Editions and sport tuned frequencies from factory. How tuned is uncertain, but reaching higher clock frequencies will be the least of XFX's problems since the availability of Cypress GPUs is a much bigger problem and will be until next year.
We have talked to other companies about their plans for Radeon HD 5970 and at least one other major player is choosing to lay low because of the poor GPU supply. Card designs have been finalized, but the lack of Cypress GPUs will result in Hemlock being nothing but a product on paper for the coming months.
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