7950: MSI frozr or sapphire 100352-3L

[you2]

Has anyone recently purchased a 7950 and compared these two cards ? My case is a bit tight for the 11.4 inch 7950 (gigabyte was my first choice); so i'm looking at the 10.5 inch cards. The frozr has changed a couple of times since introduction and the 3L is a fairly recently release card.
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The 3L runs about $30 cheaper than the MSI - I have some concern about excess noise - hard to tell from the various reviews esp since the newer cards seem slightly different.

Any first hand comments ?

 

[Shmee]

I have the 3L, it is quiet, and is unlocked. OC's well. Both are good, I would get whatever is cheaper at the time.

 

[Stuka87]

Both are great cards and you should be happy with either one. My Sapphire has been flawless.

 

[Face2Face]

If it's $30 cheaper then get the 3L.

 

[24601]

People have been reporting that they cannot change the voltage on the GDDR5 on the Sapphire card currently discussed in this thread.

Other than the cooler and that observation, the differences should be minor enough to not warrant the difference in price.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

You can't without a modded Trixx or MSI AB with the TF3 either.

I own the TF3, I haven't ever owned a Sapphire, I imagine their pretty similar all things considered. I can't see how you could go wrong with either choice.

 

[thilanliyan]

You can't without a modded Trixx or MSI AB with the TF3 either.

Really? I'm able to change the mem/aux voltages on my TF3 with AB.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Yeah I said you can't without modded trixx or MSI AB, MSI AB doesn't change voltage without using forced though for me.

 

[you2]

How about the ports; the msi has two mini-display while the sapphire has double link dvi and 1 display port. Would it be advantage to go with the double mini-display? Btw from reviews the msi seems a bit inconsitent with what people report and some people (for better or worse) are still getting the 7970 mb.
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Btw the price difference was $20 (my mistake). The one advantage I see with the MSi is that I can get it from amazon (free 2 day shipping) while the 3L I'll have to go with newegg. Though all the reviews on the 3L are +++ while the MSI reviews seem to be bit everywhere.

 

[thilanliyan]

Yeah I said you can't without modded trixx or MSI AB, MSI AB doesn't change voltage without using forced though for me.

Sorry, misread your post.

 

[you2]

How about the ports; the msi has two mini-display while the sapphire has double link dvi and 1 display port. Would it be advantage to go with the double mini-display? Btw from reviews the msi seems a bit inconsitent with what people report and some people (for better or worse) are still getting the 7970 mb.
-
Btw the price difference was $20 (my mistake). The one advantage I see with the MSi is that I can get it from amazon (free 2 day shipping) while the 3L I'll have to go with newegg. Though all the reviews on the 3L are +++ while the MSI reviews seem to be bit everywhere.
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One other question (difference) does the lack of temperature for the VRM on the 3L matter? I'm mostly leaning towards the 3L now because the reiews (newegg) are consistently good while a lot of recent reviews fort he MSi are still inconsistent. So i guess my two concerns are the lack of two display ports and temp on vrm (but not sure if that is important). My current monitor is 1080P so the hdmi connector is fine and dandy - but I will have to replace it soon (it is 4 years old and getting a bit dim) and the new monitor will be high resolution (pitty hdmi only goes to 1080p).

 

[Face2Face]

Cooling looks better all around on the sapphire card. Vrm's especially.

http://cdn.overclock.net/8/8c/500x1000px-LL-8ca85368_P2193982.jpeg

vs.

http://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ACC_2486_DxO.jpg

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9071/tf3x.jpg

 

[Meghan54]

I've had the MSI TF 7950 for quite a while and have had no complaints at all with its performance. Wife has it in her computer now........

 

[thilanliyan]

Cooling looks better all around on the sapphire card. Vrm's especially.

http://cdn.overclock.net/8/8c/500x1000px-LL-8ca85368_P2193982.jpeg

vs.

http://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ACC_2486_DxO.jpg

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9071/tf3x.jpg

Yeah the VRM cooling on the TF3 is not that good. I had to make a heatsink for the VRMs similar to the one on the sapphire when I went with watercooling as the stock memory/VRM heatsink just wasn't cutting it even with a fan blowing on it.

 

[Face2Face]

Yeah the VRM cooling on the TF3 is not that good. I had to make a heatsink for the VRMs similar to the one on the sapphire when I went with watercooling as the stock memory/VRM heatsink just wasn't cutting it even with a fan blowing on it.

I agree. I am in the process of modding mine to get better temps. Of course I am trying to game @ 1300//1700 on air

 

[you2]

Ok. I passed on the MSi and went with the L3. I kind of prefer the MSI 2 display ports; but I was rather concern with even recent poor reviews (a lot of folks have problem with bad paste on the heat sink resulting in high (and therefore loud) fans; a few has problem with coil whine). Mind you I only looked at 2013 reviews for the MSI just in case there was bad early stock. I also prefer amazon customer support over newegg; but only newegg was selling the L3 at a good price. Kind of weird sign of times as newegg use to have pristine shipping/service oh well but that's a side issue. If I get a lemon L3 I'll wish I'd had gone witht he MSI

 

[Face2Face]

Ok. I passed on the MSi and went with the L3. I kind of prefer the MSI 2 display ports; but I was rather concern with even recent poor reviews (a lot of folks have problem with bad paste on the heat sink resulting in high (and therefore loud) fans; a few has problem with coil whine). Mind you I only looked at 2013 reviews for the MSI just in case there was bad early stock. I also prefer amazon customer support over newegg; but only newegg was selling the L3 at a good price. Kind of weird sign of times as newegg use to have pristine shipping/service oh well but that's a side issue. If I get a lemon L3 I'll wish I'd had gone witht he MSI

Nice!! report in when you get her in

 

[BallaTheFeared]

In the future I'd put almost no stock in Newegg reviews, my TF3 hits ~70C on the vrms it was never a major concern of mine.

That said, I hope you get a good clocker :thumbsup:

 

[MBrown]

I like my sapphire but I do have to reapply my overclock after a few hours of my computer idling. Also for some strange reason source engine games make my card throttle no matter if it's stock or overclocked.

 

[you2]

And how do i tell if i have a good clocker ?

In the future I'd put almost no stock in Newegg reviews, my TF3 hits ~70C on the vrms it was never a major concern of mine.

That said, I hope you get a good clocker :thumbsup:

 

[you2]

This sounds like a software issue ?

I like my sapphire but I do have to reapply my overclock after a few hours of my computer idling. Also for some strange reason source engine games make my card throttle no matter if it's stock or overclocked.

 

[you2]

Well I don't so much look at the stars; but at what people write. If 10 people write that their fan is at 70% when the system is idle and they then replace the thermal paste and it is down at 20% that is a good hint that they knew what they were talking about (i understand at start up the fans on these will begin near max then quickly quite down - that's why my 6950 does).

In the future I'd put almost no stock in Newegg reviews, my TF3 hits ~70C on the vrms it was never a major concern of mine.

That said, I hope you get a good clocker :thumbsup:

 

[MBrown]

This sounds like a software issue ?

Most likely. I have no issues playing games at my current clocks... other than left for dead and other source engine games.

 

[wand3r3r]

And how do i tell if i have a good clocker ?

When you have the card run MSI Afterburner. Slide the core clock up slowly and run a benchmark e.g. 3DMark, Heaven, Valley etc. Once it crashes or shows artifacts, add a little core voltage (boost bios has 1.25v so you can easily go to that level or a little higher) and up the core slowly and test stability. This way you'll determine the highest stable clocks and need to test it in games. If it crashes, raise the voltage slightly or drop the clocks.

 

[you2]

Does MSI afterburner work with the Sapphire 3L which is the card I purchased ?

When you have the card run MSI Afterburner. Slide the core clock up slowly and run a benchmark e.g. 3DMark, Heaven, Valley etc. Once it crashes or shows artifacts, add a little core voltage (boost bios has 1.25v so you can easily go to that level or a little higher) and up the core slowly and test stability. This way you'll determine the highest stable clocks and need to test it in games. If it crashes, raise the voltage slightly or drop the clocks.