7970 Overclocking results thread.

[VulgarDisplay]

I keep getting random crashes in BF3. i can't tell if my card isn't stable or the game.

I had some random crashes prior to this GPU as well in bf3. It only happens when flying jets.

 

[blackened23]

I keep getting random crashes in BF3. i can't tell if my card isn't stable or the game.

I had some random crashes prior to this GPU as well in bf3. It only happens when flying jets.

are you using auto fan? sometimes big oc's don't like auto fan, you'll probably need manual 50% or higher. Sometimes this will help, to prevent VRM overheating

 

[AdamK47]

Have you tried overclocking each card individually to see how they do? I'd be curious to see whether the ASIC value is a good predictor of overclocking ability. I'd assume at the same voltage set in AB (1.175V for example), it would be.

I haven't done that yet.

 

[suklee]

Mine says 71.6% for ASIC. In GPU-z VDDC shows 1.102V but AB shows 1.218V. Which is more accurate?

 

[Elfear]

Mine says 71.6% for ASIC. In GPU-z VDDC shows 1.102V but AB shows 1.218V. Which is more accurate?

71.6% should be a 1.175V card.

 

[skipsneeky2]

Whats the length of the 7970 anyways?

Wanna purchase a 7950 and got a antec 300 i heard some models are 11.8 some are 11'' and some are 10.5 anyone have a reference model like a diamond perhaps?

Think the max without modification is 11' for my case.

 

[3DVagabond]

Whats the length of the 7970 anyways?

Wanna purchase a 7950 and got a antec 300 i heard some models are 11.8 some are 11'' and some are 10.5 anyone have a reference model like a diamond perhaps?

Think the max without modification is 11' for my case.

From Sapphire's product page.

"275(L)x115(W)x36(H) mm Size"

 

[skipsneeky2]

From Sapphire's product page.

"275(L)x115(W)x36(H) mm Size"

Nice then it would work

Now diamond i believe their site exclaims 11.6 but i think someone didn't edit or something cause 11.6 won't work....

 

[3DVagabond]

Nice then it would work

Now diamond i believe their site exclaims 11.6 but i think someone didn't edit or something cause 11.6 won't work....

I find it funny how the same card will have different measurements, sometimes even on the same site. Making this stuff is akin to rocket science. They are working in microns and nano measurements, but they can't decide whether something is 11 or 11.5 inches long. .

 

[blackened23]

Something i'll throw out there for everyone: If you're having trouble oc'ing, Try to switch your BIOS. All 7970s have the dual BIOS feature, usually BIOS "2" is the extreme overclocking performance BIOS!

I just ran witcher 2 for about 45 minutes in crossfire mode, as 1200 gpu clock on both. I highly doubt its 100% stable, but it would lock up at 1200x2 within 1 minute before (with BIOS 1).

Just something for yall to keep in mind. BIOS 1 is usually general use, BIOS 2 usually unlocks high voltages for overclocking

 

[AdamK47]

I saw the little switches on the side of the cards when I originally installed them, but forgot about it. I'll have to try it out.

 

[AdamK47]

Found this:
http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/amd_hd7970_3gb_tahiti_review,5.html

"Yet another nod to the past is the Dual BIOS switch. At stock, both BIOS's on the card are identical however, having a backup BIOS means you can update and perhaps tweak one BIOS with higher clockspeeds, voltages and fan profiles while leaving the remaining BIOS as a back-up should htings go wrong. This is a great feature to have as it will save many people from turning their expensive graphics card into an ornamental door stop."

I think I'll leave the switch alone.

 

[blackened23]

Found this:
http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/amd_hd7970_3gb_tahiti_review,5.html

"Yet another nod to the past is the Dual BIOS switch. At stock, both BIOS's on the card are identical however, having a backup BIOS means you can update and perhaps tweak one BIOS with higher clockspeeds, voltages and fan profiles while leaving the remaining BIOS as a back-up should htings go wrong. This is a great feature to have as it will save many people from turning their expensive graphics card into an ornamental door stop."

I think I'll leave the switch alone.

Well you're no fun It sounds like MSI, XFX and asus definitely puts extended voltages on BIOS 2, and BIOS 1 for general use...a lot of people reported better luck. Just something to try when you're bored

 

[Tempered81]

The asus bios for the 7970 from KPC and Asus' GPUtweak software will push more than 1.3v for 7970 - up to 1.4v core and 1.75v memory.

 

[MrK6]

The asus bios for the 7970 from KPC and Asus' GPUtweak software will push more than 1.3v for 7970 - up to 1.4v core and 1.75v memory.

Is 1.4V safe though? That seems like a heck of a lot of voltage for 28nm. I remember people were iffy about going over 1.35V on 40nm.

 

[Tempered81]

Is 1.4V safe though? That seems like a heck of a lot of voltage for 28nm. I remember people were iffy about going over 1.35V on 40nm.

Only factory defaults are 'safe'! heheh. Andre Yang had his at like 1.65v core.

 

[Elfear]

Is 1.4V safe though? That seems like a heck of a lot of voltage for 28nm. I remember people were iffy about going over 1.35V on 40nm.

It might not be too bad since the reference board seems to vdroop like crazy. Keeping my eye on Xtreme and Overclocker to see if the extra volts help much.

 

[MrK6]

Only factory defaults are 'safe'! heheh. Andre Yang had his at like 1.65v core.

It might not be too bad since the reference board seems to vdroop like crazy. Keeping my eye on Xtreme and Overclocker to see if the extra volts help much.

Is it certainly Vdroop or are people still relying on the questionable sensor readings? If there was an easy to access multimeter read point, I would check it out. So far, the only one I've seen requires removing a resistor (not something I'm doing on a $550 graphics card with my $10 solder iron).

 

[suklee]

@MrK6

What voltages are you using to run your Gigabyte HD 7970 @ 1340MHz/1775MHz?

 

[MrK6]

@MrK6

What voltages are you using to run your Gigabyte HD 7970 @ 1340MHz/1775MHz?

1.3V on the core and 1.7V on the RAM. That's my highest stable overclock, but I usually keep it at 1125/1600 for everyday gaming (1.125V core, 1.6V vRAM, both are stock).

 

[Tempered81]

yes it is, AB has two methods of reading the vddc. by VID same as trixx & asus gt and amd gct. aka 1.3V

and then AB also reads "actual" ie accounting for vdroop - the same reading you would see on a DMM. so 1.3 looks like 1.265-1.270v.

You can edit AB's config and and see either Actual vddc or VID vddc (7900 series only).

This is the source of your confusion:

- Now MSI Afterburner displays target VID instead of real voltage sensor reading on "GPU voltage" graph on graphics cards equipped with CHL8228 voltage regulators. These changes are implemented to avoid confusing the beginners and prevent the hysteria about voltage drop on AMD RADEON 7970 series graphic cards spreading across different discussion forums. Experienced users, understanding the difference between target and real voltages, may still unlock the previous real voltage monitoring mode via editing the hardware profiles

 

[MrK6]

yes it is, AB has two methods of reading the vddc. by VID same as trixx & asus gt and amd gct. aka 1.3V

and then AB also reads "actual" ie accounting for vdroop - the same reading you would see on a DMM. so 1.3 looks like 1.265-1.270v.

You can edit AB's config and and see either Actual vddc or VID vddc (7900 series only).

This is the source of your confusion:

- Now MSI Afterburner displays target VID instead of real voltage sensor reading on "GPU voltage" graph on graphics cards equipped with CHL8228 voltage regulators. These changes are implemented to avoid confusing the beginners and prevent the hysteria about voltage drop on AMD RADEON 7970 series graphic cards spreading across different discussion forums. Experienced users, understanding the difference between target and real voltages, may still unlock the previous real voltage monitoring mode via editing the hardware profiles

Thanks for the reply. I've actually done that, and the reason I question it is because my card only gets ~1.17-1.2v at full load. I would say I must just have an awesome chip that can do 1340MHz at that voltage, but my ASIC reading is 77.1%, so go figure.

 

[Tempered81]

Yessir i think your gigabyte reference is much nicer than that old custom xfx or whatever u had before. 1340 at 1.2 is purdy sweet. you gonna try 1400 @ 1.4?

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Just out of curiousity what are the safe limits for voltage and temps on these cards?

 

[suklee]

You can edit AB's config and and see either Actual vddc or VID vddc (7900 series only).

I don't see it in the settings, can you show me where it is?