HD 7950/7970 overclocks achieved by reviewers *ultimate compilation with links*

wand3r3r

Diamond Member
May 16, 2008
3,180
0
0
Here is a compilation of the clocks that reviewers were able to achieve. I keep seeing people posting about their massive overclocks so I was trying to get a sense of what kind of overclocks reviewers had been getting. Here are the results. I should include temperatures.

Someday I should add the 7970's too.
Edit* Added them too.

Here is the warranty list I recently compiled too, these can all be factored together for your buying pleasure.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArCtGVODPUTtdEdEUjRiSFdyckZ1Q1dGNUI3bkd5R1E#gid=0

Format
Brand/Model
Core/Memory (MHz)
voltage
Link


The 7950s are first, followed by 7970s.

HD 7950 OVERCLOCKS

Sapphire 7950 OC
1050/1425
1.25v
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/02/21/sapphire_radeon_hd_7950_oc_video_card_review/8

MSI twin frozr III
1167/1564
1.25v
http://www.guru3d.com/article/msi-radeon-hd-7950-twin-frozer-iii-review/24


Sapphire HD 7950 Overclock Edition
1025/1450
1.093v for reference, 0.993 for the Sapphire
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5476/amd-radeon-7950-review/17


Reference HD 7950
1050/1500
stock
http://hardocp.com/article/2012/01/30/amd_radeon_hd_7950_video_card_review/13


HIS HD 7950
1035/1465
stock
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...rd-review-power-temps-noise-overclocking.html

HIS HD 7950
1040/1575
stock
http://www.guru3d.com/article/his-radeon-hd-7950-review/24

PowerColor HD 7950 PCS+
1150/1554
1.25v
http://www.guru3d.com/article/powercolor-radeon-hd-7950-pcs-review/24

Reference HD 7950
1011/1487
HIS HD 7950
998/1491
stock
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...eon-hd-7950-review-tahiti-pro-arrives-23.html


XFX HD 7950 Black Edition
1156/1623
Sapphire HD 7950 OC
1150/1614
1.256v
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/xfx_sapphire_hd7950_3gb/6.htm

Reference HD 7950
1025/1590
stock
http://www.rage3d.com/reviews/video/amd_hd7950_launch_review/index.php?p=5

XFX Black DD HD 7950
1020/1575
stock
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.p...k=view&id=867&Itemid=72&limit=1&limitstart=15

XFX Black OC HD 7950
1000/1575
stock
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/45...on_double_dissipation_3gb_review/index18.html

XFX Black edition
1175/1575 (90 degrees)
1.162
http://techreport.com/articles.x/22384/10

(Reference?) HD 7950
1085/1785
stock
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7950/30.html

Powercolor PCS+ HD 7950
1075/1775
stock
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Powercolor/HD_7950_PCS_Plus/30.html

Sapphire, HIS Digital, XFX and AMD HD 7950's
1050/?
stock
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/overkill_3d_-_hd7950_quadfire/1

(Reference?) HD 7950
1025/1575
stock
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/AMD_HD_7950/5.html

XFX Black DD HD 7950
1122/1506
stock
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...ack-edition-double-dissipation-review-13.html

(Reference?) HD 7950
1050/1275
stock
http://hothardware.com/Reviews/AMD-Radeon-HD-7950-Tahiti-Pro-GPU-Review/?page=10

XFX Black OC HD 7950
1030/1575
stock
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1847/14/


XDX Black DD HD 7950
1035/1495
stock
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...rd-review-power-temps-noise-overclocking.html

XFX Black HD 7950
1025/1425
stock
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-7950-overclock-crossfire-benchmark,3123-3.html


Stock means 20% powertune with no voltage tweaks. Expect 1000-1075mhz with stock voltages.


HD 7970 OVERCLOCKS


Reference HD 7970
1075/1715
1.16v
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7970/31.html

Reference HD 7970
1078/1555
stock(?)
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...s/49646-amd-radeon-hd-7970-3gb-review-24.html

Reference HD 7970
1075/1525
stock (1.17v)
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/33031-amd-radeon-hd-7970-3gb/?page=16

Reference HD 7970
1165/1625
stock
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1805/14/

Reference HD 7970
1052/1450
stock
http://www.guru3d.com/article/amd-radeon-hd-7970-review/24

Reference HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/12/22/amd-radeon-hd-7970-3gb-review/9

Reference HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
http://www.overclockers.com/amd-radeon-hd-7970-graphics-card-review/

XFX Black HD 7970
1130/1520
stock
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...erclocked-power-temps-noise-overclocking.html

Reference HD 7950
1115/1510
stock
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...rd-review-power-temps-noise-overclocking.html

Reference HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-7970-overclock-guide/2

Reference HD 7970
1015/1430
stock
www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/zardon/amd-hd7970-graphics-card-review/21/

Reference HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/graphics-cards/1289251/amd-radeon-hd-7970/2

Reference HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/AMD_HD_7970/5.html

Reference HD 7970
1100/1500
stock
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/graphics-cards/371893/amd-radeon-hd-7970/2

Reference HD 7970
1055/1450
stock
http://www.techspot.com/review/481-amd-radeon-7970/page12.html

Reference HD 7970
1055/1450
stock
http://www.legionhardware.com/articles_pages/amd_radeon_hd_7970,10.html

XFX Black HD 7970
1125/1450
stock
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphi...tion-and-CrossFire-Results/Overclocking-Power

HIS HD 7970
1110/1505
stock
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...rd-review-power-temps-noise-overclocking.html

Sapphire Reference HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/sapphire_hd7970_3gb/4.htm

Sapphire Reference HD 7970
1075/1525
stock
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/33249-sapphire-hd-7970-three-screen-eyefinity/?page=9

XFX Black DD HD 7970
1060/1500
stock
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/33545-xfx-radeon-hd-7970-double-dissipation-edition/?page=13

XFX Black DD HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5314/...ouble-dissipation-the-first-semicustom-7970/6

XFX Black DD HD 7970
1200/1500
1.275
http://www.kitguru.net/components/g...0-double-dissipation-graphics-card-review/21/

Sapphire Reference HD 7970
1047/1481
1.268
http://www.kitguru.net/components/g...ck-x79n-motherboard-and-hd7970-gpu-review/31/

XFX Black DD HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.p...k=view&id=858&Itemid=72&limit=1&limitstart=15

XFX Black HD 7970
1130/1520
stock
http://www.hardwareheaven.com/revie...erclocked-power-temps-noise-overclocking.html

HIS Reference HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
http://www.overclockers.com/hd-7970-graphics-card-review/

Asus Reference HD 7970
1267/1575
stock(?)
Sapphire Reference HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
XFX Reference HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-rad...nders-from-asus-sapphire-and-xfx/14473-4.html

Powercolor Reference HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/gpu_displays/powercolor_hd7970_overclocking_eyefinity_review/3

Gigabyte HD 7970 OC
1125/1575
stock
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/graphics/33697-gigabyte-radeon-hd-7970-oc-gv-r797oc-3gd/?page=13

Asus Reference HD 7970
1080/1530
stock (1.168v)
1125/1695
1.249v
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/01/25/asus_radeon_hd_7970_video_card_review/3

XFX Black HD 7970
1125/1575
stock
1150/1520
1.225v
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2012/01/24/xfx_r7970_black_edition_video_card_review/7

XFX Black HD 7970
1177/1652
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/xfx_hd7970_black_edition/4.htm


Stock means 20% powertune with no voltage tweaks. Expect 1125 MHz (+) with stock voltages.
By far the vast majority of 7970's are reaching the CCC limits of 1125/1575.
 
Last edited:

Arzachel

Senior member
Apr 7, 2011
903
76
91
Sorry to say, but missing the volts makes this a bit pointless. Seems to me that most of these are on stock volts, right?
 

thilanliyan

Lifer
Jun 21, 2005
11,848
2,051
126
Thanks for the effort. Good info and it seems all the cards have hit 1GHz, which is a good OC.
 

Homeles

Platinum Member
Dec 9, 2011
2,580
0
0
Sorry to say, but missing the volts makes this a bit pointless. Seems to me that most of these are on stock volts, right?
Most of them, but I'd hardly call it pointless.

voltagetuning.jpg
 

Arzachel

Senior member
Apr 7, 2011
903
76
91
1.25v
1.25v
1.093v for reference, 0.993 for the Sapphire
stock
stock
stock
1.25v
stock
1.256v
stock
stock
stock
1.162v
stock
stock
stock
stock
stock
stock
stock
stock
stock

In the order of links. Stock means 20% powertune with no voltage tweaks. Expect 1000-1075mhz with stock voltages.
 
Last edited:

pieguy

Member
Feb 15, 2012
56
0
61
If the OP showed volts that would be sweet. This list will probably include some cherry picked cards sent to reviewers. I haven't tried overclocking my Sapphire 7950 yet as I'm trying to make sure my 2500k OC is completely stable first but I can't wait to see how it compares.
 

notty22

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2010
3,375
0
0
If you read the reviews, many hit a hard wall, with or without max voltage.
Many around 1050mhz.
So IMO, 7950's definitely o/c to a lower max potential than 7970's.
 

Tempered81

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2007
6,374
1
81
The guy on our forum has his Sapphire 7950 OC at 1280/1790 and a chinese review of that same card had it at 1280/1900. There are a lot of factors at play.

Cold temperatures, Cold ambient.
Knowing what you're doing.
Having the guts to push it farther than you know is good.
Luck of the draw getting a good gpu sample with good volts
Stars aligning.
 
Last edited:

Homeles

Platinum Member
Dec 9, 2011
2,580
0
0
Mostly the last two it seems. There's a lot of variation between these cards. Still, it seems they'll achieve a 25% overclock on the core even in the worst of cases, which is pretty incredible.
 

wand3r3r

Diamond Member
May 16, 2008
3,180
0
0
Sorry to say, but missing the volts makes this a bit pointless. Seems to me that most of these are on stock volts, right?

stock
1.25v
1.093v for reference, 0.993 for the Sapphire
stock
stock
stock
1.25v
stock
1.256v
stock
stock
stock
1.162v
stock
stock
stock
stock
stock
stock
stock
stock
stock

In the order of links. Stock means 20% powertune with no voltage tweaks. Expect 1000-1075mhz with stock voltages.

I'll add that to the list! Thanks for the effort to improve this. :)
 
Last edited:

aaksheytalwar

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2012
3,389
0
76
If you want to add a 7970 then I have a MSI Reference 7970 at stock volts doing 1125 1575 with MAX temperature in the 70s during stress tests, and idle around mid 30s.
 

railven

Diamond Member
Mar 25, 2010
6,604
561
126
The guy on our forum has his Sapphire 7950 OC at 1280/1790 and a chinese review of that same card had it at 1280/1900. There are a lot of factors at play.

Cold temperatures, Cold ambient.
Knowing what you're doing.
Having the guts to push it farther than you know is good.
Luck of the draw getting a good gpu sample with good volts
Stars aligning.


Sweet baby Jesus with them numbers, the stars and planets must have aligned haha.

The wide range of OCs makes me feel like the HD 7970 with a custom cooler is the safer route to go for a GPU that will have to last me a good time.

Both cards are a huge upgrade over my aging HD 5870, I've been on this fence so long people going to start calling me Wilson!
 

superjim

Senior member
Jan 3, 2012
293
3
81
Received my Sapphire 7950 OC last night, wanted to add some initial numbers. The stock voltage of the Sapphire card is 0.983 as others pointed out, which is lower than all other known 7950s of 1.090. I was only able to get 935 core stable on stock Sapphire volts. Bumping voltage to 1.090 I was able to hit 1000/1400 stable. I plan to test 1050/1100 tonight.

For reference, GPU-Z reported my ASIC at 77.6%
 

railven

Diamond Member
Mar 25, 2010
6,604
561
126
Received my Sapphire 7950 OC last night, wanted to add some initial numbers. The stock voltage of the Sapphire card is 0.983 as others pointed out, which is lower than all other known 7950s of 1.090. I was only able to get 935 core stable on stock Sapphire volts. Bumping voltage to 1.090 I was able to hit 1000/1400 stable. I plan to test 1050/1100 tonight.

For reference, GPU-Z reported my ASIC at 77.6%


Go for the gold! I guess after some soul searching and talking with the GF (who observes my gaming habits have gone from almost every game released to just WoW/SW:TOR) the Sapph HD 7950 OC is the card for me.

I'id love to hit 1100-1200 on the cores when I finally get one. GL on your OC, may the IC Gods shine their glow on you.
 

superjim

Senior member
Jan 3, 2012
293
3
81
Correction on the HardOCP review (first record). Their Trixx screenshot shows 1.25v and they also mention this.

1050/1425 @ 1.250v

That's one of the poorer clocks I've seen with that much voltage but still not bad. I'm slowly benching my 7950, currently at 1050/1400 @ 1.110. Those are my settings in Trixx however GPU-Z reports VDDC between 1.067 to 1.100 at any given time. It seems to read .010 lower than what I have it set in Trixx for the maximum. Does vdroop apply to GPUs as well?
 

Arzachel

Senior member
Apr 7, 2011
903
76
91
Correction on the HardOCP review (first record). Their Trixx screenshot shows 1.25v and they also mention this.

1050/1425 @ 1.250v

That's one of the poorer clocks I've seen with that much voltage but still not bad. I'm slowly benching my 7950, currently at 1050/1400 @ 1.110. Those are my settings in Trixx however GPU-Z reports VDDC between 1.067 to 1.100 at any given time. It seems to read .010 lower than what I have it set in Trixx for the maximum. Does vdroop apply to GPUs as well?

Hmm, yeah thats true. Dunno how I missed the first one, sorry bout that. Just goes to show that overclocking is ymmv.
 

Absolute0

Senior member
Nov 9, 2005
714
21
81
I think it's important to point out that (of the reviews I read) the reviewers overclock in a very restrained manner in terms of fan usage. So these clocks don't compare well to people on the forums who are using higher fan speeds. I've seen enough guys doing 1200+ core on air, just add volts and raise the fan speed a bit (I also figure these guys clock lower for 24/7 because the fan volume is obnoxious). With air you can run a pretty high clock 24/7 but nobody wants to put up with the fan going >40%.

I just think a lot of the reviewer's numbers looked low. Most people who know how to clock are getting way higher numbers.

But I see the point, 7970 clocks higher, but not by much.

Thanks for rounding up the data, with volts, good stuff
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,227
36
91
At 1000mhz core, stock voltage, my maximum temp in BF3 after an hour was 69, and max fax speed was 40. Impressed. (99% GPU usage)
 

WildThane

Member
Jan 19, 2006
41
0
61
In the opinions of all reading which Oc 7950 is the best bang for your buck, I am shopping for a new card, I personally am not an overclocker however I can use ccc...?
 

AnMig

Golden Member
Nov 7, 2000
1,760
3
81
Finally got my gigabyte oc 7970
default core 1000
Default mem1375
defualt voltage 1.12v

Without voltage voltage tweak
got it to 1100 core 1500 mem

with voltage (+ 100mv) 1.212v using msi beta 2.2
Maxed the slider to 1200 core 1650 mem

unable to go further since the sliders are maxed. I think there is still some headroom as other reviewers had the voltage at 1.275

What utilty are they using to get over 1200 core?

Probably will keep ot at 1200 core and 1650 mem since my monitor is onlu a 1080 27 incher