Trying To Understand The Different Versions of the Sapphire HD 7950

[muskyx1]

So is this Sapphire HD 7950 one of the OC version?

http://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_558&item_id=045411

I ask because I thought the base version was only 810 MHz.

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1157&pid=1442&psn=&lid=1&leg=0

and according to Sapphire's website the only one with 900MHz clock speed is an OC version

http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1157&pid=1450&psn=&lid=1&leg=0

 

[zaydq]

Honestly, Sapphire's lineup is a mess to distinguish between...

The one you found is the OC version, but I believe Sapphire is now just making "boost" cards and no longer is manufacturing the specific card you linked.

 

[RussianSensation]

Honestly, I would either get Canada Computers to price match the Gigabyte 7950 with NCIX, or just get the PowerColor PCS+ 880mhz for $265 CDN at NCIX.

The PowerColor HD7950 OC is the quietest 7950 this generation:
http://www.computerbase.de/artikel/grafikkarten/2012/kurztest-3-x-amd-radeon-hd-7950/6/

With PowerColor dual-fan HD7970 with quiet cooler going for $350 CDN, I can't see dropping $320-330 CDN on that Sapphire 7950 card. NCIX also has the MSI TF 7950 for $300 CDN.

 

[Dstoop]

The whole "boost vs not-boost" thing is a nightmare to begin with, much less different cards in the sapphire lineup. According to the Toms review of the Boost enabled cards and bios, the gains are almost negligible, and the way boost works it stutters between the OC and the normal clock almost constantly, which is much less of a gain than manually OCing a card to run constantly at the boost speed.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...igabyte%207950

I ordered this Gigabyte 7950 after getting two unstable MSI 7870 HAWK cards in a row. Pretty sure it runs the non-boost bios with a custom OC only 25mhz less than the boost state. I've had nothing but a good history with Sapphire cards in the past, but I couldn't make sense of their lineup this time around either and stuck with another reputable brand name instead.

Edit: noticed I picked the same card RussianSensation just recommended as well

 

[RussianSensation]

You can get rid of stuttering and enable boost at all times. You have to force PowerTune to 20%+ in CCC. Even with PowerTune to 10%, you gain 4%. Unfortunately North American reviewers never caught this.

I would get a non-Boost card for lower voltages because it's not necessary to pump 1.2V into a 7950 to get good overclocks. However, at the prices listed, there are far better 7950 alternatives or for $20-30 more one can get an HD7970.

 

[zaydq]

Russian recommended a bunch of great choices. MSI TFIII is a proven overclocker. The Gigabyte 7950 is a proven overclocker, and has one of the best cooling solutions. The 7970 is also a mouth watering buy at that price too.

 

[raghu78]

As suggested by Russian the Gigabyte HD 7950 OC with the windforce 3x cooler is a very good option. the card is built for overclocking. the cooler can handle 1.2 Ghz overclocks very well. :thumbsup:

 

[Dstoop]

I just got my Gigabyte WF3 card last night. It's totally silent at idle and tops out at 60C with the default CCC auto fan controls running OCCT for over an hour without sounding like a jet engine (running at factory OC). Cant wait to sit down and really see it in action.