which 7950 has better gpu, vrm, ram cooling?

[hodgenutts]

Which of these two 7950's has the best cooling on the GPU, Ben's and RAM? Which has better voltage and better for potential O.C.?


Sapphire flex:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814202007


Or

HIS iceqx
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161429

I noticed the HiS has a little bit higher clock on it. Thanks

 

[Durvelle27]

MSi Twin Frozr HD 7950 is the best in my opinion


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127667

 

[hodgenutts]

Why is it the "best"? Just curious. I notice it has the lowest stock clocks.....

 

[Eureka]

Looking at stock clocks is pointless, it's about the overclocking headroom. You need to see whether they usually have higher binned chips, if their PCBs can support the extra power requirements, and how cool the board runs. Even if the MSI had the lowest stock clocks, if it can hold a higher overclock than all the other boards, then it'll still be the fastest card in the end.

 

[lehtv]

7950 stock clocks hardly matter, most of them will easily overclock past 1GHz on stock volts. MSI Twin Frozr III has proven to be a good overclocker.

 

[hjalti8]

Why is it the "best"? Just curious. I notice it has the lowest stock clocks.....

it has the best vrm cooling according to infrared imagery.
it has low stock voltage(and high asics quality) according to various forums.
Also, recent TF3's use 7970pcb with an extra power phase:

Refrence 7970pcb:

refrence 7950pcb (or more like most used one since press release pcb was different):

 

[Saffron]

I would Go with the HIS IceQx. I have an HIS IceQ HD6870 and the cooler on it is the best I have ever seen. Plus I think it looks bad ass.

 

[hodgenutts]

I just looked at some pics with the coolers pulled off. The HIS has ACTIVE RAM cooling. Looks like MSI uses a heat spreader. Here are some bench's on both cards O.C.ed and their temps....

MSI
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/45...gb_overclocked_video_card_review/index15.html


HIS
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/51...x2_overclocked_video_card_review/index17.html

 

[ozzy702]

I have a Saphire 7950 Dual X and HIS IceQ 7950. Both work very very well but I like the Saphire better because it seems to overclock better and isn't quite as long.

 

[hodgenutts]

Evil thanks for the info. I ordered the HIS iceq x2 a little over an hour ago, so just crossing my fingers. Just curious is your HIS the first iceq or is it the newer x2 model?

 

[ozzy702]

Running this one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161407


Don't get me wrong, it's a great card and has really good temps, it just doesn't seem to have the head room that the Saphire card has. Now that could be because the Saphire is a boost model and the chip is newer (more refined 28nm process).

I could also just have come up a little short in the silicon lottery with the HIS chip itself because the actual card itself seems very solid.

 

[hodgenutts]

Oh ok, thanks for the info I guess the one I'm getting has the more refined process because it comes with an 850 mhz / 950 mhz boost on the core. But I notice it uses a 8 pin and 6 pin power connector so it may be a 7970 PCB, but who knows lol

 

[hodgenutts]

Well, the HIS 7950 iceq x2 arrived today while I was at work...

Heading home now to try it out. Like a kid in a Candy store lol

 

[3DVagabond]

Well, the HIS 7950 iceq x2 arrived today while I was at work...

Heading home now to try it out. Like a kid in a Candy store lol

Cool! I hope it O/C's like the reviews. :thumbsup: