** ATI RADEON 7950 OVERCLOCKING & HEAVEN RESULTS!! **

OcUK Staff
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Hi there

First things first, this is all the benchmarks you are getting, so be grateful for this. I've done this to simply see how they clock and how the Heaven scores compete to the NVIDIA GTX 580 3GB and ATI 7970 3GB.

First of all the card tested is a stock version from one of the AIB's, the cooler is rather cut down and not that powerful, as the same AIB also has OC editions which come with a much better cooler. However even still with this stock average performing cooler the card managed the following:-

1. Using ATI OverDrive it maxed out - NDAMHz Core & NDAMHz memory.
2. Using Asus 7970 BIOS it managed - NDAMHz Core & NDAMHz memory.

Flashing the card was the same as flashing a 7970, very easy, unfortunately it DID NOT unlock any additional shaders, the card had the stock 1792 shaders still, though these cards do have a FULL 32 ROPS.

First of all here is the results of this card:-


ATI RADEON 7950 Stock (NDAMHz Core / NDAMHz Memory)

7950stock.jpg



ATI RADEON 7950 Maxed on Overdrive (NDAMHz Core / NDAMHz Memory)

7950oc.jpg



ATI RADEON 7950 Maxed OC on Asus OC BIOS (NDAMHz Core / NDAMHz Memory)


1680x1050 Resolution with 4x as per OcUK Benchmark
79501680.jpg


1920x1080 Resolution with 4x as per OcUK Benchmark
79501920.jpg


2560x1600 Resolution with 4x as per OcUK Benchmark
79502560.jpg




Heaven 2.5 @ 1920x1080 & 2560x1600 with 4x and 4x enabled for testing on NVIDIA GTX 580 3GB OC @ 902MHz Core & 4355MHz RAM

heaven580oc1920.jpg


heaven580oc2560.jpg





ATI 7970 Results at Max OC using Asus BIOS - 1225MHz Core & 7800MHz RAM:-

1680j.jpg

1920e.jpg

2560k.jpg








Conclusion

A very impressive card indeed, with a price point in the region £350 Inc. VAT that matches GTX 580 1.5GB pricing and this card matches one for performance but has two bonuses. More memory which makes it more future proof and better for high-res gaming, but even more importantly just like the 7970 these cards are hugely overclockable.

Clocking the 7950 at NDAMHz core and NDAMHz memory which they all do with ease (with the Asus BIOS), you have a stock 7970 performing card for considerably less money. Unfortunately it does seem like its not possible to unlock the shaders and as we've seen the 7970 is a true overclocking demond.

So in essence the maximum stable overclock I achieved was NDAMHz Core and NDAMHz memory using the Asus BIOS. Using that same BIOS on a 7970 were talking around 1225-1255MHz Core and 7500-7800Mhz memory. Though remember the 7970 has the full 2048 shaders which gives a decent performance boost.

All in all the 7950 is approx 30% cheaper than the 7970 but when flashed and overclocked its only about 10-15% slower. The 7970 is faster and definetely has a better cooler without doubt, plus a more quieter cooler too, that really helps to keep the case temperatures down, wheras 7950 coolers just heat your case up. So it still stands if you want the best buy the 7970.

Overall the 7950 is great value for money, against an overclocked GTX 580 3GB the 7950 when overclocked is faster in benchmarks and its overclocked game performance should be at least on par with an overclocked GTX 580 3GB gaming performance, so as the card cost less than a 580 3GB, the 7950 is good value.

We have stock now and for launch on January 31st we shall approx 500 cards. :D
 
OcUK Staff
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AMD are really going for it, nice. Just a little cheaper would be the sweet spot.

Same price as a 580 1.5GB with more RAM and far better OC ability leading to 580 spanking performance, I am impressed, well done AMD, took them long enough. :D
 
Associate
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^^
I feel the same. Just would like to see an above and below maneuvre for my personal entertainment, but that might not make money.:D
 
OcUK Staff
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Hi there

Right some odd Heaven results here:-

7950 @ 925MHz / 5500MHz = 1504 points
7950 on 7970 BIOS @ 925MHz / 5500MHz = 1545 points
7970 @ Stock (925/5500) = 1584 points

So even though according to GPU-Z the shaders are not unlocking, flashing to the Asus 7970 BIOS is definetely giving a performance boost, though its not quite at genuine 7970 performance levels, kind of like half way from the results.

So either some shaders are unlocking or the 7970 BIOS is making other improvements, maybe memory timings etc. which is giving the boost.

Still flashing the BIOS is so easy anyway and it would appear the 7970 BIOS is giving some performance enhancement even when clock speeds are identical.
 
OcUK Staff
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are we allowed a pic of the stock card? or does it just look the same as a 7970?

Hi there

They are no longer reference cards, all 7950's shall be built by AIB's. The card is 1/2 inch shorter and in general have inferior coolers.

The OC models have better coolers which may get even better results as I've just tested an entry level stock model card. So the results are good considering the cheap cooler. :)
 
Soldato
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Doesn't look that great value for money considering Nvidia's card at this performance level, or maybe even higher is supposedly only going to be $299.

AMD will be dropping the prices on the 7xxx series, no doubt about that.
 
OcUK Staff
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Doesn't look that great value for money considering Nvidia's card at this performance level, or maybe even higher is supposedly only going to be $299.

AMD will be dropping the prices on the 7xxx series, no doubt about that.

But until its actually out and available its just speculation, they could end up being $199 or $399, so its pretty much invalid argument to be honest.
 
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