Upgraded from 7850 to 7950 - underwhelmed

[Rusty0611]

Not really. Hitman Absolution and Skyrim went above 2GB mark, the first one even with "only" 4xAA at times, with Aero disabled. You don't need 3GB for single GPU, sure, but "some" above 2GB, yes. It's the same deal as in 1GB vs. 2GB discussion and I'll leave it to that.

Actually it's different to the 1GB vs 2GB discussion.

GPUs utilise more VRAM when excess is available anyway. Skyrim is the exception due to modding.

e.g. BF3 on a 580 3GB uses 2.4-2.6GB but uses 1.6-1.7GB on a 680.

So just because you were reading above 2GB doesn't mean a 2GB card would be limited by the physical amount of VRAM.

Hell, I tested all the way up to 5760*1080 and only MoH:WF actually ran out of VRAM... And even then I was touching about 10 FPS before the VRAM crept up above 2000MB... (before then running out and stuttering to a halt completely).

 

[TheRealDeal]

Yes really.

GPUs utilise more VRAM when excess is available.

e.g. BF3 on a 580 3GB uses 2.4-2.6GB but uses 1.6-1.7GB on a 680.

While true i have seen a few reviews lately showing vram usage and the 7970 was using less than the gtx680. It was something along the lines of 1.8gb gtx680 and 1.7gb 7970. It could just be down to the games used as in most cases the 7970 will use a good bit more.

 

[IC3]

Actually it's different to the 1GB vs 2GB discussion.

GPUs utilise more VRAM when excess is available anyway. Skyrim is the exception due to modding.

e.g. BF3 on a 580 3GB uses 2.4-2.6GB but uses 1.6-1.7GB on a 680.

So just because you were reading above 2GB doesn't mean a 2GB card would be limited by the physical amount of VRAM.

Hell, I tested all the way up to 5760*1080 and only MoH:WF actually ran out of VRAM... And even then I was touching about 10 FPS before the VRAM crept up above 2000MB... (before then running out and stuttering to a halt completely).

The good thing is that 7950 has 3GB for people going higher res

 

[MG42Maniac]

Like TheRealDeal said, your score is low. I got 9913 on graphics score with 1170/1600. True, I run 12.11beta 8, but the difference (around 20%) is to great. Are you sure you had clicked that apply button at overclocking?

Funny you should say that as 3D Mark reported the core clock speed at 510MHz which I assumed was just an anomaly and ignored it as I knew I set it much higher. Would a 510MHz clock speed yield the low score I got!? It was overclocked in exactly the same manner as the 7850, only 3D Mark reported the correct clocks for the 7850.

 

[Calin Banc]

Actually it's different to the 1GB vs 2GB discussion.

GPUs utilise more VRAM when excess is available anyway. Skyrim is the exception due to modding.

e.g. BF3 on a 580 3GB uses 2.4-2.6GB but uses 1.6-1.7GB on a 680.

So just because you were reading above 2GB doesn't mean a 2GB card would be limited by the physical amount of VRAM.

Hell, I tested all the way up to 5760*1080 and only MoH:WF actually ran out of VRAM... And even then I was touching about 10 FPS before the VRAM crept up above 2000MB... (before then running out and stuttering to a halt completely).

Then it was tested long ago or there was something else going on there: Aero On, a web browser open and so on, things that ALSO use vRAM. I got around 1,7-1,8GB used on 6970 in that situation and NOT on Ultra, but it was during the first months the game was out. Right now, on my 7950 the vRAM is not going above 1,4-1,5GB in BF 3 MP on Ultra without aero.

Anyway, my point is that one high end card has enough under the hood to break the real 2GB limit. Sure, not that 7850, but the better cards, yes.

Funny you should say that as 3D Mark reported the core clock speed at 510MHz which I assumed was just an anomaly and ignored it as I knew I set it much higher. Would a 510MHz clock speed yield the low score I got!? It was overclocked in exactly the same manner as the 7850, only 3D Mark reported the correct clocks for the 7850.

Something was wrong. At such low clocks, I get around 4560 pct. Stock (900/1250), 7746 and this time 9898 OC (1170/1600). Presuming that only with the 7950 were problems, a normal 7950OC is around 60% faster than your overclocked 7850: ~6200pct vs. ~9900pct. That is a lot and you should have seen it/felt it without FRAPS or anything.

 

[Rusty0611]

Then it was tested long ago or there was something else going on there: Aero On, a web browser open and so on, things that ALSO use vRAM. I got around 1,7-1,8GB used on 6970 in that situation and NOT on Ultra, but it was during the first months the game was out. Right now, on my 7950 the vRAM is not going above 1,4-1,5GB in BF 3 MP on Ultra without aero.

Anyway, my point is that one high end card has enough under the hood to break the real 2GB limit.

Well two 680's don't so I'm not convinced by your logic.

 

[Calin Banc]

You can use 4 of them and still not get 60 or 120FPS in full details on ArmA 2.
It will depend on the game and it's assets, but at least for me, Absolution and Skyrim were very much playable at those settings, granted, not at 60FPS, but not at 20 either.