2nd Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 7970 Windforce 3X Looks different!

up2nogooduk · 10 Dec 2012 at 23:13

I brought a 2nd Gigabyte ATI Radeon HD 7970 Windforce 3X http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-097-GI&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

But was just wondering what the metal bar was on the new card.
Thing's look a lot different on the new board also!
Have they improved somethings etc?

Cheers.

Uncle Petey · 10 Dec 2012 at 23:15

Looks like a VRM backplate. Is the heatsink any different?

ICDP · 10 Dec 2012 at 23:16

It's the bracket for the VRM heatsink. The new GB WF cards use PCB 3.1 which does not allow voltage adjustments.

up2nogooduk · 10 Dec 2012 at 23:21

Uncle Petey said:
Looks like a VRM backplate. Is the heatsink any different?

No looks the same.

ICDP said:
It's the bracket for the VRM heatsink. The new GB WF cards use PCB 3.1 which does not allow voltage adjustments.

No wonder why the voltage wont work..

so the older one is better

Thanks for the info

spoffle · 10 Dec 2012 at 23:25

"brought"

wazza300 · 10 Dec 2012 at 23:34

they havnt improved anything,just made it worse by locking the voltage,lookslike a different pcb design too

LtMatt · 11 Dec 2012 at 08:47

All this voltage locking.

Reference 7970 users, treasure your cards, care for it like a loved one.

If it breaks, you're in a world of voltage locked pain.

thefogo · 11 Dec 2012 at 12:55

LtMatt said:
All this voltage locking.

Reference 7970 users, treasure your cards, care for it like a loved one.

If it breaks, you're in a world of voltage locked pain.

My HIS reference card is voltage locked too

It would get crazy loud if I increased the voltage, but still

Freddie1980 · 11 Dec 2012 at 15:29

Voltage locking imo is a good thing as it should reduce failure rates and costly rma's which ahould keep prices down for the rest of us.

Marine-RX179 · 11 Dec 2012 at 15:37

Freddie1980 said:
Voltage locking imo is a good thing as it should reduce failure rates and costly rma's which ahould keep prices down for the rest of us.

You really think so? Half the time the price-cut in the US never get filtered through into rip-off Britain

LtMatt · 11 Dec 2012 at 16:03

thefogo said:
My HIS reference card is voltage locked too
It would get crazy loud if I increased the voltage, but still

Is that the HIS reference that ocuk sell? :eek:

thefogo · 11 Dec 2012 at 16:33

LtMatt said:
Is that the HIS reference that ocuk sell?

Yeah, one with a blue PCB.
I got it a while back though.

LtMatt · 11 Dec 2012 at 17:26

thefogo said:
Yeah, one with a blue PCB.
I got it a while back though.

Ahh i thought you meant this one.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-048-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

I would have been surprised if that one was voltage locked.

kingy666 · 11 Dec 2012 at 17:32

spoffle said:
"brought"

I hate that too. Why do people add an 'r' to bought?

Irt mrakes mre mrad!

Marine-RX179 · 11 Dec 2012 at 17:52

kingy666 said:
I hate that too. Why do people add an 'r' to bought?

Irt mrakes mre mrad!

Think people just get confused when typing. Brought is a complete different word to bought

brought past participle, past tense of bring (Verb)
Verb

Come to a place with (someone or something): "she brought Luke home"; "Liz brought her a glass of water".
Cause (someone or something) to come to a place: "what brings you here?"; "a felony case brought before a jury".

bought past participle, past tense of buy (Verb)
Verb

Obtain in exchange for payment: "find some money to buy a house"; "he bought me a new dress".
Pay someone to give up an ownership, interest, or share.

Synonyms
purchase - buy

thefogo · 11 Dec 2012 at 17:54

LtMatt said:
Ahh i thought you meant this one.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-048-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=938

I would have been surprised if that one was voltage locked.

Yep, that's the one

It arrived with a blue pcb.

weehamish · 12 Dec 2012 at 02:56

Marine-RX179 said:
Think people just get confused when typing. Brought is a complete different word to bought

brought past participle, past tense of bring (Verb)
Verb

Come to a place with (someone or something): "she brought Luke home"; "Liz brought her a glass of water".
Cause (someone or something) to come to a place: "what brings you here?"; "a felony case brought before a jury".

bought past participle, past tense of buy (Verb)
Verb

Obtain in exchange for payment: "find some money to buy a house"; "he bought me a new dress".
Pay someone to give up an ownership, interest, or share.

Synonyms
purchase - buy

Wow there are people like me out there!!

I thought i was the only one who used bought i even started to think i was wrong and it was brought as everyone else uses it!

This thread has changed my life! Lol!!!! Screw you brought people!!!! It made me so mad it started to drive me crazy i am now whole again!

ViRuS2k · 12 Dec 2012 at 03:17

I plan on getting 2x of these cards : MSI HD 7950 Twin Frozr III OC V2 i hope there not voltage locked.

i was also looking in to getting 2x of those gigabyte windforce cards but if you guys are saying there voltage locked then i wont bother with those cards, would OCUK check the backplates for you i dont think so lol

EDIT: bet you if you flash that locked voltage card with another bios it will unlock the voltages...

Rusty0611 · 12 Dec 2012 at 06:47

They aren't voltage locked but keep an eye on the temperatures. They're great cards but OcUK had a dodgy batch and no idea if they're all gone yet.