Which HD7950's are voltage locked?

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 28 Jan 2013 at 09:41

Hello chaps

I'm in the market for a HD7950, I need a reference card for watercooling and I'd like to be able to play with the voltage, so I have two questions:

1) What (if any) reference HD7950's are voltage locked?

2) Is it just a BIOS limit, can I just flash the BIOS to a unlocked voltage BIOS if needed?

Thanks guys

tommybhoy · 28 Jan 2013 at 09:57

No reference card will be locked, if it is, then it's not reference as they weren't locked.

Drop OcUK a query in CS, they may be able to confirm.

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 28 Jan 2013 at 10:04

tommybhoy said:
No reference card will be locked, if it is, then it's not reference as they weren't locked.

Drop OcUK a query in CS, they may be able to confirm.

Ah right cool :cool:

pgi947 · 28 Jan 2013 at 10:04

All msi cards should be unlocked

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 28 Jan 2013 at 10:29

pgi947 said:
All msi cards should be unlocked

Yeah I was after a MSI HD7950 OC (not TF) but now can't find one for a reasonable price.

I'll double check to make sure that reference cards aren't voltage locked and then hopefully place my order.

Uncle Petey · 28 Jan 2013 at 10:32

Do you already have a waterblock?

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 28 Jan 2013 at 10:37

Uncle Petey said:
Do you already have a waterblock?

No, not yet.

Uncle Petey · 28 Jan 2013 at 10:40

Ah ok. I was just wondering if you had a specific requirement for a ref 7950 pcb and couldn't go with a 7950 that used a ref 7970 board like the TF3.

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 28 Jan 2013 at 10:46

Uncle Petey said:
Ah ok. I was just wondering if you had a specific requirement for a ref 7950 pcb and couldn't go with a 7950 that used a ref 7970 board like the TF3.

Well I could but I've already sleeved the 6 pins and removed the +2 pins, I could solder them back and re-sleeve but I'd rather not have to do that.

~Dockie · 28 Jan 2013 at 10:51

The Vapor-x should be unlocked, mine is atleast.

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 28 Jan 2013 at 10:59

~Dockie said:
The Vapor-x should be unlocked, mine is atleast.

Blue PCB

Uncle Petey · 28 Jan 2013 at 11:04

Backplate perhaps?

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 28 Jan 2013 at 11:07

Uncle Petey said:
Backplate perhaps?

Yeah I actually have backplates made but I still think you'd be able to see some blue (its for a project I'm doing that is black and white themed) I'm being very picky....

Uncle Petey · 28 Jan 2013 at 11:09

I noticed

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 28 Jan 2013 at 11:15

Uncle Petey said:
I noticed

LOL

Minstadave · 28 Jan 2013 at 11:46

XFX DD Ghost on 7970 PCB - locked

Rexton · 28 Jan 2013 at 11:55

Minstadave said:
XFX DD Ghost on 7970 PCB - locked

I can confirm this, mine is voltage locked.

Shame.

Uncle Petey · 28 Jan 2013 at 12:01

Given that they don't have proper vrm cooling on them, it's not surprising that they locked the voltage

It's a bloody shame. Overclocking is what makes the 7950 such a great card...

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 28 Jan 2013 at 12:04

The XFX DD 7950 black edition (FX-795A-TDBC not FX-795A-TDJC) is reference but is also quite expensive unfortunately. :/

pgi947 · 28 Jan 2013 at 12:16

Grab an ocuk tech lab 7970 perhaps? £404, msi oc card that will do 1.381/1.8v on core/memory and save the hassle of fitting the block, with added security that the card is under warranty despite having a block fitted