HIS HD 7950 IceQ BOOST-OR-VTX3D HD 7950 V3 Boost X-Edition

ExperimentalHDX · 3 Oct 2013 at 15:01

Within the next few months I will be upgrading to a 7950, but I'm not sure which version to buy.

I have my eyes on the HIS model, but the VTX3D caught my eye due to it's lower price and dual fans, however I have never seen this brand before.

I'd appreciate it if anyone could help me decide what model to buy.

Thanks in advance!

Links:
VTX3D: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-008-VX&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1673

HIS: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-065-HS&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1673

Rexton · 3 Oct 2013 at 15:23

The HIS is considered the best 7950 on the market, it's a no brainer really.

ExperimentalHDX · 3 Oct 2013 at 15:28

Rexton said:
The HIS is considered the best 7950 on the market, it's a no brainer really.

Thanks for the reply, welp, that's another reason for me to stick with getting the HIS

MG42Maniac · 3 Oct 2013 at 15:29

HIS card, I have two and they are fantastic.

Drollic · 3 Oct 2013 at 15:33

I'd avoid a boost card unless you're willing to mess around with flashing and that VTX card has a good chance of coming with the rubbish type of Elpida memory that hates to be over clocked.

ExperimentalHDX · 3 Oct 2013 at 15:50

MG42Maniac said:
HIS card, I have two and they are fantastic.

Another point to HIS! Thanks for the response

skidmarks said:
I'd avoid a boost card unless you're willing to mess around with flashing

What, is flashing necessary on a "boost" card? :confused:

Gibbo · 3 Oct 2013 at 15:51

VTX3D cannot even compare to HIS on any level, we sell both, but seriously buy the HIS!

Drangueos · 3 Oct 2013 at 15:53

skidmarks said:
I'd avoid a boost card unless you're willing to mess around with flashing and that VTX card has a good chance of coming with the rubbish type of Elpida memory that hates to be over clocked.

The problem with the boost cards is that you need to set the Powerlimit to +20 so the clocks stop dropping to the non-boost speed.

Usually the His comes with Elpida memories as well.

ExperimentalHDX · 3 Oct 2013 at 16:13

Gibbo said:
VTX3D cannot even compare to HIS on any level, we sell both, but seriously buy the HIS!

Yeah... I'll go with the HIS :cool:

Drangueos said:
The problem with the boost cards is that you need to set the Powerlimit to +20 so the clocks stop dropping to the non-boost speed.

Usually the His comes with Elpida memories as well.

And this can be done with MSI AB, right? As I see the option.

OvEr_KiLL · 3 Oct 2013 at 18:35

yes get the HIS !!!!!!!!!! yes you can do it with msi afterburner

LtMatt · 3 Oct 2013 at 19:11

ExperimentalHDX said:
And this can be done with MSI AB, right? As I see the option.

Actually afterburner does not work with His 7950 Ice-Q cards unless you flash a new non boost bios to the card. However HIS have their own version of afterburner. Its basically a poor mans afterburner, but it does the basics of overclocking well enough. Its called iTurbo.

Take a look at the HIS 7950 Ice-Q thread for more info.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18539905

ExperimentalHDX · 3 Oct 2013 at 20:53

LtMatt said:
Actually afterburner does not work with His 7950 Ice-Q cards unless you flash a new non boost bios to the card. However HIS have their own version of afterburner. Its basically a poor mans afterburner, but it does the basics of overclocking well enough. Its called iTurbo.

Take a look at the HIS 7950 Ice-Q thread for more info.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18539905

Ah okay. How about CCC? Does it not work with these cards either? If not, iTurbo will have to do as I'm not keen on flashing bios' (I have no experience in doing so).

ExperimentalHDX · 3 Oct 2013 at 21:05

Sorry for the double post but iTurbo seems to be OCing my gpu past it's limit! I downloaded iTurbo just to see what it's like and out of curiosity I increased the core clock to 902mhz, I applied the setting, the screen when black for about a quarter of a second then bam, checked speccy and GPU-Z and I have a core clock of 902mhz, it that possible? Is this actually taking effect? MSI AB and CCC can only OC to the 840mhz limit but iTurbo seems to say otherwise. MSI AB also showed a core clock of 902mhz when OC'd with iTurbo. Is it safe to OC to let's say 1Ghz? Since posting this message I returned to default maxed out settings in CCC in fear something tragic would happen.

vUNREALv · 3 Oct 2013 at 21:46

Nothing tragic will happen 1ghz is easy for any 7950.

ExperimentalHDX · 3 Oct 2013 at 21:48

vUNREALv said:
Nothing tragic will happen 1ghz is easy for any 7950.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that this is my 6950. I thought it's clocks were locked?

vUNREALv · 3 Oct 2013 at 21:51

Oh right. Its been a while since I had a 6950 if I remember rightly my 2x asus reference ones did run at 1ghz core but they needed tweaks to be stable at that speed, but still nothing bad will happen if the card cant handle the overclock the pc will crash or you will have problems in games but the card will be fine only excessive voltage will hurt a card.

ExperimentalHDX · 3 Oct 2013 at 21:56

vUNREALv said:
Oh right. Its been a while since I had a 6950 if I remember rightly my 2x asus reference ones did run at 1ghz core but they needed tweaks to be stable at that speed, but still nothing bad will happen if the card cant handle the overclock the pc will crash or you will have problems in games but the card will be fine only excessive voltage will hurt a card.

Ah okay, thanks

When you said your cards needed tweaks for stability, what kinds of tweaks were these? And in the event of my PC crashing due to gpu errors, will a normal boot up take place or will safe mode boot up be required? Sorry for the bombardment of questions!

vUNREALv · 3 Oct 2013 at 22:58

Well by tweaks i mean voltage increases to keep stabality.

As for your pc crashing usually it will lockup and you will need to reset it then when it comes back on it will ask you if you want to boot normaly just say yes you wont need safe mode. No error will kill your pc or graphics card. You might find that your 6950 is fine and totally stable.

Just use your pc as normal play your games and enjoy it if you do have crashes and suspect its due to the iturbo overclocking your card then uninstall it.

ExperimentalHDX · 3 Oct 2013 at 23:14

vUNREALv said:
Well by tweakthe mean voltage increases to keep stabality.

As for your pc crashing usually it will lockup and you will need to reset it then when it comes back on it will ask you if you want to boot normaly just say yes you wont need safe mode. No error will kill your pc or graphics card. You might find that your 6950 is fine and totally stable.

Just use your pc as normal play your games and enjoy it if you do have crashes and suspect its due to the iturbo overclocking your card then uninstall it.

Thanks for the information

I'll try maxing out the memory clock (the increase isn't that much) and I'll OC the core clock to 1.1GHz, if I run into problems I'll lower it to 1GHz and if I still have problems the voltage will be increased (I don't know how much by though...)

This'll be my first attempt of overclocking with a large difference as I have been restricted before by the safety limits.

vUNREALv · 3 Oct 2013 at 23:25

Sounds like it cant hurt for you to have a good read about overclocking and what works best for the 6950 cards, just out of interest is it a reference 6950? If so why not look into unlocking it to a 6970.

Edit* Sorry just read your sig and noticed its an xfx double d 6950.