7970 Lightning, worth the premium?

[Geeman1979]

Damn, been a few like this now Have you tried both sides of the bios switch?

I hope I get a BE in return, have a hunch I won't get as good of a clocker as my last card.

Not seen many clock as high as the one you had! Did seem to be a good one.

 

[G-Sharp]

Does anybody whether adding a water-block on these cards would void the warranty?

 

[~Mike~]

There is a switch near the crossfire connection that unlocks the card further.

Mine didn't seem to make much difference

Might give it another go.

 

[Nickolp1974]

Mine didn't seem to make much difference

Might give it another go.

got another 10hz out of mine, think it only comes into play if you have the extreme version of afterburner hence "ln2" then its only truely unlocked, advertising gimmick really, it perhaps should have had 3 switches, air, water and ln2.

 

[pgi947]

True that you will only get the best out of the LN2 bios with ABX, it should in theory at least give higher power limits.

AS for waterblocks voiding warranty, yes and no, if you fit a waterblock and physically damage the card in the process then yes warranty is gone, otherwise MSI are pretty cool with cooler removal. Had a waterblock fitted, fault un-related to waterblock fitting cropped up, card is currently with MSI for RMA

 

[Geeman1979]

True that you will only get the best out of the LN2 bios with ABX, it should in theory at least give higher power limits.

AS for waterblocks voiding warranty, yes and no, if you fit a waterblock and physically damage the card in the process then yes warranty is gone, otherwise MSI are pretty cool with cooler removal. Had a waterblock fitted, fault un-related to waterblock fitting cropped up, card is currently with MSI for RMA

Whats the expected turn around period for your RMA start to finish, do you think?

 

[pgi947]

I was told a maximum of 28 days, though its usually sorted in 7-10 days, it was sent last saturday so 5 working days so far, I'll be asking for an update probably on Tuesday

 

[Geeman1979]

Probably have it by the back end of next week then, all being well. Just hope you get another good one.

 

[pgi947]

Well provided MSI issue a credit note to OcUK rather than ship a card to OcUK I'll be getting a 'BE' version which will boost to 1150mhz on stock volts

I'd like to think if it can boost 1150mhz on stock volts it should be able to handle 1300mhz+ on 1.35v.

 

[Geeman1979]

You would have thought so yeah. Did somebody mension here that they had been delayed or somthing?

 

[pgi947]

Yeah 8 Pack, He is on MSI's benching team so well informed. I can handle a delay tbh, gives me time to start my epic 800D mod

 

[Geeman1979]

Sounds interesting.

 

[G-Sharp]

@pgi947 - Are you planning to go with a single card or xfire?

 

[pgi947]

X-Fire

Eventually anyway, saving some cash by opting to mod my 800D rather than going out and buying another case which is £300 saved to put towards other parts

I'll quite possibly end up with 3 cards and stick it out with IB-E until the HD9000 series is due sometime 2014, by then probably looking at HW-E too.

 

[G-Sharp]

I'm sure you've already said, but why did you send in your card for RMA?

 

[pgi947]

It was completely lifeless, no lights, no fans, no display, not really sure how or why it happened tbh but my RMA experience so far with OcUK+MSI has been brilliant

 

[Nickolp1974]

BE now in stock, http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-181-MS, god i'm so tempted take it my block will work?

 

[pgi947]

Sweeet!!! Block should be fine, all they changed was the chip to an xt and the bios.


Really really hope I can change up to one of these for my replacement card!!

 

[Nickolp1974]

i'm just gonna wait on a review and see what yours is like!! the first batch always appear to be the better clockers, to drum up trade me thinks?

 

[pgi947]

If the rumor is to be believed these xt cores should give an easy 1300mhz+ in the correct conditions, a good clocker may even touch 1400mhz