** ATI RADEON 7950 OVERCLOCKING & HEAVEN RESULTS!! **

[Gibbo]

Hi there

First things first, this is all the benchmarks you are getting, so be grateful for this. I've done this to simply see how they clock and how the Heaven scores compete to the NVIDIA GTX 580 3GB and ATI 7970 3GB.

First of all the card tested is a stock version from one of the AIB's, the cooler is rather cut down and not that powerful, as the same AIB also has OC editions which come with a much better cooler. However even still with this stock average performing cooler the card managed the following:-

1. Using ATI OverDrive it maxed out - NDAMHz Core & NDAMHz memory.
2. Using Asus 7970 BIOS it managed - NDAMHz Core & NDAMHz memory.

Flashing the card was the same as flashing a 7970, very easy, unfortunately it DID NOT unlock any additional shaders, the card had the stock 1792 shaders still, though these cards do have a FULL 32 ROPS.

First of all here is the results of this card:-


ATI RADEON 7950 Stock (NDAMHz Core / NDAMHz Memory)

ATI RADEON 7950 Maxed on Overdrive (NDAMHz Core / NDAMHz Memory)

ATI RADEON 7950 Maxed OC on Asus OC BIOS (NDAMHz Core / NDAMHz Memory)


1680x1050 Resolution with 4x as per OcUK Benchmark

1920x1080 Resolution with 4x as per OcUK Benchmark

2560x1600 Resolution with 4x as per OcUK Benchmark

Heaven 2.5 @ 1920x1080 & 2560x1600 with 4x and 4x enabled for testing on NVIDIA GTX 580 3GB OC @ 902MHz Core & 4355MHz RAM

ATI 7970 Results at Max OC using Asus BIOS - 1225MHz Core & 7800MHz RAM:-

Conclusion

A very impressive card indeed, with a price point in the region £350 Inc. VAT that matches GTX 580 1.5GB pricing and this card matches one for performance but has two bonuses. More memory which makes it more future proof and better for high-res gaming, but even more importantly just like the 7970 these cards are hugely overclockable.

Clocking the 7950 at NDAMHz core and NDAMHz memory which they all do with ease (with the Asus BIOS), you have a stock 7970 performing card for considerably less money. Unfortunately it does seem like its not possible to unlock the shaders and as we've seen the 7970 is a true overclocking demond.

So in essence the maximum stable overclock I achieved was NDAMHz Core and NDAMHz memory using the Asus BIOS. Using that same BIOS on a 7970 were talking around 1225-1255MHz Core and 7500-7800Mhz memory. Though remember the 7970 has the full 2048 shaders which gives a decent performance boost.

All in all the 7950 is approx 30% cheaper than the 7970 but when flashed and overclocked its only about 10-15% slower. The 7970 is faster and definetely has a better cooler without doubt, plus a more quieter cooler too, that really helps to keep the case temperatures down, wheras 7950 coolers just heat your case up. So it still stands if you want the best buy the 7970.

Overall the 7950 is great value for money, against an overclocked GTX 580 3GB the 7950 when overclocked is faster in benchmarks and its overclocked game performance should be at least on par with an overclocked GTX 580 3GB gaming performance, so as the card cost less than a 580 3GB, the 7950 is good value.

We have stock now and for launch on January 31st we shall approx 500 cards.

 

[Gibbo]

UPDATE:

Just discovered it maybe possible all 2048 shaders have unlocked, just GPU-Z is reporting wrong.

Card is running a 7970 BIOS fine though, am going to do more testing.

 

[Gibbo]

Very impressive, I was deciding on a 6950 but I may wait for this as its only £90 more. I have yet to read into the performance difference from the 6950 to the 7950. Is it worth the £90?

Its more than £90 more! We sell 6950's at like £210, I said these will be around £350, thats £140 from my maths.

 

[Gibbo]

Quickest way to test Gibbo
Run a 7970 bench at 950MHZ on the core, then run the flashed 7950 at 950MHZ on the same settings.
Compare both results.
Would certainly be interesting.

Well I've just re-ran Heaven at 810Mhz Core & 5000Mhz Memory with the 7970 BIOS and score was 1381, so no difference unless your counting the 2 points.

From that I'd say were still on 1792 shader, but maybe Heaven is no use for that?

I shall bench at 7970 speeds, take result, then put a real 7970 in and bench to confirm for sure, but won't be until tomorrow now.

 

[Gibbo]

I take it that these will crossfire without problem with the 7970 ?

Yes.

 

[Gibbo]

Hi there

Right some odd Heaven results here:-

7950 @ 925MHz / 5500MHz = 1504 points
7950 on 7970 BIOS @ 925MHz / 5500MHz = 1545 points
7970 @ Stock (925/5500) = 1584 points

So even though according to GPU-Z the shaders are not unlocking, flashing to the Asus 7970 BIOS is definetely giving a performance boost, though its not quite at genuine 7970 performance levels, kind of like half way from the results.

So either some shaders are unlocking or the 7970 BIOS is making other improvements, maybe memory timings etc. which is giving the boost.

Still flashing the BIOS is so easy anyway and it would appear the 7970 BIOS is giving some performance enhancement even when clock speeds are identical.

 

[Gibbo]

Are you checking on the latest GPUz?
GPUz 0.5.8

It's optimised for 79** cards and now shows original clocks and oc clocks

Just checked with that, still showing 1792 shaders.

So it would appear the 7970 gives a performance boost but is not unlocking the shaders or at least according to GPU-Z.

 

[Gibbo]

So overclocked we go from 54.8 to 76.9, that's a 40% increase which is absolutely mental!

Damn I was hoping to last until kepler turned up

They are clearly speed-binned 7970's!!!!

Which means with a 7970 BIOS they will clock to similar levels, the only difference is 1792 shaders VS 2048 shaders, but your saving approx £100 for a card that nearly performs the same.

 

[Gibbo]

Woops, is it worth the £140?

6950 is a good card, if your games are struggling then yes, if you can game fine with no slow downs, then NO.

 

[Gibbo]

To put it in short, for an extra £100 you get:-

Additional 256 shaders!
Faster stock card!
Best OC potential card!
Better quality and better performing cooler!
Much cooler case temperatures (Cooler design)
E-peen status!!!!!!

Too some the extra £100 would be worth the above, if I had a gaming PC I'd want the 7970, but there is no denying the 7950 is the better value choice.

 

[Gibbo]

If these turn out to be extremely close to 7970 performance in games then I will pick up a couple once the price comes down and non-reference coolers are added (still going strong with my GTX 470 Twin Frozr IIs).

They won't at stock speeds.

The 79xx is all about overclocking and as they clock so well it would be criminal not to overclock the 79xx series. I've never known a graphics card like these for clocking. Certainly adds an element of fun being able to get a 30-40% performance boost simply by clocking/flashing your card.

 

[Gibbo]

Many thanks again gibbo and like last time a couple of questions

1. what type of heat increase have you seen?

2. do these cards have 1x8pin+1x6pin or 2x6pin ?

3. Are these the same PCB as the 7970 ? ie will they fit the EK 7970 waterblocks ?

4. If not when will there be some 7950 block's.


and a couple of requests for testing if possible....

1. how all these config's perform on bf3 @1080 and 1440 in the same system

2. and what sort off performance we get in heaven with a 7970+7950 in crossfire with stock and modded bios

Understandable if you cant as you already do enough and cheers for the heads up.

1. The cards are cooler, but the coolers are inferior, as such 10c or so hotter.

2. 2x 6-pin connectors, even on the OC models.

3. Too hard to say right now, but they do look every so slightly different!

4. Most likely!

 

[Gibbo]

Are overclockers first people to review the 7950 ? :O

Were the first with stock and just like 7970 will have more than anyone else plus maybe a couple of exclusives on certain OC models.

 

[Gibbo]

Can live with that, in a proper case setup.

So as far as I've read up on the 79xx series now, they will run with the same PSU as any other cards. So a 650W should do well enough for these?

650W is plenty for these, even if your run Crossfire.

 

[Gibbo]

So a single card on a 550w corsair should be fine you think?

yup.

 

[Gibbo]

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-146-OK&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1812

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-249-AS&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1812

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-151-GW&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1010

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-149-OK&groupid=701&catid=1914&subcat=1010

Two of the cheapest GTX580s and two of the cheapest GTX570s. The GTX580 has more room to drop where the GTX570 at those prices are great .

I'm interested to see how the 7950 1.5GB handles for vRAM use in games like BF3 as AMD usually do well in this scenario.

In fact Gibbo, do you have any 7950 1.5GB cards in stock?. Also is there any chance of a few benchmarks please if you do?.

(I hope you answer me this time Gibbo, I've asked you a few questions and you've blanked me completely....hence the resize of your name )

Hi there

1.5GB varients won't be until March time I am afraidl.

 

[Gibbo]

At launch Gibbo said that he had sourced enough 7970 stock to last for a week or so. Maybe he sourced more new stock soon afterwards, but I haven't noticed OcUK or any other retailer running out since launch.

My guess is that most people believe these cards are overpriced, and do not wish to jump on the first 28nm boat, before seeing the opposition. I also believe that early adopters of 7970's will get burnt by large price drops that will surely take place once GK104 arrives (assuming that $299 ore thereabouts is the list price). GK104 could well match 7970 performance for less than 7950 prices, so I personally am holding fire until GK104 arrives.

Hi there

To answer your questions most board partners manage to ship another batch before Chinese New Year.

At present we have over 200 cards in stock, so were all good, no shortages for us, we even have lots of the elusive Asus cards in stock, which sells surprisingly well even though it is one of the most expensive, but it does have the best BIOS.

 

[Gibbo]

Funny how the ocuk branded cards still aren't in stock yet have jumped £20. Always amazes me how on launches the cheaper iterations of cards "dont make it in time". Only when demand starts do slow do they ever show up, funny that.

Thats because it was a gamble played by ourselves.

Fact is the best price we have seen will not allow us to sustain £419.99 inc. VAT.

As such stock is due tomorrow, the 40 or so backorders at £419.99 shall be honored and shipped tomorrow and now the price has gone up simply reflecting the cost price.

Its still our best price 7970 and we have them arriving tomorrow.

 

[Gibbo]

Wonder if it has dual bios/locked shaders?

All the 7950's have dual BIOS.

You can flash them to 7970 BIOS and you will get the jump in clock speeds and they all do it with ease.

BUT THE SHADERS DO NOT UNLOCK!

 

[Gibbo]

Where are the MSI TF3's at?

That stock fan looks like pure garbage, Sapphire are actually releasing a sweet custom design first this time.

Those sweet cards are in our pyramid. Look closely and you will see two different Sapphire cards, but you have to look hard at the pyramid pictures to spot the difference.