Fancy a tinker with my cards - which option?

[Confused Stu]

I'm very happy with the performance from my 7970's, but after using an Accelero on a single 7970, I've been a bit spoilt and fancy going for a quieter or cooler setup. Currently I have GPU1 as a Gigabyte Windforce 7970, and GPU2 is a launch week VTX3D 7970 with an Accelero fitted. On Sleeping Dogs the cores will hit 85/65 maximum (I use this as my worst case game, Just Cause 2 hits 75/60 max for example), so I'm happy enough with temperatures but if I could shave off a couple of degrees I won't exactly be unhappy. Before anyone starts telling me my GPUs are hotter than they should be, bear in mind I'm running the cards overclocked slightly to 1050/1500 and at 5760x1080 across 3 screens (with a 4th screen at 1600x1200 that I use for monitoring software, email, etc) and if I drop down to 1 screen I do get the kind of temperatures they quote in 7970 reviews.

My options are:

Install an Accelero on the Windforce - this appeals for aesthetic reasons as my 2 GPUs will look the same, and I know from experience that it'll be quiet. My concern is that on my motherboard an Accelero on GPU1 will be almost touching GPU2 so won't get much air to breath. I've tried swapping my cards around to test and playing Sleeping Dogs, and after a while the Accelero hit 85C on the core, and 110C on VRM1 and the frame rate dropped. The Windforce has a different VRM setup (the cooler's different and would work under an Accelero, but the card doesn't give VRM temperatures to any software to monitor them), but I don't know if the Windforce would act the same in this position or if it would be OK.

Fit an all-in-one water cooler to the Windforce - this appeals a lot to my tinkerer/geek brain. I just fancy trying it and it would be cool. However, I don't have a spare AIO cooler, so would need to buy one and I don't know what size shim I would need. One of the Dwood brackets would be perfect for this option, but he seems to have stopped making them so I'd have to rely on cable ties. The refurb H80 is appealing for this, but I'd probably need another fan mounted on the card to cool VRMs so was thinking this might be good for that: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HS-031-AL but adding these together comes to the same cost as an Accelero.

Suck it up Princesss - just live with the mismatched GPUs, and the noise from the Windforce at 100%. This is the cheapest and safest option, and the only known quantity, but it doesn't scratch the tinkering itch or improve anything.

Would genuinely appreciate any advice, input or opinions from anyone here. Thanks.

 

[rolypolyman]

Hi would have thought the GB WF 7970 displays vrm temps in Gpu-z, my GB WF 7950 does, yep just checked vrm temp 1 = 30c vrm temp 2 = 32c, cant imagine the 7970 not having this. Or have I misunderstood

 

[Boomstick777]

One option would be to sell the 7970's near the R9 X970 launch and pick up a single R9 x970. Quieter than two cards, fast solution that should use less power as well.

 

[d_brennen]

From experience, Accleros don't need much room to breath. The top card might be a couple of degrees warmer but you know yourself how quiet those coolers are anyway

 

[JediFragger]

One option would be to sell the 7970's near the R9 X970 launch and pick up a single R9 x970. Quieter than two cards, fast solution that should use less power as well.

I must admit I've come around to this option (and also dropping to 1080p)

 

[Confused Stu]

Hi would have thought the GB WF 7970 displays vrm temps in Gpu-z, my GB WF 7950 does, yep just checked vrm temp 1 = 30c vrm temp 2 = 32c, cant imagine the 7970 not having this. Or have I misunderstood

No, you haven't misunderstood at all. My 7970 definitely doesn't provide VRM temps to any software - GPUz (0.7.2 and earlier versions), Open Hardware Monitor v0.5.1 and v0.6.0, Speedfan. It's weird, but I'm sure I've seen a few other people reporting the same thing on different forums.

One option would be to sell the 7970's near the R9 X970 launch and pick up a single R9 x970. Quieter than two cards, fast solution that should use less power as well.

That's an option I hadn't considered. While I love the look and kudos of running 2 cards, 1 card is always less hassle, smoother and (as you said) less power hungry & hot. However, every time I go down to one card I always think it looks so lonely and end up getting it a friend in the end.

 

[Confused Stu]

From experience, Accleros don't need much room to breath. The top card might be a couple of degrees warmer but you know yourself how quiet those coolers are anyway

The quiet is appealing. Did you have any problems with VRM temperatures on card 1 when running 2 Acceleros, or did you have any extra fans set up around it?

I must admit I've come around to this option (and also dropping to 1080p)

Dropping back to 1 screen isn't an option - I simply love multi-screen gaming too much to ever go back now.

 

[d_brennen]

The quiet is appealing. Did you have any problems with VRM temperatures on card 1 when running 2 Acceleros, or did you have any extra fans set up around it?

This was on 5850's, clocked til the wheels nearly fell off, and no

 

[tommybhoy]

The quiet is appealing. Did you have any problems with VRM temperatures on card 1 when running 2 Acceleros, or did you have any extra fans set up around it?

I had 7970/50 CrossFireX using a AC 7970 Extreme for the 7970 and the 7950 used an older 5870 Extreme+shim:

EK-VGA Supreme HF HD7970 Cu Adapter-EAN: 3831109805138
^
That's the EK stock code for the shim you need if you were to AIO cool it.

When I really pushed the 70 northwards of 1100MHz, the vrms rocketed but I modded the Extreme heatsink and fitted the mighty Peter vrm heatsink combined with a bungee tied flush fitting(where it has the 7970 wording) side mounted 120mm fan pushing air directly across the vrms into the MB and that sorted the vrms out.

Pics of the setup is in Matts Accelero thread somewhere.

Saying all that, is it possible to reduce your clocks to 1000/1500MHz in Crossfire in order to drop core/vrm temps further without taking a noticeable performance hit if you were to double up on the Extremes/AIO cool?

Or even try the bungee fan mod on it's own first and see if you can drop the WF fan speed from 100%?

Having used a 7970 WF, I don't know how you can suffer 100%, I nearly took a hammer to it when it went above 60%!

 

[LtMatt]

Stu i tried fitting two accelero's, it didn't work. Not enough space. The top card gets suffocated. The only way it might work is if you had gpu 2 if motherboard pci- slot 3 far away from gpu 1. I've ditched the idea now and will live with my Ice-Q's until i replace them.

I'm surprised your windforce runs at 85C at 100% fan speed. I thought their coolers were supposed to be good?