Installing a 7970 today...

[pgi947]

Hi everyone

My 6950's are today getting replaced with a single 7970 (another will be added later down the line). So I have a few questions, have done some searching but most points to either old posts (from launch) or contradictory comments.

• Current recommended driver version? hear some are having problems with 12.4 and have reverted back to 12.3?
• Is the general feeling that driver sweeping tools are a waste of time? On 12.1a atm.
• Bios flashing...is there any truth in flashing over to the ref Asus bios gives greater OC'ing headroom? Card is ref Powercolor.

Thanks in advance everyone

 

[oweneades]

Hi everyone

My 6950's are today getting replaced with a single 7970 (another will be added later down the line). So I have a few questions, have done some searching but most points to either old posts (from launch) or contradictory comments.

• Current recommended driver version? hear some are having problems with 12.4 and have reverted back to 12.3?
• Is the general feeling that driver sweeping tools are a waste of time? On 12.1a atm.
• Bios flashing...is there any truth in flashing over to the ref Asus bios gives greater OC'ing headroom? Card is ref Powercolor.

Thanks in advance everyone

Glad you got the card ok mate

1) I was running the card on the RC11 drivers ever since they lauch as I had trouble with anything newer in Eyefinity. If you are running a single screen I would perhaps recommend getting it all up and running with the latest WHQL drivers (12.2 or 12.3 I can't remember exactly) and once fully bedded in go from there into tweaking.

2) I haven't used driver sweeper or anything similar for a number of years now. When I switched from the HD7970 to the GTX680 I simply removed the AMD drivers (through control panel) and installed the Nvidia drivers. I would recommend doing something similar even though you are switching AMD to AMD.

3) As with point 1 I would get the card and up running first and then look at tweaking. Depending on case cooling and voltage it should do CCC max clocks quite happily. Any further and you will have to look at tweaking / voltage increases etc. I understand the Asus bios could give you extra headroom but obviously I never tried it.

I hope you enjoy the card.

 

[pgi947]

Thanks Owen, will get your trust updated once its in and running later today btw

Will get the WHQL drivers downloaded and ready, will give driver sweeping a miss too, not used it in some time, tbh I never really noticed a difference between using it and not using it. Single screen for the foreseeable too.

Will be staying on air for the next month until I can decide which waterblock(s) to get, should have a second card by then too, I'm sure I recall someone on here (perhaps staff?) mentioning something about better clocking on the Asus ref bios, or perhaps it was down to it just playing nicer with Asus Tweak? Just looking to the future and hopeful of some high clocks under water

 

[dave_beast]

Remove drivers using control panel, all those driver sweepers should be avoided as they're not needed - I've never used one.

For a sinlge 7970, the 12.4 drivers are amazing, it's only with crossfire and older cards some have experienced issues. Even though the unlocked bios will give higher clocks, there's nothing tat will ruffle a 7970's feathers at the CCC max of 1125/1575 imo. If you want more, Afterburner allows you to clock higher.

 

[pgi947]

Thanks dave, looks like I'm all set then. Will probably stay within CCC limits, especially when the 2nd card gets installed, only reason for pushing to absolute limits is for benching.