Query: Strange issue with Sapphire HD7950 OC

[Meddling-Monk]

Yeah, this card is old (2012). Ever since I've got it I've had issues with it, but could never pin it down as there was a lot to check back then and needed it in the system for gaming and work.

Anyway, it's a Sapphire HD7950 OC (Twin-X) 900Mhz edition one. The system it was in always stalled on playing (non specific) heavy 3D games but not always (and not on all titles, which made it really hard to track down), and as it was in a newly (then) configured i7 with 64GB RAM (and 32GB into a Ramdisk for work scratch disk) I've always thought it was one of the main parts that was the issue (CPU, RAM or Motherboard).

In short, I finally had some spare time, and lo and behold when I turn my attention to the GPU, I "downclock" the 900Mhz down to 800Mhz (the normal core for the HD7950) and I never crash again.

Nothing important or anything (especially since RMA is out, so I'd rather hit the new Vega cards), but I justed wanted to know if anyone has encountered this before? And is it normal for an OC'd card from factory to, well, "not work"?

Thanks for any answers, just interested in how often this occurs. (Going to go for stock GPU next time, hopefully this year when the Vega release)

 

[Orcvader]

Could be not getting enough volts? Could try adding a bit more and see how it goes. Both my original 7950 (from launch) and the one I got from a RMA a year later (boost version) could easily do 1GHz on the core. Or you actually have a poor GPU.

 

[Meddling-Monk]

I've tried adding volts to the GPU already and it won't budge I'm afraid (or rather it'll fall over anyway whilst gaming).

For Valley and Heaven benchmarks, and some older games (Street Fighter IV series, X-COM1, Command and Conquer series, Dungeons and Dragons Online, etc), I can push it over 1050Mhz for the core and 1350Mhz for the memory stable by only adding a tiny amount of volts, but when it comes to certain 3D intense games it will topple over no matter what volts I push it so long as the GPU is at 900Mhz or more. 800Mhz is fine.

Which is why I found it weird that "downclocking" it back to AMD defaults would allow these specific games (Mass Effect Andromeda, X-COM2) to run. When since it's default is 900Mhz, shouldn't have that been the minimum working level anyway?

I'm going to guess that I managed to get a crap GPU on this board. But not a lot I can do about it now, just wondered if this was common occurance or not.

 

[Cold_And_Miserable]

The one here worked flawlessly for over 4 years @ 1100 / 1250 1.175Volts under water. The first 7950 I had died in 2 months. I still think the HD7950 is the best GPU ever made given it's OC potential, price-performance and longevity gaining performance in Vulkan/DX12.