R6870 Lightning

maxzuk · 4 Oct 2011 at 19:27

Hi card turned up today and one quick question?

The LED lights on card should they all be on all of the time?

Thanks Nigel

Tealc · 4 Oct 2011 at 20:02

Normal apparently

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=146469.msg1089950#msg1089950

I just googled r6870 lights as you didn't give the manufacturers name and that what came up.

And you have too many 'n's in your title. I initially thought there was one of those 'lightning' 6870 cards. Or dud you actually mean lightning?

maxzuk · 4 Oct 2011 at 20:58

Sorry wrote in a rush

MSI R6970 Lightning.

The question is as it doesnt come with intructions and none online

It has load lights about 10 green and 4 red , should these be on all the time as load lights normally light up under usage mine are on full time.

Surveyor · 4 Oct 2011 at 21:21

I don't think they're load lights as such but represent the 14 power phases for the GPU.

They're probably meant to be on all the time.

maxzuk · 4 Oct 2011 at 22:15

Surveyor said:
I don't think they're load lights as such but represent the 14 power phases for the GPU.

They're probably meant to be on all the time.

Ok thanks

ndaar · 4 Oct 2011 at 22:20

i thought red lights ment that the card wasnt getting enough power and they all turned green if everything is ok??

Surveyor · 4 Oct 2011 at 22:35

ndaar said:
i thought red lights ment that the card wasnt getting enough power and they all turned green if everything is ok??

Perhaps they change colour as more power is used?

I'm pretty sure they should all be on though as quite a few people ask how to turn them off!

This is a GTX 580 Lightning:

ndaar · 4 Oct 2011 at 22:42

I am not sure maybe someone with more experience can weigh in.

Surveyor · 4 Oct 2011 at 22:43

ndaar said:
I am not sure maybe someone with more experience can weigh in.

How dare you doubt me

Joking implied.

ndaar · 4 Oct 2011 at 22:46

Surveyor said:
How dare you doubt me

Joking implied.

LOL sorry didnt mean it to sound harsh. My only knowledge of the lights been green/red was from some video i remeber watching on youtube were i think they said red ment not enough power, so its only a guess you could very well be right

Surveyor · 4 Oct 2011 at 22:51

ndaar said:
LOL sorry didnt mean it to sound harsh. My only knowledge of the lights been green/red was from some video i remeber watching on youtube were i think they said red ment not enough power, so its only a guess you could very well be right

Some cards do have LED's which light up red for various errors such as lack of power or overheating.

I think the LED's on this card serve a different purpose.

That's my thought anyway.

bigjimmyauk · 5 Oct 2011 at 02:09

the led's on the lightnings light up or down dependant on power usage.

can't remember which way round it was tho i think more red lights ment more power was going to the card.

maxzuk · 5 Oct 2011 at 07:50

Cannot say im happy with spending this much money on card and having no instruction in paper form or even online.
Also have about 10 cables supplied with it that I dont have a damn clue what they are for.

Surveyor · 5 Oct 2011 at 07:54

maxzuk said:
Cannot say im happy with spending this much money on card and having no instruction in paper form or even online.
Also have about 10 cables supplied with it that I dont have a damn clue what they are for.

I can't say that any graphics card I've bought in the last few years had any meaningful paper instructions.

Most don't even have an online manual.

If you're running the card without the extra cables then you don't need them.

If you want to know what the extra cables are for then post pictures and someone will glady tell you.

maxzuk · 5 Oct 2011 at 08:05

Surveyor said:
I can't say that any graphics card I've bought in the last few years had any meaningful paper instructions.

Most don't even have an online manual.

If you're running the card without the extra cables then you don't need them.

If you want to know what the extra cables are for then post pictures and someone will glady tell you.

Thanks understand that just find it annoying that cannot find info on lights, this thread has me more confused as im either ok or not pushing enough power to card.

On a side note after a few probs all software based I.E not removing old software propaley

this card rocks in BF3 beta

Everything to the max except
shadow - High
Anisotropict - x8
AA 2x

@ 2560x1440 res

Feel free to give any tips on how to get most out of card please (MSI R6970 Lightning)

bigjimmyauk · 5 Oct 2011 at 12:04

maxzuk said:
Thanks understand that just find it annoying that cannot find info on lights, this thread has me more confused as im either ok or not pushing enough power to card.

On a side note after a few probs all software based I.E not removing old software propaley this card rocks in BF3 beta

Everything to the max except
shadow - High
Anisotropict - x8
AA 2x

@ 2560x1440 res

Feel free to give any tips on how to get most out of card please (MSI R6970 Lightning)

The extra cables are for the voltage measuring points, don not under any circumstances touch the dip switched on the back of the card, the instructions are wrong and the big switch does not just switch fan profiles

L = Reserved for Future Function (Switch to this position, the external device is needed to boot up the card) … currently, no design, so if you switch to “L”, the card wont be able to boot.

M = Boosted BIOS setting to 2.5x PowerTune Range and Maximize CCC limit for higher overclocking capability.

R = Default BIOS setting

thats direct from MSi btw

Put it too the midlle setting
run msi afterburner
set core voltage to 1.25
set memory voltage to +40Mv
set aux voltage to +40mv
then straight of the bat try for 1050 core/1400 memory
Run unigine heaven 2.5 for 2 runs, if it can complete 2xfull runs it's pretty stable.

download msi kombuster version 2.2
goto setting set native resolution for your monitor aplly 4xAA
goto 3d tests
select tessy spheres on planes V2
start test and leave for 5 minutes
check temps and look for artifacts
if it artifacts or locks up drop the core down 10mhz at a time and retest until it passes the above tests fine
then report back here

DO NOT RUN THE GPU BURN IN MODE it really puts the card under unnecessary stress

maxzuk · 6 Oct 2011 at 13:34

bigjimmyauk said:
The extra cables are for the voltage measuring points, don not under any circumstances touch the dip switched on the back of the card, the instructions are wrong and the big switch does not just switch fan profiles

L = Reserved for Future Function (Switch to this position, the external device is needed to boot up the card) … currently, no design, so if you switch to “L”, the card wont be able to boot.

M = Boosted BIOS setting to 2.5x PowerTune Range and Maximize CCC limit for higher overclocking capability.

R = Default BIOS setting

thats direct from MSi btw

Put it too the midlle setting
run msi afterburner
set core voltage to 1.25
set memory voltage to +40Mv
set aux voltage to +40mv
then straight of the bat try for 1050 core/1400 memory
Run unigine heaven 2.5 for 2 runs, if it can complete 2xfull runs it's pretty stable.

download msi kombuster version 2.2
goto setting set native resolution for your monitor aplly 4xAA
goto 3d tests
select tessy spheres on planes V2
start test and leave for 5 minutes
check temps and look for artifacts
if it artifacts or locks up drop the core down 10mhz at a time and retest until it passes the above tests fine
then report back here

DO NOT RUN THE GPU BURN IN MODE it really puts the card under unnecessary stress

Thanks for help but little confused

My current setting as stock our
core voltage 1174 (you said 1.25) am I looking in wrong place on afterburner.
mem voltage on 0 (+40 makes sense)
Aux Voltage 1146 (you said +40 wich will make it 1186 is this right)

Really confused about core voltage figure.

Thanks Nigel

bigjimmyauk · 6 Oct 2011 at 19:24

maxzuk said:
Thanks for help but little confused

My current setting as stock our
core voltage 1174 (you said 1.25) am I looking in wrong place on afterburner.
mem voltage on 0 (+40 makes sense)
Aux Voltage 1146 (you said +40 wich will make it 1186 is this right)

Really confused about core voltage figure.

Thanks Nigel

Sorry for the confusion mate i work old school number Afterburner changed it all to Mv so 1.25V core is = to 1250 Mv

so core would be 1250Mv
and MEM would be +40
Forget i mentioned AUX voltage i forgot it's already pre bumped to 1149Mv
Did you set the switch to the middle(most people don't know about the extra powertune it gives)

Do you mind if i ask why you bought the 6970 lightning over the asus direct Cu

oh and some good reads
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/05/09/msi_r6970_lightning_video_card_review/
http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/msi_r6970_2gb_lightning_review,10.html
http://www.kitguru.net/components/g...lightning-twin-frozr-iii-review-18-phase-pwm/

try to ignore the reviewers who just seem to bang the cards at max voltages.
For the longevity of the card try to keep it below 1300Mv on the core

maxzuk · 6 Oct 2011 at 22:13

Thanks mate

bigjimmyauk · 6 Oct 2011 at 22:40

maxzuk said:
Thanks mate

No probs let us know how u get on won't you.