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Unlock your ATI 6950 to a 6970 Thread
- Thread starter easyrider
- Start date
Around 90C on both GPUs at full load, fans running at 45%-50%, which is too much for my liking and noticeably louder than the 6950 xfire setup.
Now that I know this works I'm considering going back to the 6950 BIOS and keeping an eye open for a few weeks to see if numerous reports of flashed 6950s dying start surfacing. Not exactly in the spirit of overclocking, I know; but I'm not mad on the prospect of binning 450 quid's worth of gear.
What's your case cooling like?
Associate
- Joined
- 3 Feb 2010
- Posts
- 549
Fractal R2 with 2 intake fans at the front and 2 exhaust fans at the top. Wiring is a bit messy but I'm too lazy to tidy it up.
Highest mine has been is 64c when benching thats according to GPUZ
You need to sort your case out if the wiring is messy dude
Soldato
I don't currently own either of these cards, but I have been considering both. either 6950CF or a single 6970 (which I might upgrade later on). But I curently have a 5870 and there don't seem to be massive gains over a 5870 or 5870CF. So i'm hesitant to part with the cash.
Do you have any evidence to back up that it wont?
When new drivers are released that might increase performance at the cost of more power?
What about when they fully enable voltage tweaking to improve overclocks?
Maybe not now, what about 9 months down the line?
No more voltage, but 8-pin does mean double the current, 4.167A as opposed to 2.083A. Now since a lot of PSUs proudly tell you of the Amps on their single 12V rail, maybe Amps are important?
Would you happily reduce the Amps on your PSUs 12v rail from 52A to 26A? Is that likely to make a difference?
I'd like to get the 6950s and unlock them, but I'm cautious by nature.
I'm also rubbish at making decisions...
Do you have any evidence to back up that it wont?
When new drivers are released that might increase performance at the cost of more power?
What about when they fully enable voltage tweaking to improve overclocks?
Maybe not now, what about 9 months down the line?
No more voltage, but 8-pin does mean double the current, 4.167A as opposed to 2.083A. Now since a lot of PSUs proudly tell you of the Amps on their single 12V rail, maybe Amps are important?
Would you happily reduce the Amps on your PSUs 12v rail from 52A to 26A? Is that likely to make a difference?
I'd like to get the 6950s and unlock them, but I'm cautious by nature.
I'm also rubbish at making decisions...
Associate
I noticed that using the correct version of GPU-Z and the flashed 6970 bios that CCC and GPU-Z were giving different temps. GPU-Z said I maxed out at 75C but CCC was showing 82 after a benchmark run.
Which do you think is the most reliable?
W1zzard did some through Power testing and concluded it shouldn't be an issue.
At the end of the day overclocking is a risk if there are issues and we will find out in a few weeks I would have thought then I will just flash back to 6950 Bios.
Soldato
Around 90C on both GPUs at full load, fans running at 45%-50%, which is too much for my liking and noticeably louder than the 6950 xfire setup.
Now that I know this works I'm considering going back to the 6950 BIOS and keeping an eye open for a few weeks to see if numerous reports of flashed 6950s dying start surfacing. Not exactly in the spirit of overclocking, I know; but I'm not mad on the prospect of binning 450 quid's worth of gear.
Thanks for posting this as 6950 (flashed to 6970) one of the options I was considering trying for.
Disappointing though.
I have the HAF 932 so I'm hoping my side fan will help a bit, but that still seems very hot. Can't help but think AMD could've made a better reference design cooler. From what I've read it's not even as good as the Nvidia one.
How can it be disappointing when its cost absolutely nothing?
I think he was talking about the crossfire system of Mean Mr Mustard but I think he's only getting one card which doesn't really make sense lol.
If it's causing too much noise for people who can't tolerate it then it's their opinion but I don't mind sticking the headphones on late at night and never hearing them but..... each to their own
.
Associate
Where does our warranty stand with OCUK if we flash to a 6970 bios? I understood that OCUK were ok with overclocking, hence the name?
Soldato
Assuming it doesn't cause any damage.
This is the thing, it might take time before we really know, but the longer we wait the greater the chance AMD stop it being possible.
Then I'm left with a 6950 (or 2) that I don't want.
