Poll: Voltage locking the future?

[Gregster]

Having seen Nvidia kick the enthusiasts in the teeth with locking volts on all of its latest gen cards, I now noticed certain AMD AIBs following suit. Is this something we can expect for the future? I for one hope not and can say it is the overclocking potential that keeps me interested (especially the chance to push them further than other owners).

I know I shouldn't think like this but even in games, I want higher fps than others even though my eyes can't percieve the benefit.

I will ask a mod to do a poll on this.

Poll:

Would you buy a voltage locked card if the price was better than an unlocked volt card?

Yes

No

Depends on price

 

[Rusty0611]

Wouldn't be surprised to see something like the Intel K chips next generation on both sets of graphics cards.

 

[Yaayuh!]

For me It all depends on the price/performance ratio.

 

[Gregster]

Wouldn't be surprised to see something like the Intel K chips next generation on both sets of graphics cards.

What makes you think this? Any info or links mate?

 

[Admiral Huddy]

poll added and voted

There's always a limit as too how much something is really worth.. If the real world benefit of 5 extra frames is the difference to between a playable and non-playable frame rate, then yes. Otherwise no. It doesn't make sense to make sense to add 5 frames to a game already running at 80 frames ps (for example) with all the eye candy on. The benefit isn't realised.

 

[Gregster]

poll added and voted

There's always a limit as too how much something is really worth.. If the real world benefit of 5 extra frames is the difference to between a playable and non-playable frame rate, then yes. Otherwise no. It doesn't make sense to make sense to add 5 frames to an 80 frame rating with all the eye candy on. The benefit isn't realised.

Agreed but for me, I want that extra 5fps and if I have to pay more for it, I would (within reason of course). I guess it comes down to my continuing competitiveness. I like hitting a heavy spot of explosions and mayhem and something in my head tells me "good job you are overclocked or you would have seen big slowdowns" even though I may not have done.

Thanks for the poll

 

[Martini1991]

GPU's being easily over volted isn't exactly the norm, or at least wasn't from my knowledge, it became common place with the 5XXX/4XX.
Having a voltage locked card, while yeah I'm pretty annoyed I can't run 1.2GHZ on my 7970 and get that extra 10%, I've given up wanting it, I'm much happier to just run my GPU at stock to be honest.

Next generation? I'll probably get a custom cooled card, if it hasn't got voltage unlocked, but the reference did, I'd still take the custom cooled card.

 

[kissenger]

The voltage locked version would have to be a lot cheaper for me to buy in future. I.e. it will have to be cheaper than the next card down, if the next card down can OC past stock of the voltage locked card.

 

[LtMatt]

Having a voltage locked card, while yeah I'm pretty annoyed I can't run 1.2GHZ on my 7970 and get that extra 10%, I've given up wanting it, I'm much happier to just run my GPU at stock to be honest.

Next generation? I'll probably get a custom cooled card, if it hasn't got voltage unlocked, but the reference did, I'd still take the custom cooled card.

I don't think I'd ever get a card thats voltage locked. Had a lot of fun overclocking my reference 7970, reaching 1.2ghz and keeping the card cool and quiet is no problem.

Anything beyond that though and it can get noisy, luckily i never hear it because whenever i game i use a high powered 7.1 surround sound headset. It blocks out all those annoying noises, gpu fans, girlfriends etc.

 

[chief barker]

Tinkering! that's what we do with our kit!

I voted NO for the very reason above.

How boring will it be without it?.

 

[tommybhoy]

I still think everyones overlooking the fact in regards to the 7970 WF on release cost ~£450 to now be available for~£280.

This particular card is now very low in price in comparison to even other 'cheaper' brands, its £50 less than Asus voltage locked DCUII.

That is a huge difference in price, Gigabyte must be using cheaper parts hence the lockdown, either that or they have been getting higher than normal rma's due to the MalX effect.

I also think it won't matter in the long run as the tower will go the way of the dodo faster than we all realise.

 

[LtMatt]

I still think everyones overlooking the fact in regards to the 7970 WF on release cost ~£450 to now be available for~£280.

This particular card is now very low in price in comparison to even other 'cheaper' brands, its £50 less than Asus voltage locked DCUII.

That is a huge difference in price, Gigabyte must be using cheaper parts hence the lockdown, either that or they have been getting higher than normal rma's due to the MalX effect.

I also think it won't matter in the long run as the tower will go the way of the dodo faster than we all realise.

Tommy what were the vrm temps when you had your (cursed) 7970 WF?

 

[tommybhoy]

I don't have a clue matt, I'm afraid it went belly up the second night I had it so I never got round to checking, but from memory, as soon as the gpu went above 65c, it started to crap out unless it was on stock clocks.

You could slow down the fan but temps could get higher with the card staying stable@stock, but the slightest bump on the core resulted in instability if the temps went above 65c.

My OC does the same, it wasn't until I realised it was the vrms that was the problem as vrm temps increase considerably when oc'ing.

It feels like the same scenario as the 58's-69's, the vrms ran hot on the 58's and I presume the refreshed 88's will have a better power delivery much like the 69's did(at least -30c cooler).

 

[humbug]

I think what may be happening here, at least on the AMD side is manufacturers want to push the really expensive cards as the 'enthusiasts' cards, like the Asus Matrix and the little known Gigabyte Supper Overclock

They do this by locking all cards except those highly customized cards, otherwise if they are all unlocked and overclock to extremes whats the point of such cards?

 

[psychodil]

I voted no because I'm a tinkerer and enjoy fiddling with settings, trying to push the card to its limits. Voltage control is a key part of that and I've been playing with voltages ever since my beloved 4890. I won't buy a voltage locked card as long as there are unlockable ones still on the market. I disagree with this gimping of enthusiast cards and will vote with my wallet.

Down with voltage gimping

 

[kamz]

I still think everyones overlooking the fact in regards to the 7970 WF on release cost ~£450 to now be available for~£280.

This particular card is now very low in price in comparison to even other 'cheaper' brands, its £50 less than Asus voltage locked DCUII.

That is a huge difference in price, Gigabyte must be using cheaper parts hence the lockdown, either that or they have been getting higher than normal rma's due to the MalX effect.

I also think it won't matter in the long run as the tower will go the way of the dodo faster than we all realise.

If they are trying to corner the market with a cheaper card why package with the custom pcb and cooling?

Come to think of it i would love to know the asic's quality of the locked 7970, it could be that they are speed binning the gpus against the SOC/GIG editions?

Anyhow i voted "depends on price" however if it ends up being 670 locked, 680 unlocked with a high premium then count me out, i rather take the hit on a cheap 660/7850 and hard mod it.

Gone are the days of pencil modding X800XT's under water, 9800AIW unlocking to 9800pro etc etc

Kamz

 

[tommybhoy]

If they are trying to corner the market with a cheaper card why package with the custom pcb and cooling?

Because@£280 with three free games, voltage locked or not it will sell well, the 6 series is selling well in it's 98% neutered state afterall with generally zero bundled titles- though that's down to brand awareness and the fact that professional reviewers forgot how to overclock.

 

[Rusty0611]

Because@£280 with three free games, voltage locked or not it will sell well, the 6 series is selling well in it's 98% neutered state afterall with generally zero bundled titles- though that's down to brand awareness and the fact that professional reviewers forgot how to overclock.

And they tell lies .

What makes you think this? Any info or links mate?

Nope nothing - just my gut feel. It's a pretty successful model Intel have got to be fair.

And if it goes the way of voltage unlocked cards costing around the same as this generations cards and locked cards going for 5-10% less than these prices then it's OK.

If it went the other way: prices of locked cards the same as this generations cards and then unlocked models costing more on top of that, it'll be a kick in the teeth.

 

[kamz]

I think the majority of people that jumped onto the £280/£311 deal did so due to the 12.11 drivers and potential overclocking, finding out its locked means DSR time for many and possible boycotting future gigabyte purchases, nice way to corner the market.

Considering the same place is selling XFX 7950 on the 7970 pcb (6pin + 8pin) with the free games, voltage unlocked for £215, which people have shown running in crossfire at 1200+ speeds, makes the £280 deal pointless

 

[tommybhoy]

+1 rusty, but I wasn't wanting gregs thread to implode.