• Competitor rules

    Please remember that any mention of competitors, hinting at competitors or offering to provide details of competitors will result in an account suspension. The full rules can be found under the 'Terms and Rules' link in the bottom right corner of your screen. Just don't mention competitors in any way, shape or form and you'll be OK.

Which 7950!?

Razyre

Razyre

Razyre

Associate
Joined
4 Jun 2012
Posts
259
Hey there.

So, I want to buy an AMD Radeon 7950.

I need one that's voltage unlocked, overclocks well and is well cooled.

Possibly thinking of a crossfire config later. Good value for money is always welcome.

Please suggest!

Thanks!
 
My asus top v2 is really well cooled and voltage is unlocked.

I would avoid the msi ones there seems to be lots of people having problems with them.

I would go for this
HIS HD 7950 IceQ BOOST
or
Asus HD 7950 DirectCU II TOP V2
or
HIS HD 7950 IceQ X² BOOST
 
Last edited:
I had problems with the MSIs, but I still have hope... so I will get a replacement instead a refund.

I would go for the MSI or Asus...
Gigabyte is good too, but is voltage locked (at 1.25v if I'm not wrong and I think it is enough for 1100mhz)
His is ok, the only bad part is that they use ELPIDA memories instead of Hynix. (elpida memories have higher latency and usually they overclock less)
 
For ultimate 'balls out' on core overclocking-the Ice-Q Boost, Iv'e yet to see a minger, although the vram as stated isn't the highest clocking, mine can go 1650MHz stable with voltage(but I don't run vram anywhere near that for gaming).

It's one of the better ones for cooling as they are rear venting-fantastic in CrossFire(almost three slot jobs though) while not making a racket in the process, although the DCuII is quieter(based on vids) at the expense of dumping the heat into the case(not much of a problem with good case cooling).

More realistically priced now out with offers too.
 
Main worry about the DirectCUII cards from ASUS is that they're triple slot... My 560Ti is dual, which is more ideal.

So the HIS Ice Q seems quite popular. I was looking at the first version on OCUK the other day:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-065-HS

What's the primary difference between that and the x2 edition (other than 2 fans)?

Is memory clocking going to be a problem? GDDR5 is already ridiculously fast at stock, my impression is that you mainly need core OC. I'm probably wrong xD

So MSI is a contentious one, ASUS seems all around recommended (I already have a DirectCUII card as aforementioned, it seems fairly good although I'm sure I can't OC as much as I used to be able to).

Don't want to go to Gigabyte - voltage locking.

Any other suggestions or agreements with the current suggestions?
 
Razyre said:
Main worry about the DirectCUII cards from ASUS is that they're triple slot... My 560Ti is dual, which is more ideal.

So the HIS Ice Q seems quite popular. I was looking at the first version on OCUK the other day:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-065-HS

What's the primary difference between that and the x2 edition (other than 2 fans)?

Is memory clocking going to be a problem? GDDR5 is already ridiculously fast at stock, my impression is that you mainly need core OC. I'm probably wrong xD

So MSI is a contentious one, ASUS seems all around recommended (I already have a DirectCUII card as aforementioned, it seems fairly good although I'm sure I can't OC as much as I used to be able to).

Don't want to go to Gigabyte - voltage locking.

Any other suggestions or agreements with the current suggestions?
Click to expand...

If the TF3 was without problems they would be 'up there' with the best imo.
Loving mine but having read so many posts here from disappointed guys it would be a good sales pitch to get them flying off the shelf atm.
 
I'm giving the last chance to the TF3...
I already got one that was dead, one with the bios switch loose/broken and one that was artifacting... Tomorrow I'm going to receive 2 new cards... lets see what is going to happen... I hope they work.

The HIS ones, have good coolers, but they use ELPIDA memories. This makes the card slower around 2% running the core at same speed.

I tested myself running all on the reference clock 800/1250 using 3 different cards Reference, HIS Boost and Msi TfIII.
The Reference and the TFIII had a difference of 0.5% to 0.8% and the His was 2 to 3% slower.

I even sent and e-mail to HIS asking why and this was the answer: "This is due to their bios timing and settings are different."

On the Reference ones I could run the memories at 1400 without a problem and getting some extra performance...
the TFIII I didn't test yet but I believe it will do 1500...
the HIS after 1300 the error correction was slowing the card because if I clock the memories to 1325 or more it was giving me less performance than 1300.
 
Last edited:
What would you guys say then? I don't want a card that is known to have any problems ideally and it would be preferable to get the fastest one I can.
 
I run an asus 7950 Top and have no complaints except for the fact that it is BIG (three slots!) and currently a tad expensive :(

If I were buying today I'd go for the Gigabyte - voltage locked as may or may not be.

Generally does get good user reviews, 3 yr warranty and uk rma :D
 
AgedIdiot said:
I run an asus 7950 Top and have no complaints except for the fact that it is BIG (three slots!) and currently a tad expensive :(

If I were buying today I'd go for the Gigabyte - voltage locked as may or may not be.

Generally does get good user reviews, 3 yr warranty and uk rma :D
Click to expand...

Bu... bu... voltage locked D;

Main problem with that 3 slot monstrosity is being able to crossfire the damned thing. Man, are there no other cards that can do the job without being plagued with problems? :/

Ah and another slight problem - I have a mid tower case. These things look about five miles long.
 
Last edited:
My Iceq X2 does 1200mhz / 1650 and i played the whole of tomb raider through at that.

Played Crysis 3 and it started artifacting. best i can get is 1150 / 1650, on a semi aggresive fan profile it max's out at 58 degrees full load.

The Iceq seem to outclock the Iceq X2 on the core.
 
So bloody scary the clocks my Nvidia mobile GPU gets. I can nearly hit 1.3GHz. Of course, doesn't begin to touch desktop cards for performance, but it is amusing.

Sounds like the temps are pretty ****ing awesome on the Ice Q.

What sort of case space does it take up?

I want to get an idea of the Sapphire, but no one seems to have it. Amazon reviews are very positive and to my knowledge, it isn't voltage locked :)
 
The Iceq X2 is a slim 2 card width solution, ideal for a crossfire setup really gives a bit more breathing space between the card. The iceq is chunkier from what i gather, may be a 3 slot cooler like the ASUS cards.
 
AgedIdiot said:
I run an asus 7950 Top and have no complaints except for the fact that it is BIG (three slots!) and currently a tad expensive :(

If I were buying today I'd go for the Gigabyte - voltage locked as may or may not be.

Generally does get good user reviews, 3 yr warranty and uk rma :D
Click to expand...

i went for the Gigabyte in the end, it is voltage locked but its good for 1125/1450.. i can leave it looping on those settings and its fine, ive not done any 'fine tuning' but i know it wont do 1150/1500
 
I won't buy the voltage locked card.

"BEST GRAPHICS CARD FOR MONEY. I would recommend it will destroy any game even call of duty black ops 2 on max res"

What an unbelievably terrible review of the IceQ x2 XD

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-313-SP

This sapphire card is pretty damned well priced this week.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-049-HS&tool=3

This one?

The IceQ x2 isn't in stock and is really quite expensive as these cards go. If it's /really/ good then I'll definitely consider it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom