7950 OC Help

[Annon2255]

I've looked through some older threads and haven't found anything to help me yet, so hopefully you can all help me and it's an easy fix.

I just got my Sapphire 7950 in today and am attempting to OC. I've got Trixx downloaded, set core to 1100, memory to 1500 and VDDC to 1250. Based one what I've read this seems pretty reasonable. My temps (Even doing Valley and 3DMark11) don't go over 60 degrees.

The scores I get in these benches are really low. Like 900 in Valley with min FPS ~14, Max ~40 and a 3DMark11 score of ~5500.

I'm thinking something in my CCC must not be set correctly.

Under 3D application settings I have these options set:

Anti-Aliasing
AA Mode: Use app settings
AA Samples: Use app settings
Filter: Edge-detect
AA Method: Multisampling
Morphological Filtering: On (Fullscreen Direct3D application only)

Texture Filtering
Anisotropic filtering mode: Use app settings
Anisotropic filtering level: use app settings
Texture Filtering Quality: Standard
Surface Format Optimization: On

Frame Rate Control
Wait for vertical refresh: Always off
OpenGL Triple Buffering: On

Tessellation
Tessellation Mode: Use app seetings
Max Tesselation level: Use app settings



I'm using Beta 13.2 Beta 7 drivers. I have absolutely no experience at overclocking so it's likely I'm doing something stupid. Please help =)

 

[Stuka87]

Download GPUz and see what it is showing for your actual clock speeds. I ended up using MSI Afterburner for over clocking my Sapphire.

EDIT: Oh and for benchmarking, do not having any custom settings for quality set in CCC. You want that to all be default.

 

[spinejam]

Make sure the Power Limit is set to +20%

 

[Annon2255]

Awesome! That fixed me right up =) can I lower the power limit from 20% or should I leave it? I was getting around 74 degrees in the benches. Don't want to go any higher than that.

 

[Stuka87]

Awesome! That fixed me right up =) can I lower the power limit from 20% or should I leave it? I was getting around 74 degrees in the benches. Don't want to go any higher than that.

How well does your case move air? Mine has never gotten anywhere close to that temp.

20% is about right for what you are wanting to do. You can set it lower, but it will throttle the card.

 

[Annon2255]

Here is a pic of my setup. The room I'm in stays pretty warm (~73 degrees F). Idle right now this card is running at around 49 degrees C.

I've tinkered around a little more this afternoon and have my Core at 1150, Memory Clock at 1500 and VDDC at 1250.

3DMark11 score is P9224.
Graphics score: 10219
Physics Score: 7149
Combined Score: 7129

Unigine Valley:
FPS: 44.8
Score: 1873
Min FPS: 23.2
Max FPS: 81.9

Should I turn my core down? Don't want to burn this card up. Today the highest temp I saw during benches ~76 degrees C.

 

[bigsnyder]

76 is fine. Even temps in the 80s are acceptable. These chips can run hot.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

For current gen 80s is not fine. Low 70c is the upper limit you want.

 

[SlowSpyder]

For current gen 80s is not fine. Low 70c is the upper limit you want.

My 7970 @ 1025MHz will hit upper 80's. The chip is able and willing to go further, but my ears are not with the reference cooler.

 

[Stuka87]

76 is fine. Even temps in the 80s are acceptable. These chips can run hot.

80's are NOT acceptable. The chip should not even get into the mid 70's, and if cooled properly, it should be able to stay in the mid to upper 60's.

 

[SlowSpyder]

80's are NOT acceptable. The chip should not even get into the mid 70's, and if cooled properly, it should be able to stay in the mid to upper 60's.

I just ran Unique Heaven 4.0 a couple times maxed (8xAA, extreme, ultra, blah blah blah) and I got up to 89C on the second pass. No problems. Absolutely none. Well, a little louder than I'd care for, but 80's shoudn't be an issue.

 

[Stuka87]

I just ran Unique Heaven 4.0 a couple times maxed (8xAA, extreme, ultra, blah blah blah) and I got up to 89C on the second pass. No problems. Absolutely none. Well, a little louder than I'd care for, but 80's shoudn't be an issue.

If you continue to run it that hot, it is more than likely going to die a premature death. Running hot doesn't typically cause an instantaneous issue, its something that happens over time.

And if your GPU is at 89C, I cringe to think what your VRM's are at.

 

[Annon2255]

So should I turn my core down to keep my temps lower?

 

[Dravonic]

If 74C is your max, you really don't need to. I mean REALLY don't need to.

My reference 7970 reaches low 80s at stock clocks and fan profile. The fan profile is very silent, won't even reach 50% at 80C. Again, this is a reference card at stock, and it reaches 80C. I have absolutely no airflow problems with my case, and the drivers themselves won't even spin the fan a bit more to try and keep it at the low 70s people seem to be obsessed about.

You really don't need to worry if you're not reaching 80C.

80's are NOT acceptable.

AMD seems to think otherwise, considering their reference design will allow the card to easily reach 80s.

 

[bigsnyder]

If you continue to run it that hot, it is more than likely going to die a premature death. Running hot doesn't typically cause an instantaneous issue, its something that happens over time.

And if your GPU is at 89C, I cringe to think what your VRM's are at.

Tell that to the guys over at overclock.net. Granted most try to avoid temps in the 80s, but it is not an uncommon for the 7950 without 3rd party cooler.

 

[3DVagabond]

HERE'S infrared images of reference 7970, 7970GHz, and reference 680, idle and load. They also show the VRM temps. 80° is not an issue.