AMD Vega builders thread - rx 64 & rx 56

[DrMrLordX]

Sounds like you have a good card overall. What kind of clocks are you seeing from your card during heavy usage, such as a benchmark like Superposition?

 

[zinfamous]

Oh, my nitro 64 finally arrived on Monday, but I haven't had much time to fiddle with it. I will also need to reinstall my Win 10 and just re-do everything I have so far done on this new system (to get Win 10 properly activated), so not sure when I will get to mess around with it. Also....I rarely spend much time with overclocking in the past, but I do want to fiddle with the voltage settings and power for the Vega 64 as people suggest, if only to reduce heat (kind of a tight case!--put my 2700X on a corsair AIO, though, to hopefully reduce the in-case heat...first time I ever did anything with water).

It sounds like I just use the Radeon software to do this with Vega, and Ryzen Master to fiddle with the 2700?
I launched maybe two games so far, briefly: GW2, which shows no improvement to frames at 1440p compared to my 280X--though I've read that this is usually the case with MMOS anyway, because performance is largely dependent on the server? Still. 45-50fps @1440p is rather deflating. Plus, griddy graphic glitches. On this game, and FF13, which I have been playing for some reason. I am thinking this is related to the current Beta drivers that I installed for some reason? It doesn't seem like a heat issue....

 

[Krteq]

Hi guys,

yesterday, I finally had some time to mess with my reference RX Vega 56 I bought from second hand 2 weeks ago. I've put a EK waterblock on it, flashed BIOS from Vega 64 WC edition and it's working fine so far

Anyway, could you guys please share your wattman settings (screenshot will be enough), or can you please advice how to tune it in right way?

 

[DrMrLordX]

Anyway, could you guys please share your wattman settings (screenshot will be enough), or can you please advice how to tune it in right way?

Ask @loccothan since he also has a watercooled Vega. You should be able to hit higher clocks than us aircooled guys.

 

[Despoiler]

I decided to play around with the power save BIOS on my Pulse. Power save + turbo profile the card uses 190-205w. It's really not that much slower than standard bios + custom overclock either. It's maybe 3-5% slower, but that doesn't make the framerates dip below where I need them.

 

[EXCellR8]

I'm looking to buy a 56 soon to play around with, just waiting for the prices to fall a bit more. I really like the pulse cards but I might try for a Strix this time around.

 

[Justinbaileyman]

What is the better card here, the Sapphire Radeon Vega 64 Reference Card Or the Asus Arez Strix Vega 64?
Both are on sale at newegg right now and with no new news on the next gen AMD Cards and being sick of waiting waiting waiting I am really feeling the urge to just get one of these to play with till next gen AMD GPU's come out.
I Tried to get my self to purchase a Nvidia RTX Card I really did but every time I went to click the check out button I got a sick feeling in my stomach.So I say screw it and todays the day!!
The Saphhire card is cheaper but I would get 3 free games with the Asus Card.
Also is there any real difference between a Asus Arez Strix and the Asus Rog Strix besides the back plate and logo??

 

[DrMrLordX]

Since NV basically forced Asus to use the ROG name on NV cards (more or less), Asus had to create the Arez nameplate for AMD cards. So my suspicion is that the Arez is just a rebrand.

 

[zinfamous]

What is the better card here, the Sapphire Radeon Vega 64 Reference Card Or the Asus Arez Strix Vega 64?
Both are on sale at newegg right now and with no new news on the next gen AMD Cards and being sick of waiting waiting waiting I am really feeling the urge to just get one of these to play with till next gen AMD GPU's come out.
I Tried to get my self to purchase a Nvidia RTX Card I really did but every time I went to click the check out button I got a sick feeling in my stomach.So I say screw it and todays the day!!
The Saphhire card is cheaper but I would get 3 free games with the Asus Card.
Also is there any real difference between a Asus Arez Strix and the Asus Rog Strix besides the back plate and logo??

All AMD cards come with the 3 free games, even Polaris. (or should--it is weird if you are seeing one that doesn't advertise it. Is it used?) If you are looking for an AMD card as a holdover for the next gen, and aren't even considering Polaris, then you should probably go with the 56 and not the 64...well that depends on the sale, I guess. I was going with the 56 until the Sapphire Nitro 64 went on sale to the same price of the then-56 cards available...or even cheaper. Most 56 (I think) can update the Bios to a 64 and be tweaked towards the same performance level, for a good bit less $$$ (outside of those recent sales).

Ah OK I see. $570 "sale" is a pretty terrible sale price for the 64 these days. The Nitro+ was $499 when I bought it a month+ ago, and that pops up whenever it is back in stock. I am not sure why the Sapphire Ref card does not list the game bundle, but it should. I suspect that it isn't new...$450 is also pretty cheap and certainly brings it below the 56 in cost, but I'd still rather have a cooler-running 56. And as I recall, those "Arez" ne Strix cards run hot for the AIB versions of Vega. I think for Polaris/Vega, (and AMD in general), you usually can't go wrong with Power Color and Sapphire.

Is the game bundle worth that extra $120? Well, let's see. They claim it is a $150 value:

--AC Odyssey
--Star Control
--Strange Brigade

AC Odyssey: This is a fantastic game and I am enjoying it thoroughly, and I get easily tired of the repetitive classic AC mechanics. This is different from the classic ones (if you haven't played the previous: Origins, these two have more RPG mechanics and real open-ended questing and world). Though it remains highly repetitive in many ways (most of the daily quests/contracts are just endless fetch garbage; bandit camps are endlessly capable of being wiped out, etc), it is all stuff that you really can't do anyway, because it just overlevels you. Anyhoo--it is also a visually gorgeous, MASSIVE open world type of game. It's worth the $50 price

Star Control: I don't know because I haven't played it yet. I should have tried it out by now, I just haven't. I've seen very little mention of it, tbh, so maybe people aren't all that into it? It seemed to get some decent reviews early on. ...can't really comment.

Strange Brigade. ...this game is crap. It's fun for about 5 minutes, but it's really a short shoot-em-up co-op map game with "puzzles" that has little replay value. it looks nice, kinda, but it's basically a tech demo. ....it runs very well on my 3440x1440p with the 64, though (75-80 fps), which is why I think it is included. This game is maybe worth ~$10. I would have been angry if I paid more than $5, though.

 

[Justinbaileyman]

So those are not good deals then?? That Asus card usually goes for like $750+ bucks.
I heard that the Asus card was the coolest running of them all as far as air cooled AIB cards go.
I wanted the Power color red devil 64 but the reviews on newegg say this is the worst company for RMA's and Customer Service being non existent.

 

[EXCellR8]

I'd opt for either ASUS or Sapphire nowadays. Prices on brand new Vega cards are still much too high if you ask me but hopefully we get some discounts next month with the holiday shopping. Last year's deals on Newegg were absolute garbage; I don't think I grabbed anything. This year should be better if you're shopping AMD cards.

 

[Justinbaileyman]

Well the Asus Arez Strix Vega 64 is sitting in my cart. Just trying to convince myself to pull the trigger.
Watching reviews on youtube for this card right now.

 

[Justinbaileyman]

OK well nm on the Asus Arez Strix. After watching a crap ton of reviews on it, I guess it turns out its one of the worst Vega cards to get as the frequencies bounce all over the place. Looks like the Sapphire Nitro and the Power Color Red Devil are the top dogs to get.
So if those companies are reading this, could you please run a promo sale again sometime this week and I would be more then happy to snag one.
Crossing my fingers on the Red Devil though cause that is the one that usually tends to drop down to $499.99 with the the 3 free games AMD promo gift.

 

[mdram]

from my research powercolor customer service is not good, but sapphire is.

im looking at the same cards

 

[Justinbaileyman]

Not sure if my O.C.D. will let me get that Nitro card though as it has 2 large fans and one small. every time I look at it I kinda cringe. I need all fans to be the same size LOL

 

[zinfamous]

Not sure if my O.C.D. will let me get that Nitro card though as it has 2 large fans and one small. every time I look at it I kinda cringe. I need all fans to be the same size LOL

It is weird. Mine runs really, really loud, too. It winds up, winds down, winds up, winds down, then winds up and stays for a while. It winds up when idle. ...obviously there is something wrong with drivers, power, maybe the card itself....whatever. But I've been too lazy to deal with it yet, haha.

 

[EXCellR8]

That is a bit odd... and I prefer 2 fans over 3 also, unless it's a dual GPU like HD 7990 or something lol. I also hate stubby PCB models where the cooler extends past the end--something about that just irks me. Maybe it's the power connectors in the middle idk

Still trying to grab a Vega 56 but they're still a bit too expensive... if I could manage one for around $325 I'd be good with that but looks like I gotta wait a bit longer. I also don't know if I want another reference or AIB. I think I might just try to grab another Sapphire reference or the MSI Airboost model.

 

[Justinbaileyman]

That is a bit odd... and I prefer 2 fans over 3 also, unless it's a dual GPU like HD 7990 or something lol. I also hate stubby PCB models where the cooler extends past the end--something about that just irks me. Maybe it's the power connectors in the middle idk

Still trying to grab a Vega 56 but they're still a bit too expensive... if I could manage one for around $325 I'd be good with that but looks like I gotta wait a bit longer. I also don't know if I want another reference or AIB. I think I might just try to grab another Sapphire reference or the MSI Airboost model.

I know exactly what you mean.. I hate that card with the power plug in the center of the card!! Yuck!!
I also would rather buy a GPU with only 2 fans instead of 3.
Anyways I just dont understand why the heck the prices cant stay $499.99 once they drop to that price.
Stupid newegg keeps changing the prices. One day the price will be $499.99 then the next day it will go up to $599 or $699.
I cant buy a new card from either Nvidia or AMD at this point till the cards get back to MSRP.
Maybe I will get lucky and it'll happen for the early black friday sale.
Starting to think about getting that Sapphire Reference card for the $449.99 with the 3 free games.
Any way to underclock and undervolt the reference cards so they run cool for 24/7 use?

 

[mdram]

Any way to underclock and undervolt the reference cards so they run cool for 24/7 use?

there are a few vids on youtube about it, some do use the reference cards

 

[DrMrLordX]

It is with some reluctance that I have retired my VegaFE today. It was, and still is, a very good card. At least to me anyway. I won't miss the driver situation, though.

Long live Radeon VII.

 

[B-Riz]

So I finally got myself a Vega 56. MSI Airboost from fleabay. I just could not bring myself to buy a 1660 Ti for near $280, this was $220 after shipping. Sadly, I think it was a former mining card. Will see how it performs and if it needs a re-paste. If I do, am going to use Ceramique 2 after reading how a lot of other pastes dry out and have to be re-done too often.

It will be going in the 4790k first, but, I have the itch and may build an 8700k to run until Zen2 is out. (Micro Center FTW lol)

 

[DrMrLordX]

Which pastes were you considering that dry out too often on GPUs? I haven't heard of MX4 having that problem. Kryonaut can allegedly dry out/degrade at temps higher than 80C so it might not be appropriate.

 

[B-Riz]

Which pastes were you considering that dry out too often on GPUs? I haven't heard of MX4 having that problem. Kryonaut can allegedly dry out/degrade at temps higher than 80C so it might not be appropriate.

I was considering Hydronaut, but then a reddit post advised against it. I have Arctic Silver 5 and Ceramique 2. MX-4 looks good, but then I would have to order it and wait, vs. using the Ceramique 2 asap.

 

[DrMrLordX]

TIM in the hand is worth two tubes in the mail.

 

[Krteq]

I don' know if it has been posted before.

There is a "new" Sapphire Vega 64 BIOS in TPU Video BIOS Collection with newest build number - 016.001.001.000.008892

Flashed it over Vega 64 016.001.001.000.008737 version on my Gigabyte Vega 56 last week and it's working like a charm, no issues found yet