HD7870 support

[STaRGaZeR]

I used search but didn't find anything about AB's support for the HD7870, so I decided to open this thread. Sorry if this has been aswered elsewhere. I wonder how's the support for the following:

- Core/Memory OC.
- Voltage tuning.

What cards are supported? There seems to be a lot of custom designs, but the PCB itself looks the same to me in all of them (so maybe the all use AMD's reference design?)

Cheers!

[Danny Nissan]

I think its easiest to just install the program and test if it works or not. Remember to unlock voltage control in settings or you will not be able to change voltage.

[STaRGaZeR]

Thing is, I want to know it before buying the card, because depending on the answer I might not buy it

I have read reviews where Windows just froze when opening AB.

[mohiuddin]

Most probably reference PCB cards ( actually the voltage regulator that being used in reference cards) and all msi cards are supported by msiaftrbrnr.
. But volt-tweaking is always at the level of 'user's risk'..:p

[STaRGaZeR]

Yeah, that's what I thought. I'd prefer a confirmation thou. I'm between Sapphire and MSI, but MSI doesn't seem to be available in my country, while the Sapphire is.

This is the reference card (TPU photo): http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/A...front_full.jpg

This is the Sapphire card (HardwareHeaven). Remove the extra "d" in the link to see the image, the forum doesn't allow writing the proper URL: http://www.harddwareheaven.com/revie...-oc_cooler.jpg

Both look the same, but I can't see what regulator Sapphire is using unfortunately.

[mohiuddin]

^^ there's a saying no risk no gain..
or ask unwinder or go through the review sites...

[STaRGaZeR]

I've already read all the reviews of this card and none of them talk about the voltage regulator unfortunately, nor they have better shots of the PWM area.

Do you know how to ask him directly?

[sykozis]

Here's the closest you'll get for confirmation tonight.

Afterburner only "officially" supports MSI cards. If MSI sells it, support will likely be added for it at some point.

My suggestion would be to either buy the Sapphire card and use TRIXX....or buy an MSI card and try using Afterburner. In either case, if need be you can use AMD's Overdrive page to overclock until support is added to Afterburner.

Anyway, here's Unwinder's Profile page Just click on the "Contact Info" tab and click where it says "Send a private message to Unwinder"

[kpo6969]

The latest TriXX v 4.1.0 (01/04/2012) just added support for 7970. No newer version or Sapphire support for their cards that have since been released.

[STaRGaZeR]

@sykozis

Does it work with your ASUS?

I like the MSI card, but they don't sell it here, so that's out of the question unfortunately. It's either the Sapphire or nothing. I don't really care if support is official or unofficial as long as it works.

I really need it for a simple reason. I have a 120Hz monitor, and my current 5850, when operating at default, is constantly changing core and memory clocks even when opening and closing folders in Windows. This by itself isn't a problem, the problem is that each change comes with a screen flicker, which is unvearable. Afterburner's 2D/3D profiles makes it disappear, because it forces one clock all the time in 2D. Not to mention the ability to overclock past CCC limits and overvolting of course. This may or may not be a problem with the 7870, but since I don't know, I just want to be sure.

I'm fine if voltage tweaking doesn't work, but core/memory clocks are a must

Take a look at this: http://techreport.com/articles.x/22705/8. Voltage tweaking works on the XFX 7870 Black Edition, no mention of clocks.

Now take a look at its PCB (remove the extra "d" in "harddware"): http://www.harddwareheaven.com/revie...-be_cooler.jpg

The Sapphire one (again remove the extra "d" in "hardware"): http://www.harddwareheaven.com/revie...-oc_cooler.jpg

Both look identical to the reference PCB. Ahh, if I could get a confirmation...

@kpo6969

Wow, talk about good support right there Sapphire

[sykozis]

Originally Posted by STaRGaZeR

@sykozis

Does it work with your ASUS?

I like the MSI card, but they don't sell it here, so that's out of the question unfortunately. It's either the Sapphire or nothing. I don't really care if support is official or unofficial as long as it works.

I really need it for a simple reason. I have a 120Hz monitor, and my current 5850, when operating at default, is constantly changing core and memory clocks even when opening and closing folders in Windows. This by itself isn't a problem, the problem is that each change comes with a screen flicker, which is unvearable. Afterburner's 2D/3D profiles makes it disappear, because it forces one clock all the time in 2D. Not to mention the ability to overclock past CCC limits and overvolting of course. This may or may not be a problem with the 7870, but since I don't know, I just want to be sure.

I'm fine if voltage tweaking doesn't work, but core/memory clocks are a must

Take a look at this: http://techreport.com/articles.x/22705/8. Voltage tweaking works on the XFX 7870 Black Edition, no mention of clocks.

Now take a look at its PCB (remove the extra "d" in "harddware"): http://www.harddwareheaven.com/revie...-be_cooler.jpg

The Sapphire one (again remove the extra "d" in "hardware"): http://www.harddwareheaven.com/revie...-oc_cooler.jpg

Both look identical to the reference PCB. Ahh, if I could get a confirmation...

@kpo6969

Wow, talk about good support right there Sapphire

I don't use Afterburner. It's OSD doesn't work for World of Warcraft with 64bit executable and nVidia Inspector does the same job for overclocking, but also allows access to additional features for nVidia users. With AMD/ATI cards, I use CCC and Fraps as I don't overclock beyond the limits of CCC anyway.

[hanson]

Hello, I wanna know how is your card (7870) voltage reading??
Mine is weird, in Afterburner 2.2.0 beta 15 or even with GPUZ 0.6.0 sometimes it reads max 1.60volt on mycard.... stock is 1.218volt, I dont Overclock it right now untill it reads normal. I use Cat 12.3 WHQL.
But mycard works normal never freeze or lockedup or crash in gaming. But why it reads to much volt??

[razor988]

Originally Posted by hanson

Hello, I wanna know how is your card (7870) voltage reading??
Mine is weird, in Afterburner 2.2.0 beta 15 or even with GPUZ 0.6.0 sometimes it reads max 1.60volt on mycard.... stock is 1.218volt, I dont Overclock it right now untill it reads normal. I use Cat 12.3 WHQL.
But mycard works normal never freeze or lockedup or crash in gaming. But why it reads to much volt??

I have the same problem and when I tried to OC at 1100 mhz(core clock),using afterburner, gpu-z reads 1.998 V!! but only for one second. Also msi afterburner 2.10 doesn't read the voltage. I think it's a gpu-z problem's because in game the graphic card works perfectly and temp is ok, maybe this programs don't support yet the 7870 (I apologize for bad english)

[STaRGaZeR]

Same here. I see 1.60V spikes, but also 0.8V dips during gaming. Clocks are always constant (1250/1500), so in case of the dips the card should freeze, reboot or whatever, and it doesn't. I think it's just a bogus read, don't worry too much about it.

[razor988]

Originally Posted by STaRGaZeR

Same here. I see 1.60V spikes, but also 0.8V dips during gaming. Clocks are always constant (1250/1500), so in case of the dips the card should freeze, reboot or whatever, and it doesn't. I think it's just a bogus read, don't worry too much about it.

Can I overclock normally to 1100 mhz clock core? and for memory?

[STaRGaZeR]

Originally Posted by razor988

Can I overclock normally to 1100 mhz clock core? and for memory?

Overclock always at your own risk. Those spikes look bogus, but I can't know for sure.

Each card overclocks differently, just find the limits of yours.

[gedo]

You shouldn't use multiple programs accessing voltage readings at the same time - it introduces spikes.