Radeon 5970 Overclocking: The VRM Temperature Bottleneck

[Manicdan]

i just realized how much i hate the name 5970, simply due to my own dyslexia. i was about to tell led he had a typo, when its my inability to read ATIs numbers

[skugpezz]

I'm a bit disappointed that AMD made the same mistake that they made with the 4000 series. The furmark issue was one of their biggest pr blunders of that generation and I had figured AMD is a company that can learn from its mistakes. Maybe they will finally learn with the next generation.

But, IMO, the VRM problem isn't as big of an issue as some people are trying to make it out to be. For the vast majority of users this is going to be a total non-issue. It plays most games and runs most GPGPU apps just fine, even overclocked. For those who are concerned about running these particular apps or long term reliability then they have plenty of other options. They can wait for a 4 phase version, get 2 5870s, watercool it, or save their money for something else. Nobody is making you spend a huge wad of cash on something you feel is inadequate.

Also, comparing a 295 to a 5970 is laughable. Try comparing a 295 to a 5870 instead. They have about the same performance but the 5870 costs less, doesn't have multi-gpu issues, dumps less heat, consumes less power, overclocks higher, also has 4 VRM phases, and software voltage control - not to mention supports DX11, etc.

comparing a gtx 295 to a 5970 is quite fine. Those are the fastest cards from both sides, the only difference is nvidia FAILING this time.

[LedHed]

comparing a gtx 295 to a 5970 is quite fine. Those are the fastest cards from both sides, the only difference is nvidia FAILING this time.

how long did you think a card can hold the crown? As soon as the next generation comes out they are knocked out of the top spot; though with the 5800 series the 295 wasn't knocked off until the 5970 which was obvious it would take the crown.

[Solus Corvus]

tell me another GPU with dual GPU on a single card that was made within a year of the 5970. No body said it was a perfect comparison, but it's the closest one we have right now. You can't compare the 295 with the 5870 because a dual GPU card produces more heat, this is why I compared the 295 to the 5970. There just aren't any other cards out to compare to that are dual GPU besides the 295; I guess you could also compare it to the 4870X2, but we know how hot they got also.

It's a ridiculous comparison, IMO. At stock the 5970 can run these apps no problem and blows away even an overclocked 295. And you can easily clock the 5970 to 800~900 and play most games just fine, up to ~1000mhz in some cases. After playing with one I can guarantee I would pick a 5970 over a 295 100% of the time.

The 5870 vs 295 comparison is reasonable since they have about the same performance. It's not ATI's fault that Nvidia needs two gpus to get there right now. You want a card with beefy VRMs that can match a 295 in terms of speed and overclockability, well there it is.

[LedHed]

It's a ridiculous comparison, IMO. At stock the 5970 can run these apps no problem and blows away even an overclocked 295. And you can easily clock the 5970 to 800~900 and play most games just fine, up to ~1000mhz in some cases. After playing with one I can guarantee I would pick a 5970 over a 295 100% of the time.

The 5870 vs 295 comparison is reasonable since they have about the same performance. It's not ATI's fault that Nvidia needs two gpus to get there right now. You want a card with beefy VRMs that can match a 295 in terms of speed and overclockability, well there it is.

Now you are saying that NVIDIA should have made the 295 faster (as in can see the future 11 months down the road) and it's not ATI's fault? You do realize the 295 came out 11 months ago and even the 5870 couldn't knock it off (which was a shock to most). No one in here has said once that the 295 is the same performance as the 5970, we are talking about heat output and the 295 is the highest available right now from NVIDIA and the only other 2 GPU single card being made.

People still continue to try and turn this thread into performance 295 vs 5970, but that has nothing to do with what the thread is about. Thermal complaints by AnAndTech is what this thread is about. Everyone realizes the 5970 is fastest, it's no secret. I mean hell that should have been obvious when the 5870 hit, since the 5870 could knock off the 285 by a large margin and the 295 is only made up of 2x GTX 275. This let everyone know that the next X2 card from ATI would take the crown back to the red side.

[skugpezz]

how long did you think a card can hold the crown? As soon as the next generation comes out they are knocked out of the top spot; though with the 5800 series the 295 wasn't knocked off until the 5970 which was obvious it would take the crown.

I get your point, but that is not my point. My point is comparing the fatsest cards from both company is completely fine. It is because of why nvidia is behind and is falling behind even more.

EDIT: comparing the gtx 285 to a 4870 was ok . comparing a 4870 x2 to gtx 295 was ok RIGHT????

[Solus Corvus]

Now you are saying that NVIDIA should have made the 295 faster (as in can see the future 11 months down the road) and it's not ATI's fault? You do realize the 295 came out 11 months ago and even the 5870 couldn't knock it off (which was a shock to most). No one in here has said once that the 295 is the same performance as the 5970, we are talking about heat output and the 295 is the highest available right now from NVIDIA and the only other 2 GPU single card being made.

I'm not saying Nvidia should have done anything to the 295, only that RIGHT NOW it is the best card from Nvidia and it is easily matched by a single 5870.

People still continue to try and turn this thread into performance 295 vs 5970, but that has nothing to do with what the thread is about. Thermal complaints by AnAndTech is what this thread is about. Everyone realizes the 5970 is fastest, it's no secret. I mean hell that should have been obvious when the 5870 hit, since the 5870 could knock off the 285 by a large margin and the 295 is only made up of 2x GTX 275. This let everyone know that the next X2 card from ATI would take the crown back to the red side.

Even if you artificially limit yourself to comparing only dual gpu solutions and refuse to factor in performance the 5970 is still much better then the 295. The 5970 consumes less power, dumps less heat, and has software voltage control. It might not overclock (on average) as high as the 295 on the stock cooler at stock volts because of the VRM temps - but that's a pretty minor thing to raise such a big stink about. Oh no, ATI didn't build enough overclocking ability into the card for my tastes.

[RoadconeTuning]

actually doesnt an oc'd 5850 or 5870 run with a 295 in most cases?

and back on topic... what is the limit for VRM temps for the 5850... mine have peaked at 128C and i stopped it because i thought they might burst into flames and take out a city block...

[zalbard]

and back on topic... what is the limit for VRM temps for the 5850... mine have peaked at 128C and i stopped it because i thought they might burst into flames and take out a city block...

I suggest keeping it under 80C. Although it's rated for 120C, but doubt it'll live long at this temp...

[STEvil]

Anything over 80c for a VRM is unacceptable.

[Dainas]

Anything over 80c for a VRM is unacceptable.

Well get used to it, undercooled/underbuilt VRM blowing up is an old story. Just look at the lowend to midrange motherboard market, and thats with cpus that the companies advertise as being compatible with no overclocking. I'm surprised were not more plagued by it in the gpu sector, considering how the whole industry cuts corners when it can.

ATI only deserves flak due to their pr mouthing off as the 5970 being an overclocking monster.

[STEvil]

Well get used to it, undercooled/underbuilt VRM blowing up is an old story. Just look at the lowend to midrange motherboard market, and thats with cpus that the companies advertise them as being compatible with with no overclocking. I'm surprised were not more plagued by it in the gpu sector, considering how the whole industry cuts corners when it can.

ATI only deserves flak due to their pr mouthing off as the 5970 being an overclocking monster.

Look at my sig...

[Dainas]

Look at my sig...

omg, well I sympathize with you greatly.