[FireBean]

I just recently bought this card to take advantage of the "Never Settle Reloaded" offering that is being promoted. This seems to be a new model and I cannot seem to find any reviews on the card. It looks like that the PCB is based off the Vapor-X. To me, that seemed like both a good and bad thing. I was worried that voltage control would be locked. Now, MSI Afterburner cannot seem to unlock voltage control, but the Sapphire Trixx program allowed me to push the voltage to 1.3v. There is one thing that seems to be missing from the card and that is the temperature sensorsfor the VRMs. Now, it being a new model, the temps sensors might not be added into the profiles of MSI Afterburner, GPU-Z, HWinfo32, OpenHardware monitor, ect. I'm really hoping that it does have them. Overclocking seems to pretty decent as well at 1100/1450 at 1.25v in Crysis 3 (thank you AMD!). Even with an ASIC value of 55.4%, it seemed pretty decent. Although, I'm starting to wonder if these card were intended for the Vapor-X line but had terrible ASIC score. I actually ordered the exact same card for a customer build and it had an ASIC value of 58%. Also, the BIOS also seems to be locked in someway. I can copy the BIOS easily with GPU-Z but RBE is unable to read the BIOS.

And finally here are the pictures. If you want some more detailed pictures, then please let me know. I'm going to be slapping a waterblock on the card to see how well it does on water.[IMG

 

[Droviin]

How easy was it to remove the heatsink? I'm kinda nervous about removing them, but I want to replace the TIM as I'm running mine in a hot environment.

 

[FireBean]

they are attached by push-pins with springs, but they use THICK thermal pads for them. I would try using a stronger spring and maybe a small nut and bolt to increase contact pressure.

 

[Dhalgren65]

Hey!
Non-reference cards do not come w/the 4 way spring steel brace that are on reference types.
IIR they are avail thru FrozenCpu & PPC's, as well as other outlets like Swiftech
(specific to 7900 series, spacing-so 6950/5850 probably wont work)
these work very well at providing adequate pressure.
Probably easier to find than nuts/bolts.
(they come w/MCW82-7900 from Swiftech)
TIM was thick on both of my 2L's.Replaced for 2-4c drop.
2L's also have a separate metal plate w/pads for memory-looks different than yours.
I am also able to use HS7950 from them w/a small fan for VRM cooling.
MCW-82 7900/HS 7950 recommended...

 

[Droviin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireBean

they are attached by push-pins with springs, but they use THICK thermal pads for them. I would try using a stronger spring and maybe a small nut and bolt to increase contact pressure.

Quote:

Hey!
Non-reference cards do not come w/the 4 way spring steel brace that are on reference types.
IIR they are avail thru FrozenCpu & PPC's, as well as other outlets like Swiftech
(specific to 7900 series, spacing-so 6950/5850 probably wont work)
these work very well at providing adequate pressure.
Probably easier to find than nuts/bolts.
(they come w/MCW82-7900 from Swiftech)
TIM was thick on both of my 2L's.Replaced for 2-4c drop.
2L's also have a separate metal plate w/pads for memory-looks different than yours.
I am also able to use HS7950 from them w/a small fan for VRM cooling.
MCW-82 7900/HS 7950 recommended...

Thanks everyone! I'll look into the FrozenCPU spring steel braces.

 

[Derpinheimer]

Nice looking card... although there doesnt appear to be a support bar to prevent sagging?

 

[Ryude]

The ASIC quality on my 3L is 60.5%, so far I've heard between 55-63% ASIC quality on the 3L's.

 

[FireBean]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derpinheimer

Nice looking card... although there doesnt appear to be a support bar to prevent sagging?

Doesn't seem to need it. Doesn't weigh that much...
Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryude

The ASIC quality on my 3L is 60.5%, so far I've heard between 55-63% ASIC quality on the 3L's.

*Sigh* I'm starting to think I should of gone with a 2L...

 

[Pararrhexis]

I am wondering the same thing, just ordered the 3l. Wondering If I should just send it back for a different 7950/ a 7970 before I even open it.

 

[Derpinheimer]

ASIC doesnt mean a whole lot. So far no connection has been made between it and anything.

Vdroop - no
Power usage - no
Overclocking potential - no
Temps - ? Maybe ?

 

[Pararrhexis]

I'm more concerned about the unavailability of a full water block for it since its a non-reference design.

 

[tonyco]

I picked up one of these cards last week, because they seemed like a good deal and to get the AMD reloaded bundle. I like how the card works so far with Crysis 3. I have ASIC value of 66.5%, just for another datapoint.

 

[FireBean]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pararrhexis

I'm more concerned about the unavailability of a full water block for it since its a non-reference design.

You can always use a GPU Only block and have a fan blowing on the VRMs. I Still cannot get a temp reading on the VRMs...

 

[Pararrhexis]

That's what someone had just suggested in the owners club thread. Definitely something to consider, just feel like it might be a better option to switch it out and not worry myself about it.

Do you feel like the card is worth what you spent in relation to other 7950's?

 

[Droviin]

I just picked up a steel spring brace. Hopefully it'll fit. I'll report back when I've got the card and spring.

Also, I assume that if the spring contacts close to a resister, chip or diode, then I should leave it off.

 

[RavageTheEarth]

I believe the ASIC on boost cards is always lower. Correct me if I'm wrong. I believe its because the voltage is higher during boost?? Something like that???

 

[Dhalgren65]

The spring brackets have small rectangular rubbers that contact PCB...
4 in all on the 90 degree long "box" bars.
Should preclude contact.
"Spring" arms are bent AWAY from board and at full tight arms themselves don't contact PCB or soldered surface components.
If yours does not have small rubbers-try to fab some.

 

[Dhalgren65]

I've read that lower ASIC means more leakage.
Higher ASIC = tighter regulation.

 

[Derpinheimer]

I have [probably] the leakiest 7950 out there, and its 86.8% ASIC.~8.5% leakage

 

[tsm106]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RavageTheEarth

I believe the ASIC on boost cards is always lower. Correct me if I'm wrong. I believe its because the voltage is higher during boost?? Something like that???

Boost cards don't go by asic, they have preset max voltage regardless of asic. Non-boost cards have voltage determined by asic %.