[MoBeeJ]

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3986/msi_radeon_hd_6970_2gb_lightning_overclocked_video_card_review/index.html

Quote:

The Lightning series continues to be at the pinnacle of performance for people who want the most out of their graphics card. If you don't mind spending closer to $370 US to not only get more performance, but also an awesome cooler, then we're sure you won't be disappointed.

Not only is this just another great Lightning series card, but this is the best HD 6970 we've tested to date. MSI do a fantastic job of laying down the gauntlet and that hasn't changed here.

 

[MetalBeerSolid]

Thankfully they fixed the hideous design of the TF3 on the 480 lightning.

 

[james_ant]

It's about time they start releasing some custom design 6970's.

 

[bulmung]

Can I buy one of these in the states yet? I am about to breakdown and just get the TF3 6950 instead.

 

[Razi3l]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetalBeerSolid Thankfully they fixed the hideous design of the TF3 on the 480 lightning.

I think the 480 looked good. If it was green for NVIDIA, and the Radeons were red then it would work.

 

[hollowtek]

that's not bad at all...

 

[saulin]

Pretty much GTX 580 performance when overclocked for $370, but their sample didn't have much extra overclocking headroom

 

[Razi3l]

Quote:

Originally Posted by saulin Pretty much GTX 580 performance when overclocked for $370, but their sample didn't have much extra overclocking headroom

Pretty much. Not bad. The 6970 DirectCU II goes much further so that's the one to buy between these 2 i think, but it is 3 slots.

 

[Foolsmasher]

1565 Mhz on the memory?

Jeez, not bad MSI. Mine gets unstable over 1500 even on water.

 

[Hans2k]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razi3l Pretty much. Not bad. The 6970 DirectCU II goes much further so that's the one to buy between these 2 i think, but it is 3 slots.

Saw a guy with a hd6970 Twin Frozr III reaching 1100mhz here a week ago, but i cant find the thread atm.

 

[Officer Farva]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulmung Can I buy one of these in the states yet? I am about to breakdown and just get the TF3 6950 instead.

Just became available on Newegg my friend.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-581-_-Product

 

[psi_guy]

Wow, impressive card!

 

[bulmung]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Officer Farva Just became available on Newegg my friend. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-581-_-Product

OMG thank you, I have been checking every day for a week. Ordered one, +rep to you.

 

[karsa_orlong]

In the review it says it similar to the reference 6970s in sound...doesn't that mean this is still a somewhat loud card? Better to get a reference and an aftermarket cooler no? The fact this is only 2 slots is nice though.

 

[MSIalex]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razi3l;13052488
Pretty much. Not bad. The 6970 DirectCU II goes much further so that's the one to buy between these 2 i think, but it is 3 slots.

How do you say the DirectCU "goes much further"?

Do you base it on one single review, or multiple review(s)?

And what's the limit? 1100MHz? 1200MHz? Air or LN2? I don't see how the DirectCU II is much more superior card, both cards cater to slightly different markets.

I just think of it this way: a single GPU card, if you're doing 3 slots on the cooler, you lose ALL BENEFITS of having a PCIe_1 and PCIe_4 configuration. Who cares about temperatures when you've got a badass overclocked card, right?

We stuck with a 2 slot design because having 3 slots makes no sense if you want to do Crossfire.

 

[Artikbot]

Woah things like this make me wanna ditch my possible future HD6950 and go for a 6970, after all, it's just like 60€ more for an overclocking beast

Incredible speeds. And considering my dead HD5870 wouldn't go past 900MHz... Derp de derp, DERP. Translated into english, NEVER buy Sapphire custom PCBs.

 

[JCPUser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSIalex;13058757
How do you say the DirectCU "goes much further"?

Do you base it on one single review, or multiple review(s)?

And what's the limit? 1100MHz? 1200MHz? Air or LN2? I don't see how the DirectCU II is much more superior card, both cards cater to slightly different markets.

I just think of it this way: a single GPU card, if you're doing 3 slots on the cooler, you lose ALL BENEFITS of having a PCIe_1 and PCIe_4 configuration. Who cares about temperatures when you've got a badass overclocked card, right?

We stuck with a 2 slot design because having 3 slots makes no sense if you want to do Crossfire.

And thank you for that as I just bought two of these for CFX.

Hoping for at least 1050 core at 1.3V. Just waiting for bulldozer before putting them in my rig.

Quick question that hopefully you can answer... Does MSI bin the GPUs they use for the non-ref PCB cards like the 6970 Lightning? Something like the 570 TF II which is a ref PCB with MSI cooler I would think is not binned -- but for the custom PCB 580 and 6970 lightning cards I was curious.

Thanks

 

[Artikbot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCPUser;13058995
Does MSI bin the GPUs they use for the non-ref PCB cards like the 6970 Lightning?

I think they do since the fiasco of the first GTX460 Hawk.

 

[Razi3l]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSIalex;13058757
How do you say the DirectCU "goes much further"?
Do you base it on one single review, or multiple review(s)?

And what's the limit? 1100MHz? 1200MHz? Air or LN2? I don't see how the DirectCU II is much more superior card, both cards cater to slightly different markets.

What I should have said (which I meant) was that I would buy that one at present... It's only £10 more than a reference card and MSI's Lightning cards are never so cheap at launch but It will probably get cheaper by the time I buy one. They obviously they overclock much better than reference 6970s. They are also both kind of designed for LN2 and whatnot so running them on air won't separate them too much. I just saw the ASUS card run 1100Mhz a few times but then there aren't many reviews of the MSI one either. But on air they are about the same, not sure how different they are on LN2 but how many average users run that?

Quote:

I just think of it this way: a single GPU card, if you're doing 3 slots on the cooler, you lose ALL BENEFITS of having a PCIe_1 and PCIe_4 configuration. Who cares about temperatures when you've got a badass overclocked card, right? We stuck with a 2 slot design because having 3 slots makes no sense if you want to do Crossfire.

That's true. It sucks when one of the cards has really bad temps because of cramped spaces. I do think the 3 slot coolers on those cards are a bit much. MSI did a much better job with 2 slots, for sure. Once Bulldozer is out and about I'm thinking of a new setup and getting 2 6970s for eyefininty and I'll get either the Lightning or DCII and watercool.

 

[retrogamer999]

this card is f-ing fast!
Quote:

How do you say the DirectCU "goes much further"?

Do you base it on one single review, or multiple review(s)?

And what's the limit? 1100MHz? 1200MHz? Air or LN2? I don't see how the DirectCU II is much more superior card, both cards cater to slightly different markets.

I just think of it this way: a single GPU card, if you're doing 3 slots on the cooler, you lose ALL BENEFITS of having a PCIe_1 and PCIe_4 configuration. Who cares about temperatures when you've got a badass overclocked card, right?

We stuck with a 2 slot design because having 3 slots makes no sense if you want to do Crossfire.

i think i would care about temperatures as i would want the card to last a while if im going to invest that much ca$h into it