[Kung Pow]

Hey guys I am currently in a bit of a dilema.
I have just sold my GTX 295 Quad Setup for 720$ and wanted to get the maximum gpu power for that money.

Needless to say I am getting 2 x 6950 2GB in CF.
I have gathered a lot of information and this is what I need:

1.)The card should be able to have the Shaders unlocked
For better understanding:
Type 1 unlock:Shader unlock to 1536 units+stock 6970 clocks
Type 2 unlock:Full 6970 BIOS flash

2.)Since I do not intend of watercooling I want the card to be cool therefor a non reference cooler is prefered.

3.)I want to max overclock the card ...so I am looking for the manufacturer which features the card with the best overclocking ability

4.)Since I want the card to have a great cooler I need it to have a Voltage Tuner

5.)The two cards need to fit my 2x 16x PCI slots on my GA EX58 UD5

6.)Features like warranty , adapters/cables etc would be nice

Alright these are my requirements.
Since my requirements will only be met with the latest non reference designs I believe that is what I came up with so far(feel free to add if I missed one )

1.)MSI Twin Frozr III:

a.)-- does most likely not unlock both Type 1 and Type 2
b.)+ great overclocking capability
c.)+ voltage tuner
d.)+ great cooler

2.)ASUS EAH6950 DCII:

a.)---does not unlock due to missing BIOS switch
b.)+ great overclocking capability
c.)+ voltage tuner
d.)- not the best cooler even due to non ref

3.)Power Color 6950 PCS++:

a.)++ guaranteed Type 1 unlock since factory BIOS flash,No Type 2 unlock
b.)- not the best overclocking ability
c.)+ no voltage tuner
d.)- worst cooler compared to the others
-
Please feel free to correct and add your oppinions.
I really want to have the card with the best cooling performance,overclocking and unlock ability.
I am afraid though, that there is no manufacturer that completely satisfies my needs

.
Hope you can help!

Thx in advance

 

[the.FBI]

I would suggest the TF3 as its only a 2 slot design and at least one review site got theirs to unlock. On a side note, where did you sell your gtx 295s for $360 each?

 

[Ocnewb]

Go with the Twin Frorz III since it can be unlocked and it has non-ref cooler. U can't unlock the Asus DC-II because it doesn't have the bios switch. Twin Frorz III is probably the best 6950 out there.

 

[railfan844]

I would get the PCS. Those are great cards and honestly I don't think the cooling is that bad.

EDIT: nvm, thought you were talking about twin frozr 2. Get the twin frozr 3.

 

[Kung Pow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by the.FBI I would suggest the TF3 as its only a 2 slot design and at least one review site got theirs to unlock. On a side note, where did you sell your gtx 295s for $360 each?

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=672911
Like I mentioned in my first post unfortunetly the Twin Frozr III is generally not intended to be Shader unlocked.
With the Twin Frozr III it is rather a gamble of wheter or not it will unlock,due to its BIOS switch most people believe it is but sadly no ,actually if the card can be unlocked or not is decided by the fact if it was laser cut or not to make it impossible for software to unlock it ....so it has to do with luck.
That is why MSI is advertising it with the great voltage tuning and overclocking capability because AMD does not want people to unlock and is trying to pursuiate them to rather overclock since it would cause less RMA according to them.

The Twin Frozr III would meet all my needs perfectly if it was guaranteed to unlock

Some people get lucky and have a unlasercut card like TechPower up but the chance that it won´t unlock is still possible.

That is why I hoped you could suggest other 6950´s that could meet my needs completely.

I sold my GTX 295´s to a noob^^ I kinda felt bad that he was willing to pay that much but I gave him a free SLI bridge + cable ties + adapters which calmed my conscience

 

[Kung Pow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kung Pow http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=672911 Like I mentioned in my first post unfortunetly the Twin Frozr III is generally not intended to be Shader unlocked. With the Twin Frozr III it is rather a gamble of wheter or not it will unlock,due to its BIOS switch most people believe it is but sadly no ,actually if the card can be unlocked or not is decided by the fact if it was laser cut or not to make it impossible for software to unlock it ....so it has to do with luck. That is why MSI is advertising it with the great voltage tuning and overclocking capability because AMD does not want people to unlock and is trying to pursuiate them to rather overclock since it would cause less RMA according to them. The Twin Frozr III would meet all my needs perfectly if it was guaranteed to unlock Some people get lucky and have a unlasercut card like TechPower up but the chance that it won´t unlock is still possible. That is why I hoped you could suggest other 6950´s that could meet my needs completely. I sold my GTX 295´s to a noob^^ I kinda felt bad that he was willing to pay that much but I gave him a free SLI bridge + cable ties + adapters which calmed my conscience

???

 

[Anthraxinsoup]

It unlocks, ask anyone here.

 

[Casey Ryback]

I just bought the Gigabyte 2GB 6950 no problems,

Shader unlock, voltage control unlock, and core clock unlock-uncaps core speed past 840.

Right now it's OC'd at 900/1375 at stock 6950 voltage.

Very Happy with overclocking as well i got 970/1500 at 1.120 voltage.
(stock voltage 1.100)

Gigabyte = quality and warranty

Anything that may not unlock, forget it!

This one here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125356

 

[Kung Pow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey Ryback I just bought the Gigabyte 2GB 6950 no problems, Shader unlock, voltage control unlock, and core clock unlock-uncaps core speed past 840. Right now it's OC'd at 900/1375 at stock 6950 voltage. Very Happy with overclocking as well i got 970/1500 at 1.120 voltage. (stock voltage 1.100) Gigabyte = quality and warranty Anything that may not unlock, forget it! This one here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125356

Aha?
I did not know a voltage unlock and core clock unlock had to be done too??
Actually I have heard this the first time.
I am not sure but the Twin Frorz III has a individually designed Voltage controller by MSI which should prove to be superior over the other manufacturers 6950 voltage settings and do not require a voltage unlock.

As in terms of the core clock unlock ...I am sure unlike the Shader unlock this should work with any 6950 ref or non ref ...because of its minor impact in my oppinion.

What do you think?

 

[Casey Ryback]

Yeah the core speed unlock and the voltage control unlock should work with most models,

although someone at this very moment has a thread going where their powerolor can't adjust voltages, so don't be so sure.

I would stick with gigabyte or Asus.

Not a fan of MSI as a whole and not a fan of the twin frozer 2.
wouldn't you be able to afford a 6970 for the price of a frozer 3 anyway?

The shader unlock adds performance no doubt, that along with a safe OC saw me go from being on par with my mates 5870, to beating it comfortably.

 

[Kung Pow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey Ryback Yeah the core speed unlock and the voltage control unlock should work with most models, although someone at this very moment has a thread going where their powerolor can't adjust voltages, so don't be so sure. I would stick with gigabyte or Asus. Not a fan of MSI as a whole and not a fan of the twin frozer 2. wouldn't you be able to afford a 6970 for the price of a frozer 3 anyway? The shader unlock adds performance no doubt, that along with a safe OC saw me go from being on par with my mates 5870, to beating it comfortably.

Yeah tests have shown that the shader unlock + 6970 stock clocks deliver the exact same results a normal 6970 stock achieves

Oddly in my country the twinfrozr III is still 100$ cheaper than an actual 6970.

ASUS and Gigabyte are both great manufacturer unfortunetly both do not provide my requirements.

I want a card that is able to unlock the shaders , best overclocking ability, best cooling and features and they need to fit my PCI slots.

The MSI Twin Frozr III provides the best overclocking results due to the fact that it is already factory overclocked and that it was specially enhanced for overclocking.
In addition to that the individually designed voltage controller for even greater voltage control,custumization and efficiency make it my go

Its cooling also is far superior to almost any other versions.

And lastly it fits the slots on my GA EX58 UD5.

ASUS is not unlockable , does not fit the slots and has bad cooling.
I am not sure about Gigabyte but I hope you can advise on that matter

 

[Casey Ryback]

Okay so I opened my eyes a bit, did a little research they've improved a lot over frozer 2, sorry if i sounded like an MSI hater for no reason.

The twin frozer 3 would be great, and will unlock, and OC well.
(didn't like frozer 2 it was a rip off in aus)

If the frozer 3 can be had for a good price then I would pull that trigger!

 

[Kick]

Go with the frozr 3 because it unlocks

/thread.

 

[Kung Pow]

Yeah I have already decided to go with the Twin Frozr III.
Thanks you guys!

Great input, Great advice and Great people

and of course (6950)extremely great card^^

Only a last little thing Casey Ryback

Do you think I will encounter any core or voltage unlock problems with twin frozr III?

 

[Casey Ryback]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kung Pow Yeah I have already decided to go with the Twin Frozr III. Thanks you guys! Great input, Great advice and Great people and of course (6950)extremely great card^^ Only a last little thing Casey Ryback Do you think I will encounter any core or voltage unlock problems with twin frozr III?

Not sure, I'm presuming they're very new so not many people have them.

I guess search the internet/other forums if you can't find anything on overclock.net, someone must know about them.

And #@%$ yeah it's a great card!

Benched it on 3dmark11 against my mates I7 950/Gtx 570

Guess who won?

 

[Kung Pow]

hahaha

This year Red is the new Green

 

[breenemeister]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey Ryback;13054243
I just bought the Gigabyte 2GB 6950 no problems,

Shader unlock, voltage control unlock, and core clock unlock-uncaps core speed past 840.

Right now it's OC'd at 900/1375 at stock 6950 voltage.

Very Happy with overclocking as well i got 970/1500 at 1.120 voltage.
(stock voltage 1.100)

Gigabyte = quality and warranty

Anything that may not unlock, forget it!

This one here
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125356

Out of stock and deactivated on newegg.