Video card HD 7970: the technical characterisitc and reviews

Graphics Cards High-End class it is no surprise, because the producers realized that for most fans to play demanding computer games of new generation capacity of the video card in the first place. That's just the price of the device can stop a potential buyer. To attract attention to create intermediate modifying devices, which are aimed at the top segment, but their price is much lower than peers.

In this article we will talk about one such game video - the HD 7970 graphics card from a known brand who have built their solutions on the AMD chip. The primary task of the manufacturer to reduce the cost of the video card while maintaining a decent gaming power.

Rival

When it comes to Nvidia products, affordable, it is found that the manufacturer just offers a truncated version of its flagship Geforce Titan, this can be seen by comparing chips of the devices and studied their architecture. At AMD could in the same way to offer reduced modifications of the chip Radeon R9, but this hasn't been done. Video card HD 7970 received a completely new platform using all modern technologies resulting in superior performance all of the devices proposed by a competitor in the same price range (15-20 thousand rubles).

That the result is a decent gaming device at an affordable price, can be judged by the abundance of devices built in the chipset. All known video card manufacturers took up the production of products based on AMD Radeon HD 7970. On the market buyer could detect even a few modifications from one of the manufacturer – this is a decent figure for many users.

Packaging

Price Available on the market of video cards, the device provides 28 nm technology with GCN architecture with only one graphics core (all high-end devices two of them). Thanks to modern technology, the manufacturer was able to install on the HD 7970 chip is about 4.3 billion transistors.

Graphics core operates at a frequency of 925 MHz, but according to the owners in their reviews, this is the minimum figure, which easily increases, it would be decent cooling. The 128 texture units and 32 ROP. The memory operates at a frequency of 1375 MHz (5500 effective), has a volume of 3 GB and communicates with the computer via a 384-bit bus. By the way, the Board has wiring for installation of additional memory modules, so we can expect new products from manufacturers with 6 gigabytes of on Board (and possibly bus-512 bits).

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High performance video card led to an increase of power consumption-250 W maximum load are very similar to the products of a competitor of Nvidia. Quite strange to see AMD with such demanding requests (before the limit was up to 130 W).

Overclocked variant

Following the trends of the market of video cards, the manufacturer decided to create an improved version of the device for demanding users (Nvidia has long used scheme with the creation of modifications "Ti"). Video card HD 7970 GHz Edition went on sale in dispersed form: graphics core is clocked at 1050 MHz and the memory has 1500 MHz (6000 MHz). It should be noted that the manufacturer no more changes are made: the expected increase in throughput over 384 bit and increase the memory to 6 GB did not happen. Increased only the price. As the experts in their reviews, the purchase would clearly be irrational, because the products of a competitor console "Ti" definitely assigned to devices with increased bandwidth memory bus.

Appearance and cooling

Still come a time when for mounting the gaming device AMD need spacious housing standard ATX Tower. Because the length of the adapter is 38 inches, and it occupies two slots in the system unit, clearly claiming a third for a decent air intake for cooling. The elements of the printed circuit Board placed compactly around the graphics core installed memory chips and power elements are not scattered around the perimeter of the device, and carefully soldered into one unit.

Video Card on base of AMD Radeon HD 7970 has a nice view of the cooling system. Aluminum radiator section is one piece and closes two-thirds of the printed circuit Board, the base of it is made of copper which ensures best heat transfer from the heating elements. In the tail of the video card installed brand turbofan. The entire cooling system is sealed by a protective casing which prevents the heated air to return into the housing of the device, and is discharged to the outside through the bars of the mounting block.

Affordable solution

The cheapest in the Russian market HD 7970 video card reviews, which are only positive, represented by well-known Taiwanese brand ASUS. For the first time in recent years, the manufacturer did not install your own cooling system, trusting the manufacturer. In General, ASUS has surprised their fans by providing a device worthy accessories: various adapters for monitors splitter to connect power, CrossFireX bridge for connecting multiple graphics cards.

Externally, the ASUS video card differs from the initial product AMD onlythe inscription on the radiator cowl, so all the user's attention is riveted to the technical characteristics of the device. The supplied utility ASUS GPU Tweak has put everything in its place: the great acceleration that demonstrate high performance video card is the main advantage of the manufacturer. GPU shows a stable performance at a frequency of 1200 MHz, and the memory module is practically not heated at the frequency of 1635 MHz (6500 MHz).

Fresh Ice

The Radeon HD 7970 HIS, as always, attracts buyers to your products an exclusive appearance and a decent cooling system. According to the manufacturer the noise level of 15 dB is clearly not a marketing ploy, because the technology company has completely changed the video card, installing PWM controller of its own production and increasing the number of phases.

Aluminum heat sink covers the entire surface of the printed circuit Board and permeated pipes, which as a result are reduced to the core adjacent to the graphics core. On top of the metal protective casing with two large fans at lower rpm is very effective creating a powerful stream of air, able to quickly remove the heat from the heating elements.

In the factory performance core frequency HD 7970 is 1050 MHz and the memory runs at 1400 MHz, but, as noted by users in their reviews, these figures are nothing compared with the potential boost clock: 1125 MHz on the core and 1575 MHz memory provides excellent performance in games.

A Typical model of a well-known manufacturer

But the company Sapphire has disappointed its fans, as the manufacturer simply took the product AMD HD 7970 in the casing of the device attached your sticker. Of course, any additional modifications on the PCB was not produced. Attention grabbing device on the market simply by its price (15,000 rubles), which is expensive for many fans of dynamic games.

The Standard kernel for overclocking to 1200 MHz, is no surprise, but the memory shows the stability of frequency 1785 MHz (effective 7140 MHz). Pretty good performance in the test applications and games, clouded by the operation of the cooling system. Apparently, strong heating of the core and memory chips causes the turbofan to operate at maximum capacity.

Urgent rehabilitation

Apparently, realizing his error, MSI has decided to rehabilitate the market of video cards. Marketers presented two new products: Radeon HD 7970 Vapor-X and Toxic Edition, which went on sale in two variations each with three and six gigabytes of RAM on Board. It's another thing immediately evident that in front of buyers serious brand.

Modification succumbed to the whole power supply system were installed 8+2 phase, which significantly reduced the power consumption of the video card. It is worth noting that the manufacturer has installed brand power controllers and replaced all containers of PCB on solid state drives. Copper production is not spared: the base of the heatsink, sections and tubes for heat dissipation made of this precious metal.

Decent cooling – the success of any acceleration. GPU shows a stable performance at a frequency of 1250 MHz and the memory runs fine at 1600 MHz. The potential for further overclocking is, but as soon as there is noise in the two small fans.

Silent monster

The Company AMD is a pretty strange behavior on the market of video cards. One series of devices it sells in the factory version and the other generally ignores, and the third gives extraordinary powers. Video card HD 7970, the description of which can be found in almost all computer magazines, worth attention buyers, we are talking about water cooling. It is worth noting that the waterblock is not free, and the device Assembly, the buyer will have to pay about 25,000 rubles (almost the same is the flagship chip of AMD).

As the experts in their reviews, the cooling system supplied with the card, much like a waterblock famous brand Zalman, and the principle of operation is identical. Accordingly, questions on the efficiency of the system should not occur, as with the Assembly of the cooling unit. There are instructions, a set of components and even the key.

Naturally, this monster will easily lend themselves to overclocking, because the effectiveness of water cooling is significantly above the air knives. The graphics core is running stably on 1290 MHz and the memory to cope with a frequency of 1750 MHz (7000 effective).

Double impact

Fans, and GIGABYTE is presenting on the market at once two versions of the chipset HD 7970. Browse inexpensive the device should not even start, because taking the factory graphics card, the manufacturer has made the brand engraved on the casing of the device and brought the product to market. The low price without any modifications-does not look like a serious brand.

But the second device XFX will be interesting to fans of overclocking, because the manufacturer has allowed himself to completely replace the power system on the PCB of the video card. Corporate controllers-power control unit phases, the chip of its own production and many other changes have significantly reducedthe power consumption of the graphics card. With cooling system new do not reinvent the steel, providing device cooler, which is placed on top of the R9 accelerator.

The Result of all the innovations was the effective work of the video card in overclocking the graphics core frequency of 1200 MHz. Memory shows stability on 1700 MHz. Excellent performance for the device, the temperature of which is kept in the range of 70 degrees Celsius.

In the race for performance

MSI has introduced its product called the HD 7970 Lightning. The main feature of this card is the cooling system. The manufacturer did not work on the PCB, fully trusting the technology with AMD, and spent all their time creating an effective system of heat dissipation.

The Aluminum base covers the housing of the printed circuit Board with two sides – the decision is quite strange, because on the back of the device there are power elements. Around the perimeter of the graphics card installed aluminum radiator with copper pipes, which are reduced to the contact area of the GPU. The installation of fans aluminum grid is cut off a little height, sozdavat small holes for mounting coolers (reminds Gainward Phantom). As a result of dispersal to achieve stability of the graphics chip at a frequency of 1190 MHz, and memory – 1650 MHz.

In conclusion

On the Russian market presents a lot of products created in the core of the HD 7970, but their effectiveness acceleration is so small that it makes no sense to paint their dignity. In the review the devices that will be of interest to customers, guided by purchasing either at low cost or on a lot of potential for overclocking. The Golden mean lately out of fashion.