Best 7970 card for cooling/quiet

[crazyates]

I have this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125439

I've always preferred reference coolers, as the main heatsink directly cools the VRMs, but I went with this one. I ended up putting little aluminum RAM heatsinks on the back of the VRMs, cuz they were getting too hot. That's the only issue I've had, and once I got past that, it's the best card I've ever owned!

I can overclock it to 1200MHz, even with my low ASIC quality. I normally run it at 1050MHz @ 1050mV, tho.

You can't hear the fan < 50%. I normally run it at 60-70%, and it keeps my core between 55-60C, and my VRMs around 65-76C, depending on ambient.

I have this card as well. I run the fan at 90% and it is much less audible than the reference cooler. The only thing I don't like about the card is that you can't undervolt.

I was able to enable undervolting thru Win7 and MSI AB.

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[FLHippy]

I have the MSI R7970 cards (three of them)

They have a doohickey that lets you overclock them more than some of the other cards. It's some sort of voltage smoother thing. They come from the factory at 1100MHz and I run them at up to 1190MHz without trouble. 720MHs per card at 1190MHz. 700Mhz at 1160 MHz.

[crazyates]

I am currently running gigabyte ghz edition windforce cards

The windforce type cards do not play well in a case, the aftermarket cooler throws the hot air into the case and it quickly becomes an oven.

Running them in open air, they are amazing. If you are going to house them, get a reference cooler so the hot air is expelled out the rear.

I have an Antec 300, and I switched the 120mm fan that normally blows right onto the GPUs backwards, so it's pulling the hot air that gets recirculated out of the case. Actually does a decent job. These cards are way better in open air, but if you have to use a case, this is what worked best for me.

[tacotime]

MSI or Gigabyte

NOT XFX, their cards have the shittest cooling solutions

[Jack1Rip1BurnIt]

NOT XFX, their cards have the shittest cooling solutions

+1

XFX do run hotter than any other card I've ever owned, but they have a better warranty than other cards if you live in the U.S..
Gigabyte has been doing awesome lately with their 3 fan solution.
Sapphire is also killing it with their 2 fan solution as well.
Both are also super quiet.

[sveetsnelda]

I have this card as well. I run the fan at 90% and it is much less audible than the reference cooler. The only thing I don't like about the card is that you can't undervolt.

You most certainly can.

[CrazyGuy]

I have this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125439

I've always preferred reference coolers, as the main heatsink directly cools the VRMs, but I went with this one. I ended up putting little aluminum RAM heatsinks on the back of the VRMs, cuz they were getting too hot. That's the only issue I've had, and once I got past that, it's the best card I've ever owned!

I can overclock it to 1200MHz, even with my low ASIC quality. I normally run it at 1050MHz @ 1050mV, tho.

You can't hear the fan < 50%. I normally run it at 60-70%, and it keeps my core between 55-60C, and my VRMs around 65-76C, depending on ambient.

I have this card as well. I run the fan at 90% and it is much less audible than the reference cooler. The only thing I don't like about the card is that you can't undervolt.

I was able to enable undervolting thru Win7 and MSI AB.

Oh yeh? I thought you were having the same problem as me. What did you have to do?

[tacotime]

I have this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125439

I've always preferred reference coolers, as the main heatsink directly cools the VRMs, but I went with this one. I ended up putting little aluminum RAM heatsinks on the back of the VRMs, cuz they were getting too hot. That's the only issue I've had, and once I got past that, it's the best card I've ever owned!

I can overclock it to 1200MHz, even with my low ASIC quality. I normally run it at 1050MHz @ 1050mV, tho.

You can't hear the fan < 50%. I normally run it at 60-70%, and it keeps my core between 55-60C, and my VRMs around 65-76C, depending on ambient.

I would note that most MOSFETs are rated to 125-175C...  I haven't had any problems with stability with mine running between 90-100C

You just have to make sure the surrounding components don't get too hot, but if you have the fan on 100% it should be okay

[Undefined31415]

Custom water cooling?

Although the cooling blocks tack on a fair amount of money.

[quasarbtc]

MSI or Gigabyte

NOT XFX, their cards have the shittest cooling solutions

Agreed. I could not run two XFX 6950s in adjacent slots without overheating.

[EPiSKiNG]

I have the MSI R7970 cards (three of them)

They have a doohickey that lets you overclock them more than some of the other cards. It's some sort of voltage smoother thing. They come from the factory at 1100MHz and I run them at up to 1190MHz without trouble. 720MHs per card at 1190MHz. 700Mhz at 1160 MHz.

What memory settings are you using?

Thanks!