Which VGA would you recommend ?

[Betsinski]

Hello All,

I was wondering which of those two cards is better for mining ?
SAPPHIRE HD6950 PCI-E 2GB GDDR5 (http://www.stantek.com/products/500x500/p43407.jpg)
SAPPHIRE HD6950 PCI-E 1GB GDDR5 (http://www.stantek.com/products/500x500/p45007.jpg)

The 1 GB version is cheaper of course, but i was wondering if it's possible to unlock shaders ?
Also on the 2gb model the fan seems too small to me. It will be very loud on high RPMs, no ?
Please give me some feedback on those 2 cards.
Thank you !

[aznsniper911]

Hello All,

I was wondering which of those two cards is better for mining ?
SAPPHIRE HD6950 PCI-E 2GB GDDR5 (http://www.stantek.com/products/500x500/p43407.jpg)
SAPPHIRE HD6950 PCI-E 1GB GDDR5 (http://www.stantek.com/products/500x500/p45007.jpg)

The 1 GB version is cheaper of course, but i was wondering if it's possible to unlock shaders ?
Also on the 2gb model the fan seems too small to me. It will be very loud on high RPMs, no ?
Please give me some feedback on those 2 cards.
Thank you !

A reference 2GB unlocks, the hardest part right now is finding an older version of the card that unlocks still. A lot of the newer one are having a hard time unlocking with the new changes. Also the 1GB was harder to unlock if I remember correctly. 

[Betsinski]

How about if I flash a BIOS with unlockable shaders on them ?

[aznsniper911]

How about if I flash a BIOS with unlockable shaders on them ?

The issue here is if the card is able to unlock. If it cant unlock then flashing it with the BIOS is no use and may cause more harm.

[Betsinski]

I just got a good deal on ASUS EAH6950 DCII/2DI4S/1GD5 (http://mostbg.com/most/NormalImage.aspx?itemid=44146)
This one have 2 fans and currently seems to be my favourite Any feedback on this model ?

[m4rkiz]

you can't unlock shaders in those 1GB versions, they lack bios switch and bios is reported as read only (i check many oc forums, tried -f switch with ati flasher etc.)

[aznsniper911]

I just got a good deal on ASUS EAH6950 DCII/2DI4S/1GD5 (http://mostbg.com/most/NormalImage.aspx?itemid=44146)
This one have 2 fans and currently seems to be my favourite Any feedback on this model ?

I seen some unlock and I seen some that haven't been able to unlock. However these cards do overclock pretty well so you do get speed in return and lower fan noise!

[aznsniper911]

you can't unlock shaders in those 1GB versions, they lack bios switch and bios is reported as read only (i check many oc forums, tried -f switch with ati flasher etc.)

http://www.overclock.net/amd-ati/996523-just-unlocked-powercolor-hd-6950-1gb.html
They are more rare/harder to unlock.

[m4rkiz]

I just got a good deal on ASUS EAH6950 DCII/2DI4S/1GD5 (http://mostbg.com/most/NormalImage.aspx?itemid=44146)
This one have 2 fans and currently seems to be my favourite Any feedback on this model ?

take it

that is exactly what i have
unlock is easy and card is quiet and cool (but it don't overclock too well, 860 is all i can get without voltage inctease)

[aznsniper911]

I just got a good deal on ASUS EAH6950 DCII/2DI4S/1GD5 (http://mostbg.com/most/NormalImage.aspx?itemid=44146)
This one have 2 fans and currently seems to be my favourite Any feedback on this model ?

take it

that is exactly what i have
unlock is easy and card is quiet and cool (but it don't overclock too well, 860 is all i can get without voltage inctease)

Unlock isn't guranteed...especially with newer models.....

[m4rkiz]

it still oc better, have more vram for gaming, and is quiet (believe me, those shapphire 1GB are LOUD)

[aznsniper911]

it still oc better, have more vram for gaming, and is quiet (believe me, those shapphire 1GB are LOUD)

I don't disagree with that, I just disagree with shader unlock with the original poster wanted a lot it seemed. Right now the 6950 are a toss up with a lot of newer ones not being able to unlock. Also bios switch is use to tell reference design, one of the key parts is the actual core itself. I own the DCIi and TWin Frozr 6950 and love them better then my stock 6970

[Betsinski]

it still oc better, have more vram for gaming, and is quiet (believe me, those shapphire 1GB are LOUD)

I don't disagree with that, I just disagree with shader unlock with the original poster wanted a lot it seemed. Right now the 6950 are a toss up with a lot of newer ones not being able to unlock. Also bios switch is use to tell reference design, one of the key parts is the actual core itself. I own the DCIi and TWin Frozr 6950 and love them better then my stock 6970

Okay, so unlock is not guaranteed in both cards but currently I can buy the ASUS 1GB DCII cheaper than the 1GB Sapphire.
So I guess Asus is better, no ?

[aznsniper911]

it still oc better, have more vram for gaming, and is quiet (believe me, those shapphire 1GB are LOUD)

I don't disagree with that, I just disagree with shader unlock with the original poster wanted a lot it seemed. Right now the 6950 are a toss up with a lot of newer ones not being able to unlock. Also bios switch is use to tell reference design, one of the key parts is the actual core itself. I own the DCIi and TWin Frozr 6950 and love them better then my stock 6970

Okay, so unlock is not guaranteed in both cards but currently I can buy the ASUS 1GB DCII cheaper than the 1GB Sapphire.
So I guess Asus is better, no ?

Definitely! Better cooling and overall design then that of the sapphire. 2GB shouldn't matter for mining but if you plan to use it later on for gaming then it might matter depending on resolution

[Betsinski]

Anyone have an idea which SDK will give better performance for these cards ?
My guess is if m4rkiz is right and they don't OC so well then SDK 2.1 will be better because it gives better MH/s at lower clock speeds.
Anyway how much MH you guys get with these cards ?