BUying 7970's Which do you recommend... why?

[nightwolf92]

Im looking to buy 7970's to build mining rigs for ltc... which brand or company do you recommend? and why?

I am going to be overclocking so voltage unlock or unlockable is a must...

Thanks!

[MaGNeT]

I prefer Asus but bought Gigabyte because the Asus cards were sold out.

Code:

start /D "C:\cgminer" cgminer.exe --scrypt -o coinotron.com:3334 -u Worker.1 -p x --thread-concurrency 8192 -I 13 --lookup-gap 2 --worksize 256 -g 2 -d 0 -d 1 --gpu-memclock 1600,1600 --shaders 2048 --gpu-engine 1050,1050 --gpu-fan 60,60

[dethdeks]

is that 2 cards or one MaGNeT

[nightwolf92]

is that 2 cards or one MaGNeT

Thats 2 if you see by the middle it says Device 0 Device 1

[MaGNeT]

is that 2 cards or one MaGNeT

GPU 0 and GPU 1 = 2 cards

[rpgman1]

I'm looking for voltage unlocked 7970s as well since they're great for mining alternate cryptocurrencies like LTC.

[nightwolf92]

im just trying to see which brand is unlocked because i dont want a situation like im in now with my 7970

[SkyNet]

That's a really interesting topic.
I am about to buy a Gigabyte 7970 GDDR5 GV-R797OC-3GD. These are the only ones in stock unfortunately.
Is there anyone with experience with them?

[nightwolf92]

That's a really interesting topic.
I am about to buy a Gigabyte 7970 GDDR5 GV-R797OC-3GD. These are the only ones in stock unfortunately.
Is there anyone with experience with them?

as far as i know GIgabyte is hardware locked on voltage, so your OC is VERY limited to small increments... However I think you can flash the BIOS on a 7970 with a diff firmware to unlock it but im not sure... thats why im staying away from gigabyte ... on the otherhand my 7950 that is supposed to hit 582 MAX OC ... im getting about 650khs with 1025 core and 1400 mem.

But Im looking at the sapphire...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202001

[crazyates]

That's a really interesting topic.
I am about to buy a Gigabyte 7970 GDDR5 GV-R797OC-3GD. These are the only ones in stock unfortunately.
Is there anyone with experience with them?

as far as i know GIgabyte is hardware locked on voltage, so your OC is VERY limited to small increments... However I think you can flash the BIOS on a 7970 with a diff firmware to unlock it but im not sure... thats why im staying away from gigabyte ... on the otherhand my 7950 that is supposed to hit 582 MAX OC ... im getting about 650khs with 1025 core and 1400 mem.

But Im looking at the sapphire...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202001

I have the GV-R797TO-3GD, and they're really great cards. The triple fans are better for an open-air case, or a case with plenty of airflow. If your case has bad airflow, the temps will show it more than a stock cooler. But with the proper airflow, you can get some pretty good temps.

Mine OCs from 1100MHz to 1200MHz with no problems. The early ones were also unlocked voltage, so you might get lucky.

[ryantc]

I prefer Asus but bought Gigabyte because the Asus cards were sold out.

Code:

start /D "C:\cgminer" cgminer.exe --scrypt -o coinotron.com:3334 -u Worker.1 -p x --thread-concurrency 8192 -I 13 --lookup-gap 2 --worksize 256 -g 2 -d 0 -d 1 --gpu-memclock 1600,1600 --shaders 2048 --gpu-engine 1050,1050 --gpu-fan 60,60

do you undervolt your cards? or keep them at stock voltage?

[MaGNeT]

I prefer Asus but bought Gigabyte because the Asus cards were sold out.

Code:

start /D "C:\cgminer" cgminer.exe --scrypt -o coinotron.com:3334 -u Worker.1 -p x --thread-concurrency 8192 -I 13 --lookup-gap 2 --worksize 256 -g 2 -d 0 -d 1 --gpu-memclock 1600,1600 --shaders 2048 --gpu-engine 1050,1050 --gpu-fan 60,60

do you undervolt your cards? or keep them at stock voltage?

They are locked but stay cool anyway

[biganth]

Can anyone tell me what kind of PSU is needed to power 4 of these in a rig? In the specs it says:

Minimum Recommended Power System Power Supply unit 550W.

Does that mean I need a 2200W PSU? Does that even exist?

[BBQKorv]

Can anyone tell me what kind of PSU is needed to power 4 of these in a rig? In the specs it says:

Minimum Recommended Power System Power Supply unit 550W.

Does that mean I need a 2200W PSU? Does that even exist?

4x250W TDP = 1000W, + 150W for the cpu, ram, hdd, etc.

Get Corsair AX1200 if you want a very good PSU on that power range. Get a bigger than 1200W if your planning to get more cards, or OC them and the CPU plenty.

[nightwolf92]

gotta figure out a way to Underclock the CPU... no reason for it to run high... well actually im getting a shitty cpu...

By the way i finished my list on what i am going to get it will cost about

2,246.97$
(give or take 200$ for shipping/tax)

Case: Thermaltake VN700M1W2N Black Steel / Plastic Overseer RX-I ATX Full Tower / Computer Case
147$ after shipping

http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-VN700M1W2N-Plastic-Overseer-Computer/dp/B008LA8BB6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1365535783&sr=8-2&keywords=thermaltake+Overseer+RX-I

Graphics Card: 419$ ea. After 20$ rebate… + 119$ Gamecodes = 300$ (APPROX) Per card if all game codes sell…
4x Sapphire 7970 Graphics cards

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202001
Processor: AMD Sempron 145 Proccessor 35$
http://www.amazon.com/AMD-Sempron-145-Processor-SDX145HBGMBOX/dp/B0040BPHJO%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIAA4MWUJXHBYFRNQ%26tag%3Dsquid1633810-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0040BPHJO

Power Supply: OCZ OCZ-ZX1250W ZX Series Modular Power Supply - 1250W, 80 Plus Gold, 140mm Fan, Active PFC, SLI & CrossFire Support $239.99 After Rebate $219.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7213995&CatId=5115

RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT4G3D1339DS1S00 $68.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148543

Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme4 $99.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157262&Tpk=ASRock%20970%20Extreme4&IsVirtualParent=1

Total: 2,246.97$

[Marrs]

Case: Thermaltake VN700M1W2N Black Steel / Plastic Overseer RX-I ATX Full Tower / Computer Case
147$ after shipping

http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-VN700M1W2N-Plastic-Overseer-Computer/dp/B008LA8BB6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1365535783&sr=8-2&keywords=thermaltake+Overseer+RX-I

That case has a rebate at Newegg, which makes it a bit cheaper there, fyi.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133194

[kcobra]

gotta figure out a way to Underclock the CPU... no reason for it to run high... well actually im getting a shitty cpu...

By the way i finished my list on what i am going to get it will cost about

2,246.97$
(give or take 200$ for shipping/tax)

Case: Thermaltake VN700M1W2N Black Steel / Plastic Overseer RX-I ATX Full Tower / Computer Case
147$ after shipping

http://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-VN700M1W2N-Plastic-Overseer-Computer/dp/B008LA8BB6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1365535783&sr=8-2&keywords=thermaltake+Overseer+RX-I

Graphics Card: 419$ ea. After 20$ rebate… + 119$ Gamecodes = 300$ (APPROX) Per card if all game codes sell…
4x Sapphire 7970 Graphics cards

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202001
Processor: AMD Sempron 145 Proccessor 35$
http://www.amazon.com/AMD-Sempron-145-Processor-SDX145HBGMBOX/dp/B0040BPHJO%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIAA4MWUJXHBYFRNQ%26tag%3Dsquid1633810-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB0040BPHJO

Power Supply: OCZ OCZ-ZX1250W ZX Series Modular Power Supply - 1250W, 80 Plus Gold, 140mm Fan, Active PFC, SLI & CrossFire Support $239.99 After Rebate $219.99

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7213995&CatId=5115

RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model BLS2KIT4G3D1339DS1S00 $68.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148543

Motherboard: ASRock 970 Extreme4 $99.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157262&Tpk=ASRock%20970%20Extreme4&IsVirtualParent=1

Total: 2,246.97$

Few thoughts/comments:

- If this is a mining rig, why are you getting a case? Run it without a case and the GPU's will run cooler. Also, not sure how you would fit 4 cards on that motherboard if the motherboard is in a case.

- Your way to high on what you will get on the game codes. The going buy it now price on ebay for both codes combined is $40 - $45.

- Go with a Seasonic PSU or a rebadged Seasonic PSU (XFX, etc) over an OCZ PSU. Pretty much the same price but a lot higher quality.

- You don't need 8 gb of memory. 4gb or even 2gb will do.

- You need to pick up some PCI-E riser cables. Go with the powered kind or convert the passive ones to powered yourself.

Hope this helps.

[Metta28]

HIS IceQX2 purely because they are cheap yet still come with a fantastic heatsink/cooler

[GernMiester]

HIS will take a month with 3 weeks if it sitting in the RMA warehouse if the card dies under warranty.
XFX has a faster RMA turnaround but not great.

Do go voltage unlocked and consider the warranty..  If the card dies, the warranty is what will matter.
Google bitcoin mining comparison and read the wiki.  If it is a fast BTC card its usually a fast altcoin card but you need to search 1st.

[DrG]

Of all the cards I own the 2 most impressive models are my MSI 7950s (1st revision with the 6/8 connectors - no longer made) because they were voltage unlocked and also my Diamond reference 7970s.  This surprised me as I had never bought a Diamond card before and considered them crap.  Of all the 7970s I've used these stay the coolest and are the most stable using low voltages and overclocks.  Beating even Sapphire and Gigabytes (the new Gigabyte 7950 and 7970s suck BTW - haven't found 1 of them that can go past 1150 on 1.25v - they must have bought the cheap garbage binned chips).