CRAP XFX 7970 ~380 hash

[Kinetic915]

Yeah I'm using a xfx 7970 black edition with a 380 hash.  pretty sh*tay.
any suggestions?

win 7,

 --shaders 2048 --thread-concurrency 8192 -I 13 -g 2 -w 256 --lookup-gap 2

clocked from 855 to 1025 and mem 1475 to 1575.  For some reason msi afterburner will not allow me to clock memory past 1575?

thanks!

[pccs]

Something to try:

Reduce the mem clock and then try to find the sweet spot again. Worked for me on my 7970 Gigabyte cards. I couldn't get a Kh rate above 550 at mem clock 1600. I reduced mem clock to 1500 and found the sweet spot with a 1050 eng clock. I'm sitting at 720Kh/s now with 1 card.

Edit: Actually I have 2 7970s cards in the system and can get 720K on the second card when running by itself and 680K from each card when I enable them both. Still trying to figure this one out. I just made a post about it. I have a XFX 7970 that I will be adding to this rig when I get the riser figured out. I'm still a newb at this but from what I've seen so far you might not be able to get the "full" hash rate out of a card that is your primary card in the system. At least that's what I've experienced so far.

[ymeiner]

I agree that those cards are not the best but you have to admit that they where good bargain and they have good return rate.

I run three of them at 645/675/675. these are my prefs:

Code:

"intensity" : "14,14,14",
"vectors" : "1,1,1",
"worksize" : "256,256,256",
"kernel" : "diablo,diablo,diablo",
"lookup-gap" : "0,0,0",
"thread-concurrency" : "0,0,0",
"shaders" : "2048,2048,2048",
"gpu-engine" : "0-1075,0-1125,0-1125",
"gpu-fan" : "0-85,0-85,0-85",
"gpu-memclock" : "1500,1500,1500",
"gpu-memdiff" : "0,0,0",
"gpu-powertune" : "0,0,0",
"gpu-vddc" : "0.000,0.000,0.000",
"temp-cutoff" : "95,95,95",
"temp-overheat" : "85,85,85",
"temp-target" : "75,75,75",
"api-port" : "4028",
"expiry" : "120",
"gpu-dyninterval" : "7",
"gpu-platform" : "0",
"gpu-threads" : "1",
"hotplug" : "5",
"log" : "5",
"no-pool-disable" : true,
"queue" : "1",
"scan-time" : "60",
"temp-hysteresis" : "3",
"shares" : "0",
"kernel-path" : "/usr/local/bin"
}

[computerparts]

Yeah I'm using a xfx 7970 black edition with a 380 hash.  pretty sh*tay.
any suggestions?

win 7,

 --shaders 2048 --thread-concurrency 8192 -I 13 -g 2 -w 256 --lookup-gap 2

clocked from 855 to 1025 and mem 1475 to 1575.  For some reason msi afterburner will not allow me to clock memory past 1575?

thanks!

Your intensity isn't very intense.

[Kinetic915]

Well, I brought down the core to 855 and mem to 1575 which jumped the hash up to 529ish.  BUT the card is now running at 88 C which is unacceptable.  I swear XFX made a shit card here. Their new support site is the worst thing ive seen too.

I would change the intensity if the temp didnt skyrocket.

[ymeiner]

My cards are working at 74-77C. I Lifted the cards out of the chassis by using pci extenders and a wooden frame. There is also a big fan facing the rig. These cards definitely win the prize for the best toasters of 2013.

 
 (5s):1.979G (avg):1.973Gh/s | A:12  R:0  HW:0  U:13.5/m  WU:22.5/m
 ST: 2  SS: 0  NB: 1  LW: 43  GF: 0  RF: 0
 Connected to stratum.btcguild.com diff 2 with stratum as user
 Block: 003b46ac1e164252...  Diff:10.1M  Started: [15:21:07]  Best share: 30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 GPU 0:  74.0C 3530RPM | 647.9M/674.5Mh/s | A:4 R:0 HW:0 U: 4.50/m I:14
 GPU 1:  71.0C 3485RPM | 675.2M/694.6Mh/s | A:7 R:0 HW:0 U: 7.88/m I:14
 GPU 2:  73.0C 3541RPM | 675.6M/694.6Mh/s | A:2 R:0 HW:0 U: 2.25/m I:14
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.designboom.com/tools/WPro/images/11p/toasterpc_1.jpg

[Unacceptable]

You are using the latest drivers,right??? DON'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12.8 is best for mining & still able to play games like BF3,at least for me & my 6 rigs(1-7970,2-6970's,2-6950's,1-5870 &,1 BFL FPGA).......................

http://www.guru3d.com/files_details/amd_catalyst_12_8_whql_64_bit.html

http://www.guru3d.com/files_details/amd_catalyst_12_8_whql_32_bit.html

[GuiltySpark343]

I have 3 XFX 7970 Blacks with a stock core 1000 and memory 1250. Using BFGMiner 3.0.2, Catalyst 13.1, Win7 x64 I get about 600 MH/s per card. I run them in a milk crate with x16 riser cables, and they hit about 70C with an ambient temp of 20C.

The only settings I use with BFGMiner is -I 13 --gpu-memclock 1250. I can't seem to get the memclock lower, system crashes. If I bump the core clock to 1050, also crashes. So I'm happy with what I have thus far.

Other users have also disassembled the heat sink and reapplied thermal paste, as some report shoddy jobs by XFX. Temps seem to have improved for those users afterwards, but be warned you will be voiding your warrant with XFX if you do this.

[Kinetic915]

I have 3 XFX 7970 Blacks with a stock core 1000 and memory 1250. Using BFGMiner 3.0.2, Catalyst 13.1, Win7 x64 I get about 600 MH/s per card. I run them in a milk crate with x16 riser cables, and they hit about 70C with an ambient temp of 20C.

The only settings I use with BFGMiner is -I 13 --gpu-memclock 1250. I can't seem to get the memclock lower, system crashes. If I bump the core clock to 1050, also crashes. So I'm happy with what I have thus far.

Other users have also disassembled the heat sink and reapplied thermal paste, as some report shoddy jobs by XFX. Temps seem to have improved for those users afterwards, but be warned you will be voiding your warrant with XFX if you do this.

Good to hear.  I will try those settings. 

I am RMAing the card.  This is actually the 3rd RMA of this particular card, 2 to newegg and 1 to XFX.  The first two had heat issues and HORRIBLE coil whine.  I had to wear earplugs when I was playing a game.  I'm pretty dissatisfied with XFX definitely never buying from them again.

[Kinetic915]

is 12.8 really best for mining?  do you have a link or something?

[GoldSeal]

I've blown two of their (XFX) motherboards in spectacular fashion. Both were like an arc welder igniting inside the case and also blew the power supplies. Luckily this happened when I was present and didn't start a fire. I was able to RMA 1 to XFX a month before the warranty expired and the other ignited after the warranty period. oh well. Also blew at least 1 XFX video in the past and that one was never  overclocked. These days, I only buy sapphire cards.

[alexeft]

The problem with those cards is the thermal paste. They use really shitty stuff.

If you used a top notch one, or just the average white stuff that electronics shops sell, the difference would be day and night.

I used noctua's nt-h1.

I've said this some times now and some people might think that I am advertising, but it is only the truth.

Mind though that if you go this route, you will lose the warranty. But, you are not going to need it anyway if the card gets adequate cooling.

[computerparts]

The problem with non reference XFX cards for years now has been that they cheap out on the heatsink. They use the crappiest heatsink out of all the other vendors. Just compare a Sapphire or MSI heatsink to an XFX.

[Kinetic915]

@computerparts can you recommend a good 3rd party heatsink?  after I RMA i might just go this direction.

[alexeft]

Sorry but I will insist. Try some thermal paste first. Since you are willing to replace the heatsink, you will lose the warranty anyway.
So, it's just as well if you try thermal paste. It will cost very little anyway.

Sorry again for insisting so much.

[bowen151]

If your handy enough you can try flashing the bios to a gigabyte brand or other. Some people have reported successful increases in hashrate after doing this. Mostly XFX and mostly related to litecoins.

Ive seen threads where people are stuck at the 500Kh/s mark and after flashing they apparantly hit 700Kh/s+

EDIT: Full disclosure I have 3 XFX 7970's and I must admitt, they arent the greatest! I havent flashed them yet though! Bought as part of the same consignment, 1 out of the 3 cards was artifacting after installing, I immediately returned it to the merchant. Still awaiting word back about the replacement. They are quick as hell to respond when they are taking your money, when your looking for it back or something similar, it takes them an age to even email you.

I think i'll stick with the better brands from now on, XFX is most definitely on my shit-list

[Kinetic915]

Sorry but I will insist. Try some thermal paste first. Since you are willing to replace the heatsink, you will lose the warranty anyway.
So, it's just as well if you try thermal paste. It will cost very little anyway.

Sorry again for insisting so much.

Oh I definitely will. I'm only considering the heatsink but if I do i would do both. Right now I'm leaning toward rma and selling for a better card. Even for gaming something that doesn't artifical 3 out of 5 times is nice.

[Kinetic915]

Anyone wanna buy a 7970 xfx black?

[ymeiner]

I just have to say that with all the problems with the hit sink (that I solved with a house fan facing the rig, instead of voiding the warranty), I get a stable 2GH/s FROM 3xXFX 7970 BE looking at other people's posts, that's not bad in ROI perspective. I payed $360 for each card and it was the best price for 7970 at the time.

I am still trying to break the 675 but looking at the other posts about the 7970 im in good shape when it comes to BTC mining.

[pichadpi]

If your handy enough you can try flashing the bios to a gigabyte brand or other. Some people have reported successful increases in hashrate after doing this. Mostly XFX and mostly related to litecoins.

Ive seen threads where people are stuck at the 500Kh/s mark and after flashing they apparantly hit 700Kh/s+

EDIT: Full disclosure I have 3 XFX 7970's and I must admitt, they arent the greatest! I havent flashed them yet though! Bought as part of the same consignment, 1 out of the 3 cards was artifacting after installing, I immediately returned it to the merchant. Still awaiting word back about the replacement. They are quick as hell to respond when they are taking your money, when your looking for it back or something similar, it takes them an age to even email you.

I think i'll stick with the better brands from now on, XFX is most definitely on my shit-list

I've also seen a handful of others having success with higher hash rates by flashing the bios.
This link considers flashing the Sapphire card, but the steps remain the same regardless.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=174036.msg1980690#msg1980690

I haven't tried it yet myself, but plan on doing so in the next few days. Not sure if there will be any impact on your temps, though.