What is the best 7950 card for mining?

[noxbayou]

I have two sapphires, but I'm concerned that I made a bad purchase.  Does matter which ones I use if I use powered risers?

[miningdude]

Model numbers are a good identifier. Not all 7950s are made equal. I get 600+ on my Sapphires and recommend them in my build guide at http://www.coinminingrigs.com. Do you have them set up and mining yet?

[ManBearPig]

My 7950 Windforce 3GB OCs manage 610-630 kh/s each and I don't overclock or undervolt.

[testsieger]

Do you mean a 7970?

[nookiegirl]

Do you mean a 7970?

He's talking about Litecoin and I guess 7950 is right

[glendall]

Gigabyte Windforce 7950.

I have one and also get over 600 with scrypt.

Best card of the three models I have.

Not sure if the prices are the same for you, but often, for non-stock models, this card was also the least expensive, making it an easier choice.

...and if you have been won over yet, this video card is also fantastic as it has no plastic shroud covering on the top of the card, making it really easy to mount a fan directly on top, pushing air through the card's cooling fins...

[miningdude]

My 7950 Windforce 3GB OCs manage 610-630 kh/s each and I don't overclock or undervolt.

While undervolting isn't required, if your card can handle it, you'll save a bundle on your electric bill (unless you are lucky enough to get free power).

[notaek]

Gigabyte Windforce 7950.

I have one and also get over 600 with scrypt.

Best card of the three models I have.

Not sure if the prices are the same for you, but often, for non-stock models, this card was also the least expensive, making it an easier choice.

...and if you have been won over yet, this video card is also fantastic as it has no plastic shroud covering on the top of the card, making it really easy to mount a fan directly on top, pushing air through the card's cooling fins...

The lack of a shroud has been a life saver for me.  Temps stay really cool even with 4 of them sandwiched together because I can just put fans on top.

[pekv2]

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=186651.msg1934011#msg1934011

&  

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=187340.msg1940292#msg1940292

&

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=179218.0

[Veldrik]

My 7950 Windforce 3GB OCs manage 610-630 kh/s each and I don't overclock or undervolt.

I also use Gigabyte cards.
7870 OC latest rev
7950 WindForce revision 2.  (windforce is the non OC version - same fan as the OC, yet comes at a lower clock)

7950 Windforce Revision 2 from Gigabyte do not come on reference 7950 PCBs though, they come on a 7970PCB.

Mine all happy overclock - but I do underclock the ram to reduce temperature and save around 20watts per card down to 300 or 310mhz.

My 7870s pull up to 550mhash (I mine bitcoins) and my 7950s gather up to around 650mhs.

However as I like to run at around 60*C, I have them auto tune and they run at 400 and 550mhash respectively.

[Hippie Tech]

My 7950 Windforce 3GB OCs manage 610-630 kh/s each and I don't overclock or undervolt.

I also use Gigabyte cards.
7870 OC latest rev
7950 WindForce revision 2.  (windforce is the non OC version - same fan as the OC, yet comes at a lower clock)

7950 Windforce Revision 2 from Gigabyte do not come on reference 7950 PCBs though, they come on a 7970PCB.

Mine all happy overclock - but I do underclock the ram to reduce temperature and save around 20watts per card down to 300 or 310mhz.

My 7870s pull up to 550mhash (I mine bitcoins) and my 7950s gather up to around 650mhs.

However as I like to run at around 60*C, I have them auto tune and they run at 400 and 550mhash respectively.

550 mhash/s on a 7870 ?! 

Settings plzzzz.

[nwoolls]

The Sapphire 7950 seems cheapest and works great in my experience. 1185 core, 300 mem, 1.08V, 75% fan, 60C & 610 Mh/s. Around $280-$300 on Amazon or Newegg, plus rebates & free games.

[Hippie Tech]

When you're spending that much $$$ the MSI non ref gpus are well worth the little bit extra for the better cooling, components, and 1 extra year on the warranty. Also, removing the heatsink will not void the warranty unless you damage the pcb or hsf.

Every Sapphire gpu I've seen has turned out to be a heatbag even with an aftermarket cooler installed. The DualX coolers on my 7870xt Tahiti LE 7930 cards weigh next to nothing and do not belong on a $250 part.

Gooo.. XFX, Msi, Asus and Gigabyte.

[greaterninja]

take notes...67C, 516-525MH/S on a PowerColor 7870 XT undervolted -20%,  please note my ram is at 100mhz...it drastically reduces temperatures.  

[Hippie Tech]

Very nice Greaterninja.

I've had one of mine up to 1225/750, stock volts/power limit which gets me 530 mhash/s. I'll need some cooler weather or better cooling on the vrms to know if its 24/7 stable.

1200/750 is. lol

[Hippie Tech]

I have two sapphires, but I'm concerned that I made a bad purchase.  Does matter which ones I use if I use powered risers?

I get 635 Mh/s (1250/50) and 600 kH/s (1100/1550).  Nothing wrong with those cards.

I didn't mean to totally trash Sapphire. I should have said, "surprisingly stable heatbags". 

No probs with my Sapphires. It just bugs me seeing them and others, skimp out with the cooling solutions.

The 28nm process made huge gains when it comes to thermal efficiency and Sapphire knows that. So when tech support tells me, "80C+ is acceptable", I can't help but feel a little insulted and ripped off.

Anything running at 80c or more, day in day out is a borderline fire hazard and should be recalled.

[Hippie Tech]

@Greaterninja Have you tried the -f1 flag on the gpus without a display ?

[Hydroponica]

Gigabyte Windforce 7950.

I have one and also get over 600 with scrypt.

Best card of the three models I have.

Not sure if the prices are the same for you, but often, for non-stock models, this card was also the least expensive, making it an easier choice.

...and if you have been won over yet, this video card is also fantastic as it has no plastic shroud covering on the top of the card, making it really easy to mount a fan directly on top, pushing air through the card's cooling fins...

This. I just got one today, and it's pumping out 600 KH/sec, on Stock speeds.

[mika1977]

My 7950 Windforce 3GB OCs manage 640-660 kh/s each, and I have overclock them 1200/1850@1.225v/1.575v., temps up to 62 - 64, custom profile fan around 60-70%

[jayeeyee]

My Sapphire 7950s 3L models get 660kh/s for Litecoin.  On Bitcoin, I'm sure I can squeeze a bit more juice out of it... however, I haven't tested that claim yet.

Settings are:
1100/1500 @ 1.169 - Steady temps 67c @ 70% fan speed (30xx rpm)