Optimizing ATI performance, 6950 in particular

[skadoosh00]

Does phoenix miner allow the use of the -f flag? I'd like to try setting it to -f2. I tried to chuck it into my batch file earlier but it doesn't seem to like it.

[1714812454]

1714812454

[1714812454]

1714812454

[1714812454]

1714812454

[1714812454]

1714812454

[nebiki]

Does phoenix miner allow the use of the -f flag? I'd like to try setting it to -f2. I tried to chuck it into my batch file earlier but it doesn't seem to like it.

what is -f supposed to do? if you want lesser aggression level, use AGGRESSION, can be set between 1 and 12 (afaik).

[epdp14]

I have not found a tool in Linux, that lets me unlock the memory speed minimum level at set it below  1250

All I can do at the moment is:

Code:

$ aticonfig --od-enable
$ aticonfig --adapter=0 --od-setclocks=900,1250 

You can use AMDOverDriveCtrl.  It allows you to change the Low/Mid/High clocks.  You can't have the High mem clock lower than the Mid/Low clocks, so you need to lower the Mid memory clock to at or below the High level.  You can also use RBE to flash the BIOS with a permanent change in default clock.

However, for the 6950's it only works to set the mem clock up to 100Mhz below the core clock.  aticonfig --odgc will show 1250 mem clock if you try to go lower.

People report that they are able to go lower in Windows.  I'm curious if this is just reporting an inaccurate clock (your requested setting rather than the card) or if they are truly able to do this.

I would be truly interested if someone has a Linux tool that can set mem clocks lower than 100Mhz below core clock for a 6950.

I can confirm that in Windows you can downclock the memory lower than 100mhz below the core clock. No word on the linux issue, however.

[haydent]

i just bought another GB 6950, the flash worked but no extra shaders had... ;(

[nebiki]

i'm thinking about adding a 6990, but do you know how well it scales with 6950 in gaming and how micro stuttering affects the performance in tri-fire instead of crossfire?

[EskimoBob]

I am running poclbm-mod.py , with  -w 128 -f 10 -d 0 -v  and I get about 316300 khash/s.  What bothers me is the 6-9% "I/S" rate.

Any ideas and recommendations are welcome.

Thank you.

upgraded to cgminer and gained about 20%

[GenTarkin]

I just got an ASUS DC2 6950(stock bios no unlock) and this is what I get:

Catalyst 11.7 preview

Using GUIminer w/ openCL option, flags are -v -w64

Clocks are 895/625mem

363-365Mhash/sec

Temps: GPU 72C @ 50% fanspeed
---
Is this any good?

Also, one of my cores is pegged at 100% =( I guess this is a common openCL bug...ugh, I hate it cuz its using more power cuz of that.
Oh well, its an i7 @ 3ghz @ 1.002v, cpu itself uses around 20watts w/ one core pegged.

This machine is my everyday machine...so, it has 2 HDD's 2 ODD's 1 FDD , a soundcard , i7 920, 3GB RAM, Gigabyte X58.

With the current config it pulls 310watts from wall using the killowatt.

[nebiki]

I am running poclbm-mod.py , with  -w 128 -f 10 -d 0 -v  and I get about 316300 khash/s.  What bothers me is the 6-9% "I/S" rate.

Any ideas and recommendations are welcome.

Thank you.

upgraded to cgminer and gained about 20%

no change in hashrate with cgminer. it looks better/cleaner than poclbm, though. thank you.

[DrKennethNoisewater]

Yeah, you should be able to get 360Mhash out of 6950.

I get 360 Mhash with overclocked to 900 directly thru Catalyst Suite.

DKN

[pbj sammich]

I have not found a tool in Linux, that lets me unlock the memory speed minimum level at set it below  1250

All I can do at the moment is:

Code:

$ aticonfig --od-enable
$ aticonfig --adapter=0 --od-setclocks=900,1250 

You can use AMDOverDriveCtrl.  It allows you to change the Low/Mid/High clocks.  You can't have the High mem clock lower than the Mid/Low clocks, so you need to lower the Mid memory clock to at or below the High level.  You can also use RBE to flash the BIOS with a permanent change in default clock.

However, for the 6950's it only works to set the mem clock up to 100Mhz below the core clock.  aticonfig --odgc will show 1250 mem clock if you try to go lower.

People report that they are able to go lower in Windows.  I'm curious if this is just reporting an inaccurate clock (your requested setting rather than the card) or if they are truly able to do this.

I would be truly interested if someone has a Linux tool that can set mem clocks lower than 100Mhz below core clock for a 6950.

I had the same issues could not set clocks lower than what was listed with aticonfig until I upgraded to the 11.6 ati drivers. Then I was able to set my clocks to 900 300 with no problem. Although I have found with my 6950 i get no improvement going past 880/300 in Ubuntu. I am thinking i need to up the power to the card but having trouble getting AMDOverdrive ctrl to work.

[GenTarkin]

Anyone know if an easy way to clock the memory at 300 in windows? Ive tried MSI afterburner w/ the overclock EULA lines...but doesnt work. Also tried ASUS smart doctor.
The lowest I can take it in afterburner and have it stick is around 750mhz.

I dont wanna have to make a BIOS for the card =( cuz I wanna game w/ it too LOL!

[ssateneth]

Anyone know if an easy way to clock the memory at 300 in windows? Ive tried MSI afterburner w/ the overclock EULA lines...but doesnt work. Also tried ASUS smart doctor.
The lowest I can take it in afterburner and have it stick is around 750mhz.

I dont wanna have to make a BIOS for the card =( cuz I wanna game w/ it too LOL!

Try Sapphire Trixx. I use 5830's and a 5870, mind, but MSI Afterburner could only go down to 600 for me while Trixx lets me go as low as 100MHz on memory (not 100MHz below core, but just regular ol 100 MHz!)
http://www.sapphireselectclub.com/ssc/TriXX/TriXX.aspx

[haydent]

i can now lower my mem all the way down with atitray tools (both of which where pretty much factory locked) gigabyte 6950 oc

[GenTarkin]

i can now lower my mem all the way down and control voltage with atitray tools (both of which where pretty much factory locked) gigabyte 6950 oc

Thanks for that, I went with ati tray tools....I remember that program from way back when. Im glad to see its still around! It works great w/ the 6950, have the mem clocked at 150 and verified w/ gpuz.

I tried trixx but it sometimes would and would not apply the mem clock properly.

Mem going from 750 w/ afterburner to 150 w/ att....I gained another 20watts in power savings...yay!

[haydent]

one thing to watch out for though with a mem clock that low is it may be effecting your hashrate as was my case, so i had to ran 300-400 to keep that 'normal'.

[GenTarkin]

ah...I will look into that. Thanks =)

[film2240]

417 Mh/s
Core @ 975MHz, 1.150v
Mem @ 1250MHz
Temp @ 63C, fan @ 77%
Shaders unlocked
-v -w128

Unlikely, and with vectorization used, impossible...

Err not at all?
that looks normal for a unlocked 6950.

im doing 430 Mhash with mine

1.200 volt
unlocked shaders
1000 core
900 mem
Watercooled
~53c

I like the look of those performance figures for that card.I have a few questions about overvolting.
1.Is it safe to overvolt a card without too many ill effects (apart from higher heat needed faster fans to remove that heat)?
2.Can Overvolting shorten the life of my card/even if cooling is good?
3.If so how much can I expect service life (How long i can get use from my card in all situations including mining) of my card to be reduced via overvolting?
4.Does Overvolting boost or decrease sysem stability?
5.What are the benefits of overvolting?
6.is there a degradation like effect when cards are overvolted? like the ability to hold an overclock deteriorates over time,maybe?

I only started with a very small overvolt from 1100mV to 1105mV as I was afraid of frying out my card too much.
Thanx to 1105mV I managed to Oc at 900MHz core now whereas 1100mV froze the system now.I'm getting ~403MHash/s now (up from 396).old core clock was 890Mhz.fan cooling was boosted to 58%,temps are 72oC

Thank you :-)