AMD Radeon HD 7950 3 GB

[W1zzard]

Today AMD released their new Radeon HD 7950, the second card to be based on AMD's GCN shader architecture. Compared to its bigger brother, the HD 7970, the card comes with less shaders and reduced clock speeds. Other features have remained the same, like 3 GB memory, improved power consumption and support for EyeFinity.

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[Cuzza]

Wow. Out of the dozens of graphics card reviews I have read on TPU over the years (and I always read W1z's reviews first coz they're the best), I have never come away from it saying "faaaaaaaark that card is amazing" like I did from this one. Sure it's pricey, but that OC? holy jebus. do want.

 

[Maban]

What is the criteria for "stable" status for an overclock? I figure you use a program that you made, but how high of a load is it producing, is it based on artifact scanning, how long does it run, etc?

 

[W1zzard]

What is the criteria for "stable" status for an overclock? I figure you use a program that you made, but high of a load is it producing, is it based on artifact scanning, how long does it run, etc?

initial testing for max oc using gputool artifact scanner, then game testing to find the exact limits. if it's stable in game but unstable in the artifact scanner it still counts as unstable. unstable too if it's fine in the artifact scanner but not the game.

 

[manofthem]

Great review, not too bad of a card at all, that card probably OC'd better than my 7970.

 

[reverze]

with those kind of possible overclock even on stock voltage it makes it hard to shed out another 100 bucks for the 7970. I expect the higher binned OC models with custom cooling to do even better .

 

[1Kurgan1]

Great to see a review up, and same exact OC as the 7970, and really surprising, but same exact fps, on the dot... But with such an old game, do you have any other results vs the OC'd 7970 on some games that push the GPU more, I'm curious on the performance difference caused by the shader loss.

 

[dieterd]

I like that: "Good performance increase vs. HD 6950" and that is great to mention as advantage, but why in disatvantage there is no something like that: "Huge price increase vs. HD 6950"?

 

[Hokum]

I think they are referring to the fact that the performance is next level but the price is above next level. IE poor Price/performance.

Overall I like the new 7900 series (I’ve just picked up a 6950/70 so I’m not too fussed) I think the power saving features is a big move. I’m less worried about performance than efficiency.

 

[Damn_Smooth]

Does it unlock?

 

[Recus]

Does it unlock?

No. And stop asking.

 

[W1zzard]

Does it unlock?

not the two samples i got. i checked

 

[Damn_Smooth]

not the two samples i got. i checked

Thanks. It still seems like a pretty solid card though. Especially if Nvidia brings on a price war.

 

[afw]

I won't call it fail ... but I expected more ... at least they shudav priced it less ... arnd $400 maybe ... I'm planning to upgrade and was hoping to get this ... but looking at the price ... i wont ...

EDIT: like to see 1.5GB versions for less than $400. No point having 3GB for single monitor setups ...

 

[crow1001]

Underwhelming cards are underwhelming, really no buzz with these new 28nm AMD cores, their high price and not exactly amazing performance compared to the old Nvidia cards makes for a lackluster release. If Nvidia don't trounce these AMD GPU's with the 28nm kepler then they deserve to go under.

 

[NAVI_Z]

awsome review as usual W1z. read both the reg and x-fire review. can't wait to get my hands on two of these puppies. my 5870 is still running strong but i need more mem for eyefinity.
these will do nicely.

 

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

sweeeeet. Would get better with drivers as well.. this ownz

 

[TIGR]

Great review. Nice efficiency. I appreciate that you test card-only power consumption under multiple load conditions.

 

[joyman]

Thanks for the great review again Wizz!
The card is great, however the price is not. This is because the capitalism requires only profits, so noone will make something breathtaking or amazing breakthrough because of our blue(brown) eyes. They want bigger profit, so if there is nothing that forces them to make cheaper and better product at the same time noone will do it. Simple as that. So if we take this in account the card is just great. Period. Peace.

 

[ERazer]

another great review wiz!! ty sir

 

[Sasqui]

Do any of these tests demonstrate OpenGL performance?

Honestly I'm too lazy to look through each test, but they appear to be all DX.

 

[W1zzard]

Do any of these tests demonstrate OpenGL performance?

Honestly I'm too lazy to look through each test, but they appear to be all DX.

all directx i think. except for rage i couldnt think of an opengl title to use. and rage is fps locked

 

[Sasqui]

all directx i think. except for rage i couldnt think of an opengl title to use. and rage is fps locked

How about something like Furmark? Had a colleague asking about how the newer cards work in professional applications (not games). Assumed OpenGL testing would give some peek.

I do know that the FireGL and others have optimized and specialty drivers for apps like Solidworks, 3D studio, etc... list goes on. And these typically don't.

 

[W1zzard]

How about something like Furmark? Had a colleague asking about how the newer cards work in professional applications (not games). Assumed OpenGL testing would give some peek.

I do know that the FireGL and others have optimized and specialty drivers for apps like Solidworks, 3D studio, etc... list goes on. And these typically don't.

furmark is not a benchmark.

ask your colleage what applications are interesting, what datasets he uses to fully load his card.

 

[Am*]

Good lord, this makes every Nvidia and previous gen AMD card look like crap power hogs. It even stomps my GTX 460 in power consumption and it's the only somewhat energy efficient and half-decent gaming card Nvidia had.

GTX 460, meet your replacement. Just waiting for the drivers to mature and I'll be getting one of these cards.

furmark is not a benchmark.

ask your colleage what applications are interesting, what datasets he uses to fully load his card.

Just a quick question W1z: could you post the power modes/clock profiles and their clockrates please (2D/Blu-ray/3D)? I couldn't find them in the review, not sure if I missed it.