MSI Readies Liquid-Cooled HD 7970 GHz Edition Lightning Graphics Card

btarunr · Jul 19, 2012

The performance lead that MSI's Radeon HD 7970 Lightning maintained over reference HD 7970 was cut down, first by NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 680, and then by AMD's own Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, leaving its engineers to go back to the drawing boards, and design an even faster graphics card. The result: a liquid-cooled HD 7970 GHz Edition Lightning graphics card, which could push clock-speeds up even further. The card ships with a pre-installed full-coverage water-block, made by EK WaterBlocks (EKWB). It comes ready for 6-display Eyefinity, with four mini-DisplayPort and two DVI. Here's hoping one of those is a dual-link DVI. More details are awaited.

Update: We've received word that it's not that MSI has a new product in the works, but that EKWB has a water-block tailored for MSI's existing R7970 Lightning.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

btarunr · Jul 19, 2012

Many Thanks to NHKS for the tip.

radrok · Jul 19, 2012

They should just put a switch on the PCB to allow one DVI port to become dual link, like ASUS does on the DCII series, you lose a miniDP/DP but who cares when you can have a proper DVI-DL.

I like the card itself, it's a very strong overclocker, especially when cooled properly but that bloody CSQ theme on EK products is very hard to like with the circles :|

dj-electric · Jul 19, 2012

This. Mine. Soon.

m1dg3t · Jul 19, 2012

This is based off the Lightning correct? Are there any other changes than just the addition of a factory W/B?

the54thvoid · Jul 19, 2012

The block and PCB both have the Lightning (LTG) label. The first factory released watercooled lightning?

EKWB are currently putting the retail Lightning blocks into production.

Fail if it does not have dual DVI.

rpsgc · Jul 19, 2012

EK? Ewww... do not want.

Shurakai · Jul 19, 2012

Personally not a fan of the way EK has taken their blocks, lots of little circles? Sure that looks... nah.

AsRock · Jul 19, 2012

which could push clock-speeds up even further.

WTF, sorry if your paying up for this this late i think they should make sure it does and not could.

Elmo · Jul 19, 2012

Shurakai said:
Personally not a fan of the way EK has taken their blocks, lots of little circles? Sure that looks... nah.

Plain and simple should have been nice.. or rather a brushed aluminum backplate.

kroks · Jul 19, 2012

read your source again.. and msi facebook page...
it's not a new card, just a wb from ek
not even ghz edition, just overclocked 7970

jomama22 · Jul 19, 2012

kroks said:
read your source again.. and msi facebook page...
it's not a new card, just a wb from ek
not even ghz edition, just overclocked 7970

Thanks for this I was just about to post the same thing. Definitely not a new edition, just a block by ek.

neliz · Jul 19, 2012

Lightning is already clocked higher than the GHz edition.. when we have a new card, you guys WILL know

Ravenas · Jul 19, 2012

neliz said:
Lightning is already clocked higher than the GHz edition.. when we have a new card, you guys WILL know

What kind of price are we talking here? Some manufactures tend to over charge for the water block and the OC... I would be willing to pay at a max of $599. Powercolor just lowered the price on their 7970, it is now $669.

D007 · Jul 19, 2012

Ug, here we go again.... Oh it's not fast enough, lets liquid cool it and overclock it like anyone who buys the card could of done themselves anyway... Fail...

Ravenas · Jul 19, 2012

D007 said:
Ug, here we go again.... Oh it's not fast enough, lets liquid cool it and overclock it like anyone who buys the card could of done themselves anyway... Fail...

Yes but at the right price it is actually worth it, granted the water block is worthy of the cost. The problem is most manufactures are substantialy over charging for these things due to two main aspects:

Overclocking
Water block

Right now I can get a well reviewed reference card (PowerColor AX7970 3GBD5-M2DHG Radeon HD 7970 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card) for approximately $429 and buy a laundry list of water blocks here for aprroximately $100-$130.

$429+$119= $548

This power color card water block card is $669:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131463

They are charging that kind of money for a block, a OC, and putting it on... It absurd. Ridiculous.

Filiprino · Jul 19, 2012

Oh god, why. Double slot backplates and liquid cooling.

the54thvoid · Jul 19, 2012

Ravenas said:
$429+$119= $548

This power color card water block card is $669:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131463

They are charging that kind of money for a block, a OC, and putting it on... It absurd. Ridiculous.

The pricing disparity across the globe is simply weird.

The LCS 7970 in UK started at £600 (about £150+ over basic card). Now the LCS is £400 in some places (on offer). That's only £100 over basic, so selling at an excellent price.

jomama22 · Jul 19, 2012

How are you guys not getting this? This is NOT A NEW CARD BEING SOLD BY MSI. It is merely a block made by ek for the 7970 lightning.

And the double slots are obviously necessary because the lightning has stacked dvi ports.

Again not a new card, just a block iv been waiting for since late march.

(Awaits for "how much will this card cost? $600?!?!?!")

techtard · Jul 19, 2012

@jomama22

We got that it wasn't a new card a few posts ago, when an MSI Rep posted.

No need to get your panties in a bunch.

MasterInvader · Jul 19, 2012

Until I see a 7970/GTX680 Single Slot full-cover WB my setup still remains the same.

dj-electric · Jul 19, 2012

Why does it matter? its just a connector sticking out anyway...

MasterInvader · Jul 19, 2012

Dj-ElectriC said:
Why does it matter? its just a connector sticking out anyway...

lol... compare the two block´s and you will see why:

Oberon · Jul 19, 2012

MasterInvader said:
lol... compare the two block´s and you will see why:

Soooo, what you're saying is that it still doesn't make a whit of difference?

Casecutter · Jul 19, 2012

radrok said:
should just be switch on the PCB to allow one DVI port to become dual link, like ASUS does on the DCII series,

Amen!

And it can’t be at $600… :wtf:

The Lightening is $520 at Egg right now, and the MSI Twin Frozr IV heatsink/fan unit is probably no more than $20 unit to produce; IdK? The EK-FC7970 DCII (Acetal+EN/Nickel) is a $120 (retail), so MSI could be getting what's just a slightly custom at their volumes for like $30. If MSI markets this and still include the backing plate with the GPU Reactor, for $560-570 tops it will peak peoples interest. $600 or more forget about-it. :shadedshu

When there's the reference VisionTek 7970 right now at TigerD is $378 (and 6-games including BF3). I’d work from that and then the HEATKILLER Full Coverage Water Block along with their backing-plate that's still only $153. And, just see what OC's I could wring out of that… for like $530 altogether. :twitch:

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MSI Readies Liquid-Cooled HD 7970 GHz Edition Lightning Graphics Card

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