Sapphire HD 7950, is it a reference design?

**kris23** · Feb 2, 2012, 07:28 PM

hey guys, been busy....

do any of you know whether or not sapphire's latest offering HD 7950 uses a reference design board?

Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 11196-00-40G Radeon HD 7950 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

im thinking of buying it but only if it is indeed a reference model....

***Veridian3*** · Feb 2, 2012, 08:25 PM

Its hard to say, there are a number of cards which are very similar to each other. This one for example is the same as the HIS by the looks of things... but the reference card we were sent isnt like any of the retail cards... it has a 7970 style cooler and slightly longer PCB (and was manufactured in December). Havent seen a matching one anywhere.

Dyre Straits · Feb 2, 2012, 08:41 PM

I'm just curious as to why a reference card may be preferred?

***Veridian3*** · Feb 2, 2012, 09:03 PM

BIOS flash attempt to 7970 maybe?

Had a quick look at the 7950 AMD sent again. The key difference between it and the retail cards thats easy to see in pics (other than PCB colour) is the large S shaped silver section on the back of the card to the right of the GPU. Then the next difference is the silver sections that stack up on the left of the gpu. The AMD branded card (based on the 7970 pcb and cooler) doesnt have those.

The Sapphire card you linked has the silver sections so I would say "not reference". It does, as I say, seem to be the common 7950 retail design though.

**kris23** · Feb 3, 2012, 12:24 AM

reference is preferred because i plan on using a koolance full cover waterblock in the future since my system is liquid cooled...

going from what you guys are saying though, it seems few 7950s are reference design... how disappointing...

i may have to go with a 7970, if thats the case, ill be looking into sapphire or visiontek models

Tipstaff · Feb 3, 2012, 09:13 AM

The safe bet is the HD7970. Reason being is that AMD specifically said to manufacturers that, at least at the time, they couldn't release a card that wasn't based on the reference design. With the HD7950 AMD didn't have this stipulation, so manufacturers were free to redesign the card. Not only do you have some based on reference design, but also cards based on the HD7970's reference, as well as shorter boards. So, you've got cards at 10.25", 10.83", 11", 11.3", and no matter how much searching I do I can't find 1 single site that says "this is the reference length". All you get is one site saying it's 10.83, and another saying it's 11.2/11.3. Best bet though is that the longer the board the closer the layout is to reference, while the shorter the board the more the cards components layout has changed.

If you still are looking for an HD7950 you're safest manufacturers would be Diamond, HIS, and Visiontek. They usually don't stray away from reference. I know HIS' cards are 11.3" as I bought one for a client, and needed to know this. Same thing with Gigabytes' Windforce non-OC card.

**kris23** · Feb 3, 2012, 06:31 PM

hmm... the 7950 would keep some much needed money in my pocket but the 7970 is the safest and probably most satisfying bet....

looks like im going to need more money!

Judas · Feb 3, 2012, 06:48 PM

good luck..

personally i'd just wait a tab bit longer..... i keep eyeing up the 7950 and 7970 but have pretty much beat myself up to ensure i don't do something stupid like buy one at the moment lol.

Feb 2, 2012, 07:28 PM	#1
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,018 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Sapphire HD 7950, is it a reference design? hey guys, been busy.... do any of you know whether or not sapphire's latest offering HD 7950 uses a reference design board? Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 11196-00-40G Radeon HD 7950 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card im thinking of buying it but only if it is indeed a reference model.... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Feb 2, 2012, 08:25 PM	#2
*Veridian3* Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cloaked Posts: 5,028 Rep Power: 181	Re: Sapphire HD 7950, is it a reference design? Its hard to say, there are a number of cards which are very similar to each other. This one for example is the same as the HIS by the looks of things... but the reference card we were sent isnt like any of the retail cards... it has a 7970 style cooler and slightly longer PCB (and was manufactured in December). Havent seen a matching one anywhere.

Feb 2, 2012, 09:03 PM	#4
*Veridian3* Administrator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cloaked Posts: 5,028 Rep Power: 181	Re: Sapphire HD 7950, is it a reference design? BIOS flash attempt to 7970 maybe? Had a quick look at the 7950 AMD sent again. The key difference between it and the retail cards thats easy to see in pics (other than PCB colour) is the large S shaped silver section on the back of the card to the right of the GPU. Then the next difference is the silver sections that stack up on the left of the gpu. The AMD branded card (based on the 7970 pcb and cooler) doesnt have those. The Sapphire card you linked has the silver sections so I would say "not reference". It does, as I say, seem to be the common 7950 retail design though.

Feb 3, 2012, 12:24 AM	Thread Starter #5
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,018 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: Sapphire HD 7950, is it a reference design? reference is preferred because i plan on using a koolance full cover waterblock in the future since my system is liquid cooled... going from what you guys are saying though, it seems few 7950s are reference design... how disappointing... i may have to go with a 7970, if thats the case, ill be looking into sapphire or visiontek models __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Feb 3, 2012, 09:13 AM	#6
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	Re: Sapphire HD 7950, is it a reference design? The safe bet is the HD7970. Reason being is that AMD specifically said to manufacturers that, at least at the time, they couldn't release a card that wasn't based on the reference design. With the HD7950 AMD didn't have this stipulation, so manufacturers were free to redesign the card. Not only do you have some based on reference design, but also cards based on the HD7970's reference, as well as shorter boards. So, you've got cards at 10.25", 10.83", 11", 11.3", and no matter how much searching I do I can't find 1 single site that says "this is the reference length". All you get is one site saying it's 10.83, and another saying it's 11.2/11.3. Best bet though is that the longer the board the closer the layout is to reference, while the shorter the board the more the cards components layout has changed. If you still are looking for an HD7950 you're safest manufacturers would be Diamond, HIS, and Visiontek. They usually don't stray away from reference. I know HIS' cards are 11.3" as I bought one for a client, and needed to know this. Same thing with Gigabytes' Windforce non-OC card. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Feb 3, 2012, 06:31 PM	Thread Starter #7
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,018 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: Sapphire HD 7950, is it a reference design? hmm... the 7950 would keep some much needed money in my pocket but the 7970 is the safest and probably most satisfying bet.... looks like im going to need more money! __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!