ATI Radeon HD5970 Overclocking Problems

Optix · Nov 25, 2009, 02:40 PM

In order to avoid cooking itself, the Radeon HD 5970 throttles both cores down, negating any positive performance impact the overclock is going to have. However rather than throttle the cores down just a little, or even to the default operating specification, it drops the frequency to just 550MHz, that’s a 24% under clock on each core.
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Source: Legion Hardware

Kylzer · Nov 25, 2009, 02:41 PM

Only one or two reviewers had this problem

Just ES card problems no doubt.

Optix · Nov 25, 2009, 02:45 PM

That may be but it doesn't change the fact that it happened. It's more of a food for thought topic.

Zardon · Nov 25, 2009, 04:38 PM

mine didn't but they were tested in a Raven 02. that said, they did get extremely hot, I wouldn't even touch them for overclocking tbh, the standard clocks are pretty much the safest limit I would take from them long term.

Judas · Nov 25, 2009, 08:46 PM

until they develope a better cooler..... the current one is rediculiously poor

SeraphicSorcerer · Nov 26, 2009, 06:28 AM

That's why I am waiting for a sapphire custom cooler then they get my money.

**kris23** · Nov 26, 2009, 07:39 AM

well....... i think i have to give up on my quest for a 5970.... its just too hard to get one....

i planned to buy a few water blocks as soon as the mounting hardware for the 5970 becomes available but things just gone out the window.... cards are impossibly hard to get my hands on.....

DJ BIG T · Nov 26, 2009, 09:31 AM

heres some more stuff about it...

AnandTech

OldBuzzard · Nov 26, 2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris23

... i planned to buy a few water blocks as soon as the mounting hardware for the 5970 becomes available ...

It sounds like you were/are thinking about just cooling the GPUs with a couple of small blocks.

If so, I'd HIGHLY recommend that you don't do that. You would be much better off using a full coverage block that cools the VRMs as well.

I know that Koolance is coming out with a full coverage block for the 5970, and have no doubt that EK and Danger Den will be doing so as well.

Back when I first started WC my vid cards with my 9500 Pro, just cooling the GPU was acceptable. That isn't the case now. With the newer cards there is a LOT of heat being generated by the VRMs and they have to be kept cool as well. Having your GPUs running at 40C under load isn't going to do you any good if the VRMs are overheating and causing the card to crash.

SeraphicSorcerer · Nov 26, 2009, 09:47 PM

Yeah I've been hearing the VRMs they use because of the wattage under load need a better cooling solution, good advice OB.

**kris23** · Nov 26, 2009, 10:46 PM

i was thinking about getting heatsinks for the VRMs... i hate spending something like 100+ on an item that is only good for a single purpose...

Nov 25, 2009, 02:41 PM	#2
Kylzer DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Aberdeen, UK Posts: 37 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon HD5970 Overclocking Problems Only one or two reviewers had this problem Just ES card problems no doubt.

Nov 25, 2009, 04:38 PM	#4
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Re: ATI Radeon HD5970 Overclocking Problems mine didn't but they were tested in a Raven 02. that said, they did get extremely hot, I wouldn't even touch them for overclocking tbh, the standard clocks are pretty much the safest limit I would take from them long term.

Nov 26, 2009, 06:28 AM	#6
SeraphicSorcerer HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,295 Rep Power: 156 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon HD5970 Overclocking Problems That's why I am waiting for a sapphire custom cooler then they get my money. __________________

Nov 26, 2009, 07:39 AM	#7
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,019 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon HD5970 Overclocking Problems well....... i think i have to give up on my quest for a 5970.... its just too hard to get one.... i planned to buy a few water blocks as soon as the mounting hardware for the 5970 becomes available but things just gone out the window.... cards are impossibly hard to get my hands on..... __________________ 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!

Nov 26, 2009, 09:31 AM	#8
DJ BIG T DH FaN BoY Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ORLANDO,FL Posts: 930 Rep Power: 69 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon HD5970 Overclocking Problems heres some more stuff about it... AnandTech __________________

Nov 26, 2009, 09:47 PM	#10
SeraphicSorcerer HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,295 Rep Power: 156 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon HD5970 Overclocking Problems Yeah I've been hearing the VRMs they use because of the wattage under load need a better cooling solution, good advice OB. __________________

Nov 26, 2009, 10:46 PM	#11
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,019 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: ATI Radeon HD5970 Overclocking Problems i was thinking about getting heatsinks for the VRMs... i hate spending something like 100+ on an item that is only good for a single purpose... __________________ 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!