RX Vega 56 and Vega 64 undervolting + maxed out power limit test by Hardwareluxx

[Caelestis]

The German website Hardwareluxx.de published today a test about undervolting the RX Vega 56 & 64 with simultaneously increased power limit. In particular the results of the Vega 56 are interesting.

Translated article: RX Vega 56 and Vega 64 undervolting

 

[wolf]

Interesting findings, will be good to see if others can replicate it.

and IF it's consistent, repeatable and stable, AMD need to lift their game!

 

[r9]

Vega 56uv oc beats 1080 in performance with lower power consumption.
I'm impressed.
It's just so hard to compare stuff with this shortage due to high demand by miners.
If you can get the 56 for $100 cheaper compared to the 1080, it doesn't look that bad.

 

[R00kie]

Now THAT is a different picture. This makes me wonder, why RTG haven't done this in the first place....

 

[r9]

Now THAT is a different picture. This makes me wonder, why RTG haven't done this in the first place....

Time it takes to tune.
Not all cards would cut it.
Provable you could do the same to the 1080/70.

 

[ZeppMan217]

I'd like to see others verify this first as well. Luxx's results show incredible power draw reduction AND performance gains that put 56 and 64 well above 1070 and 1080.

 

[Folterknecht]

At this point in time we only see results from golden I mean reviews samples. Let's wait and see what happens in one or two months when custom cards are available.

 

[Nosada]

So basically AMD is ruining their own performance by setting the cards up with too much voltage, making them worse, louder and lowering the perf/watt. The undervolted Vega 56 seems like a price/perf winner for this generation.

The hell is going on, AMD?

 

[turbogear]

This is very interesting information.
They achieved about 6-7% performace increase in Vega 64 with undervolting while saving about 9% power.

Something I will definitely try on my Vega 64 once I finish building the custom water loop with EK water block on Vega 64 over the next weekend.
I am looking forward to see what stable lower voltages I would be able to achieve and how high I could increae the frequency on undervolted Vega.

 

[uuuaaaaaa]

I'd like to see others verify this first as well. Luxx's results show incredible power draw reduction AND performance gains that put 56 and 64 well above 1070 and 1080.

Gamers Nexus Steve undervolted their Vega 64 sample to 1080mV +50% power limit and similar results were obtained. He even did it on stream, which you can check on their YouTube channel.

 

[rtwjunkie]

Lowering voltage and increasing power limit also works on the Polaris cards, at tleast the 480. It seems this may be an systemic AMD/RTG problem

 

[R0H1T]

Well this is AMD 101, it's a good thing you can't mess up drivers for CPU, well you can but the system won;t run, otherwise Zen & TR would've been major disasters!

 

[HD64G]

Lowering voltage and increasing power limit also works on the Polaris cards, at tleast the 480. It seems this may be an systemic AMD/RTG problem

It is a feature also for the "know how to do it" bunch of people. Undervolting works wonders on CGN arch since 7950-7970. But the results I see for Vega RX56 reference are great and expected by me but the confirmation is very sweet. I insisted for days that undervolting is the only thing needed for ref design 56 to almost catch the 1080 on average without high power consuption. But to consume less than ref 1080 and being equal or faster than it is a pleasant fact that makes it THE bargain GPU for anyone ont on 4K ultra detail gaming.

For someone who asked on previous post "why AMD didin't use that already", the @W1zzard review clearly showed that by posting results both for performance and power consumption for the 6 bios and driver states of Vega 64 that clearly show the potential of it when not pushed for max performance. It loses 4% FPS on average when switched from stock to "eco" setting with 27% less power draw by just a click in a driver preset, and that without undervoltaging it. And Vega 56 is even better it seems.

Below is the table with the findings on the power consuption from the article the OP mentioned

 

[Steevo]

If they have 10,000 dies that have defects to use as Vega56, they will write a BIOS that allows all those dies to operate at their advertised speeds, even if only 10% need that much current to operate without error. Seems like they should have made 56 and 56LP options, and given the high current/leakage parts to overclock cards meant for record setting.

Feels like AMD is trying to buy back stock before they get bought out. Or maybe just trying to secure their own future by reducing future debt obligations.

 

[Vayra86]

Lowering voltage and increasing power limit also works on the Polaris cards, at tleast the 480. It seems this may be an systemic AMD/RTG problem

Makes you wonder why AMD haven't done this by default in the BIOS. And also why this wasn't a huge deal during Polaris releases.

This whole story reeks badly, I'll let it simmer for a few more days to see what's what. Even if it really is true and reproducible on all Vega cards, that makes you wonder what they're smoking @ RTG.

 

[eidairaman1]

I think there needs to be a miners tax...

 

[R00kie]

I think there needs to be a miners tax...

We already have it, its called packs.

 

[eidairaman1]

Im saying if they want to really use the card for mining they have to pay for a mining driver...

 

[R00kie]

Im saying if they want to really use the card for mining they have to pay for a mining driver...

Actually, that might be a good idea. Gimp the mining performance with a gaming driver, and if you want to mine with the card, go to AMD's website or something and cash out for a mining driver. Genius!

Should definitely start a petition for this.

 

[Durvelle27]

Very interesting to say the least

Let's to just see how it matures with drivers

 

[eidairaman1]

Actually, that might be a good idea. Gimp the mining performance with a gaming driver, and if you want to mine with the card, go to AMD's website or something and cash out for a mining driver. Genius!

Should definitely start a petition for this.

I mean the pro cards you have to if im not mistaken.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Makes you wonder why AMD haven't done this by default in the BIOS. And also why this wasn't a huge deal during Polaris releases.

This whole story reeks badly, I'll let it simmer for a few more days to see what's what. Even if it really is true and reproducible on all Vega cards, that makes you wonder what they're smoking @ RTG.

Thats how its done !

You don't make20-50000 cards and volt level check each one, you run a batch through its paces and let physics and science decide the optimal yeild operating points of you're card then set them all to that , its the exact same principle that decided top clock frequency , memory operating frequency etc etc and its a widespread thing throughout the whole ic industry , only chips for space are fully qualified literally the only scenario i know of is space environment where minimum op volts are tested Verifed and used.

@eidairaman1 being said miner i disagree obviously , i live in a capitalist world my great grandfather fought for.
I get the pain but im feeling it already ,i paid over the odds for most of my cards as did most , complain about the shops exorbitant pricing , or the 10-50% greed uplifts done by store owners.
I as a miner got one vega ,not ten and i got it to game on as well but regardless they were in short supply and even without mining would have ran out the same.

 

[eidairaman1]

Hey you bum check your private messages.

@theoneandonlymrk

 

[R-T-B]

I think there needs to be a miners tax...

You can't seriously think that would make any difference.

Besides, mining isn't really seperable from general gaming compute. Half the issue, that there.

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

Vega 56uv oc beats 1080 in performance with lower power consumption.
I'm impressed.
It's just so hard to compare stuff with this shortage due to high demand by miners.
If you can get the 56 for $100 cheaper compared to the 1080, it doesn't look that bad.

I haven't seen miners going after this in bulk, more of a novelty item. Supply and pricing issues rest squarely on AMD's shoulders.