Asus 7970 DCU II Top Voltage finally unlocked

[cadaveca]

Yep, turns out I have the v1.01 PCB. I assume V1.00 is the one with unlocked voltage and overheating VRMs?

Yes.






and the whacky coolers. it's like they realized the cooler was naffed, so locked the voltage so the cooler remained adequate.

This card was discontinued long ago though, as was the Matrix. What ya got, well, it's what you got.

IF you get 0.800V @ Idle, voltage may be unlocked with flashing BIOS. which works..cannot say. If you get same voltage @ idle and load, then you are really screwed.

If you wanted to save both BIOSes and post them, I might have a look? You should have two, one for dual-link, one for without. Examining the BIOS will tell me what version of card you have.

 

[d1nky]

off topic : stable at 1210/1675 @1275(1222)v core 1650(?)v mem

temps

about to run next phase 1210/1700

 

[cadaveca]

off topic : stable at 1210/1675 @1275(1222)v core 1650(?)v mem

temps

about to run next phase 1210/1700

Yeah, the 7950 is completely different, uses PCB that is basically just the reference AMD PCB. The 7970 DurectCUII and 7970 Matrix cards are custom-design PCBs. The DirectCUII was supposed to have the Hotwire function, and alludes to having control of the voltages on the box, and you do, to a degree, even in my screwy-VRM-Controller-BIOS situation. The Matrix cards take it a whole step further, needing no soldering for daily OC, and having buttons right on the PCB that let you change the voltage.

 

[razaron]

<snip>

I'm on v1.01, already pput the Ghz BIOS on. Can't believe I hadn't tried it already...
I threw the clocks to 1200/6000 and ran Fire Strike extreme, the highest temp was 38C and voltage under load is 1.254V. That water block can finally do it's job.

 

[cadaveca]

I'm on v1.01, already pput the Ghz BIOS on. Can't believe I hadn't tried it already...
I threw the clocks to 1200/6000 and ran Fire Strike extreme, the highest temp was 38C. That water block can finally do it's job.

Ah, so if you look at stock BOIS in GPU-Z or similar, you'll see like 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 200,201,202,203,204 at the end of the BIOS listing, these are all different versions of the cards, two are similar, two are not. two are TOP, two are non-TOP.


BIOSes between these two versions aren't inter-changeable.


So the OP, and you, have different versions of the card. I have the same as the OP, with a different problem yet that locks the voltage, I think.


Dude, I tried every BIOS in the database here, even asked W1zz if he had others, which he did, and he put up for me. None of them fix my problems. You...you got lucky, I think you can enable normal voltage control. Just gotta get the right BIOS.


Anyway, to further make it interesting, there are also AS01, AS02, AS03, AS04, AS05, AS06, AS07, AS08, AS09, BIOSes and for each of those, both a U2 and U3 BOIS....

U2 and U3 are different in dual-link DVI operating or not.

 

[razaron]

When did you buy yours? I bought mine last June, it just so happened to be the cheapest retail 7970 I could find so the investment has finally paid off. It was something like £320+£80 for the card and water block, and I think GTX680's were around £400 then.
I'm so happy, now I won't have to upgrade to a 8970/GTX780 out of butthurt.

EDIT: In GPUTweak there's still no voltage control. Voltage seems to be fixed at 1.256V, although I haven't tried other programs yet, so it might be controllable. Also, I have the version where the DVI-D does NOT support 2560x1600. Supposedly, I should be able to run 2560x1440 monitors off of it. This card was (until now) my worst purchase ever.

 

[cadaveca]

When did you buy yours? I bought mine last June, it just so happened to be the cheapest retail 7970 I could find so the investment has finally paid off. It was something like £320+£80 for the card and water block, and I think GTX680's were around £400 then.
I'm so happy, now I won't have to upgrade to a 8970/GTX780 out of butthurt.

This card is a second RMA card, kinda new, then. June sounds about right for getting a good stock card, actually.

All the cards with volt control working can run GHz BIOS, but your is the first v1.01 PCB I heard of doing it. Maybe it's really v1.00. It's one the PCB, under the backplate, on the side with PCIe part, on the power-plug end. If any of that makes sense.

Not being able to run 2560x1600 si a deal breaker for me. I have a 30-inch Dell. Oh well, I have other cards, thankfully. At least I can try DP for 2560x1600.


The card is stil lquiet.

 

[razaron]

This card is a second RMA card, kinda new, then. June sounds about right for getting a good stock card, actually.

All the cards with volt control working can run GHz BIOS, but your is the first v1.01 PCB I heard of doing it. Maybe it's really v1.00. It's one the PCB, under the backplate, on the side with PCIe part, on the power-plug end. If any of that makes sense.

The first version didn't have VRM cut-outs on the backplate. How do you even overlook that, lol.

 

[cadaveca]

The first version didn't have VRM cut-outs on the backplate. How do you even overlook that, lol.

huh? Mine has no cut-outs, just some holes?...me haz confuse...

You can see my PCB above, and the number there on the bottom left. All cards in reviews are 1.00 here, have different stuff on the PCB at rear and front.


I cared less about cooler, all about PCB.

The mystery deepens...

My cards(the "7970" on the DirectCUII rubbed off after I used isopropyl to clean glue off from sticker ASUS had placed there):

 

[razaron]

The cutout on the backplate between the 4 screws is the one that I'm referring to. The first version didn't have that...

Not being able to run 2560x1600 si a deal breaker for me. I have a 30-inch Dell. Oh well, I have other cards, thankfully.

Yeah, I ended up having to buy an active adapter. Thankfully I found an active DVI-D to DP adapter for cheap. It's a Dell BizLink.

 

[cadaveca]

Oh, and does yours have that cutout?

Because first cards had copper pipes direct to GPU, but then there are cards with revised cooler that uses copper plate to GPU. The cards with new cooler have both v1.00 and 1.01 PCBs that I have seen.

I think there might be one or four non-top cards local, if I had the cash I'd buy 'em and see if they unlock. I just resigned myself to the idea that "TOP" meant it had lower voltage, and ran cooler, but my card was screwed by BIOS. Works fine anyway.

 

[razaron]

Yep, mine has the cut out. That VRM was the one that was overheating for all the "early investors".

 

[cadaveca]

Yep, mine has the cut out. That VRM was the one that was overheating for all the "early investors".

Yes, this was replaced for that, then again, this is third card.

I like the Matrix card better anyway, is more like motherboard with GPU on it, so many options.

 

[d1nky]

this thread is just making me want to buy one.......

 

[cadaveca]

this thread is just making me want to buy one.......

If you want one, no point in waiting, since they don't make either of the 7970's any more I was told.


But maybe it was just the "TOP" and "Platinum" cards...dunno. I do know that overall, 7970 is a very rare bird right now. Like, what models are in stock at any given store vary from week to week, some just never return.


I'd like another 1100 MHz "stock" card...but I'd be happy with another Matrix. Finding it...man, no luck yet.

 

[d1nky]

I was talking to some guy from another forum and he was fed up with his matrix, wanted a 7950 or 7970 sapphire in return.....may even talk to him when I get paid

(oh new 3dmark 11 = 7697)

wish I had better mobo to get stable @5ghz

 

[razaron]

huh? Mine has no cut-outs, just some holes?...me haz confuse...

I just realized my fail at English. I wasn't saying saying how do you overlook that. I was referring to Asus' engineers. My bad.

 

[DJ_OXyGeNe_8]

And found this review;

http://www.tech-kings.net/home/review/graphics/347-asus-hd-7970-dc2-3gd5-review?showall=&start=4

 

[DJ_OXyGeNe_8]

Crysis 3 Results (Highest Settings) - 2560 x 1440 / 1920 x 1080

1180 Mhz - 7000Mhz / 2560 x 1440 / Max Temp 69C

ASUS 7970 TOP (matrix bios) 1920 1080 / 1180Mhz - 6600Mhz / Max Temp 69C

 

[d1nky]

Crysis 3 Results (Highest Settings) - 2560 x 1440 / 1920 x 1080

1180 Mhz - 7000Mhz / 2560 x 1440 / Max Temp 69C

http://a1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lh9tv.jpg http://b1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lh9uj.jpg
http://b1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lh9wt.jpg http://b1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lh9xp.jpg
http://d1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhb00.jpg http://b1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhb0u.jpg




ASUS 7970 TOP (matrix bios) 1920 1080 / 1180Mhz - 6600Mhz / Max Temp 69C

http://f1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhc0p.jpghttp://f1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhc1f.jpg
http://c1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhc22.jpghttp://f1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhc3h.jpg
http://c1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhc4p.jpghttp://f1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhc5h.jpg
http://f1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhc63.jpghttp://f1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhc6z.jpg
http://a1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhc83.jpghttp://a1303.hizliresim.com/17/u/lhc8x.jpg​

nice!!!!!!! im buying one!!

 

[DJ_OXyGeNe_8]

Asus 7970 Top - 1200Mhz

 

[DJ_OXyGeNe_8]

And here is a Crysis 3 video, I coudn't show FPS on screen, but the same settings with screenshots

Crysis 3 - Asus 7970 Matrix P Bios Flashed to Asus...

Also don't forget, at the same time I was recording screen, but no problem 25-55 Fps stabil with 1180Mhz

 

[DJ_OXyGeNe_8]

1200Mhz

 

[DJ_OXyGeNe_8]

Ok bought another one, if everything goes well I'll try CF performance 1-2 days later.

 

[d1nky]

grrrr........crossfire im jealous!!

although ive just ordered an asrock fatality ready for crossfire