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Old HD 6950 'back to life' -- and working at 4K

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Hi folks,

Brought back to life, my 8 year old Sapphire 'Radeon HD 6950' Dirt 3 Edition (AKA 2 fan Edition)

I've been fannying around with this card all week, and so far got:


1) Full Control over overclocking range despite an unmodified CCC maxing out at a pathetic +40 on the core and +100 memory.
Core: 950mhz (original 800 & normal max overclock only 840).
Mem: 1410 (original 1250 & normal max overclock only 1350 )

2) Gained voltage control (not available in CCC).
Stock: 1.1v
Running: 1.18v


3) Got 4K working perfectly in Windows & games. (cards specs & even latest drivers don't allow you to go above 1440p).
Playing 'Mass Effect', 3860 x 2160 @ 45-55 FPS.
How: Registry tweaks.

4) Lost 20c off core temp by cleaning & re-pasting
I removed the heatsink/fan assembly, cleaned dust, applied TG Kryonaut and literally got a 20c drop in temps. (old temp = 84c, new temp = 65c).

5) Unlocked extra Stream Processors on GPU core:
Old - 1408 shaders
New - 1536 shaders


6) Next Step:
Now I want to water cool it!







P.S
Happy camper here lol, feels like I've got a new piece of kit even though it's an 8 year old GPU.
Quite content playing through older franchises at 4K while my 1080Ti does $130 p/m Crypto in the background ;-)

Nick Peyton
 
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If you're looking to attach a water pump aio to that card, personally I would use zip ties or run to the hardware store and figure out a mounting system for under five dollars, but if you want to do it factory made , go with this (it fits 6950, but im not sure about your aio)
 

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go with this (it fits 6950, but im not sure about your aio)

Yeah he has the square head unit type of cooler, so the pre-mades wont work. I did say that in the second thread he started before I closed it, so at least he knows in both places now.
 
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I did check out that Kraken in the link.

Aye I think I might try it with zip ties or something.. DIY style I can do right now, lol

hmm.. thinking...

Edit:
What about something made of wood? I could punch holes where I need them to force it to all fit together. Plus wood doesn't conduct so won't matter if it touches PCB.
 
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Hi folks,

Brought back to life, my 8 year old Sapphire 'Radeon HD 6950' Dirt 3 Edition (AKA 2 fan Edition)

I've been fannying around with this card all week, and so far got:


1) Full Control over overclocking range despite an unmodified CCC maxing out at a pathetic +40 on the core and +100 memory.
Core: 950mhz (original 800 & normal max overclock only 840).
Mem: 1410 (original 1250 & normal max overclock only 1350 )

2) Gained voltage control (not available in CCC).
Stock: 1.1v
Running: 1.18v


3) Got 4K working perfectly in Windows & games. (cards specs & even latest drivers don't allow you to go above 1440p).
Playing 'Mass Effect', 3860 x 2160 @ 45-55 FPS.
How: Registry tweaks.

4) Lost 20c off core temp by cleaning & re-pasting
I removed the heatsink/fan assembly, cleaned dust, applied TG Kryonaut and literally got a 20c drop in temps. (old temp = 84c, new temp = 65c).

5) Unlocked extra Stream Processors on GPU core:
Old - 1408 shaders
New - 1536 shaders


6) Next Step:
Now I want to water cool it!







P.S
Happy camper here lol, feels like I've got a new piece of kit even though it's an 8 year old GPU.
Quite content playing through older franchises at 4K while my 1080Ti mines Crypto in the background ;-)

Nick Peyton

Pics or it didn't happen.

On a serious note, for mounting the H80, you're best bet is likely zip ties. You'll just have to cobble something together for VRM cooling. From memory, those things run pretty hot.
 
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its easy to mount an AIO with the proper Hardware. take an hour, and sit the card out on a table, with good lighting, tear it down to the PCB, and you should have no issue figuring out a simple way with the right items from Your local hardware store. there are 4 holes on just about every GPU's PCB, and with that in mind, you only other "challenge" will be how to secure the AIO Pump/CPU block. 4 washers for the back side of the PCB, 4 for the Top side, 4 long screws, with matching nuts, and then a method of fastening the Block to those 4 bolts.

or you could try the HG10 from Corsair, im sure that would work with your AIO...unless im mistaken, i know it works with the 6950, just not sure about the cooler,
 
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silkstone: Okay I'll see if I can get some pics.

jboydgolfer: I had a look at the HG10, thanks for link. Interesting. I am still pondering DIY style method over in my head though.... want to save $


---
What I found most interesting when I removed the fan/heat-sink assembly earlier was that the heat-sink makes NO contact with VRM or memory.

The VRM has it's own little heat-sink held down by 1 screw.

The memory has nothing at all & makes zero contact with anything. <-- yeh they're all naked :oops:

There are no thermal pads on the PCB at all.


There are obviously gaps in the fins on the heat-sink assembly so air travels to 'bare naked memory chips' and 'mini VRM heat-sink'.


So now I'm thinking:
Big overclocking opportunity if I can get everything cooled ;-)
I.E. if memory does 1410 naked (original 1250) -- imagine what it could do with a mini heat-sink on every chip and direct fan.
 
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Smart people don't think others are stupid.

If you don't know what you're doing it is probably something best left alone. (Unless you have dual BIOS switch and already know for sure you can experiment safely).
 
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I have two of these laying around that are unlocked. They're quite the heat machines, but they sure did own nvidia's greedy ass...just like my 4890s did before them and the 7950s after (290x was pretty damn good, too).

Yet, somehow, nvtards have brainwashed into believing their cards were far superior lol. Must be some severe buyer's remorse after years of schlong sucking.

Anyone remember this time period when xfire/sli actually worked?
 
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Yeah m8 I'm having loads of fun.

Honestly it feels like a new bit of kit. (Like I've just bought a new GPU).

"Back in the day" when I got this card (Nearly a decade ago) I never overclocked. In fact I probably never even took the front off my PC case. I was just happy to have a good GPU and be able to run at good frame rates. (It was the 1st time I was old enough to be able to afford a decent GPU and at the time was the best, most powerful one I had ever owned).

However it's not until NOW when I brush the dust off I realise what a little GEM of a card I actually had back then. There's so much can be done with it. It even features dual BIOS. Honestly -- It's got stuff I never even knew it had! lol.

Also the fact I'm able to run top quality 'triple A' classics like Mass Effect at 4K is quite the sense of satisfaction.

Same as you -- I'm also impressed with what it can still do. It actually performs nicely in even modern benchmarks at 720p & 1080p. <-- this coming from me when I also have a 1080Ti in another PCI-E slot.
 
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