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Best 7950 card?

N

NightLion

macrumors member
Original poster
Jun 8, 2011
32
1
Any suggestions on which 7950 card is the way to go? I don't want to pay the premium on the Sapphire Mac card. I'd like to flash it.

Sapphire Radeon Vapor-X HD 7950 vs Gigabyte AMD Radeon HD 7950?

Any thoughts? or is there something better?
 
The flash instructions are over on the Netkas forum. THIS is the thread you will need.

Some folks have posted EFI-ready ROMs for some of the more popular 7950 card types in the shops and if you match the card exactly, you can just drop the ROM straight in. For example, I am using THIS card, manufacturer code 11196-17-40G. If you were to get the same card I could send you the EFI ROM and a backup of the original ROM. PM me if you do end up with that card.

I should add that it is possible to mess up the flashing as pjcltd found recently. You really do need to pay attention to the guide to guarantee success and you can also end up with a faulty card out of the box.

The latest copy of ATI WinFlash is all you need if you are sent an EFI ROM. You can get ATI WinFlash from http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2232/ati-winflash-2-3-0/ and there is a guide at http://www.overclock.net/t/1353325/tutorial-atiwinflash-how-to-flash-the-bios-of-your-ati-cards
 
DanielCoffey said:
The flash instructions are over on the Netkas forum. THIS is the thread you will need.

Some folks have posted EFI-ready ROMs for some of the more popular 7950 card types in the shops and if you match the card exactly, you can just drop the ROM straight in. For example, I am using THIS card, manufacturer code 11196-17-40G. If you were to get the same card I could send you the EFI ROM and a backup of the original ROM. PM me if you do end up with that card.

I should add that it is possible to mess up the flashing as pjcltd found recently. You really do need to pay attention to the guide to guarantee success and you can also end up with a faulty card out of the box.

The latest copy of ATI WinFlash is all you need if you are sent an EFI ROM. You can get ATI WinFlash from http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2232/ati-winflash-2-3-0/ and there is a guide at http://www.overclock.net/t/1353325/tutorial-atiwinflash-how-to-flash-the-bios-of-your-ati-cards
Click to expand...

Yep i messed up my card
i sent it back and got a refund for the card
just take your time
and read read and read it all again
 
DanielCoffey said:
The flash instructions are over on the Netkas forum. THIS is the thread you will need.

Some folks have posted EFI-ready ROMs for some of the more popular 7950 card types in the shops and if you match the card exactly, you can just drop the ROM straight in. For example, I am using THIS card, manufacturer code 11196-17-40G. If you were to get the same card I could send you the EFI ROM and a backup of the original ROM. PM me if you do end up with that card.

I should add that it is possible to mess up the flashing as pjcltd found recently. You really do need to pay attention to the guide to guarantee success and you can also end up with a faulty card out of the box.

The latest copy of ATI WinFlash is all you need if you are sent an EFI ROM. You can get ATI WinFlash from http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2232/ati-winflash-2-3-0/ and there is a guide at http://www.overclock.net/t/1353325/tutorial-atiwinflash-how-to-flash-the-bios-of-your-ati-cards
Click to expand...


Daniel, You're a rockstar. Thanks so much. I'm pretty sure that was the card I was going to get. So no issues with that card not getting 5 gt/s?

----------
DanielCoffey said:
The flash instructions are over on the Netkas forum. THIS is the thread you will need.

Some folks have posted EFI-ready ROMs for some of the more popular 7950 card types in the shops and if you match the card exactly, you can just drop the ROM straight in. For example, I am using THIS card, manufacturer code 11196-17-40G. If you were to get the same card I could send you the EFI ROM and a backup of the original ROM. PM me if you do end up with that card.

I should add that it is possible to mess up the flashing as pjcltd found recently. You really do need to pay attention to the guide to guarantee success and you can also end up with a faulty card out of the box.

The latest copy of ATI WinFlash is all you need if you are sent an EFI ROM. You can get ATI WinFlash from http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2232/ati-winflash-2-3-0/ and there is a guide at http://www.overclock.net/t/1353325/tutorial-atiwinflash-how-to-flash-the-bios-of-your-ati-cards
Click to expand...

Daniel -- any idea what the difference between your card and this card? It looks very close and about a $50 difference. I cant figure out why yours costs extra. :)
 
I don't use the machine for work so I don't really miss 5.0GT/s in the light gaming that I run on it... Skyrim loves the 3Gb VRAM.

The card I am using is subject to UK VAT at 20% plus we tend to be charged close to 1:1 USD to GBP instead of the true exchange rate.

Just make sure the card you buy has the correct connectors for your monitor. I use an ACD 27" so wanted the mDP ports.

EDIT : Netkas is having DNS issues at the moment it appears. That will explain why you can't reach it.
 
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Best 7950 I've had so far was this one. It could run @1175 MHz on GPU and @5500 on memory with stock voltage.
Another worth a shot is this one. Rev. D comes with BIOS running @1000 MHz on GPU and it's based on 7970 board. Minor downside is 6+8 pin power requirement, but it's worth it IMO if you don't want to play with OC. And it does have working HDMI.
 
^^^^The first card you mention is no longer available. The second one is a Gagabyte card, and from the pict, it appears to have two six pin connectors. I have been using Gigabyte cards recently and am a big fan (no pun intended) of their 3 fan (Windforce 3X) cooling design.

Lou
 
Sapphire one is still available on eBay. I've linked it mostly for reference. There's many versions of Sapphire 7950 and this one I've found the best.

Regarding Gigabyte one, pics not always show what you're finally getting. On photos is one of earlier revisions of Windforce 7950. Mine had 6+8 and I was a bit surprised when I got it. I like Gigabyte cards as well, especially Windforce ones.
 
ROM file

DanielCoffey said:
The flash instructions are over on the Netkas forum. THIS is the thread you will need.

Some folks have posted EFI-ready ROMs for some of the more popular 7950 card types in the shops and if you match the card exactly, you can just drop the ROM straight in. For example, I am using THIS card, manufacturer code 11196-17-40G. If you were to get the same card I could send you the EFI ROM and a backup of the original ROM. PM me if you do end up with that card.

I should add that it is possible to mess up the flashing as pjcltd found recently. You really do need to pay attention to the guide to guarantee success and you can also end up with a faulty card out of the box.

The latest copy of ATI WinFlash is all you need if you are sent an EFI ROM. You can get ATI WinFlash from http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2232/ati-winflash-2-3-0/ and there is a guide at http://www.overclock.net/t/1353325/tutorial-atiwinflash-how-to-flash-the-bios-of-your-ati-cards
Click to expand...

Hello Daniel,
I‘m new at this forum. Please, could You send me a MAC ROM for my 7950 11196-17-40G ? I bought my first MAC Pro 3.1, and would like to upgrade graphics card.
Thanks a lot.
Kamil Klacko Czech rep. Email: klacek1@volny.cz
 
There are a number of MSI Twin Frozr 7950s on eBay, that's what I went with. It is incredibly stable at obscene clockings, very cool for the noise it puts out, and is just a VERY well built card, the thing is a tank. Plus it looks cool, which really matters in a solid aluminum brick of case ;). Now that they are getting so cheap, I may have to buy another one. I run almost exclusively in OSX, so the modest speed boost over the the reference is nice, though there are indeed higher clocked factory cards. None that look as quiet and trouble free to me, but that's just my take.
 
flowrider said:
^^^^The first card you mention is no longer available. The second one is a Gagabyte card, and from the pict, it appears to have two six pin connectors. I have been using Gigabyte cards recently and am a big fan (no pun intended) of their 3 fan (Windforce 3X) cooling design.

Lou
Click to expand...

I have a flashed version of the Gigabyte 7950 with EFI firmware that's been modded to 5.0Gt/s. In Yosemite, there is an annoying "lag" in safari when typing messages here on MacRumors that seems to happen on a reoccurring basis every 30 seconds or so.

FWIW, it does not occur with a 680GTX on the same configuration / setup. Must be a driver specific issue.
 
Thanks for a tip. But is there any chace to download MAC ROMs with 5.0 Gbps suport for 7950s ? I'm sorry, sometimes I'm not able to understand all the meanings in english. I can buy for afordable price saphire 7950 flex with Boost. I'd like to put it in my 3 days old MAC 3.1 2x3.2 GHz. I read a lot of about problems with PCIe speed (2.5 Gbps vs 5.0) and about performance drops in Mavercks and Yossemite to. I foud solution with kext on netkas forum (or I think so with my poor english, because I've been waiting for 10.6.8 DVD from appstore, now I'm on 10.5.8). So If somebody can send me a ROM file with 5.0 Gbps and boot screen support for that Saphire Flexx with BOOST or even Gigabite frozr I would be happy). Thanks to all of You again. Have a good night
Kamil
 
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