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Topic: 5970 mining thread - page 3. (Read 25623 times)

legendary
Activity: 1400
Merit: 1000
I owe my soul to the Bitcoin code...
April 21, 2012, 09:00:08 PM
If you run 4x5970 how do you get the second core of your card that the monitor is connected to overclock? or at least underclock ram.

In my case under windows this is not a problem, because I can just change my monitor to one of the 5870s I got on x1 extender, but under Linux that doesn't work. And no I can't really reorder my cards so that the 5870 is the one that is #1.

Not connecting a monitor probably works for Linux, but I kind of need my monitor! If you know how to change which card shows desktop or know how to make the OC work for the second core please help.

Sorry I can't help.  It was a dedicated rig that ran Bamt or windows, never tried any other distros.  My multipurpose rig only has 3 cards.
member
Activity: 85
Merit: 10
April 21, 2012, 07:00:54 PM
If you run 4x5970 how do you get the second core of your card that the monitor is connected to overclock? or at least underclock ram.

In my case under windows this is not a problem, because I can just change my monitor to one of the 5870s I got on x1 extender, but under Linux that doesn't work. And no I can't really reorder my cards so that the 5870 is the one that is #1.

Not connecting a monitor probably works for Linux, but I kind of need my monitor! If you know how to change which card shows desktop or know how to make the OC work for the second core please help.
legendary
Activity: 1400
Merit: 1000
I owe my soul to the Bitcoin code...
April 20, 2012, 03:59:36 PM
Without overvolting, and with lowering memclock. Yes.
4x5970s
Sempron CPU
optimized BIOS
usb drive running linux
~1050W AC at the wall.

Figure at 90% efficiency that is ~950W DC (which is what PSU is rated on not AC wattage).

Hmm, interesting, thanks!  I'm out of slots on my motherboard now though, so if I want to go 4x5970s, I'll have to swap out the MB too.  Do you have any recommendations?

I have had 4x5970s on an AX1200 as well, ran around 1120W AC at the wall.  Never a hiccup.  For a mobo the one I had with that setup was an MSI990FXAGD80. No problems except for jumpering on x1 slots.
hero member
Activity: 896
Merit: 1000
Seal Cub Clubbing Club
April 20, 2012, 03:15:41 PM
Without overvolting, and with lowering memclock. Yes.
4x5970s
Sempron CPU
optimized BIOS
usb drive running linux
~1050W AC at the wall.

Figure at 90% efficiency that is ~950W DC (which is what PSU is rated on not AC wattage).

Hmm, interesting, thanks!  I'm out of slots on my motherboard now though, so if I want to go 4x5970s, I'll have to swap out the MB too.  Do you have any recommendations?
donator
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1079
Gerald Davis
April 20, 2012, 03:03:52 PM
No undervolting.  Clocks vary based on what is stable on stock voltage.  I also use "auto-gpu" so clocks are dynamic depends on temps.

~780 Mhz to 840 Mhz depending on the card.  I would put the avg somewhere around 800.
Memclock is 210 Mhz for all cards.
hero member
Activity: 518
Merit: 500
April 20, 2012, 02:59:29 PM
Quick Q: Is a Corsair AX1200 enough to power four 5970s?

Without overvolting, and with lowering memclock. Yes.
4x5970s
Sempron CPU
optimized BIOS
usb drive running linux
~1050W AC at the wall.

Figure at 90% efficiency that is ~950W DC (which is what PSU is rated on not AC wattage).

What MHash/s ?

Undervolting needed ?

Thanks !
donator
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1079
Gerald Davis
April 20, 2012, 02:00:50 PM
Quick Q: Is a Corsair AX1200 enough to power four 5970s?

Without overvolting, and with lowering memclock. Yes.
4x5970s
Sempron CPU
optimized BIOS
usb drive running linux
~1050W AC at the wall.

Figure at 90% efficiency that is ~950W DC (which is what PSU is rated on not AC wattage).
hero member
Activity: 896
Merit: 1000
Seal Cub Clubbing Club
April 20, 2012, 01:41:37 PM
Quick Q: Is a Corsair AX1200 enough to power four 5970s?
member
Activity: 65
Merit: 10
April 17, 2012, 08:34:06 AM
3x5970

all configured the same, MH/s is +/- 2% between all three

bamt 0.5
cgminer 2.3.1f
clocks/mem 835/300
vddc 1.163
temps: 68-72C
MH/s 758


Why do you run them so high?

1.163?  wtf..

i have 5 5970's, and 7 of the cores can do 830 @ around 1.02V


I messed that up, I have 5870's in that rig and read those voltages instead (which are 1.163).  The 5970's are all set to 1.050.  Good eye
legendary
Activity: 1988
Merit: 1012
Beyond Imagination
April 16, 2012, 02:49:13 PM
#99
Did anyone tested 5970 voltage stages and what is the maximum stable clock for each stage?

This one is a big heat and noise generator, I guess reduce the voltage can help a lot ...
legendary
Activity: 1274
Merit: 1004
April 14, 2012, 09:23:51 AM
#98
Interestingly, I removed the offending VRMs, and I went from measuring a short across the GPU to a more expected ~4 ohms. I just couldn't wait to win an auction on a parts card so I buttoned it up and fired it up. It won't display an image and I can't control the fan, but the other GPU is detected and I can mine on the other GPU. I was expecting the BIOS to detect the missing VRMs and simply not post.

Now I'll just wait to try and pick up a completely dead card for $20 if I can. Trying to repair the extra GPU isn't worth dropping $100 on a card for 3 VRMs. Tongue

How do you measure a short across a 5970 gpu? I have a 5970 with a bad core.

I just measured using a DMM across one of the ceramic caps on the back of the GPU. With the bad VRMs the card wouldn't boot though,so your issue is likely not the same. Doesn't hurt to test though, you don't even have to remove the backplate.
newbie
Activity: 55
Merit: 0
April 14, 2012, 01:02:45 AM
#97
Interestingly, I removed the offending VRMs, and I went from measuring a short across the GPU to a more expected ~4 ohms. I just couldn't wait to win an auction on a parts card so I buttoned it up and fired it up. It won't display an image and I can't control the fan, but the other GPU is detected and I can mine on the other GPU. I was expecting the BIOS to detect the missing VRMs and simply not post.

Now I'll just wait to try and pick up a completely dead card for $20 if I can. Trying to repair the extra GPU isn't worth dropping $100 on a card for 3 VRMs. Tongue

How do you measure a short across a 5970 gpu? I have a 5970 with a bad core.
legendary
Activity: 1274
Merit: 1004
April 14, 2012, 12:13:56 AM
#96
Interestingly, I removed the offending VRMs, and I went from measuring a short across the GPU to a more expected ~4 ohms. I just couldn't wait to win an auction on a parts card so I buttoned it up and fired it up. It won't display an image and I can't control the fan, but the other GPU is detected and I can mine on the other GPU. I was expecting the BIOS to detect the missing VRMs and simply not post.

Now I'll just wait to try and pick up a completely dead card for $20 if I can. Trying to repair the extra GPU isn't worth dropping $100 on a card for 3 VRMs. Tongue
zvs
legendary
Activity: 1680
Merit: 1000
https://web.archive.org/web/*/nogleg.com
April 13, 2012, 06:54:30 PM
#95
3x5970

all configured the same, MH/s is +/- 2% between all three

bamt 0.5
cgminer 2.3.1f
clocks/mem 835/300
vddc 1.163
temps: 68-72C
MH/s 758


Why do you run them so high?

1.163?  wtf..

i have 5 5970's, and 7 of the cores can do 830 @ around 1.02V
donator
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1079
Gerald Davis
April 13, 2012, 06:06:13 PM
#94

If the documentation is that difficult to acquire I imagine the chips are impossible to get short of yanking them off another card.

That is likely the only place you are going to find them.  Ebay routinely has dead (for parts only) 5870s and 5970s.  Tend to go for $150 or so each.  Annoys me when I am searching because I think I found a deal.
hero member
Activity: 697
Merit: 500
April 13, 2012, 06:02:55 PM
#93
Does anyone know of a source for the VT1157SF VRMs used in this cards? I had one go out, and need a replacement. Emailing Volterra didn't help, since they do not have distributors for their chips.

Quote
We do not have any distributors.   Volterra only sells to select approved customers under a NDA due to limited resources.  We intentionally limit the # of customers we work with in order to provide superior customer support. At this time, we are unable to engage with your company. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Good luck. Volterra makes great VRMs but they are a pain in the ass to deal with. EVERYTHING is under NDA from them. People have spent countless hours searching for the pinouts on their controllers to remove OCP/OVP. If the documentation is that difficult to acquire I imagine the chips are impossible to get short of yanking them off another card.
hero member
Activity: 896
Merit: 1000
Seal Cub Clubbing Club
April 13, 2012, 05:59:06 PM
#92
3x5970

all configured the same, MH/s is +/- 2% between all three

bamt 0.5
cgminer 2.3.1f
clocks/mem 835/300
vddc 1.163
temps: 68-72C
MH/s 758


Why do you run them so high?
legendary
Activity: 1274
Merit: 1004
April 13, 2012, 04:28:15 PM
#91
Does anyone know of a source for the VT1157SF VRMs used in this cards? I had one go out, and need a replacement. Emailing Volterra didn't help, since they do not have distributors for their chips.

Quote
We do not have any distributors.   Volterra only sells to select approved customers under a NDA due to limited resources.  We intentionally limit the # of customers we work with in order to provide superior customer support. At this time, we are unable to engage with your company. We apologize for the inconvenience.
donator
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1079
Gerald Davis
April 13, 2012, 04:24:34 PM
#90
Thanks for the info.   Yeah I figured the 5970 would eventually be out of stock but I always assumed they would give you a 6990.  A 6970 is a dog of a deal.  At least with 7970 you get some improves power efficiency and easier cooling (due to single GPU design).

hero member
Activity: 533
Merit: 500
April 13, 2012, 04:07:52 PM
#89
  Hey guys, sorry to bump this general 5970 thread but had an interesting issue come up.

  Been mining with a few of them fine for months now.  Two were starting to show massive crashes and instability (810 core, 500 memory, stock volts) despite temps being in the low to mid 70s.  Bumped everything back down to stock but the issues remained.

  Thankfully they were both Diamond models from Newegg so I could show legit purchase receipts.  So anyway, pulled the cards, sent 'em back...and waiting.  This was maybe a month and a half ago.

  Once stuff arrived at their RMA office, I figure testing does take time so I wanted to be patient.

  Now that it's been a month, I finally was back in touch with Diamond seeing as how I've heard nothing via email back.  Their tech, Chris, was quite helpful and apologized.  Now here's the concern for others of us out there with these cards.

  He said normally if a card is bad (and both of mine were confirmed as being such), they'd replace it immediately (makes sense).  But Diamond themselves are still waiting from AMD for more cards and they are either not coming or taking forever.  As such, we can only wait.

  An upgrade was offered but since they also have no stock of 6990s, I can't go that route.  He said he'd look into offering a 6970 or a 7970 which, given the price, warranty and newness of a 7970, would seem stupid for me not to accept should they validate it.  

  I know I'd probably get maybe 75% of the hashing power of a 5970 out of a 7970 but at this rate, I can't see any other choices open to me.

  Just a heads up for anyone else running on these old cards.  Should they bite the dust, you might be in for quite a wait in terms of a replacement, if any, or maybe an upgrade.  

  While I figured this was true to an extent when buying the cards, I had presumed manufacturers still had some stock left.  Apparently not.  
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