MSI R6970 Lightning

sno.lcn · Mar 18, 2011

The card just arrived, thank you so much to MSI for the opportunity to test this. In the meantime, how about some photos.

A few stock(ish) runs.

sno.lcn · Mar 18, 2011

Testing Components:
Intel Core i7 2600K
MSI P67-GD55
G.Skill Pi 2x2GB 2400mhz 9-11-9
MSI R6970 Lightning
CPU Cooling: Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme
Silverstone Strider 1000w PSU

Testing everything at stock. Like the setup is being run for the first time out of the box, other than setting memory speed, timings, and voltage.

Next, I bumped the CPU multiplier up to 42x to check for CPU scaling with stock card clocks. Obviously some benchmarks will scale more than others with only a CPU frequency increase. I was actually surprised to see such a gain in Heaven though, given how GPU-dependent the benchmark is. That would seem to indicate a bottleneck somewhere between the ~3.5ghz used in the first round of testing, and the ~4.2ghz used in this one.

Next I started testing some card clocks. Obviously, 1000mhz was a piece of cake with stock voltage. I still have the BIOS switch set to "Silent" and the card is exactly that. With the CPU still running on the 42x multiplier, I did some quick tests at 1000mhz core, 1500mhz memory.

And with the CPU on the 50x multiplier.

Lord_Exodia · Mar 18, 2011

That card looks like it means business. What's the MSRP?

sirmonkey1985 · Mar 19, 2011

damn that card looks like a beast.. can't wait to see some overclocking numbers.

amd7674 · Mar 19, 2011

it looks very sexy

sno.lcn · Mar 19, 2011

Lord_Exodia said:
That card looks like it means business. What's the MSRP?

I have no idea yet.

sno.lcn · Mar 19, 2011

MSI may have forgotten to tell me this card is under NDA right now. Check back around the 25th

Cowboy420 · Mar 19, 2011

Very exciting "box".

AthlonXP · Mar 19, 2011

darn i missed out on the pics...

Evil Scooter · Mar 19, 2011

^^^ Not really.. "sneak peak" pics are all over the net since december... google it.

MSIs R6970 Lightning and N580GTX Lightning sneak peek

MSI R6970 Lightning & N580GTX Lightning Graphics Cards Photo's

Boggins · Mar 24, 2011

Any news?

XacTactX · Mar 25, 2011

I saw the pictures before they were taken down. LOL I didn't count the voltage regulators but there was a freaking bank of them running the whole width of the card, at least 12, possibly 18. Can't wait to read your review

.

Lord_Exodia · Mar 25, 2011

Ooookaaay, so when is this NDA up? Also there IS NO NDA if you didn't sign anything? So did ya

Boggins · Mar 25, 2011

Since the OP isn't sharing... performance gains aren't huge, but it seems to run very cool and quiet. Forget the 6990 or 590, I think it's time to pick up two of these when they're available!

http://www.kitguru.net/components/g...lightning-twin-frozr-iii-review-18-phase-pwm/

sno.lcn · Mar 25, 2011

We're back in business

nxcess · Mar 25, 2011

Nice overclock on the card. Is that from the performance switch?

Lord_Exodia · Mar 25, 2011

nxcess said:
Nice overclock on the card. Is that from the performance switch?

That's out of the box frequency (930). 1010 isn't bad Kitguru got a 10% increase on core and about 5% on the memory if I remember correctly. However most of these sites don't push things as aggressively as most of us gamers. With the 18Phase design I'd imagine close to 1100 mhz may be reachable say. 1080-1090 core.

nxcess · Mar 25, 2011

Lord_Exodia said:
That's out of the box frequency (930). 1010 isn't bad Kitguru got a 10% increase on core and about 5% on the memory if I remember correctly. However most of these sites don't push things as aggressively as most of us gamers. With the 18Phase design I'd imagine close to 1100 mhz may be reachable say. 1080-1090 core.

I was referring to the second gpu-z screenshot. First one showed stock of 940/1375. Second ss showed 1010/1410. I noticed there was a silent and performance switch on the card, hence the question.

Arcygenical · Mar 25, 2011

Their OOB frequency is faster than my maximum OC -_-.

Boggins · Mar 25, 2011

So these things will be around $400 MSRP in the US? :S

Also, what are the dimensions of this thing?

sno.lcn · Mar 25, 2011

Notice above those screenshots it says stock(ish), I haven't even started overclocking this thing yet.

Lord_Exodia said:
That's out of the box frequency (930). 1010 isn't bad Kitguru got a 10% increase on core and about 5% on the memory if I remember correctly. However most of these sites don't push things as aggressively as most of us gamers. With the 18Phase design I'd imagine close to 1100 mhz may be reachable say. 1080-1090 core.

I'll be pushing this thing a bit further than some silly "gaming" clocks.

Lord_Exodia · Mar 25, 2011

sno.lcn said:
Notice above those screenshots it says stock(ish), I haven't even started overclocking this thing yet.

I'll be pushing this thing a bit further than some silly "gaming" clocks.

Grabs Popcorn

sno.lcn · Mar 28, 2011

Added a few tests to start with

XacTactX · Mar 28, 2011

14 + 3 DrMOS

1100MHz

spaceman · Mar 28, 2011

That is right decent. Easy to achieve? Stable?

Boggins · Mar 28, 2011

I wish someone would tell us when to expect these things ready for purchase.

sno.lcn · Mar 28, 2011

spaceman said:
That is right decent. Easy to achieve? Stable?

Easy to achieve if you don't mind putting in a little work to get there. Stable enough to pass Heaven says a lot

tangoseal · Mar 28, 2011

Not bad... a really nice card.

I might have went with something like this but I chose to go with reference cards because they would get the most support from waterblock vendors.

Now to get 3 waterblocks cha cha cha

But man these are nice.

JMccovery · Mar 28, 2011

I was just noticing the dual 8pin and myriad of voltage related switches on the back. If there were any water blocks that could fit this card, it would completely own. As much power available to it as a 6990...

Lord_Exodia · Mar 28, 2011

Wow honestly if water blocks came out for these I'd consider selling my 2 6950s unlocked and getting 2 of these. The extra juice and power design should not only make higher overclocking, but more stable. Perfect for a water cooling setup. Hmmm... BTW OP did they ever announce the MSRP for these?

happymedium · Mar 28, 2011

WOw, Msi has themselves 2 winning cards they also make a gtx580 lightning and state it reaches 1000 core with ease.

Nice!

http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2011/3/28/the-ultimate-graphics-card-comes-from-msi.aspx

tangoseal · Mar 28, 2011

Lord_Exodia said:
Wow honestly if water blocks came out for these I'd consider selling my 2 6950s unlocked and getting 2 of these. The extra juice and power design should not only make higher overclocking, but more stable. Perfect for a water cooling setup. Hmmm... BTW OP did they ever announce the MSRP for these?

I could understand the need to overclock 2 cards with exceptional products such as the MSI card but with 3 6970's I wont overclock even a pinch. 3 cards is going to be retarded in speed already. I just want to watercool to make the damn things quiet.

They have the worse fan setup for being such a super card. (Reference boards that is) I somehow bet the MSI cards are quiet because of the very well laid out cooling design.

Boggins · Mar 28, 2011

I hope it's price around the area of the overclocked PowerColor or Asus 6970 with the DirectCU cooler. IT would be a lot less attractive if it's much more money.

yenniedn · Mar 30, 2011

So does anyone have an ETA for this card yet? Me wants two.

Boggins · Mar 31, 2011

Yeah. They took way too long. Wasn't interested in waiting yet more weeks or months to finally see these available for sale so I picked up some 3gb Palit 580s.

leonemesis · Mar 31, 2011

Boggins said:
Yeah. They took way too long. Wasn't interested in waiting yet more weeks or months to finally see these available for sale so I picked up some 3gb Palit 580s.

Did you get that Phantom version? How's the card working for you?

I was considering getting the 1 and half gig version. But I'm more inclined to stick with the red team, though I can't decide on a custom 6970. This Lighting is sexy and all, but I don't know, I'm a bit concerned about the power consumption being higher

nxcess · Mar 31, 2011

Seems like the 6950 Twin Frozr III been release. What's the hold up in this. Did Asus stop making the 6970 DirectCU II?

MH Knights · Mar 31, 2011

Boggins said:
I hope it's price around the area of the overclocked PowerColor or Asus 6970 with the DirectCU cooler. IT would be a lot less attractive if it's much more money.

The PowerCooler has been getting some good reviews but from what I understand MSI tends to be higher quality. If the MSI is only a few dollars more than the PowerCooler I would get the MSI but not if its $400 or over.

Boggins · Apr 1, 2011

yenniedn · Apr 3, 2011

Tick tock tick tock . . . still waiting on any news of a release for this damned thing!!!

MSI R6970 Lightning

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