6950 + 6970 (in crossfire) is that possible?

[metallicaus]

Hi guys,

Simple question Please:


1- Can I crossfire 6950 with 6970 ? is that possible and will they work fine or not ?
I assume Yes, that will be ok, but just wanted to double check before I purchase. 6950 is not avaiable.

I don't want to flash any of my cards, I just want to use them @ stock.


Thanks a lot in advance

 

[Supernova1138]

Hi guys,

Simple question Please:


1- Can I crossfire 6950 with 6970 ? is that possible and will they work fine or not ?
I assume Yes, that will be ok, but just wanted to double check before I purchase. 6950 is not avaiable.

I don't want to flash any of my cards, I just want to use them @ stock.


Thanks a lot in advance

You should be able to crossfire a 6950 and a 6970, however the 6970 will slow down to the speed of a 6950 in that setup. The performance you will see will be that of 2 6950s with that particular setup.

 

[bystander]

However, you could unlock the shaders of the 6950, and clock them the same, and it'll be like two 6970's.

 

[kss207rc]

Yes you can but it's not worth it.The gain in performance is going to be small,If you have a 6950 already and to crossfire wait for the 6950 to restock and dont buy a 6970.I would advice you to crossfire same model cards and not combine them.You can search if you like the crossfire combination of a 5870 and a 5850 and you understand what i mean.

 

[phishy714]

However, you could unlock the shaders of the 6950, and clock them the same, and it'll be like two 6970's.

I know you like to say that there is a 3% chance that you WON'T be able to unlock the shaders (not really too sure where you are getting this btw since I seem to see about the same number of people being able to and not being able to), but does this hold true considering that AMD is now laser cutting the shaders on the boards? I read that they are actually physically separating the other shaders so you cant access them at all (since obviously they dont like you getting a 6970 while paying for a 6950).

 

[bystander]

I know you like to say that there is a 3% chance that you WON'T be able to unlock the shaders (not really too sure where you are getting this btw since I seem to see about the same number of people being able to and not being able to), but does this hold true considering that AMD is now laser cutting the shaders on the boards? I read that they are actually physically separating the other shaders so you cant access them at all (since obviously they dont like you getting a 6970 while paying for a 6950).

I got the 97% from this site: http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/msi_r6950_twin_froz_iii_power_edition_unlocking,1.html
If you look a little bit below, it showed they got the info from techpowerup.

I was unaware they are laser cutting them now. I did read they thought that might happen, but I never saw any confirmation.

 

[phishy714]

Oh, I don't know about any confirmation, but I have simply read that they might be starting to. It would be a whole new process implimented into their overal manufacturing process, which makes it unlikely that they would put the money into doing it. Then again, they did stop giving the cards the bios switch for the same reason, and I am sure that is a change in their process as well, so I guess we will see what happens.

I am planning on getting a 6950 within a month or two, and I would like to be able to unlock it, however I have heard more stories about not being able to unlock it than being able to, so I dunno what to do ><

 

[dhicks19]

i bought 2 6950 and now unlocked to 6970 using sapphire bios, 30100 in 3dmark vantage as 2 x 6950, with the bios flash i get 34698, tell me its not worth it. Mine are reference asus 6950;s with the bios switch.

They are beastly

 

[shrkbay]

kssc, the difference between 6950 and 6970 is quite big, so all what you said does not make any sence because when you unlock shaders and OC you will get the same performance as 6970. And anyway, as OP said he won't do anything "harmful" to the cards.
Phishy, they may do, but there are still cards that are able to unlock shaders, and i kinda don't believe in that they will disable shaders, because that will be quite costly.
OP: 6970 is quite a lot more expensive than 6950, imo you should just wait till 6950 restocks and save your money, because if you buy 6970 you won't get an improvement over 6950 CF in 6970 + 6950 CF.

 

[kss207rc]

@shrkbay
I know that the 6970 has much difference from the 6950 in performance but i was talking about combining them for crossfire then you end up spending a lot of money on this set up and your performance is in many cases lower than a crossfire setup of two 6950,and because metallicaus is not going to unlock the cards there is no point.

 

[shrkbay]

kssc, please show me where 6970 + 6950 CF is lower than 6950 CF. And Btw, sorry i misread your post.l

 

[dhicks19]

i put a flux capacitor on my 6950 xfire, it has the performance of a 6950 x 90000 crossfire

 

[kss207rc]

I apologise i confused the 5850 & 5870 crossfire,yes if you combine a 6950 & 6970 crossfire you have about the 6950 crossfire performance you are right shrkbay