Best Radeon 6950 to unlock to 6970

[Quasso]

Hi everyone,

Recently built a new rig. Wondering what the best way is to get an unlockable 6950, or what the best manufacturer/model of the 6950 is.

Any advice welcomed!

Cheers.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Just my $0.02.

If you want the performance of an HD 6970, purchase an HD 6970, unless you're willing to eat the cost of a bricked card.

Purchasing an HD6950 and expecting to unlock it to an HD 6970 is fool-hardy at best and borderline (if not out-right) illegal if the flash fails and you attempt to return it as faulty.

Again, just my two cents.

-Wolf sends

 

[COLGeek]

Why not alleviate the risk of bricking a perfectly good HD6950 and just leave the HD6950 alone OR just buy a HD6970? Just something to think about.

 

[Quasso]

Thanks for the condescending advice...
/sarcasm

But seriously, I was hoping for more helpful and less instructive responses.

Fact is, I'm looking for a card with a BIOS switch -- I wanted to know what the BEST all round 6950 is anyway. Also I understand that many new ones aren't unlockable. So I was wondering where might be the best place to pick up a reference or otherwise reliable card for unlocking.

 

[cbrunnem]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121431&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-ASUS-_-14121431

http://www.overclock.net/t/1070678/unlock-and-oc-that-6950-tf3-twin-frozr-iii-the-definitive-guide

google is you friend sir

 

[amuffin]

Get one such as an msi twinfrozr iii 6950, and OVERCLOCK THE HELL OUT OF IT!

 

[Frizzo]

the 6950's people are unlocking generally have the bios switch, if you f%# up the flash, i think you can just flip the bios switch. i'm not 100% sure of that, but that is what i've read.

 

[TomBrooklyn]

google is you friend sir

I googled it--and this it where it took me.

Is there anybody here with first hand experience doing the deed?

 

[Quasso]

I googled it--and this it where it took me.

Is there anybody here with first hand experience doing the deed?

Yes, I've done it now. Get an MSI twinfrozr 6950. It has a switch and there is a proper modified bios available to easily get it to 6970!

 

[coozie7]

There's a huge thread at techpowerup on the subject of flashing and possible issues.
http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=137136

The how to article is here:
http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/159

Did the deed myself some time ago but after reading the thread I decided to simply unlock the extra shaders and overclock rather than risk damage from running the memory at 6970 voltage/timings.