Hi guys, just to follow up on this... So basically I had it running at full 6970 speeds, 880mhz Core and 1375mhz mem. This seemed fine. However, once I started playing BFBC2, I got some random lockups. Running GPUz I could see that the GPU was hitting 85C+. I've lowered the core speed to 820mhz, and this seems to have cured the problem, though it does still run hot in some of the more power hungry games. Of course, I do have an ITX setup so cooling is not the best, which could add to the problem. I'm pretty sure if this was in a HAF or something with slightly better cooling, it would be rock solid at 6970 speeds.
Turn up the fan? I put the fan up to 40% on my 4870 (very loud) but keeps it dead cool. Auto mode typically lets them get to quite high temperatures.
I did the same with my 4870 and then at 30% on my 5870 before I watercooled it. I found 30% was a good balence of noise and cooling
im using MSI's handy custom fan curve feature to ensure my 5870 never gets above 60 degrees. most of the time idle and surfing the web its at 30%. some of the more taxing games will hit 50% or so, which is amazingly loud (you go, batmobile cooler!), but i dont much care when im gaming with the sound cranked.
i dont think flashing the 6950 to the 6970 bios is not the best option due to extra voltage and memory timings ive got a 6970 here and temps are 30c idle and 54c load, i think the 6970 flash makes the 6950 unstable, however ive posted a link below and you will have to sift through pages 13 onwards and read posts from rui0317 and w1zzard who came up with an idea to create a programme that will modify a 6950 bios and unlock the extra shaders so you end up with a 6970 bios but 6950 voltage and memory timings, just my 2cents but thats the way i would go and then just overclock afterwards http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=137136&page=13
Im interested in this softmod myself but after reading this I think id prefer the 6950 with the extra shaders. Does anyone have links to that mod?
here is the 6950 bios modding script, if you need any info on how to use it look at my post above 6950 bios modding script
