XFX 7950 DD - Really not overclocking too well... faulty?

Well I bought this card after reading it can easily push 1000 MHz on stock voltages. In some cases 1100 MHz. But turns out I'm not having that sort of luck...

I set it to 1000 MHz GPU Clock, 1575 MHz Memory Clock and the power to 20 as this guide says:

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages...k_guide,2.html

I tried Skyrim and literally the screen goes gray right after loading (like 1 or 2 seconds) and I have to reboot. The same happens with 3D Mark 11 as well.

I had better luck with TRIXX after raising the voltage, but then temp goes ~80c and after 10 minutes or so the game will crash or lock up.

Surely this isn't normal? reviews have stated it should reach 1GHz without even breaking sweat...

Its the silicone lottery, just like cpu's some overclock well and with low voltages and others need mega volts. Same issue with my 7850, purchased mine after reading that people were maxing out their mem and gpu but sadly mine can't get past 900mhz and no bump on the memory. Try clocking just the gpu clock as your memory might be at its limit.

I'd not be so aggressive with the memory. I'd try for 1000/1400 first. Certainly my 7970 won't do 1500 on the memory at stock volts.

Well mine is now at 1160/1600, I have got the gigabyte windforce. I will admit that it hasn't been at that setting to long so can't be sure on 100% stabilty, but it was on 1120/1500 just fine before hand.

As for the silicon lottery, you win some and lose some, my 3570k won't go past 4.2ghz

i have a Sapphire 7950 at 1135/1550

If you want to get a decent overclock then don't buy XFX.