HD 7970 GHz/R9 280/R9 280X - failure rate.

[st2000]

Thinking same as @Daemmon
Nvidia is unpretentiousness to drivers/games(I got some games that got drops/fails etc)
But colors, they are brilliant, don't think I'll go for nvidia next card

 

[BambOOs]

Hmm... it seems, R9 280X is the best way... but expensive.
I could buy R9 280/GTX 960, and later think "damn, I should buy 280X".

 

[st2000]

I think in every situation you'll think "better I'd take another" cause there are lots of pros/contras
Want to save money - take used 280x(it will be easier to resell card in the end of the year) with full description about this card, it's usage and all details from seller

 

[BambOOs]

Do you think it's worth to wait these 2-3 months for R9 3xx?

 

[AphexDreamer]

Do you think it's worth to wait these 2-3 months for R9 3xx?

Its always worth the wait. Its just a matter of if you can afford it once the wait is over.

 

[BambOOs]

Hmm.. I'm sure, that for new card I will have to pay the same money or more as for R9 280X.

 

[MrGenius]

Well...if you're not going to overclock it...then I'm actually changing my suggestion to at least a 290, for now. But the 380 would be even better, for later. Then you'll be good to go @ 1080p for now, and a few more years at least(more or less).

In other words, a 280X is good for now. But it is kinda on it's last legs in the 1080p gaming arena. If you like playing everything maxxed @ 1080p anyways. It still works pretty good(esp. overclocked)...but for how much longer?

 

[RealNeil]

I really like the three R9-280X cards that I own.
They are top notch performers.

 

[BambOOs]

In addition, I saw soooo many threads about artifacting in R9 280x cards again. This is not 10 people... but many many more. In some cases, the fix is bios flash, or lowering clocks/raise voltage. But I don't want to buy a brand new card, which I have to RMA few days after it's arrive. Of course, not all cards have this problem. Type "r9 280x" artifacts in Google. It seems ASUS is the most affected.

EDIT: It seems, that GTX 960 prices are dropping.

Yoy say that R9 280X is good "for now". I think it's right. I will wait for next GTX 960 price drop, or GTX 960 Ti, or maybe save some money + wait some more time, and buy GTX 970 to be more "future proof".

 

[RealNeil]

I'm glad that you've made your mind up about this.

 

[Caring1]

In addition, I saw soooo many threads about artifacting in R9 280x cards again. This is not 10 people... but many many more. In some cases, the fix is bios flash, or lowering clocks/raise voltage. But I don't want to buy a brand new card, which I have to RMA few days after it's arrive. Of course, not all cards have this problem. Type "r9 280x" artifacts in Google. It seems ASUS is the most affected.

If you read the threads here you will also find many complaints about artifacting in Nvidia cards too, it's not just an AMD issue, it is a driver issue from both camps.

 

[MrGenius]

I just made sure I didn't buy an ASUS. But that was a given truthfully. Since the only brand I'll buy at present is MSI, for graphics cards anyway. I've never had anything but spectacular results with their stuff.

 

[RealNeil]

If you read the threads here you will also find many complaints about artifacting in Nvidia cards too, it's not just an AMD issue, it is a driver issue from both camps.

Some games are (more) optimised for ATI or NVIDIA systems too. They play well on one and not the other.
Also, some games are not coded well for dual GPU setups, but this is happening less with newer titles.

 

[Daemmon]

I just made sure I didn't buy an ASUS. But that was a given truthfully. Since the only brand I'll buy at present is MSI, for graphics cards anyway. I've never had anything but spectacular results with their stuff.

The latest Strixx releases doesn't look bad. The problem some claim were RMA issues.
I had mostly EVGAs since their support down here is wonderful (as in many other countries from what I've heard). XFX seems to be doing a fantastic job (even on this forum!)

 

[BambOOs]

If you read the threads here you will also find many complaints about artifacting in Nvidia cards too, it's not just an AMD issue, it is a driver issue from both camps.

Yes, but issues with AMD, especially with R9 280X are more common. With so many cases, the only one solution is RMA.

 

[BambOOs]

Hello again mates.

I recently purchased another Gigabyte 7970 (factory OC version) from another seller. And please guess what happened... the same artifacts as previous card. All the same - artifacts during boot, but not every time. And it has problem with drivers install (but it could be OS fault). Sometimes it gives me just no signal...

I don't know now what should I do... maybe there is something wrong with my computer? Two cards and the same problem? What do you think? Here is the video of problem (another user had the same problem, the video is not mine) http://www.mediafire.com/download/5z9d4x49un4zcga/DSCF5342.AVI. He also had BSODs. I don't have.

Please help me, I don't know what to do... Should I return it to the seller? Or maybe send it on RMA (warranty expire date: 05.2016)? With previous 7970 I was 100% sure, that it's faulty, but with this card I'm not sure. Second card, and the same problem. Exactly the same.

And with my old 7850 - everything is damn good.

 

[st2000]

1)try a newer bios if there is any(i got flickering with my old bios cause it was switching clocks(2d->3d->2d->3d....) in 2d mode every second)
2)i'd wrote that Gigabyte 7970 Ghz edition got very big % of RMA(in my city there about 50% of ALL repaired videocards Gigabyte 7970 Ghz edition)
3)try to downclock a bit, also check for all temps(gpu, vrm1, vrm2)
4)make a desicion

 

[RealNeil]

Get your money back and buy a new card. I don't mean another 7970 either, but a R9-280X OC card. I have three of them and they're all working great.
You may have voltage droop (or loss) with that PSU too.

 

[Vario]

had a bad 7970 (Gigabyte) and the rma was bad as well. have had no problems with my AMD 7850 or my Nvidia 770.

 

[BambOOs]

Get your money back and buy a new card. I don't mean another 7970 either, but a R9-280X OC card. I have three of them and they're all working great.
You may have voltage droop (or loss) with that PSU too.

With this XFX?

 

[RealNeil]

Lots of people have had bad luck with that brand.

 

[st2000]

With this XFX?

xfx recommend to use 850W PSU on single 280x card
i dont know, but my card uses up to 300W in peak level, CPU 100W in peak..so i dont know if that caused by PSU
thats why i adviced to downclock a bit -> your card use less power
but i think it's not PSU problem

Lots of people have had bad luck with that brand.

not brand but brand+model

 

[BambOOs]

Could it be motherboard? But... with 7850 I never had any single problem like that. And artifacts are showing during boot, when power consumption of card is so low...

you know - it's very weird, that 2 cards in row have the same problem, so I wonder if it could be my PC fault.

 

[st2000]

And artifacts are showing during boot, when power consumption of card is so low...

nope, it runs in full clocks(mine is in full clocks before windows starts)

with 7850 I never had any single problem

7850 got 2x less power consumption

just taking 7970/280x from hands - it's a bit risky(also if card is delivered to you by mail, better ask seller for video with working card on full load/some tests - after that you can feel yourself more safety)
also you can ask seller for his rig, for his thoughts about card/some benches, what were temps with this card and how it performanced in some games/driver versions/OSes/different rigs
simple 5 minutes of chatting can save your money and time

i wrote this trying to help before you ordered second card...

 

[RealNeil]

The reason why GPU makers always specify a larger PSU is to compensate for all of the trashy-crap PSUs on the market. Those PSUs that don't really provide the power that their label says they do.

A quality PSU is the cornerstone of any good PC build and you should alway get a good one. SeaSonic is a good brand.

My ~TWO~ R9-280Xoc cards are running on a 750W PSU, and have been for many months.