What is wrong with 4870x2

[huguberhart]

Hello
I have 4870x2 with dfi x48 ddr3 board and 2gb ocz 1333 platinum cl7. I tried to update ram to 4gb but when i powered up the system after switch the card ran fine for about a minute and then started to show vertical red lines even in bios. after restart wouldnt even show startup picture and when switching to windows loading... logo screen the lcd outpu says that it is out of synch. What migh be the problem???
I resetead the videocard to the bottom slot. The fan from the PSU got it cool. When I logged on to XP I ran CCC and GPUZ. It showed 95 C. After reboot with proper drivers on manual fan control got it cooled to 50 C. Set back to auto and when it hit 70 mosaics atarted to show on the desktop. Cant run any stability benchmarks. The screen goes black.
I dissasembled the cooler. Got some dust beneath the fan. The fins from the blocs somewhat dusty but no big chuncks stuck in between them. The thermal pads were pulpy. Different from the ones say... GF5900xt which i could pick up easily. Its different temp also I know but still.. Would it make sense to buy Arctic Cooling 4870x2 cooler???
Most important can this be fixed????

 

[Indra EMC]

that's happen because your card was dusty, and your case wasn't have good airflow and dust filter.

best solution for your card is, change it's reference cooler with aftermarket cooler (such Arctic Cooling) who better performance compare to original reference heatsink.

 

[huguberhart]

But did I break it already or does it makes sense to invest more in it.

 

[i43]

Are you sure that other components are working properly? and .. are your system tuned correctly after/for these changes?
(-as you mention - you made some hw. changes there)
i mean - did you recheck Ram timings, voltage, Clear bios (cmos) even maybe bios update?

Ok, just to sound clear - 4GB needs different settings/timings than 2GB / even do some research on current RamKit and mobo compatibility?

as far as i know, in general - - for 4870x2 idle 70C -> load 90~100++C - is pretty much normal IMHO
( i have Sapphire 4870x2 my own, run on those temps over a year now since Aug.'08 ...
still daily use - so far no problems (or just lucky?),
stock bios, stock cooling, fan on auto - idle 1200RPM )

at your place - i would start with system tune-up first... may be return to prev.conf (2gb)
turn everything to default, test card with heat-up tests ... log and review temps with GPU-Z.. run overall diagnostic benchmarks ..
anyway of course cleaning Gfx and whole system makes things only better

or if you still think it is caused card overheating ...
You may try add some temporary fan with proper air flow blowing directly on your card
smthing i have here: http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/2089/__7.jpg
this may lower temps up to 10-15 degrees in idle

hope you get your system back soon

 

[overclocking101]

I know that some X48 boards had major problems with 4870X2 and 4GB of ram. does your board have the newest available bios?? Also DO NOT buy a aftermarket cooler. if this is happening the card straight up needs rma because a card even the 4870X2 will run without artifacts on stock cooling. rma the sucker but I think its a board issue/bios issue try fixing that first. if that fails rma the card, but depending on the manufacturer they may give you an upgrade because the 4870X2 was EOL a long time ago. try the card on another system first.