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6950 artifacts in aero/browser only at low voltage changes

AsRock

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but it's not a stock problem, only when overclocked and I've got it watercooled so no more warranty.


On a side note I got it fixed, or let's say I found a compromise. I changed the 2d clocks from 250/150 to 500/625 using racerx's tool and now no more 2d artifacts. Can't really explain it but it seems it was caused by too low clocks and too high voltage.

XFX allow you to remove the stock cooler as long as you ask them 1st so go ask them if you can and hey ya got ya warranty back.

And don't the 6950's use different parts like lesser quality VRMS ?.


EDIT:
Just wanted to put in an update for anyone who stumbles across this thread.

It was definately a cold bug issue when using watercooling, I have since reverted to using constant voltage to keep the card/vrm a little warmer and all is fine I have noticed from gpu-z monitoring that when the vreg temps are around 25c at idle i get the dots but once they are over 30c the 2d dot artifacts go away. Using slightly higher 2d clocks had the same effect, as in they raised 2d temps but it also meant higher power usage and was a Pita having to adjust the 2d clocks with racerx tool on every driver update so I have now set my bios voltage registers to 1.15v for the 2d/uvd/multimonitor and 1.2v for the 3d/boot register. Still get a little white dot or so when first botting up due to low temps at times but it goes away after a short time.

Using msi afterburner to force constant voltage would probably have the same effect and should be used to ensure everything is working fine before flashing the bios. I'm now slowly moving my way upto 1.25v as using this has no issues in 3d but same little dots in 2d, once I'm comfortable with it i might just flash all the voltage registers to 1.25v and be done with it.

Cool thanks for letting everyone know. And shi pretty close to that my self just on air cooling so some thing weak about your water setup ? No offense intended )... So when feb comes i will have to keep this in mind lol.

 
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BlackZero

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@Asrock

Thanks for the advice on replacing the stock cooler, will contact xfx and 'ask'. Not to sure but lower quality vrms on the 6950 but it does have a slight differnce in the pcb with the 6970 having a few extra circuits; ths is from the pics I have seen. Having said that most people get similar results for both cards and importantly both use the same core so it's not a major difference from everything i've seen.

And watercooling doesn't improve idle temps as idle isn't going to be lower than ambient but it improves load temps, I also have an overclocked 2600k in my loop with a single rx 360 at low rpm/low noise settings, could add another 120/240 to further improve load temps if need be.
 

AsRock

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@Asrock

Thanks for the advice on replacing the stock cooler, will contact xfx and 'ask'. Not to sure but lower quality vrms on the 6950 but it does have a slight differnce in the pcb with the 6970 having a few extra circuits; ths is from the pics I have seen. Having said that most people get similar results for both cards and importantly both use the same core so it's not a major difference from everything i've seen.

And watercooling doesn't improve idle temps as idle isn't going to be lower than ambient but it improves load temps, I also have an overclocked 2600k in my loop with a single rx 360 at low rpm/low noise settings, could add another 120/240 to further improve load temps if need be.

Well my max's around 55-62c ( gaming ) which is way under what i need. Although furmark and OCCT will push it in the 90's or even 100's but i don't mind that as long as it's ok in gaming which to me 62c max in a game is good enough and lower than that is pointless to me.

I have noticed the vrms are totally sweet on the ref cards with their low temps. Think ATI did well picking them out for the cards. Hopefully we will see them on future cards or even better ones and not these typical cheap ass vrms.

Yeah i think their the same too now i look at the pics of both of them kinda curious what the differences do.

EDIT: I find the gpu is harder to keep the temps down on now not the vrms which the heatsink on mine is actually touchable lol.
 

BlackZero

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yeah I have a reference card and get max temps of 65c in furmark overclocked to 925/1425 at 1.175v, I included pics earlier in the thread.
 

Ihmemies

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I have a similar issue with Asus 6950 2GB. When card is cold (30C) I get small dots in desktop and other gpu accelerated stuff like videos etc. When I start a game I get artifacts depending on the game until gpu warms up over 40C. Running furmark I get 60C and absolutely no artifacts. Same goes with games, I can play for hours without artifacts or any other problems when the card is warm enough.

I need to try to increase the voltages and see if it helps. I tried to edit the fan profile in BIOS but I couldn't find a way to disable the fan until temps hit 40-50C or so...

This problem is kind of retarded, normally you get artifacts when clocks/temps are too high. But too low... *sigh*.
 
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nah..you're the one to blame on these issues.. at the first place why would you overvolt you're card to 1.25v? that's frying up you're card man.i know you're on water but the card cannot handle too much over voltage.all 6950 should have a limit of 1.175v I have mine Asus DCU II 6950 2gb flashed to 6970 without any issues and it's steady to 1.2v got 980/1400.
 

BlackZero

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I have a similar issue with Asus 6950 2GB. When card is cold (30C) I get small dots in desktop and other gpu accelerated stuff like videos etc. When I start a game I get artifacts depending on the game until gpu warms up over 40C. Running furmark I get 60C and absolutely no artifacts. Same goes with games, I can play for hours without artifacts or any other problems when the card is warm enough.

I need to try to increase the voltages and see if it helps. I tried to edit the fan profile in BIOS but I couldn't find a way to disable the fan until temps hit 40-50C or so...

This problem is kind of retarded, normally you get artifacts when clocks/temps are too high. But too low... *sigh*.

Yeah it's a strange issue alright but I suppose that's why it's called a cold bug. Another workaround i've been using it to set a 2d and 3d overclock profile in msi afterburner with the 2d profile set to 500/625 (this covers uvd/movies etc.) and whatever 3d clock/voltages you choose. This way it stays at the 2d profile while on the desktop and only switches to the higher clocks when 3d mode is activated.


@Ginnoskie

what are you talking about? I'm to blame for wanting to overclock my card to the same level as other people have done with similar or even lesser cooling? as for frying your card... it's a well known fact that the card is safe up to 1.3v and once you have it watercooled it's hardly frying, and to point out that the problem occurs when the card is too cold makes your 'frying' argument that much lamer.. you're obviously not an experienced overclocker so why bother posting..
 
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