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280x dual-x black screen issues - GPU or PSU?

tomciti

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Hi all,

I just got Sapphire Dual-X R9 280X OC 3GB (card BIOS 015.041) and I'm having some problems. Basically I get random black screen flashes in 2D Windows apps like desktop or 3D games. The PC doesn't crash, it's just a 1-2 seconds black screen flash and when I play games I can hear sound as normal when it happens. Also from time to time when I boot Windows 8.1 64-bit I get black screen with cursor instead of normal login screen and then when I hit ESC normal login screen appears.

My PC specs are.

i2500k - not overclocked now
Asrock P67 PRO3 REV 3.0 latest BIOS
G-Skill 8GBXL Ripjaws X 1600MHz
Cooler Master RS550-ACAAE3-UK GX-Series 550W Power Supply
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/550w-cooler-master-gx-rs...
GPU to monitor connected via DVI


I know that for 280x 750W PSU is recommended, but I think my PSU should handle it.

I tried Omega (14.12) and 14.11.2 Beta drivers, I tried Legacy and UEFI BIOS mode - same thing happens, black screen flashes

PC was working as it should with my old 6950 card. The new 280x is factory OCed, I haven't tried to OC it more.

The card requires 6-pin 75W and 8-pin 150W PSU connectors. I used one 6-pin and provided with GPU molex adapters for the 8-pin. The PSU has 2 x 6+2pin PCI-E Power connectors.

Shall I try to use 6+2pin for the 8-pin 150W connector instead of molex adapter? It confuses me slightly...Is 6+2 pin 8-pin 150Watts? I know that 6-pin in 75W.

At the moment I don't suspect PSU as "black screen flashes" in 2D too when GPU should not need much power. I might be wrong though. That's why I'm asking about the 6+2 pin...

If I do try this and it doesn't help, have you got any suggestions what else I can try?

I have created support tickets with Sapphire, but it doesn't go anywhere...Their support is not good at all...so I'm hoping someone here will help me.

Thanks.
 
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Is 6+2 pin 8-pin 150Watts?

Yeah, use the 6+2, they are literally 8pins but separated for use with 6pin only cards.

I doubt this is the cause of your blacks screens however. Have you run driver sweepers before installing 14.12?
 

tomciti

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Thanks for quick answer.

I doubt this is the cause of your blacks screens however. Have you run driver sweepers before installing 14.12?

Yup. I removed my old 6950, uninstalled the drivers via Control Panel, boot to safe mode and used guru3d Display Driver Uninstaller, then installed new Omega (14.12) . Same procedure for older 14.11.2 Beta drivers.
 
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Have you considered minorly increasing the voltage/downclocking the core? It may be an option to RMA at this point if you can record a video of said blackscreen happening.
 

tomciti

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Have you considered minorly increasing the voltage/downclocking the core?

Yes I have tried this, but gotten confused in the process - normally if you overclock and open GPU-Z you can see the GPU/memory clocks changed in "GPU Clock" and "Memory" boxes. But when I underclocked GPU and memory in my 280x and opened GPU-Z the default values were still displayed - nothing changed in both "GPU Clock" and "Memory" boxes (just to be clear same values in "GPU Clock" and "Memory" boxes & "Default clock" and "Default memory").
Is this normal for underclocking? I have tried to underclock in Trixx, Asus GPU Tweak, MSI Afterburner and Catalyst.

RMA is an option, because I worry the card is faulty. I have till Wednesday to return it to the retailer. I really hoped dual-x 280x will work for me as I can't fit anything longer than 27cm in my case.
 
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Yes I have tried this, but gotten confused in the process - normally if you overclock and open GPU-Z you can see the GPU/memory clocks changed in "GPU Clock" and "Memory" boxes. But when I underclocked GPU and memory in my 280x and opened GPU-Z the default values were still displayed - nothing changed in both "GPU Clock" and "Memory" boxes (just to be clear same values in "GPU Clock" and "Memory" boxes & "Default clock" and "Default memory").
Is this normal for underclocking? I have tried to underclock in Trixx, Asus GPU Tweak, MSI Afterburner and Catalyst.

RMA is an option, because I worry the card is faulty. I have till Wednesday to return it to the retailer. I really hoped dual-x 280x will work for me as I can't fit anything longer than 27cm in my case.

Raise an RMA and see if you can send them a video/screen of the issue. They can advise on the RMA process.
As for underclocking, you need to press apply and also "apply overclock at startup". This should apply the change, despite it being an underclock. Just to ensure, restart the machine (ensure Afterburner or Trixx load on windows startup).
 

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Does not sound like a PSU problem to me, most of the times I have had PSU issues, and one of those was very recently, I got PC resets and not a black screen although I have not checked your PSU's amperage. I did find with my 280X that it struggled at high load and in the end had to increase slightly the load voltage which sorted things, maybe that 6+2 might sort you now.
 
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Sometimes it could be a issue with your mobo, try to update you motherboard's bios as well.. you never know!
 

tomciti

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The mobo BIOS is up-to-date. I tried older drivers - 14.9 and the same thing was happening, random black screen flash in both 2D and 3D that like the one in "change of resolution". So I went back to new Omega drivers, rechecked all the cables, made sure there is no interference, unticked "Enable ITC processing" in Catalyst, and surprisingly have not seen it "black flashing" since (or it's just luck...maybe it flashed when I wasn't looking...?).
 
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Sapphire Technical support is very good. But! make sure you respect the material and technical recommendations before contacting technical support that is better.


550W is weak ... it's taking risks unnecessarily and a 650W Bronze would be more appropriate and 850W Gold for comfort ^^ That is my opinion.
 
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