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

[BambOOs]

I use W7 x64. My motherboard doesn't support Intel hd graphics because of p67 chipset.

 

[st2000]

i wrote about bugs/lags of amd card(cause i've got none with nvidia in past)
have you tried clean install(may be smthg faulty with old versions of smthg)

 

[BambOOs]

But why I don't have such problems with 7850...

All looks like the 7970 failure.

Or maybe this is motherboard... Because there is no artifacts on other platform with clean installed win 7. But problem with drivers remains.

I tried to play CS:GO, and suddenly computer hang up with no signal on the screen...

 

[karklinskarlis1993]

i strongly suggest you to invest on nvidia, though.
as far as i got 3 r9 280x cards, all of them were faulty, with artefacts etc. they denied its their responsibility to refund cash. never ever looked back on amd. now i have maxwell card, never been happier than now. i have had several nvidia cards, noone of them were faulty, when all of the amds i had, had some problems bigger or smaller.

if you gonna buy this item as used, please consider testing it for a few hours. my new items started flickering after some heavy gaming sessions, and kept flickering further from then.

if you buy as new, take your first days on hardcore gaming and watch for artefacts. if they appear, dont even try reapplying custom bios. take your bad luck to the store you bought it and ask for money back.
otherwise, it will cost you broken nerves, i promise

you pay for what you get.

(no fanboyism)


edit: oh, you already bought it. i didnt read the whole thread

 

[BambOOs]

Ok mates. So what should I do now?

Return the card to the seller, or keep trying to resolve the problem?

I think that my PSU, and motherboard are OK. Why? Voltages of PSU are good and stable. I don't have any other problems. Today I changed a PSU to OCZ 550W to be 100% sure, that my XFX is OK. And on OCZ the same problem, so my PSU is not faulty.

Faulty is card itself, or motherboard.


UPDATE: Problems with drivers solved by Windows Update. Maybe all my problems are now solved...? Maybe some microcode of CPU got updated? Will see.

UPDATE2: Artifacts still there, but sometimes there is no signal on the screen, and motherboard stays at B2 error code: "Legacy Option ROM initialization". I did some research, and it seems to be mobo BIOS issue/mobo itself.

So it looks like my mobo is faulty for some reason... I will play some games now, and see if there will be some artifacts or black screen etc.

 

[BambOOs]

UPDATE3: Games runs pretty good, without problems like artifacts or black screen.

It seems, that there is some "incompability" problem on GPU<-->MB way, or as said earlier, maybe this is BIOS issue, or motherboars is faulty for some weird reason, as I don't have any other problems.

This B2 error code is pretty common. After some research, it's something like problem with memory alocation:

"This issue is becoming more and more of a headache for owners of new GPUs. It is a BIOS firmware issue to say the very least. It hands around the fact that the memory BAR can't allocate resources correctly to cards calling for 256mb (for 128mb it works fine). nVidia and ASUS are aware of the issue and i'm actively putting technicians from both vendors in touch to reach a resolution - it is just sloppy coding of the BIOS really and there have been guidelines around developing BIOS code to handle this very situation since October 2006."

When computer's boot-up stops at B2 code, there is no signal on the screen. I think, that these artifacts have something in common with this memory alocation problem.

 

[st2000]

so great, thought it's gpu problem
offtop:
whats about going to z77?
also, how much OCed 2500k?

 

[BambOOs]

For now, my 2500K is non overclocked. About going to z77, I think I will stay at my motherboard for now. It will be pretty hard to buy brand new, good for future OC, z77 motherboard.

UPDATE: I had a conversation with AsRock support. There is BETA BIOS available on their site for my motherboard. Guess what is in the changelog...:

"IMPROVE PCIE COMPABILITY"

release date: 25.11.2014

I will flash this as soon as I come back to home, and let you know what's the results.

I flashed this BETA BIOS, but problem is still there... an even worse than before.
Returned to 3.30 BIOS, and the problem with drivers returned also..

 

[Tatty_Two]

If you have to do this amount of work just to try and get the card playable I would have returned it ages ago to be honest, I appreciate it's good learning to try and sort the problem yourself but after 7 pages and a card still not working as it should I would be wanting my money back!

 

[BambOOs]

But two cards in row, and the same issue?

There is no problem with drivers when BIOS switch is on "2" position. When I set it to "1" - problem with drivers returns.

So, maybe send the card to RMA? It should not be such issue with drivers depending on BIOS switch position, as BIOS is default.

On other motherboard there is no artifacts or black screen etc, but problem with drivers remains.

I could buy another motherboard and see if this helps or not. But I guess, that problem with drivers will remain.

What's your opinion? I don't wart to return the card to seller, because seven days "seller warranty" ended. In addition, I don't want to wait for money refund for weeks...

I could send the card to RMA (warranty to 05.2016) and see what they do. If new/repaired card will show the same problem like artifacts, black screen, and drivers problem, then I will have to change motherboard.

What's your opinion?

 

[mrb00m]

I had artifacts with my Asus 280x direct cu ii top as did a lot of others, due to the memory being overclocked / overvolted 1.6 / 6400 and Asus didn't fit any heat sinks to the ram . I flashed the card to the stock "Non Top" direct cu ii bios 1.5 / 6000 and its been rock solid since , just lost a tiny bit of performance.

 

[st2000]

There is no problem with drivers when BIOS switch is on "2" position. When I set it to "1" - problem with drivers returns.

thats the option, better look at gpu-z at clocks with bios 1 and bios 2
compare clocks(i think "2" position of bios is downclocked a bit, but verify that to be sure)
run benches with both bioses, compare the results and take decision is it worth to stay with this card or RMA it(how much performance you lose with downclocked card)
also, in CCC you can try to increase power consumption(if PSU can handle it - try)
there is no problem downclocking card(may be you'll lose about 2% performance but get absolute stability - only testing can help with that)

 

[BambOOs]

Clocks on both BIOSes are the same... So, rma the card? Or buy new motherboard?

But..problem with drivers was the same, when I tested the card on this old lga 775 board, but it was clean installed w7 without updates.

 

[st2000]

Definitely i can't say, it all up to you: you can try to fix or you can forget about troubles and go for nvidia(I risked with mine 2nd hand 280x and was lucky)
Also, what's the problem with drivers: it recognizing as a new device every reboot?
Have you tried updating chipset driver?

 

[BambOOs]

Used MSI-Z77A-GD55 with 11 months warranty left for 80$. Worth?

 

[st2000]

if you dont plan to OC hard, you can look for smthg cheaper(even h67, had intel dh67bl and it was good)
if you plan to OC than its a great optiont, but i'd like to see any other variants to say that price is not too high

 

[BambOOs]

Already bought Asus p8p67 rev 3.1 brand new, OEM version with 12 months warranty for 80$.

It will arrive propably after weekend, and we will see if it fix the problem, or not.

If not, simply I will return the asus to the shop.

 

[st2000]

Already bought Asus p8p67 rev 3.1

searched for this mobo: rev 3.1 got very high % of failure, also if it dies - it brings CPU with itself to graveyard
also with this model you cant install windows from usb
so dunno if it helps, but i want to warn you

 

[BambOOs]

Could you post some link about these issues?

 

[st2000]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QF0VD6/?tag=tec06d-20
Most of feedback I took from .RU sites so don't know if you'll understand them(most of feedbacks looks like "great mobo, UPDATED: died in ... months with CPU"

 

[BambOOs]

This is reviews for "PRO" version and rev. 3.0

I guess, that every motherboard model have some % of failure.
What about my ASRock?

 

[st2000]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131770
Look for "caught fire"

 

[BambOOs]

Yes. But only 3 people had this. It could be caused by faulty PSU also...

 

[st2000]

What about my ASRock?

for bad feedbacks:
nothing special, good card but dont last long (dies after about 1.5-3 years, starting from sound or network)

Yes. But only 3 people had this. It could be caused by faulty PSU also...

in russian feedbacks about 50%, also mobos in most cases dies silently, not fired

 

[BambOOs]

Will see, when it arrive I just want to know, if my problem is caused by mb or gpu itself.