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XFX R9 280x DD Crossfire Artifact issue

faizan

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Hello everyone,

just registered to post on here to see if I can get some help with my video cards.

I have 2 XFX R9 280x in crossfire, recently bought them. But for some reason while playing games I sometimes get this weird flicker happening. Not exclusive to any one game, tried it on Shadow of Mordor, Witcher 3, GTA5, Heroes of the Storm etc. and I get this same effect randomly.

Sometimes I can play for an hour or two without the issue coming up at all.

I have a recording to show what it looks like exactly.




specs:

Asus Maximus VIII Z170 Board
Intel i5 6600k CPU
16GB Ram
2x XFX R9 280x 3GB video cards
evga supernova 850W B2 Power Supply (840W 70A on 12v+)

Love the cards, just disappointed with this flickering problem.

Any help would be appreciated :).
 

manofthem

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I'd start by checking temps to see if anything is overheating. (Coincidentally, I have a 270x DD that has a faulty cooler that needs replacing.)

Then I'd go testing each card individually and seeing if the problem persists. It should narrow down the issue to a single card.
 

faizan

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thanks for the response.

first gpu highest temp was 83c, second gpu highest temp was 67c, playing gta5...and it seemed to be artifacting differently this time, not the kind of flickering in the video, more like messed textures popping up once in a while. I did swap out the HDMI cable, I wonder if that helped with the flickering like the one in the video, because I can't seem to reproduce that so far since.

so maybe the first gpu is overheating? ill check the fans on my card and test individually.
 
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I'd wager its the memory getting too hot. I have a DC2T 280x from Asus and that model is rife with reports of artifacting. I solved it first by heavily downclocking the RAM. I set it to 1300Mhz via bios mod. One peculiarity is that you must reset the system after getting artifacts or it will artifact no matter what. I added heatsinks to the ram as well as a Kraken G10, I just needed to test if the RAM could be tamed before committing to swap the G10 and mod heatsinks.
 

faizan

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So I tried to run them separately, but I can't seem to reproduce the issue on either card. I checked the vram and on one of the cards, it did go upto 111c (according to gpu-z) but still, no artifacts appeared. I even ran furmark with unigine at the same time, ran a few games too. So I don't know, I guess it could be that when they run together, they produce more heat and that could potentially be causing it?

I have since reinstalled both cards and enabled crossfire, played a few games and ran furmark (full screen for cf), still no issue so far. But I don't think this is the end of it, I fear it will start again after some time...
 
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have good cooling and/or remove your case door so heat wont build up
 

faizan

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What do you suggest for cooling? I tried doing some research online and I haven't found many options available. I was thinking of possibly using the Kraken G10 but man, that is expensive. What would I buy for the cooling unit itself? cheapest I could find was Hydro H55...not sure if that works with G10.

If I did go water cooling option, then would I have to buy a Hydro H55 for each card? and say I wanted to run water cooling to CPU as well, then I will have to buy another one for that? I want to avoid putting together a custom water cooling kit myself. I was hoping there would be a solution where you can just split the pipes off the same radiator and run to other hardware, modular...like a PSU.
 
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Not a watercooling fan here, they often don't cool vram unless you go with a custom loop.

I suggest you to buy a good tube of thermal paste (somethine like GELID Extreme or Artic Silver) and use it on both GPUs.
You can also set a more aggressive fan curve with MSI Afterburner.
 

faizan

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I've got Arctic Silver, so I'll try that. Does that also need to be applied to the vram? I'm assuming they're using those thermal tapes, I remove those and put the paste instead right?
 
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If u want to use the G10 Kraken I'd suggest this thread:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1487012/official-nzxt-kraken-g10-owners-club/4350#post_24374257

In my case I have not done anything to my VRM cooling except swap out the stock fans, and I'm quite satisfied that they are cool enough @ 50'c. It all depends on a case by case basis - some cards have a mid-plate which is great to use G10 kraken with. I have a 280x but I'm sure my cooling would be good with a R290x too.
 
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I've got Arctic Silver, so I'll try that. Does that also need to be applied to the vram? I'm assuming they're using those thermal tapes, I remove those and put the paste instead right?
Keep the thermal pads on the vram, you can make sure that they're centered (I've seen vram chips half covered because the thermal pad was half off the chip), but don't use thermal paste on vram.

What case do you have and is there any airflow?
 

faizan

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Noctis 450, it has 3 fans in the front and 1 on the back.
 
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Artic Silver 5 is conductive, avoid using it on GPU altogether. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaught is the best compound now.
 

faizan

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Lol where would I buy that? looks like hard to find here in North America.
 
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Its made in Germany, I think caseking.de sell it. I bought mine from overclockers.co.uk I don't know where to find it in NA. I suggest looking at the Thermal Grizzly site to see if they have a reseller's list. Failing that try ebay.
 
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http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=28300631

8-pack & Debauer two of the world's top overclockers say its the best paste. If u can't get it, it doesn't mean its not the best. Again Arctic Silver 5 is conductive and from reading how you let your VRM's hit 111'c and run furmark, I wouldn't recommend putting it anywhere near your GPU and never on the VRAM or VRM with there electrical connections in the path of where the excess paste gets pushed.
 

faizan

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Thought I'd update you guys..

So after re-installing both, I haven't come across the issue again. Ran 3d mark tests a number of times, played games and no issue..Seems the cards aren't getting as hot either. I did replace the thermal paste so I guess that might have helped.

Now I am thinking of overclocking...I got the card at 1085/1630, which seems to be stable. I can't seem to push it any further. My question is though, if I were to upgrade to water cooling using AIO, will I be able to overclock further? is there a way to tell?

I tried setting higher clocks but get crashes / driver fail.
 
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With a kraken G10 you will get something like a 40'c drop in temperatures, even without adding voltage you will get higher clocks and even if u don't overclock your GPU boost will benefit.

I'd suggest which ever card is hotter then just put an AIO on that to start with. Its common for crossfire/sli cards to run at different temperatures depending on which slot they are in due to things like reduced airflow and heat from the lower card.

Run 3dmark and leave GPU-z running in background or MSI afterburner with logging enabled and take a screenshot to post here.

The problem with using a G10 is that its non standard. You can use any graphics card, and there layout and stock cooling is different.

http://www.fudzilla.com/32810-xfx-radeon-dd-r9-280x-1000m-3gb-reviewed?tmpl=component&print=1

You have a mid - plate which is great because you already have RAM and VRM sufficiently cooled which means that all you need to do is connect the cooler.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1487012/official-nzxt-kraken-g10-owners-club/3870#post_24170430

This guy has the same card as you and is buying a shim (important a) all 280x need one b) to prevent any clearance issues with the midplate).:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1487012/official-nzxt-kraken-g10-owners-club/4210#post_24323478
 

faizan

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Thanks.
Bought a H55 and kraken g10. Waiting on the g10 now.

If this goes well i plan on doing the same for the 2nd card
 

faizan

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Alright,

got it installed. see pics below.

temps significantly dropped, the card that was hitting 80's wont go above 48 on load even on furmark. Thats with case open though (like you see in the pics), not sure what'll happen once I close the case.

I am having a bit of an issue though, you might be able to tell from the pics.

I wanted to mount the radiator on the front, that way in the future I can mount 2 in the front (1 for each gpu) and 1 on the top for cpu. But as you can see in the pic, the radiator wont reach the front, seems the tubes aren't long enough for this case :(. Or maybe I am doing something wrong?



 
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The Corsair AIO have shorter hoses. I've got an Asetek 570LX hoses are about 30cm. I can't see the rad mounting from that pic, is it push pull, intake or exhaust? Did u have any trouble with the shim? I was worried about it shifting as I sandwiched the cold plate on cause in a trial mount it moved when pulled apart.

Do a screenshot like so cause I'm interested in the VRM temps (click on GPU sensor readings to show max value & run uniengine valley with GPU-z monitoring in background):
Note: I don't recommend Furmark.
 
Last edited:

faizan

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Hey,

the rad just has pull for now. I closed up the case and temps seem to be max 55c on load. I am trying to overclock but need some help. Can't seem to get the video card to go past 1100. I have the power limit set to max (20%) and voltage is at stock at the moment...not sure what to set that to. Memory I got to 1665 but don't think it is stable.

what do you suggest for overclocking further?

 

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faizan

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best overclock I've gotten so far is

Core 1090, Mem 1625.

I get scores of 1575 on unigine and 14334 on 3dmark Fire strike.
 
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