Random Black Screen Of Death

writhziden · Feb 20, 2012

Interesting... Can you roll back to the older driver that came with the factory install to test?

Did rolling back the driver help?

Stucatz · Apr 28, 2012

I apologise for a lack of updates, especially when the community here has so willing to help. Life has just gotten in the way of things recently.

In any case, in the last few hours, I've come across this page: Sapphire 5970 owners *all is fixed* - techPowerUp! Forums

I've followed the instructions and flashed my card with the Sapphire BIOS with the 735/1010 clock settings and I'll be damned - it seems to be working. I'm running the Furmark Burn in test at 1920x1200 with 8xAA and it has now been going for over 7 minutes. This used to crash almost immediately !!!.

I'll let you all know if it starts to show the same symptoms. But at the moment, this is really encouraging ! Anyone with the same issue as mine should take a look at this.

Stucatz · Apr 28, 2012

Sorry, false dawn. Was working ok with v12.3 drivers so then I attempted to update to 12.4 and it went to hell again

writhziden · Apr 28, 2012

Try the 11.9 or earlier drivers. There have been some stability problems with normally stable systems using the newer drivers. I have an AMD HD 4850 in my desktop, and when I first installed the 12.3 drivers, they caused some freezing/lagging during videos when I moved my mouse. A restart resolved the problem, but others have not been as fortunate as I have.

See http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-...nce-upgrading-catalyst-12-3-atikmpag-sys.html

Stucatz · Apr 28, 2012

I may well do that tomorrow. I actually cleared everything with driver sweeper and went all the way back to 10.12 and that seems stable for the moment.

Stucatz · May 3, 2012

No, it's still randomly black screening, especially during games. I may as well go back up to current version drivers and keep trying to figure this out from there. I've gone back to the current version BIOS as well on the 5970 as well.

writhziden · May 4, 2012

Alright, let us know if you need further troubleshooting. The steps you did sound like good steps to start.

Stucatz · May 4, 2012

I'm at a strange point at the moment. I've gotten to the point where running something like Furmark (see Jan 8) no longer black screens the PC but it will randomly black screen if I am playing a game. It seems to be far more stable if I have disabled Crossfire. So under CCC, I have created profiles for every game that I play with Crossfire disabled. So far, so good (famous last words).

What the drivers don't have is a way to just globally shut down Crossfire in one place. Does anyone know a fool proof way of doing this ? Crossfire is evil. Never again.

James7679 · May 4, 2012

Stucatz, if you are suspecting that the crossfire is the culprit, it would be much easier if you removed the cards individually to test for stability. It would be preferred over just soft disabling crossfire. There really is no point in the crossfire if you are going to disable it. Might help stabilize things as well. Also, try thoroughly cleaning the cards with some canned air, and the PCIe slots as well.

writhziden · May 4, 2012

I also usually recommend people contact the graphics card manufacturer and motherboard manufacturer when Crossfire is found to be a culprit. It may be you need to RMA one or both cards, or it could be a motherboard conflict.

Either way, the motherboard and graphics card manufacturers may have more support and knowledge about the issue than we might.

Stucatz · May 4, 2012

It's a 5970. Crossfire on 1 card.

writhziden · May 4, 2012

Stucatz said:
It's a 5970. Crossfire on 1 card.

All the more reason to contact the manufacturers.

James7679 · May 4, 2012

Stucatz said:
It's a 5970. Crossfire on 1 card.

writhziden said:
Stucatz said:

It's a 5970. Crossfire on 1 card.

Click to expand...

All the more reason to contact the manufacturers.

+1. You paid out the butt for an Alienware. You should contact them.

choovuck · Nov 3, 2012

any result, Stucatz?

was anxiously reading 6 pages of the discussion hoping to get "ah, finally, it's solved!". alas, didn't see the happy ending. I'm having alienware aurora on windows 7 and getting similar problems. would be interested to hear if you figured this thing out

Stucatz · Nov 4, 2012

Dunno. It's a bit more stable but it's very wierd with the current set of drivers. I can turn it on and it will black screen at any time between 0-30 minutes. After I do a hard reset on it, it will be completely stable for the rest of the day.

It's almost like a flag has been set and the hard reset keeps the flag alive. I have no idea what to make of it.

Before the warranty goes out in the next 6 months, I'll call and get them to replace the power supply and card. But with this sort of behaviour, something still says driver to me. It's too damn strange.

Random Black Screen Of Death

Closed by request.

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Closed by request.

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Closed by request.

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Lurking

My Computer

Closed by request.

My Computer

New member

My Computer

Closed by request.

My Computer

Lurking

My Computer

New member

My Computer

New member

My Computer