HD 4870 X2: PSU issue

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  1.    #1

    HD 4870 X2: PSU issue


    hi,

    I bought an used HD 4870 X2 yesterday, and I'm unable to use it properly: Crossfire is not working on 3D applications.

    To test if the card is broken, I used GPU Z and I started the render test to see if the second GPU is working.

    During the test, the GPU 1 is 100% working, and after some seconds the GPU 2 start to work properly... but, when i start the test, I hear a strange "beep" incoming from the PSU, and the card has a strange noise (like something inside which won't work).

    So, when I force the second GPU to work, it works but I hear PSU beep & GPU noise, when I set it to work in 3D games, it simply won't work...

    What is the problem? I have a pc with:

    Asus P5LP motherboard
    Core 2 Duo E6300 @1.86 GHz
    3GB DDR2 dual channel (4 sticks)
    Radeon HD 4870 X2 @800/1000

    PSU: Nilox LC8600BTX 600W
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,606
    Windows 7 Pro X64 SP1
       #2

    If I understand things correctly, the 4870X2 requires one each 6 and 8 pin PCI-E power connectors. That suggests that it needs something less than 300W. (One site had the actual peak at 270W.)

    What's the spec for current at +12V for your Nilox LC8600BTX PSU? I haven't been able to find specs on line. (That's not a good sign.) If it is less than 40A, it probably needs to be replaced with a better unit. (Not just a higher power rating, but a better make. Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, etc.)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 760
    Thread Starter
       #3

    +12 V1 and V2 is 22A

    I also noticed that when I'm forcing the card to run Crossfire in tests, all my system fans run slower.
    And, I noticed that using AMD Overdrive to downclock my GPU core and memory, my PSU's beep becomes more "silent" and the GPU's strange noise is less noticeable...
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 679
    Windows 7 professional X64
       #4

    Dorado said:
    +12 V1 and V2 is 22A

    I also noticed that when I'm forcing the card to run Crossfire in tests, all my system fans run slower.
    And, I noticed that using AMD Overdrive to downclock my GPU core and memory, my PSU's beep becomes more "silent" and the GPU's strange noise is less noticeable...

    600w and 22amps. Looool.

    Get a reputable PSU before you fry your system or take one of the cards out.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2,606
    Windows 7 Pro X64 SP1
       #5

    Dorado said:
    +12 V1 and V2 is 22A

    I also noticed that when I'm forcing the card to run Crossfire in tests, all my system fans run slower.
    And, I noticed that using AMD Overdrive to downclock my GPU core and memory, my PSU's beep becomes more "silent" and the GPU's strange noise is less noticeable...
    Is that 22A each on two separate 12V rails?

    That sould be OK in principle. However, the symptoms your PC is displaying suggests that upgrading the PSU should be a high priority.

    A few years ago, some PSUs were wired in such a way that it was easy to overload one of the 12V rails, even though the sum of the ratings suggested that the PSU would be more than adequate to power the PC. I wonder if something like that is happening here?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 760
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Erick Aguilar said:
    Dorado said:
    +12 V1 and V2 is 22A

    I also noticed that when I'm forcing the card to run Crossfire in tests, all my system fans run slower.
    And, I noticed that using AMD Overdrive to downclock my GPU core and memory, my PSU's beep becomes more "silent" and the GPU's strange noise is less noticeable...

    600w and 22amps. Looool.

    Get a reputable PSU before you fry your system or take one of the cards out.
    I'm here to solve a problem, not to be criticised.
    This system worked fine for years with several graphics cards (Ati X1650, Nvidia 9400 GT, Nvidia GTS 450, and finally Ati HD 4870 X2). The PSU worked fine for years too, now I'm asking why it is giving me problems.

    And before starting writing, read the title of my thread: "Radeon HD 4870 X2"... It is a single card with 2 GPUs.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 760
    Thread Starter
       #7

    bobkn said:
    Dorado said:
    +12 V1 and V2 is 22A

    I also noticed that when I'm forcing the card to run Crossfire in tests, all my system fans run slower.
    And, I noticed that using AMD Overdrive to downclock my GPU core and memory, my PSU's beep becomes more "silent" and the GPU's strange noise is less noticeable...
    Is that 22A each on two separate 12V rails?

    That sould be OK in principle. However, the symptoms your PC is displaying suggests that upgrading the PSU should be a high priority.

    A few years ago, some PSUs were wired in such a way that it was easy to overload one of the 12V rails, even though the sum of the ratings suggested that the PSU would be more than adequate to power the PC. I wonder if something like that is happening here?
    Now I'll post a pic :)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 760
    Thread Starter
       #8

    http://i46.tinypic.com/34erslw.jpg

    sorry for bad quality
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 679
    Windows 7 professional X64
       #9

    Dorado said:
    Erick Aguilar said:
    Dorado said:
    +12 V1 and V2 is 22A

    I also noticed that when I'm forcing the card to run Crossfire in tests, all my system fans run slower.
    And, I noticed that using AMD Overdrive to downclock my GPU core and memory, my PSU's beep becomes more "silent" and the GPU's strange noise is less noticeable...

    600w and 22amps. Looool.

    Get a reputable PSU before you fry your system or take one of the cards out.
    I'm here to solve a problem, not to be criticised.
    This system worked fine for years with several graphics cards (Ati X1650, Nvidia 9400 GT, Nvidia GTS 450, and finally Ati HD 4870 X2). The PSU worked fine for years too, now I'm asking why it is giving me problems.

    And before starting writing, read the title of my thread: "Radeon HD 4870 X2"... It is a single card with 2 GPUs.
    You are not being criticised, you are being recommended to get a better PSU if your first one which is not so good is starting to give you bad symptoms.

    And all those cards you have noticed do not have a high Wattage, or Amp requirements anyway.

    If you take it a criticism, your bad, if you take it a recommendation, change it.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 760
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Erick Aguilar said:
    Dorado said:
    Erick Aguilar said:


    600w and 22amps. Looool.

    Get a reputable PSU before you fry your system or take one of the cards out.
    I'm here to solve a problem, not to be criticised.
    This system worked fine for years with several graphics cards (Ati X1650, Nvidia 9400 GT, Nvidia GTS 450, and finally Ati HD 4870 X2). The PSU worked fine for years too, now I'm asking why it is giving me problems.

    And before starting writing, read the title of my thread: "Radeon HD 4870 X2"... It is a single card with 2 GPUs.
    You are not being criticised, you are being recommended to get a better PSU if your first one which is not so good is starting to give you bad symptoms.

    And all those cards you have noticed do not have a high Wattage, or Amp requirements anyway.

    If you take it a criticism, your bad, if you take it a recommendation, change it.
    ...were you reccomending me a new PSU? bobkn was...
    So, according to my PSU specs (see the pic i postes), according strange noises from GPU and PSU, and according with the fact that I'm using only 1 of the 2 cores of the graphics cards, do I need a better PSU?
    If yes, how much Watt and Amp i need?
      My Computer


 
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