Solved Asus EAH4870 X2 artifacts

[Koyfo]

Hi guys.

For the last 3-4 days i have a problem with my graphics card (?) maybe. Sometimes from boot, sometimes when the screen resumes after a 30 minute inactivity sleep artifacts.
Check the video to understand better (it's from a resume from idle switched off screen).



I will try to capture a video from cold boot if i get artifacts (it's random :/).


Also a screenshot from ATITool.

Any ideas except changing the GPU with a new one?...

If you need any info, ask me!

 

[stormy13]

If it is happening at bootup, then it is the card and not Windows or the drivers as they haven't loaded yet. First thing to do if you haven't is to make sure that the heatsink and fan on the card are dust free, as that can and will cause the card to overheat.

If it is dust free and still happening, then about the only other option is to start looking at a new card.

 

[Koyfo]

The whole unit was cleared a month ago with pressurized air so i have no dust inside. I will try to stress it to 100% with Crysis to chech if artifacts shows up.

Edit: Screenshot with temperatures

 

[Koyfo]

Video from boot with artifacts



Some temperatures with crysis at almost full details, full cpu & gpu usage.

 

[Beta]

I have the same issue on my grandparents compute. It is a Dell 8200 with a AGP ATI 9550 and on the top it does what you see. The when the login screen pops up its fine.

I once had a Sapphire 4870 x2 since it came out and I sold it about 2 months ago when I built my new system. I had taken the whole card apart and reapplyed the thermal paste once a year. It seemed as the months went by the temps would slightly go up untill at the end of the year it was 10C higher then I would reapply the paste and I would be good for a year.

 

[Koyfo]

I have the same issue on my grandparents compute. It is a Dell 8200 with a AGP ATI 9550 and on the top it does what you see. The when the login screen pops up its fine.

I once had a Sapphire 4870 x2 since it came out and I sold it about 2 months ago when I built my new system. I had taken the whole card apart and reapplyed the thermal paste once a year. It seemed as the months went by the temps would slightly go up untill at the end of the year it was 10C higher then I would reapply the paste and I would be good for a year.

Just ordered this one Arctic Silver Incorporated - Céramique 2

I hope the trick will do the job. But i don't think so that it is a temprature problem, it is more like a random one.

 

[Beta]

Just take your time to do it right. Don't rush it and make sure you put the paste on the GPU chip its self and the heat sink.

 

[Beta]

Watching the video agian I got a idea. Just for fun try reseating the GPU in PCIe 3. Also try another power rail on your PSU. Post what happens.

 

[Koyfo]

Just changed the GPU from PCIe slot 1 to slot 2. I couldn't try it to slot 3 because of midi tower free space , even in slot 2 it was hard cause of the upright sata ports. Anyways, i booted up 3-4 times in slot 2, tested with atitool and no artifacts so far .
Afterwards i moved the GPU back to slot 1, and again no problems...

 

[Beta]

Slot 3 is a x16 lane on your MB. Slot 2 is only a x8 lane.

 

[Koyfo]

Slot 3 is a x16 lane on your MB. Slot 2 is only a x8 lane.

Indeed but it worked without problems. It is impossible to install the GPU to slot 3 and 4 because of free space

The system is operating for 5 hours without problem at PCIe slot 1.
If artifacts reappear, i will open the GPU to install the new thermal compound.

 

[Beta]

Ok, you can private message me if you have any questions down the road.

 

[Koyfo]

Yesterday i went to sleep, so i turned off the pc. I suppose after 10 hours it is cold enough
Anyways, i power it up today and artifacts reappear. I wait it to boot while displaying artifacts, and when it boots windows it restarts by itself. Next, it boots normally without artifacts. Tiil now (10 minutes after) i have no problems...

I think it is not a temperature problem, as it should not draw artifacts cause i let it cool overnight. Reasonably PCIe slot 1 may have the problem, there comes something else in my mind.

I have the thermal compound right at my hands, should i change the GPU's compound, or it is purposeless?

 

[Koyfo]

The artifacts appear more and more often. Gonna change permanently to another PCIe slot to try it out. I hope it's not the GPU's fault.

 

[Koyfo]

Just changed the GPU from PCIe slot 1 to PCIe slot 3. Works fine till now. So i suppose it was motherboard's fault at PCIe slot 1?




PS: I hope i won't have temperature problems because of free space below of the GPU fans?!?!

 

[Beta]

Yea, thats what I had asked you to do before. Just keep track of the temps and it should be fine down in that slot.

Also with the pics I now see an issue. The CPU heat sink must have been right up to the GPU in PCIe1. That could have been pushing heat onto the GPU.

 

[Koyfo]

Hi, i powered again the PC, no problem at all

Before (when the GPU was at PCIe slot 1), i had no temperature problems, despite the close distance of CPU fan and GPU. Maybe because the plenty of free space on the other side (the 3 fan side).


PS: I will mark the topic as solved temporarily.

 

[Koyfo]

Hello, it has been a long time since my last post , i forgot to update the thread.
Eventually, the GPU had the problem. So i returned it to the seller and according to the warrranty, the card was replaced with ASUS EAH6970 DCII/2DI4S/2GD5 2GB PCI-E RETAIL - at no extra cost, which is working perfectly till now