XFX Radeon HD 6950 1GB - CRASH!

[jeffrkim]

Hi - I upgraded my computer from nVidia 9800GT 512MB to XFX Radeon HD 6950 1GB.
My computer has a mobo ASUS M4A78-E, with Phenom II x4, and OCZ SSD 120G, 10GB RAM, 700W OCZ Modular PSU etc. After the installation, however, the graphic card is going crazy!

At first, the screen just went to blank grey screen. Sometimes, it would be orange/white vertical stripes, and even some times BSOD. One time, the screen actually got split into two, and like... the very left part of the screen where windows start was on the right side of the screen lol But when I installed GeForce again, everything seems fine.

Is the graphic card mal-functioning? May be power problem? I have no idea. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you very much.

 

[IownAmoneyPit]

But when I installed GeForce again, everything seems fine

.

The reason the above partial quote caught me eye is because the term "GeForce" is associated with Nvidia Cards and the term "Radeon" is associated with AMD/ATI cards. XFX produces both Nvidia and AMD/ATI cards so the correct version of driver must be used if you installed them from the XFX site (you may have accidentally installed Nvidia drivers).

It would also be a good idea to open Device Manager > Display adapter > right click for properties and check under the driver tab for version/date info and also if you see a yellow triangle beside Display adapter the driver would have to be reinstalled.

For future reference here is a direct link to the AMD driver site if you choose not to use the XFX site (just pick the correct values from the drop down boxes)

 

[jeffrkim]

Thanks for suggestion. But my GeForce is from EVGA, and Radeon is from XFX. I did install my driver from ATI website - but it still crashes. Sometimes even before sign in windows 7. It will goto blank white or grey screen.
So now with GeForce, everything is fine. I guess it is the graphic card fault. Before I send it back to newegg, though, is there anyway to figure out if I can fix the problem? (I dont want to wait and pay for shipping fee...) May be power supply problem? Or just graphic hardware problem?
Thank you.

 

[sygnus21]

You need to make sure you removed all the Nvidia drivers for your old Nvidia card. Once thats done, then you need to install the latest catalyst drivers.

See these two links....

- Direct link to Windows 7 install
- How to Uninstall ATI drivers

Let us know.

And looking at the power supply you posted, there nothing wrong with it power wise. It's plenty powerful enough to run that card.

 

[Zepher]

Thanks for suggestion. But my GeForce is from EVGA, and Radeon is from XFX. I did install my driver from ATI website - but it still crashes. Sometimes even before sign in windows 7. It will goto blank white or grey screen.
So now with GeForce, everything is fine. I guess it is the graphic card fault. Before I send it back to newegg, though, is there anyway to figure out if I can fix the problem? (I dont want to wait and pay for shipping fee...) May be power supply problem? Or just graphic hardware problem?
Thank you.

Call Newegg and request a return shipping label since you received a defective item.
If you do it online through the automated system you have to pay to ship the item back.

 

[rooney1191]

Dear LORD

I am having this SAME EXACT PROBLEM, and it doesn't get better, only worse. I have to reset my pc all the time now due to crashes. This is the second 6950 I have had from the same store that has had this problem. Any answers?

 

[UberlegenKlient]

Almost guarenteed defective, return it right away. Use your Nv card for the time being.

A bad driver, even wrong one, wouldn't cause 'that' particular behavior. Card is no good.

It's frustrating, but Gpu's and boards are the toughest to QC it seems.

 

[Hets]

Solution?

Hi guys,

I have the exact same problem and i think i have a solution for it.

When the card runs in high performance mode its fed with 1.100v but when it drops to "idle" desktop mode the card is downclocked to save power and emit less heat, this also drops the voltage to around (using my numbers) 0.898v which causes the card to freeze due to the voltage is too low. The solution i have found is to use MSI Afterburner and force feed the card with 1.100v and keep it from downclocking, its fairly easy using this program just unlock voltage control in setting and hit force constant voltage.

This will ofcourse cause more heat in idle mode, but since its not overclocked in the correct sentence the fan and cooler will be able to handle this without problems.

I have done this on my card and its running smooth for over 24 hours now.

Please let me know if this works for you,

Rgds Lars

 

[adspie]

Hi I have the same issue with OP i have AMD HD 6950 1GB DDR5. I ahve already replaced my MOBO,PSU & RAM except Video card , I had random or intermittent OSOD,RSOD,GSOD,BSOD & BSOD without text.

RSOD



BSOD

OSOD


Is this Faulty Video Card?

 

[solarmystic]

Errmm.. Yes it's most definitely a faulty video card, replace it.