Thinking about RMA'ing my GPU

[The Crazed Child]

It been about a few weeks since I installed my new XFX R9 280X, and I've noticed that my display flicker sometimes when in 2D applications. Mostly on the desktop or while watching YouTube videos. 

 

And it's super irritating. I hate it. I really do. After viewing a few forums online, I found that other people were having this issue. Some people said that it was caused by the GPU lowering it's core clock speed while idling. So, I dealt with it, since it wasn't really something that could be fixed.

 

I updated my drivers to Catalyst 14.6, and still got the same issue. Still, in 2D applications. What was weird was, even when I was viewing the map in Arma 3, it would still flicker. But not when I exited the map and the GPU would continue rendering frames. Then 14.7 beta came out. I updated to that too. Still, the same issue. At the time I wasn't even considering RMA'ing the card, there is too much hassle involved in it.

 

Today I was playing Kerbal Space Program - which, as you might know, is a 3D game. To my surprise, it began to flicker while I was orbiting in my spacecraft. I was pretty annoyed. As much as I want this fixed, I don't want to RMA the card. 

I'm also selling my old graphics card as well. Do you think I should keep the card now that it seems that my 280X is having these issues? I've heard stories about XFX RMA's taking months at a time. I don't want to spend 3 months with a sup-par GTX 560. Also, me, being the lazy person that I am, doesn't want to go through the hassle of sending my card back to XFX. I'm using the static bag from the 280X for my GTX 560, so that mean's I'll have no bag to put the 560 in.

 

I'm stuck at a crossroads, what can I do?

[Phllips]

Wierd my friend has the same problem when opening a map in planetside

[The Crazed Child]

Wierd my friend has the same problem when opening a map in planetside

For me it happens almost everywhere. I hope I can give AMD cards another chance instead of going back to NVIDIA.

[Phllips]

For me it happens almost everywhere. I hope I can give AMD cards another chance instead of going back to NVIDIA.

My friend has a 640 so its not just amd

[alby800]

Mine hasn't done that. (YET)

[The Crazed Child]

Mine hasn't done that. (YET)

Haha, you have the same card except it has been binned for overclocking.

[Wiflare]

Can't you set min and max clocks in amd overdrive?

[The Crazed Child]

Can't you set min and max clocks in amd overdrive?

I'm going to have a look at that, it's just weird that it happened in 3D applications like KSP.

[alby800]

Haha, you have the same card except it has been binned for overclocking.

I know, now I'm scared  :unsure:

[The Crazed Child]

I know, now I'm scared  :unsure:

You would have noticed flickering by now if there was something wrong with it.

 

I really don't want to send this back, I've heard stories about people RMA'ing motherboards through XFX and getting a bent motherboard in return.

[alby800]

You would have noticed flickering by now if there was something wrong with it.

 

I really don't want to send this back, I've heard stories about people RMA'ing motherboards through XFX and getting a bent motherboard in return.

XFX make motherboards????

Also could it possibly be the monitor?

[The Crazed Child]

XFX make motherboards????

Also could it possibly be the monitor?

They used to make motherboards, with nVidia chipsets. Not nowadays though.

 

I don't think it's my monitor, in only started happening after I upgraded my graphics card. To be honest the flickering doesn't happen frequently, they're more like a few short bursts and it goes away for a while. 

 

Once I sell all my old stuff I'm going to be getting another identical monitor, I might test with that. I might reseat the GPU and check if the PCIE power connections are secure as well.

[alby800]

They used to make motherboards, with nVidia chipsets. Not nowadays though.

 

I don't think it's my monitor, in only started happening after I upgraded my graphics card. To be honest the flickering doesn't happen frequently, they're more like a few short bursts and it goes away for a while. 

 

Once I sell all my old stuff I'm going to be getting another identical monitor, I might test with that. I might reseat the GPU and check if the PCIE power connections are secure as well.

okay, cool. Still a good idea to try on another monitor if possible IMO

[The Crazed Child]

So yeah...I'm not sure if I should RMA it or keep it to see if the problem fixes itself.