R9 290 Black screen issue.

[Moldy]

Hey guys i have an Asus DCUII r9 290 and i've been having some wierd issues with it.Basically every now and then it will randomly black screen and there's nothing you can do to get it to work again,it doesn't turn the PC off or anything and you can't pull up the task manager.The only thing you can do is restart it.I don't know what's causing it either as it seems to be fairly random.Sometimes it will black screen when it's idle,sometimes i'm in a browser and once it happened when i was in a game,so i really have no idea what could be causing it.It also happens at random intervals,once it happened 30 mins after rebooting,once it happened only a couple minutes after rebooting and then sometimes it would go away for a couple of days.I am currently running at 1050mhz on the core but this would happen at stock clocks aswell.

[Guest Generallee]

Hey guys i have an Asus DCUII r9 290 and i've been having some wierd issues with it.Basically every now and then it will randomly black screen and there's nothing you can do to get it to work again,it doesn't turn the PC off or anything and you can't pull up the task manager.The only thing you can do is restart it.I don't know what's causing it either as it seems to be fairly random.Sometimes it will black screen when it's idle,sometimes i'm in a browser and once it happened when i was in a game,so i really have no idea what could be causing it.It also happens at random intervals,once it happened 30 mins after rebooting,once it happened only a couple minutes after rebooting and then sometimes it would go away for a couple of days.I am currently running at 1050mhz on the core but this would happen at stock clocks aswell.

 

 

1) Install MSI Afterburner

2) Set "force constant voltage" in options

3) Reduce power limit by 5%

4) Underclock memory to 1100mhz

5) Save as a profile

6) Apply the profile

7) Set AB to launch on startup

[Moldy]

1) Install MSI Afterburner

2) Set "force constant voltage" in options

3) Reduce power limit by 5%

4) Underclock memory to 1100mhz

5) Save as a profile

6) Apply the profile

7) Set AB to launch on startup

Okay,tried it,i'll let you know if it freezes again.

[Guest Generallee]

Okay,tried it,i'll let you know if it freezes again.

 

Make sure GPU Tweak is not running in tandem with Afterburner

 

If problem still occurs, underclock core speed by 10mhz increments until it disappears

[Moldy]

1) Install MSI Afterburner

2) Set "force constant voltage" in options

3) Reduce power limit by 5%

4) Underclock memory to 1100mhz

5) Save as a profile

6) Apply the profile

7) Set AB to launch on startup

 

Make sure GPU Tweak is not running in tandem with Afterburner

Don't have GPU tweak installed.Anyway if this fixes it do i really have to underclock my GPU just for it not to crash?

[Guest Generallee]

Don't have GPU tweak installed.Anyway if this fixes it do i really have to underclock my GPU just for it not to crash?

 

The first batch of reference 290's, and by extent the DCU2 ones also, have Hynix memory installed. Don't ask me why it crashes, but AMD fixed the problem with the second batch of 290's, by installing ELPIDA memory. Now for us hynix 290 owners, we just dodge the problem and hope for the best.

 

Underclocking the memory by 100mhz isn't gonna turn your 290 into a 270 so don't worry about that. It will still eat whatever you throw at it, hopefully without black screens.

[Briggsy]

The first batch of reference 290's, and by extent the DCU2 ones also, have Hynix memory installed. Don't ask me why it crashes, but AMD fixed the problem with the second batch of 290's, by installing ELPIDA memory. Now for us hynix 290 owners, we just dodge the problem and hope for the best.

 

Underclocking the memory by 100mhz isn't gonna turn your 290 into a 270 so don't worry about that. It will still eat whatever you throw at it, hopefully without black screens.

 

it's the other way around. the reference design of the 290 is elpida. the DCUii 290 has always had elpida. a couple vendors use hynix, like gigabyte and sapphire. (although i think gigabyte originally may have used elpida but switched to hynix once it was revealed that a few batches of elpida chips were causing a blackscreen problem).

[Moldy]

The first batch of reference 290's, and by extent the DCU2 ones also, have Hynix memory installed. Don't ask me why it crashes, but AMD fixed the problem with the second batch of 290's, by installing ELPIDA memory. Now for us hynix 290 owners, we just dodge the problem and hope for the best.

 

Underclocking the memory by 100mhz isn't gonna turn your 290 into a 270 so don't worry about that. It will still eat whatever you throw at it, hopefully without black screens.

Alright thanks man,i'll see if that helps and let you know in a couple days (or earlier if it does it again).

[Guest Generallee]

it's the other way around. the reference design of the 290 is elpida. the DCUii 290 has always had elpida. a couple vendors use hynix, like gigabyte and sapphire. (although i think gigabyte originally may have used elpida).

 

You're right, i always mix them up

[Moldy]

The first batch of reference 290's, and by extent the DCU2 ones also, have Hynix memory installed. Don't ask me why it crashes, but AMD fixed the problem with the second batch of 290's, by installing ELPIDA memory. Now for us hynix 290 owners, we just dodge the problem and hope for the best.

 

Underclocking the memory by 100mhz isn't gonna turn your 290 into a 270 so don't worry about that. It will still eat whatever you throw at it, hopefully without black screens.

By the way do i do the "Set power limit" thing in CCC or Afterburner?Because I did it in afterburner but there it's just the core voltage not the power limit.

[Guest Generallee]

By the way do i do the "Set power limit" thing in CCC or Afterburner?Because I did it in afterburner but there it's just the core voltage not the power limit.

 

In Afterburner it should look like this

 

[Guest]

I remember reading about the Tri-X 290 having black screens issues as well. If I remember correctly, it was fixed by a BIOS firmware update.

[Moldy]

In Afterburner it should look like this

 

Oh thanks,i had a version of it without the power limit thing,im good now though.

[dragoon20005]

it's the other way around. the reference design of the 290 is elpida. the DCUii 290 has always had elpida. a couple vendors use hynix, like gigabyte and sapphire. (although i think gigabyte originally may have used elpida but switched to hynix once it was revealed that a few batches of elpida chips were causing a blackscreen problem).

the first batch of Reference 290/X uses Hynix

 

Gigabyte Windforce first gen uses Hynix but later switch to Elpida

 

MSI uses Samsung and also for the Lightning

 

Sapphire also uses Hynix

 

Asus is using Elpida all the way except the Geforce GPUs

 

PowerColor uses Hynix

 

the reason for the swap to Elpida was the global shortage of Hynix RAM after the fire in one of the factory

[Briggsy]

the first batch of Reference 290/X uses Hynix

 

Gigabyte Windforce first gen uses Hynix but later switch to Elpida

 

MSI uses Samsung and also for the Lightning

 

Sapphire also uses Hynix

 

Asus is using Elpida all the way except the Geforce GPUs

 

PowerColor uses Hynix

 

the reason for the swap to Elpida was the global shortage of Hynix RAM after the fire in one of the factory

 

The swap must have happened near launch time I guess.

 

http://www.ocaholic.co.uk/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=1415&page=1 sapphire, who helps manufacture AMD's own reference cards were using Elpida from the get go, or they made a typo in this review because the gpuz screen shot doesn't match this statement "The memory chips used are made by Elpida and carry the model number W2032BBBG-6A-F. They are specified to run at 1'260 MHz (5'040 MHz effective)."

 

thanks for clearing that up though, I dug a bit deeper and you are indeed correct.

[Guest]

The swap must have happened near launch time I guess.

 

http://www.ocaholic.co.uk/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=1415&page=1 sapphire, who helps manufacture AMD's own reference cards were using Elpida from the get go, or they made a typo in this review because the gpuz screen shot doesn't match this statement "The memory chips used are made by Elpida and carry the model number W2032BBBG-6A-F. They are specified to run at 1'260 MHz (5'040 MHz effective)."

 

thanks for clearing that up though, I dug a bit deeper and you are indeed correct.

 

I would say that GPU-Z is wrong. The screenshot of the VRM matches the article. I would trust what is written on the chip more than a software

 

Very interesting topic. I am planning on getting a 290.

[dragoon20005]

I would say that GPU-Z is wrong. The screenshot of the VRM matches the article. I would trust what is written on the chip more than a software

 

Very interesting topic. I am planning on getting a 290.

given that the prices of the 290X is very close to the 290 if you count those offers

 

the 290X will be the cheaper option over the GTX970 as they are equal in terms of fps performance

[Guest]

given that the prices of the 290X is very close to the 290 if you count those offers

 

the 290X will be the cheaper option over the GTX970 as they are equal in terms of fps performance

 

The 290X isn't that much powerful over the 290...or is it ? I agree thought, the deals are quite good and very tempting. But at the same time, I am tempted to wait for the new AMD GPUs.

[dragoon20005]

The 290X isn't that much powerful over the 290...or is it ? I agree thought, the deals are quite good and very tempting. But at the same time, I am tempted to wait for the new AMD GPUs.

is around 10-20% more faster than the 290

 

and yes maybe you could wait and see how the R300 series will perform before buying

[Briggsy]

The 290X isn't that much powerful over the 290...or is it ? I agree thought, the deals are quite good and very tempting. But at the same time, I am tempted to wait for the new AMD GPUs.

 

the difference between AMDs flagship Card and it's runner up are usually fairly close with each generation, much less then Nvidia.

 

comparing the gpu-z screenshots shows just how little of difference there is between 290 and 290x, but the 290x is still better of course by about 10% or more.

 

 

[SkilledRebuilds]

Take a 947/1040Mhz 290/OC up to 1100Mhz and it will be a powerhouse. (A lot of 290's will hit close to or @ 1100 without extra voltage)

Some can happily sit within the 1100-1150Mhz range also... surpassing this may require W/C as the voltage needed for 1200+ may be too much for A/C.

 

 

I had some blackscreens on varied drivers...

Card has since died (RMA'd)

Maybe just send it in yourself for RMA if its a sign of things to come....

[Moldy]

1) Install MSI Afterburner

2) Set "force constant voltage" in options

3) Reduce power limit by 5%

4) Underclock memory to 1100mhz

5) Save as a profile

6) Apply the profile

7) Set AB to launch on startup

Came back to confirm this fixed it,it's been 3 weeks and i haven't crashed once with the lowered mem clock.

[Guest Generallee]

Came back to confirm this fixed it,it's been 3 weeks and i haven't crashed once with the lowered mem clock.

 

Glad to help a fellow 290 owner ! Don't forget to check the "thread solved" button on my post