GPU? MOBO? PC? What is causing this?!

[Hellsrage]

*Below this text will be a picture of my problem look at it then read because I can't describe it.

 

So for a while now I've had this issue with my primary video output going corrupt out of the blue, I thought it was the GPU so I had it RMA'd but the day I got the refurbished unit (same model as my original) it happened AGIAN. Well I talked to Althon and they said that they doubt it was the new unit and long story short for a short time it stopped doing it, but it has started again and it's doing it very often. It started doing it again a few days ago and because of how it's happening now I know what's causing it. This problem occurs whenever I play a video. I clicked on a steam game and when the store page loaded bam fucked up screen, well I waited a little and when the video ended and the pictures started rolling it magically fixed itself. It has happened twice since then on a store page with a video, the second time the issue stayed even after the video stopped and the 3rd well, it left my primary screen all screwed up(You'll see below).

 

Below is what happened the 3rd time after waiting for the video to end.

 

Details:This issue only happens on the primary video output, I use 2 monitors as seen above and if I take out my HDMI which is my primary monitor it will simply switch over to DVI and still be all messed up. The only way to fix the issue is to restart the PC but if the screen stays all messed up I'm forced to use the I/O switch because I can't see the OS.

 

Specs:

| AMD FX-8350  || Gigabyte GA-990FX-UD3 || AMD Radeon HD 7950 || G.SKILL Aries 16GB @1600 |

        | ADATA XPG SX900 128GB SSD(OS) || WD Caviar Black 2TB HDD || ASUS XONAR_DG 5.1 Sound Card|| XSPC Raystorm EX240 D5 WC Kit |

      |CORSAIR HX750 750W || Modded NZXT Phantom |

 

Ignore my signature, I have everything at stock I haven't updated it yet. Does anyone have a clue as to what could cause this?

[Godlygamer23]

You have a second card to try?

[MadManMarsBar]

*Below this text will be a picture of my problem look at it then read because I can't describe it.

 

So for a while now I've had this issue with my primary video output going corrupt out of the blue, I thought it was the GPU so I had it RMA'd but the day I got the refurbished unit (same model as my original) it happened AGIAN. Well I talked to Althon and they said that they doubt it was the new unit and long story short for a short time it stopped doing it, but it has started again and it's doing it very often. It started doing it again a few days ago and because of how it's happening now I know what's causing it. This problem occurs whenever I play a video. I clicked on a steam game and when the store page loaded bam fucked up screen, well I waited a little and when the video ended and the pictures started rolling it magically fixed itself. It has happened twice since then on a store page with a video, the second time the issue stayed even after the video stopped and the 3rd well, it left my primary screen all screwed up(You'll see below).

 

Below is what happened the 3rd time after waiting for the video to end.

 

Details:This issue only happens on the primary video output, I use 2 monitors as seen above and if I take out my HDMI which is my primary monitor it will simply switch over to DVI and still be all messed up. The only way to fix the issue is to restart the PC but if the screen stays all messed up I'm forced to use the I/O switch because I can't see the OS.

 

Specs:

| AMD FX-8350  || Gigabyte GA-990FX-UD3 || AMD Radeon HD 7950 || G.SKILL Aries 16GB @1600 |

        | ADATA XPG SX900 128GB SSD(OS) || WD Caviar Black 2TB HDD || ASUS XONAR_DG 5.1 Sound Card|| XSPC Raystorm EX240 D5 WC Kit |

      |CORSAIR HX750 750W || Modded NZXT Phantom |

 

Ignore my signature, I have everything at stock I haven't updated it yet. Does anyone have a clue as to what could cause this?

Are you using a DVi - VGA connector ?

[Hellsrage]

You have a second card to try?

Yeah I have my old 6670, I swapped them for a while, plus the time my first 7950 was getting RMA'd and never had a single problem, it never happened on it. Also I'm using the latest drivers by AMD and they have been re-installed completely 3 times now.

[Hellsrage]

Are you using a DVi - VGA connector ?

Nope, Just HDMI for my primary and DVI for my secondary, no adapters at all, I suppose I should note that I have also tried new cables.

[Vbgf]

I'd try a fresh OS reinstall if you can. Otherwise, use older drivers and try with them.

[Hellsrage]

I'd try a fresh OS reinstall if you can. Otherwise, use older drivers and try with them.

 

I would prefer not to reinstall Windows 7, I see that as a last resort option if all else fails. More or less I'm just curious if this could be the GPU?

 

The more I think of it, it is possible, the company that handles RMA's for Sapphire (Athlon) only ships refurbished units. So if someone had also had this issue on the same model then it is possible that I got unlucky and received a card that had the same problem, since recreating this issue is rather random and checking games on steam/videos is not a test they would do. lol

[Godlygamer23]

Also in the future, please use cleaner language. Swearing is against the Code of Conduct.

[grayperview]

Graphics card is goosed, likely the HDMI / DVI out put area is screwed.

 

Also the unit they replaced it with shouldn't be a refurbished unit unless you actually paid for a refurb.

 

Don't let them get away with sending a refurb as a replacement.

[Hellsrage]

Also in the future, please use cleaner language. Swearing is against the Code of Conduct.

 

You figure if it was over the top it would be in the censor list. 

[Hellsrage]

Graphics card is goosed, likely the HDMI / DVI out put area is screwed.

 

Also the unit they replaced it with shouldn't be a refurbished unit unless you actually paid for a refurb.

 

Don't let them get away with sending a refurb as a replacement.

God, I wish I could get them to send a new one, guess it wouldn't hurt to beg them. But Sapphire outsources it so I don't know how much I can do about it, also it was definitely a refurbish unit it in a brown box with nothing else.

[Godlygamer23]

You figure if it was over the top it would be in the censor list.

There is no censor list currently.

[grayperview]

God, I wish I could get them to send a new one, guess it wouldn't hurt to beg them. But Sapphire outsources it so I don't know how much I can do about it, also it was definitely a refurbish unit it in a brown box with nothing else.

You need to find out what your consumer rights are in your country, i know in the UK that it would be classed as not fit for purpose, and would legally have to supply me with a new card,

[Hellsrage]

You need to find out what your consumer rights are in your country, i know in the UK that it would be classed as not fit for purpose, and would legally have to supply me with a new card,

I'm in the US, somehow I get the feeling I have no rights. haha

[Vbgf]

I had a PSU that broke and i returned it , twice, and even after the 2nd time it didn't work. Finally they thought i was joking and wanted me to go and show them at their shop that it doesn't work properly. And it didn't work even at the shop so they tested it again and said that the PSU is good. But it didn't work AGAIN (tried in front of their employees). They finally gave me the option to return it and get another new one. If you can replicate the results every single time, go and show them that it doesn't work. When they see it try and ask them for a refund, then go to a different store and buy a new one, maybe better if you want (it is an opportunity that you can't pass lithely). You can get a 7970 for example if you wanna upgrade anyway and you get a refresh of your warranty on the card :). Thou this is a perfect scenario situation, they can still offer you to replace it with another one and etc.. if you can replicate it, go in the store and show em the problem.

[IsaaX]

Over the past 20 yrs I've been in the IT field, the issue in the images you posted, in my experience is GPU hardware related. Your GPU has a hardware issue.

Although the odds having this happen twice in a row with 2 different cards however is a bit rare.

 

To rule out bad power delivery to the GPU from the PCIE connectors, assuming you are using the one or two hard lines from your HX750, you can try plugging in your two stand alone pcie power cables in to see if it makes a difference.

 

I would also test with a different PSU if you have another laying around or if you can borrow one. 

[colonel_mortis]

I have the same issue, and there was another thread on this ages ago. Sapphire support gave the standard stuff, but just recently it started coming back. I am looking into rma ing my card, but sapphire support isn't great. I haven't looked into testing other parts because its really not reproducible - it happens quite rarely but when it does it happens a few times. Sometimes, killing a process (sometimes flash, sometimes others) from my 2nd monitor fixes it, but I can't always identify the correct process. My GPU is an HD7870 GHz edition, and I have my primary monitor (the one breaking) directly connected to HDMI and my secondary to a DVI to VGA adaptor. The VGA monitor is unaffected.

[Hellsrage]

Well It's good to know that I'm not the only one to ever have this happen. I got a reply from Althon this morning and it's not looking promising for me.

 

So the problem continues, even when it is tested in a different system? I don’t know what else I can do, I don’t mind offering you another RMA to get this card back, but will it fix the issue? I mean if the card is send back and we tested it and turns out to be a working card on our end, you will be ask to send in fund to have the card send back to you on your behalf, but if the card does have problems, we will process it for replacement and send the replacement unit back to you. If you are okay with that let us know.

Tech

 

Technical Support

Althon Micro/Sapphire Technology

280 S. Paseo Tesoro

Walnut CA 91789

Fax: 909-594-9771

 

 

I don't even know if I should bother, I've tried to make it clear that I can't just make this happen whenever I want. Although I've narrowed it down to what is causing it I can't just make it happen, I've clicked on about 15 games since this morning and it hasn't happened. It truly is a random thing and I doubt any testing they will do would cause it.

[TheSLSAMG]

Test other RAM modules. This happened to me with an old computer and when I swapped the module, all was well.

[striker1553]

Call them and ask for the person who emailed you and explain the situation. If he refuses to help keep asking for superiors until you get what you want. Be that guy and it will go one of two ways. Well or you're SOL. Savvy?

[Hellsrage]

Call them and ask for the person who emailed you and explain the situation. If he refuses to help keep asking for superiors until you get what you want. Be that guy and it will go one of two ways. Well or you're SOL. Savvy?

 

I guess I could try it with them, I'm about to start that process with Gigabyte for a second time, they owe me and a few people replacement boards.

[Hellsrage]

Well, they are wanting me to send it in still. I really don't know what to do at this point, if I send it in and they can't replicate the problem I'll probably have to pay to ship a defective card back to me. In the end that will be $60 down the drain and the odds of it happening while they have the card are low, it's been 2 days since the last time it's gone crazy and last time it went a week before it screwed up.

 

I did do some searching and there are a few people who have recorded having the exact same issue like this with a 7950 two even have Sapphire cards.

[pey5531]

Well, they are wanting me to send it in still. I really don't know what to do at this point, if I send it in and they can't replicate the problem I'll probably have to pay to ship a defective card back to me. In the end that will be $60 down the drain and the odds of it happening while they have the card are low, it's been 2 days since the last time it's gone crazy and last time it went a week before it screwed up.

 

I did do some searching and there are a few people who have recorded having the exact same issue like this with a 7950 two even have Sapphire cards.

have you try the card on the other pc(motherboard)?

it will do the same thing if the problem cause by the card. if not it's not than it's not the card is something else cause it.