Sapphire Ati 5830 Problem

[adamsonm]

I have had this problem for about 3 months. I built a computer with Windows 7 64 bit OS with 650 watt power supply. The problem that I have is that I get screen flickering and the screen freezes with different colours with vertical lines. ( So, sometimes the screen goes grey, blue, green, with vertical lines).

What I did to find out if the problem does actually lie with my gpu is that I gave my gpu to my friend who has the exact same computer spec as me (apart from the gpu, he has a Sapphire ATI 5850 and he has a 550watt power supply). He gave me his gpu.

What happened was that I never got those screen errors when running the Sapphire ATI 5850 , and he never got those screen errors when running the Sapphire Ati 5830! I used the same slot on my motherboard, I connected it in the same way (the two 6 pin connectors from the power supply).

So what I did next was run tests on my memory. I used Memtest and Windiag. All tests that I ran came back with no errors.

What is my problem?? We both ran the same drivers that we normally run, that being 10.8 drivers.

[redddraggon]

Sounds like your 5830 is knackered. Perhaps try it on your friends computer, just to confirm its the card, and then RMA the 5830.

Who'd you get it off?

[adamsonm]

Reddragon,

I did give it to my friend, that's what I wrote, he had mine and I had his for a little while. None of us encountered problems! If he encountered the problem that I've been experiencing on his computer, then I would agree that my gpu is knackered. However, as my gpu ran fine on his computer that suggests there is a problem on my computer. But I don't know what it can be!

I got the card from overclockers.

[Phage]

That sounds like the GSOD. Have a look at my posts inh this thread.
http://forums.hexus.net/scan-care-he...ty-issues.html
Which also link to other threads with the same issue. Mine was cured by a BIOS flash, but the root cause appears to be memory timing.

[atmadden]

I had this exact problem with a 5770 card it only happened when gpu was in 2d mode when it downclocks to save power. I adjusted the profile in drivers and upped idle clocks and it stopped. I did rma it though and replacement never did this. There is a lot of threads on AMD forums of this same issue.

[adamsonm]

Phage,

Thanks for your reply, what do you mean by bios flash? Is that to do with the bios of my motherboard, or the gpu? Also, about the RAM timings, not sure what that means, but ill research it. With the timings though, would it make any difference if I take out a stick of RAM? I have 4gb (2*2gb).