7950GX2 Artifact Issues Help Please

[Dungeoncrawler]

Hello everyone. I recently purchased a 7950gx2(XFX) Extreme gpu. The card was running(1 month), and everything was fine. Until one day, I decided to upgrade my mobo bios(flash). I started to get a blue screen error...okay, nothing to do with the gpu, right? I at first thought it was an IRQ issue. I change the bios settings, turning off items that were posting to an IRQ, and I got the computer back up and running. Now however, I am getting artifacts when I try and play a game. Some will just artifact...others will hardlock requiring a reboot. On the last blue screen error, the OS error reporting software informed me the problem was with the gpu adaptor. Things I do know...

1) Everything(SEEMED) fine until I flashed my mobo bios (1 month anyways).
2) OS is reporting blue screen due to gpu/gpu driver issue.
3) Various gpu drivers don't seem to affect artifacting.
4) Have NOT done a reimage
5) HAVE run a memory tester...no issues

Does anyone have a clue as to what could be causing these artifacts to appear after about 1 month of running this card? My system:

A8N-SLI Deluxe Mobo
2GB Corsair XMS(1GBX2)
AMD Manchester 4200 X2 Duel Core
PSU: 530Watt...Emermax(think this is the name)
XFX 7950gx2 xtreme

My mobo sli switch is set to single card configuration. I have my PEG disabled. Card is not overclocked, and all Mobo settings are standard, no overclocking. Any ideas? Thanks everyone.

Dc

[werty316]

FYI you don't need to post this twice so delete your other thread please ;)

After flashing the BIOS did you erase the CMOS? Try flashing back to the previous BIOS to see if that helps.

[Dungeoncrawler]

FYI you don't need to post this twice so delete your other thread please ;)

After flashing the BIOS did you erase the CMOS? Try flashing back to the previous BIOS to see if that helps.

Srry for the double post...don't have a clue why that happened. And, I see no option to allow me to delete it (probably missing the option.) BOT...I was not aware I needed to erase the CMOS after a flash. I have since flashed back to the original bios :( with no luck. I did erase the cmos(battery removal) before I flashed back to the previous ones. I thought before I send the card back that I might try flashing back to the newest bios?

Dc

P.S. Again, srry bout the double post...

[Kougar]

Give Drivercleaner a try to remove all of the previously installed driver leftovers, then redownload the latest drivers and install 'em. Is a quick enough thing to check anyway...

My also make sure neither of the fans is clogged with dust, and you might try switching PCIe slots as well.

[Dungeoncrawler]

Give Drivercleaner a try to remove all of the previously installed driver leftovers, then redownload the latest drivers and install 'em. Is a quick enough thing to check anyway...

My also make sure neither of the fans is clogged with dust, and you might try switching PCIe slots as well.

Yep, have tried drivercleaner, no good. I have not checked for clogged fans, although I keep the inside of the case clean. Concerning the PCIe slot...when I first got the card I put it in the other slot. Apparently a single card configuration requires the single card is placed in the 'blue' PCIe slot. I could not get any video feed when placed in the second PCIe slot. Appreciate the reply.

Dc

[werty316]

Try flashing your motherboard back to the BIOS before the artifacting happened. Try reseating the video card. I think in the end you might have to RMA the card.

[Dungeoncrawler]

Try flashing your motherboard back to the BIOS before the artifacting happened. Try reseating the video card. I think in the end you might have to RMA the card.

Your right, as has been everyone else. I RMA'ed it this morning. Figure I'd have better luck with a new card. As a going away present, the damn thing caused a WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM error on the last boot. So, on top of everything else, I'll need to reimage my OS when I get my new card :roll: . Luckily I was able to backup the documents and settings file along with my emails :) Six(6) to ten(10) days for the whole process thru newegg. I appreaciate everyones help rendered.

Dc

[tomato]

Good luck Dungeoncrawler, and welcome to Bjorn3D :)

[Dungeoncrawler]

Good luck Dungeoncrawler, and welcome to Bjorn3D :)

Thank you sir...

Dc

[DragonMaster]

I did erase the cmos(battery removal) before I flashed back to the previous ones. I thought before I send the card back that I might try flashing back to the newest bios?

Just one thing, removing the battery isn't the same thing as using the jumper, you can get a corrupted CMOS when just reseating the battery.

[werty316]

Just one thing, removing the battery isn't the same thing as using the jumper, you can get a corrupted CMOS when just reseating the battery.
A BIOS runs off of a PROM, EPROM or flash memory and removing the battery or switching the jumper to clear the CMOS is actually is the same thing as both give the same result of setting the BIOS to its default settings.

I have never heard of removing the mobo battery screwing up a BIOS.

[Dungeoncrawler]

Just one thing, removing the battery isn't the same thing as using the jumper, you can get a corrupted CMOS when just reseating the battery

Thanks...will keep that in mind if the situation ever rears it's ugly head again (hopefully never.) This is a little off topic, but through all this I ended up with a corrupt or missing; WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/CONFIG/SYSTEM. I tried removing the drive and placing it into anothe pc, but I could not get the file to copy(from second pc) because it was in use. Is this going to require a reimage? Thanks.

Dc

[Dungeoncrawler]

I have never heard of removing the mobo battery screwing up a BIOS.

...kewl :)

Dc

[XJnine]

Is this going to require a reimage? Thanks.

Try this first. I use this procedure whenever possible before I do a reformat/install because of some type of problem.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#RI

[DragonMaster]

A BIOS runs off of a PROM, EPROM or flash memory and removing the battery or switching the jumper to clear the CMOS is actually is the same thing as both give the same result of setting the BIOS to its default settings.


I'm not talking about the EEPROM or the Flash ROM, it's not connected to the battery. I say that you can corrupt the CMOS chip's contents (Where settings are saved), not the BIOS ROM. The jumper is a proper way to reset it, in fact, most chips need to be reset after being powered up.

[Bio-Hazard]

A BIOS runs off of a PROM, EPROM or flash memory and removing the battery or switching the jumper to clear the CMOS is actually is the same thing as both give the same result of setting the BIOS to its default settings.

I have never heard of removing the mobo battery screwing up a BIOS.
I've never seen it where pulling the battery screwed up anything either, outside of dumping the CMOS like the jumper does. But I guess there's some folks that can screw up anything..............:roll: I suppose that there are MoBo's out there that are poorly designed where the Bios it's self can get corrupted if cleared improperly, I think there was a DFI NF2 board that had that problem as well as a Abit board not to long ago. I've never had that sort of problem myself over the past 20 plus years of working on computers, guess I've just been extremely lucky.

[xfxsupport]

Hey there,
I just wanted to get back to the original posting and ask if the replacement card is working for you? Is your system still down? If so I would try contacting your mainboard maker and see if they can send you a CMOS chip for your mainboard. It may be that the chip has failed (not likely but does happen). In any event please let us know how you are doing.

[Dungeoncrawler]

Hello and thank you for the interest. Well, newegg has that particular card listed as 'out of stock' and discontinued on the email they sent me. So I was issued a refund instead of a replacement. I'm still awaiting the refund to hit my CC. In effect, my desktop is down with no gpu altogether. At this point, I might as well wait until the G80 release around the 8th of November. Thanks again.

Dc