7800GS Extreme AGP 'cold bug'

[nvidier]

XFX seem to have ditched their own forums (possibly too many complaints in them). Anyway, tried to raise a ticket 4 or 5 times and it keeps failing saying "Web Admin notified". So much for official support.......

Bought this card to replace my XFX 6800GT and have had problems since day one. Temperature always shows about 31C in card properties AND in NVTempMonitor even under load, and performance in a variety of games (FEAR, Quake4, MotoGP2) is about a 1/4 of what it should be, eg MotoGP2 at 15-18 fps rather than 60. Seems to have the 'cold bug' mentioned in various forums, as I have tried decreasing the 2D fan speed with RivaTuner so that the idle temp is now over 50C and the card is running more or less properly, but I shouldn't have to alter the card's operation in this way to make it work. The card is on its own 12V rail and I have tried 6 or 7 NV drivers including the driver disk supplied. BTW, there is some soft white material sticking out from both sides of the pcb.

[werty316]

That white sticky stuff is probably thermal pad for the memory. Posting a pic could help. Did you try the newest drivers? I would worry about the temp always reading 31c

[nvidier]

I presume the white stuff is the thermal pad/paste. The fact that the card runs mostly ok when the 2D fan speed is cut back would seem to indicate some problem, ie the 'cold bug'. Unfortunately, after about 6 or 7 hours, the XFX site still won't accept a support ticket so there's no way of getting an RMA or whatever. (BTW, I'm a PC technician so I know how to troubleshoot h/w and s/w problems.) Unless there really is an XFX tech monitoring this forum, Satan knows when I'll get a response.

[werty316]

Try testing it in another board.

[nvidier]

Done it - same results.

[xfxsupport]

Hello Nvidier, Sorry to see you have had so many issues getting in contact with us. We have started a new ticket system, and it looks like we still have some bugs to work out. I want to bring that card in, and get you a replacement. Please give me a call at 800-880-3225, and ask for Daniel.

[nvidier]

Thanks for that. I'm actually in the UK though. Is there another number I should contact?

Additional system info (as requested in the ticket I tried to submit):

CPU.............P4 3.2/800 Northwood
Mbd.............Abit IC7 Max3
PSU.............Seasonic S12-600
RAM............2 x 512MB OCZ PC4000 dual-channel
OS..............XP Pro SP1

[jakob]

I've got the exactly the same problem and I also can't seem to submit a ticket. I'm in Australia. Who do I contact here to get support?

[werty316]

I've got the exactly the same problem and I also can't seem to submit a ticket. I'm in Australia. Who do I contact here to get support?


Most likey here:

Hello Nvidier, Sorry to see you have had so many issues getting in contact with us. We have started a new ticket system, and it looks like we still have some bugs to work out. I want to bring that card in, and get you a replacement. Please give me a call at 800-880-3225, and ask for Daniel.

Its an 800 number and if I am not mistaken 800 numbers are toll-free ;)

[jakob]

Somehow I doubt that they are free from Australia to the US. I'm assuming that's a US number, it's certainly not an Aus one.

[z3r0C00L]

Yep they got rid of there forums because people were using links to there forums when suggesting someone NOT buy an XFX card.

Too many issues.. eVGA is apparently about to do the same. They wish to hide the FACTS from potential buyers. Shady practice if you ask me.

[jakob]

I managed to get onto xfx through the ticketing system and they provided me with a link to a bios update that will fix it. Will updating the bios void my warranty? And if not, what's the best program to use?

[Bio-Hazard]

If they linked you to the info, it won't void your warranty. As for which program to use, there should be a recomended one on the site with the boios somewhere. I'm not all that up on Nvidia bios flashing..............;)

[Bio-Hazard]

Yep they got rid of there forums because people were using links to there forums when suggesting someone NOT buy an XFX card.

Too many issues.. eVGA is apparently about to do the same. They wish to hide the FACTS from potential buyers. Shady practice if you ask me.
Just one question, how in the world do you know the reasons why or why not a company is or is not doing something????
Do you work there, or do you just hange around trash talking anything that isn't an ATi product.
I really wish you would just keep to the FACTS that you can back up your claims with documented proof.
This is a XFX support thread and not a place for you to trash talk another companies products. As a matter of fact, there isn't a thread on these forums where you should trash talk any one brand over another. If a product has a problem and you'd like to help get it fixed, that's great, but don't use the thread to trash talk or put another company down that you're not fond of.
It gets really old when all you do is constantly put stuff down and offer no real solution to help fix the problem. You should keep this type of talk over on the other fan boy sites that you visit, not here where people are looking for real help from concerned forum members.

[Kougar]

I managed to get onto xfx through the ticketing system and they provided me with a link to a bios update that will fix it. Will updating the bios void my warranty? And if not, what's the best program to use?

Good to hear. As Sbrehm said, if XFX support linked you too the BIOS update and told you to use it, then it won't void your warranty. I would have expected them to also link to a BIOS flash utility if there was not one located off the same plage with the BIOS update.

If you still don't see one, here is a nVidia BIOS flashing program. It has to be run from DOS though after you reboot. http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=896 (http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=896)

[z3r0C00L]

Just one question, how in the world do you know the reasons why or why not a company is or is not doing something????
Do you work there, or do you just hange around trash talking anything that isn't an ATi product.
I really wish you would just keep to the FACTS that you can back up your claims with documented proof.
This is a XFX support thread and not a place for you to trash talk another companies products. As a matter of fact, there isn't a thread on these forums where you should trash talk any one brand over another. If a product has a problem and you'd like to help get it fixed, that's great, but don't use the thread to trash talk or put another company down that you're not fond of.
It gets really old when all you do is constantly put stuff down and offer no real solution to help fix the problem. You should keep this type of talk over on the other fan boy sites that you visit, not here where people are looking for real help from concerned forum members.

Nawwww... the retaliatory post you just made was made out of pure fanboyism (since you run an XFX card). It's been discussed throughout the web that XFX removed there forums since there were just too many issues.

They've had forums for a LONG time.. only when these cold boot issues, superclocked (or in XFX's case XXX versions) non working card issues etc appear to they get rid of the proof (swept under the carpet).

I'm no fanboy. I tell it like it is. And the fact that XFX removed there forums after mounting criticism in there forums (I should know I posted there) just looks, sounds and smells dirty. If it does all three then it probably is dirty.

XFX cards, when they work, are good cards. Both those who've gotten borked cards (like yours truly) aren't impressed. I finally got a decent 7900GT when I got the Asus TOP version. It worked at the oc'd speeds right out of the box... came with a good stock cooler as well and cost me the same as my XFX oc'd card.

[xfxsupport]

All of those out side of the North/South America can contact our support center at www.xfxsupport.com . As for the forums we have a limited amount od manpower and are currently looking into reestabishing them one we have finalizeed our migration to a new system. Please watch the Xfx website for any changes. (www.xfxforce.com).

[xfxsupport]

We have discovered that some people were reporting a "cold bug" in stating the video card had to reach a certain temperature before performing properly. In most of these cases it was a matter of installing the wrong chipset drivers onto their mainboards. Most notably were the installation of nForce 4 drivers onto a nForce 3 mainboard, which will install but caused bridge conflicts and difficulties in operation. It was also the source for many artifacting issues with newer card architectures.