Core clock and Temporary Artifacting...? 290X Lightning

[Snapdragon]

My 290X Lightning has had a bit of an annoying run so far, mainly because I cannot have a stable system unless I increase the 2D Core Clocks in GPU Tweak from 300 to 310+ (The card seems to default to 516Mhz no matter what I put in, unless its higher than 516), If I don't set this 2D Clock, the system freezes on simple Video tasks (VLC, Youtube) or using a browser (sometimes in loading screens for games too)...

I can deal with that problem as GPU Tweak seems to work and hopefully it gets ironed out when I get a new Mobo+CPU.

However, After playing Borderlands 2 for about an hour suddenly artifacts showing on every texture in Borderlands 2 last night, and in Valley benchmark. I woke up today and tried Borderlands 2 again but no artifacts, nor 3DMark Firestrike...

Is there a reason to doubt the GPU or could it be just a red herring?

 

[Wraith]

Has this happened from the very beginning? I'd honestly RMA it, there is no way I put up with having to alter the core frequencies just to get a stable card.

 

[Snapdragon]

This is apparently a fairly common problem, this is my third 290X Lightning cause I thought the first two were broken on receipt but I came across a large thread of people using this fix for a wide variety of R9 Cards, reference/vendor Mostly 290/290X...

I REALLY do not want to be wasting more of damn time doing this RMA rubbish, I don't have money left right and centre to rely on doing this all the time...

 

[Wraith]

Begs the question then why hasn't MSI done something to rectify it.. surely a simple bios flash. I'd say you could try RBE and alter the bios yourself but I'm pretty sure the 290x isn't supported yet, and then there is the inherant risk of bricking your card.

 

[Snapdragon]

I just played wildstar and after about an hour of gameplay, it happened again all textures have artifacting dotting around the place, especially water or smoke.

It can't be temps so I am lost... (GPUz Shot here)

I am feeling like I should get a refund and not bother with a fourth 290X and get an ASUS or EVGA vendor 780 Ti now...

Could try Sapphires 290X Tri-X but Unsure...

Thoughts?