Help with screen crashes!!!

[Type-8]

Hey guys, i was hoping that i could pilfer some advice and wasn't sure exactly where to put this, so i put it here.

i think my GPU may have a problem. i finished my build about 4 or 5 months ago now, and within the first month i noticed that sometimes after i finished gaming (and it was only if i had been gaming) and went to watch a video online that the display would sometimes crash, turning white with lines of colour and jittering. i wasn't sure what it was, but the problem only occurred if i was running dual screens (pc and tv) at the same time. anyway, i reinstalled my graphics drivers, firefox and all flash players (adobe flash etc.). that seemed to solve the problem, so i mostly forgot about it.

however, over the past few weeks a new problem has started becoming frequent. sometimes after stressing the GPU, the screen would crash when attempting to A: turn on the second screen or B: turn said screen off. the problem goes away (at least temporarily) after a shutdown, and in all other respects the pc runs fine until something "triggers" this screen crash.

i took some photos of it while it was happening most recently. i've also got a video which shows it better if any one can suggest a way to share it?

anyway, my question is A: what is most likely to be the problem and B: what should i do about it? any help would be great!!

Photos:

 

[RamboOC]

Looks like a bad memory chip on gpu. But have you tried using a diffrent cable to connect your pc to your monitor?

 

[Type-8]

Looks like a bad memory chip. But have you tried using a diffrent cable to connect your pc to your monitor?

ahh, no i havent? i didn't think of that. i figured that if it were the cable, or monitor itself then the problem would be less "selective". by that i mean that after the problem starts i can turn off the tv and watch the main screen crash perfectly on cue, and then turn it back on ans watch it become perfectly stable again. the video shows it perfectly, is there any way to share that?

 

[Wraith]

Could be many things but it sure as hell screams my GPU is poorly, over heating VRAM, Overclock gone south, bad drivers, corrupt drivers. Could you run GPU-Z and monitor the sensors for there load outs? Also I'd run Validation on your drivers.

EDIT: Run SFC from the startmenu.

 

[Type-8]

Could be many things but it sure as hell screams my GPU is poorly, over heating VRAM, Overclock gone south, bad drivers, corrupt drivers. Could you run GPU-Z and monitor the sensors for there load outs? Also I'd run Validation on your drivers.

EDIT: Run SFC from the startmenu.

alright, so sfc didnt find any issues, and i'm updating my GPU drivers now (im at 14.6, updating to 14.7, so not too far behind). what should i be monitoring on GPU-Z, and should i be monitoring it under load or at idle?

i can tell you from monitoring since i built the PC that the GPU itself never breaks 70 degrees while gaming, but i've never monitored the vram temps too closely

 

[Wraith]

Ok I can't show you with mine because it's fried, but here's a Google image I "Borrowed" and edited.

Open 2 instances of GPU-Z and set one to record Minimum and set the other to Maximum and just monitor the load outs on both. Especially the Temps.

 

[YouWhat]

I take it that the GPU is clean and not clogged up with dirt and dust etc? to me it is screaming heat and GPU

 

[barnsley]

Sounds like heat to me. I have the exact same card so when I get the chance I'll post some figures so we can compare to see if something is immediately wrong.

 

[SuB]

that looks like a duff/dead/fried GPU memory issue fella.

 

[Type-8]

Ok I can't show you with mine because it's fried, but here's a Google image I "Borrowed" and edited.

Open 2 instances of GPU-Z and set one to record Minimum and set the other to Maximum and just monitor the load outs on both. Especially the Temps.

it seems i was wrong, this fan profile at least lets it get to 72 degrees. anyway, here are the readings:

I take it that the GPU is clean and not clogged up with dirt and dust etc? to me it is screaming heat and GPU

yeah i keep my case fairly clean, or at least try to

Sounds like heat to me. I have the exact same card so when I get the chance I'll post some figures so we can compare to see if something is immediately wrong.

thanks, good to have a working basline

that looks like a duff/dead/fried GPU memory issue fella.

if thats so, then any idea how ASUS handle warranties?

 

[Wraith]

Just spent an hour looking into Asus R9 280X DCU II cards and there are a massive amount of people with the same issue :huh: it's just post after post of Artifacting cards..

The problem is caused by VRAM. 4 of 12 VRAM chips are not covered to isolate from heat of radiator. Hynix Chips are manufactured with 1500 mhz and 1,5V. Asus overlock them additionally to 1600 mhz and set voltage to 1,6V Without isolation from main radiator and the fact that VRAM is overclocked they are overheating causing artifactts and unstable work, causing artefacts. You can handle this on your own isolating them (but you lose you guarantee), or you could RMA

Going off your OP and the screenshots I think it's safe to say it's RMA time.

 

[Type-8]

Just spent an hour looking into Asus R9 280X DCU II cards and there are a massive amount of people with the same issue :huh: it's just post after post of Artifacting cards..

Going off your OP and the screenshots I think it's safe to say it's RMA time.

wow, thanks heaps for the info. so then, suppose i've been lucky and have never had to RMA a component, how do i go about it? do i contact the store i bought it from, or asus directly?

 

[iBeInspire]

I'm having the same issue with my Gigabyte Windforce 270x, it's currently on it's way for RMA, so I feel for ya bro

 

[Wraith]

wow, thanks heaps for the info. so then, suppose i've been lucky and have never had to RMA a component, how do i go about it? do i contact the store i bought it from, or asus directly?

Yes you'll need to contact the point of sale and explain that the card is defective and requires RMA they should take care of the rest, in failing that and the store for what ever reason decide to be jerks about it you can contact Asus directly via their support and raise a RMA ticket. They'll require the card to be packaged as you bought it including all receipts and they'll send you the details for returning it to them, it's a couple of weeks turn around at the moment. Do however take notes of all serial numbers and copy your receipts just to be extra careful

 

[NeverBackDown]

I would opt for a refund. No sense in trying to get another card that has the same issue out of the box. Mine as well get a better cooler tbh.

 

[Wraith]

I would opt for a refund. No sense in trying to get another card that has the same issue out of the box. Mine as well get a better cooler tbh.

There is that option

I don't know about winning the silicon lottery, these days it's more of a GPU lottery.

 

[Type-8]

Yes you'll need to contact the point of sale and explain that the card is defective and requires RMA they should take care of the rest, in failing that and the store for what ever reason decide to be jerks about it you can contact Asus directly via their support and raise a RMA ticket. They'll require the card to be packaged as you bought it including all receipts and they'll send you the details for returning it to them, it's a couple of weeks turn around at the moment. Do however take notes of all serial numbers and copy your receipts just to be extra careful

thanks for all your help, i'll get that done asap.

I would opt for a refund. No sense in trying to get another card that has the same issue out of the box. Mine as well get a better cooler tbh.

i think thats what i'm going to do, if the problems are this common then i'd rather not take my chances with that card again. there are some good deals going on 290's atm, perhaps i'll look into those. thats assuming they agree to give me a refund of course

 

[Wraith]

Sapphire seems to be the leading card when it comes to the 290s, I've yet to hear a bad word about them.

EDIT I should also say the MSI 290X Lightning also is a firm contender.

 

[NeverBackDown]

Sapphire seems to be the leading card when it comes to the 290s, I've yet to hear a bad word about them.

EDIT I should also say the MSI 290X Lightning also is a firm contender.

Lol what? Its the best r9 card there is outside of watercooling haha

 

[Type-8]

Sapphire seems to be the leading card when it comes to the 290s, I've yet to hear a bad word about them.

EDIT I should also say the MSI 290X Lightning also is a firm contender.

Lol what? Its the best r9 card there is outside of watercooling haha

unfortunately none of the Aussie shops appear to stock the lightning . so i was looking at the sapphire tri-X, but god that colour scheme...

EDIT - well i've lodged the return request, now i wait to hear back with a return address