Problems with Gigabyte GTX 260 Super Overclock

[conscarcdr]

I just got one of this. When entering games, it starts to emit a highly pitched noise, most likely from the cooler, and becomes very unstable, it rarely lasts me more than one minute before freezing up the entire system. At first I thought it was the 6-pin power connectors, but I reconnected them and the problem persists. I tested Nexuiz on Ubuntu 9.10 64bit and Windows 7 64bit, both giving me the same problem. Memtest86+ shows that the memory was stable enough; and it also endured Sisoft Sandra tests in CPU, memory and graphics sections. Very weird, is that a sign of faulty graphics card?

Suggestions, please, thanks!

System specs:
i7 920 @ default
Noctua NH-D14
Asus P6T BIOS version 0801, untouched
OCZ OCZ3P1333LV6GK PC3-10666C7 3x2GB
WD Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB
Corsair TX 950W
Sony Optiarc AD-7240S 24x DVD±RW SATA ReWriter
CM HAF 932

 

[craig3000]

Most likely have to RMA the card, how long have you had it for?

 

[conscarcdr]

Several days ago, I just RMA'd some items yesterday

 

[Rroff]

Sounds like an RMA job... suprised a faulty one slipped through as these (actually) are tested more than normal.

I take it you've tried more than just Nexuiz gamewise to test it?

 

[conscarcdr]

An update! I laid the case down on its side, and replugged the card, it becomes stable now! Then I placed it in standing position, the problems comes back. However the noise persists whatever I do, and this time I listened carefully. Sounds like it's actually coming from the PSU. Knowing that this card was rigidly tested, now I'm more inclined to focus on the PSU.
Have anyone heard any unusual sounds coming from PSUs before?
Yes, I tried 3dmark06, Dirt 2, Battlefield Vietnam(this one gives me the most weird sound, several different pitches of noise, depending on which option you selected in the menu).

 

[Rroff]

Even the most rigorous of testing won't stop the odd bad card slipping through... but my first thought would be to eliminate the PSU if possible first... it could simply be down to an incompatibility between the GPU and PSU - won't be a first tho its not common.

Both the PSU and GPU can squeal under load - this won't alone be an indication of a problem... if the crashing changes with the physical orientation it could be due to weak BGA soldered points which has been a problem on and off with nVidia cards - my BFG 260GTX unfortunatly suffered from it.

 

[conscarcdr]

So you can't use your MAXCOREs with the case standing up? That's too sad!
I'll confirm if positioning is really the culprit later.

 

[Rroff]

So you can't use your MAXCOREs with the case standing up? That's too sad!
I'll confirm if positioning is really the culprit later.

No I don't have a problem with orientation and its not a general problem. But if the problem is weak solder connections - which has been a problem now and again with nVidia cards - then oritentation is one thing that could affect it.

 

[conscarcdr]

I think I know what's wrong. Orientation does affect stability but it's not solder connections of the chip itself, but connections between pins and PCI-E slots on the motherboard. Sometimes just unplugging and replugging temporarily revolve the issue, until I touch the graphics card again, without touching any other components. Question is, is it just the two models are not compatible by design, or one of them are faulty? I would be darned if even a graphics card with reference cooling is incompatible with P6T.

 

[conscarcdr]

Wait, here is the most interesting thing: I turned on "Force VSync on" in Nvidia control panel. And the problems miraculously went away! Even the coil whining from PSU was not so loud once I did this. Does this suggest that PSU is the only culprit or still the combination of PSU+GPU etc.?

 

[Rroff]

VSync will cause the graphics card to never output more frames than the Hz of your monitor - usually 60 - which generally means its not working as hard as it would normally... which means that its not pulling as much power either...

Unfortunatly that doesn't narrow it down as both the GPU and PSU aren't working so hard when VSync is enabled... but does suggest that something in the power stage is the instability problem...

Its even possible that the card isn't making a proper connection with the PCI-e slot as some power is provided via that - if its not getting power properly via the PCI-e slot it won't necessarily stop working altogether but if the power draw required in compensation through the 6-pin connectors becomes too much it will.

Only way I can see of narrowing this down it to test the GPU in another PC really.