Sapphire Tri-X 290 OC problems

[Teaf]

I bought the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X OC model a couple of months ago but I started to having issues with texture stretching in WildStar (such as textures original from one central point and fanning out and warping across the screen). I sent it back for another card and when I received the new one it also did it but to less of extent. I put it down to just driver issues for a pretty new game.

After that I played these following games and I've no issues at all (literally no issues, not one sign of corruption, texture issues, crashes or bsod's etc):

Bioshock Infinite (including all the DLC)
Project Zomboid
Shadowrun Returns
A Wolf Among Us
Marvel Heroes
Civilization V

Now I've just started to play Elder Scrolls Online and after 2 days this has started to happen:

http://i.imgur.com/WFhhLlc.png

It's a perfect square on the screen that persists from in game to the login screen and back. It's blocks are made up of stuff I'm looking at, but also garbled blocks such as the bright green ones.

This is the first time I've had it. I restarted the game and it went away but I'm very concerned about the card now as that really does look like memory corruption... but I guess it could also be drivers. If I had consistent issues across multiple games then sure I'd send it back immediately even though it's the second card I've had in under a month, but it's not happening in all games.

The card is generally around 65 - 75c under load. I've ran furmark and OCCT to look for artifacts but no problems are showing. Full PC specs are:

Intel i5 2500k (stock)
Gigabyte Z68P-DS3
8GB DDR3 9-9-9-24
Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X OC 2GB
Seasonic G Series 550W Modular PSU

Could this be driver issues or is this pointing more towards a problem with the card?

 

[LtMatt]

Can you try increasing the core voltage 1-2 notches using Afterburner or Trixxx please fibby to see if this fixes the artifacts.

 

[Teaf]

I tried 1 or 2 notches in Afterburner and Trixx but it kept snapping it back to 0, it seems to only accept +6, after that +11 and +13. Will +6 be enough?

 

[LtMatt]

I tried 1 or 2 notches in Afterburner and Trixx but it kept snapping it back to 0, it seems to only accept +6, after that +11 and +13. Will +6 be enough?

+6 = 1 notch +12 = 2 notches. Anything up to +100mv will be perfectly safe with that card.

 

[Teaf]

+6 = 1 notch +12 = 2 notches. Anything up to +100mv will be perfectly safe with that card.

Aha I see, thanks Matt

I've put it on +20 (well, snaps to 19) and I'll see how that goes. That corruption problem I had in Elder Scrolls Online is the first time since I started playing a few days ago so I'll report back soon Also, thanks for the help, much appreciated!

I remember when I originally searched on problems with this card for the first card I got a few months ago I did see a bunch of people having issues, such as this chap and another guy in the R9 290 owners thread with similar issues in WildStar. Do you think maybe Sapphire just aren't increasing the voltage enough for their factory OC?

 

[Teaf]

It's started to do it again :/

It was fine all day Sunday and some of Monday (probably 15 hours of playing), also when I closed the game and reopened it the corruption went away. I'm not sure whether to send the graphics card back as it's the second one I've had with similar issues, or whether it's just a problem with the drivers and/or my computer (such as whether PSU is powerful enough).

 

[LtMatt]

It's started to do it again :/

It was fine all day Sunday and some of Monday (probably 15 hours of playing), also when I closed the game and reopened it the corruption went away. I'm not sure whether to send the graphics card back as it's the second one I've had with similar issues, or whether it's just a problem with the drivers and/or my computer (such as whether PSU is powerful enough).

So you're getting 2d flickering with +19mv? What psu have you got and what gpu clocks are you using? If you say stock, what are the stock clocks?

 

[Teaf]

So you're getting 2d flickering with +19mv? What psu have you got and what gpu clocks are you using? If you say stock, what are the stock clocks?

Sorry just realised my topic title might be misleading, the card has "OC" in its name, it's not my "OC problem"

Yeah, it's like a square on the screen which is made up of individual blocks that flicker. They appear to be made up of other things that are on the screen, but also those bright green ones which appear to be from nowhere. It's at +19mv in Afterburner at the moment.

The PSU is a Seasonic G Series 550W Modular PSU. It's about 6 months old, so pretty new. Afterburner says that the core on the graphics card is 1000 Mhz and the memory is 1300 Mhz. Power limit is +0 and core voltage as mentioned is +19mv.

 

[MOOGLEYS]

Un-install afterburner & Rivatuner and do a fresh install of the 14.4 drivers and see if it stops.

 

[LtMatt]

Sorry just realised my topic title might be misleading, the card has "OC" in its name, it's not my "OC problem"

Yeah, it's like a square on the screen which is made up of individual blocks that flicker. They appear to be made up of other things that are on the screen, but also those bright green ones which appear to be from nowhere. It's at +19mv in Afterburner at the moment.

The PSU is a Seasonic G Series 550W Modular PSU. It's about 6 months old, so pretty new. Afterburner says that the core on the graphics card is 1000 Mhz and the memory is 1300 Mhz. Power limit is +0 and core voltage as mentioned is +19mv.

Do as Moog said but instead use the latest 14.7 drivers from AMD's website. I'd also try having the power limit at +50% just to rule that out.

It may be a faulty card, perhaps you could try testing it with OCCT to see if it can pick up any errors. Copy the settings below and test for 15min.

Copy my settings. (ignore memory usage) This will sniff out a faulty or unstable gpu. If you get any errors at stock clock/voltage settings, then you know its faulty.

 

[Qitarah]

Girlfriends tri-x is also doing the texture flickering and stretching in wildstar. Right ball ache. Not sure what it is. Don't think it was doing it with 14.4 started with 14.6. Updated 14.7 and copied my video settings (I have a tri-x on 14.7 and not had any issues). Not heard her complain about it happening again but will see tonight.

She is running a 750 xfx gold. Good OEM so doubt it's psu related.

 

[SiDeards73]

Jay FYI, im running the exact same card, at stock, on my i7, ive been playing ESO for the past 2 weeks, running 14.7 drivers, never had a single issue, tried D3 and BF4 with the same card, nothing wrong at all.

I did have a tri-X previously that i had to RMA cos of constant black screens though, even though i rate your PSU, id definitely want a bit more oomph for a 290 myself, im sure the PSU is fine though.

 

[bobal]

Hey flibby,

I'm one of the guys you mentioned with similar issues . From the screenshot you linked above that looks very similar to what I was seeing in Battlefield and COD.

It's strange that a few of us are having the same issue with this particular card.

I was also seeing texture flickering and stretching. But with it being intermittent it's really hard to pin point.

I ended up RMA'ing my card, just in case. OCUK tested it for 8 hours but didn't spot any issues. They where going to send it straight back to me, but i got in touch and asked them to look at the vids and pictures, after that they sent it back to the manufacturer for repair or replacement.

Still waiting to hear back regarding that.

I'm wondering if the issue is PSU related... Although the OCUK tech support guy didn't seem to think that this was a PSU issue, as that normally means a the whole PC shuts down, which I've never had.

At least we are in the same boat.

As soon as I get mine back I'll let you know if I still get these issues.

 

[Teaf]

Thanks for the replies folks.

I ran OCCT and it had no errors. Given that it was the second card that it's happening on and I've ran tests and change volts and it's still not sorted I just sent it back for a refund and bought a 780 GTX OC. It's a bit more expensive and a bit less powerful, but I just cannot be bothered to try my luck with R9 290 number 3.

Appreciate the help though and I hope you get yours sorted bobal!