Display driver not responding - OCUK 6870

westie17 · 7 Sep 2011 at 00:05

I recently purchased an OCUK AMD 6870, installed it the other day and immediately started encountering issues with the display driver crashing during games and 3Dmark. The file is "amdkmdap" that keeps crashing.
So I bought a new PSU thinking it was a power issue, installed that today only to find the same problem occuring - DOH!

I have googled the issue and it seems quite widespread, I have tried numerous solutions posted up online but to little avail, the only thing that seems to kind of work is reducing the GPU clocks to below stock speeds, but even then it is only temporary and merely delays the frequency of crashes. Interestingly, I had a 3850HD which I installed in place of the 6870, didn't change any drivers just swapped them over - no issues, rock solid. Swap them back, crashes. Literally 10 seconds of 3Dmark and it crashes.

I am now considering returning the card (either RMA or DSR), only I have already registered the free copy of Deus Ex to my steam account, and I think an RMA won't find any problems in which case I will be charged. :mad:

Not sure what to do, specs are as follows:

Windows 7 64bit
Q6600 @ stock
4GB Corsair DDR2
Asus P5Q Pro
AMD 6870
Asus D2 Sound Card
Corsair 64GB SSD
2 x 1TB Samsung F3 - Raid 0
1 x 1.5TB Samsung
Corsair TX 650W PSU

Doug · 7 Sep 2011 at 18:35

Got mine yesterday and it's giving a bit of bother too: "Display driver has stopped responding and has recovered."

It won't get through a set of 3DMark, and playing anything is next to impossible.

If I can't work something out soon, it's going back.

GTO656 · 7 Sep 2011 at 18:39

Oh that doesn't sound good, Well Im currently build a new pc and have already bought that card. I hope I dont get the same otherwise have to return as well

.

westie17 · 7 Sep 2011 at 18:48

I have found dropping the GPU clock to 870 seems to bring some stability, but I agree I may send mine back soon as well.

ACJJ619 · 7 Sep 2011 at 20:36

Same here. Bought the VTX3D version of the 6870 which is on a deal for £122 and it can't play Crysis because of this problem. I hope to send it back and get an EVGA GTX 460.

Strangely, the OP (Westie) has near enough the EXACT same system as me, and exactly the same problem. It's like I wrote it.

MikeRossyBoy · 7 Sep 2011 at 20:44

westie17 did you install the chipset drivers for your board? I only ask because i've had both a 4670 and (currently) a 6850 and both had this problem, i'd normally get it once a day at least. Since then i've had to reinstall Windows and I couldnt be bothered to install all the drivers etc (from the ASUS website) and just let Windows install all the ones it needed to automatically, and in all the months after that reinstall (it must have been a good two months at the very least) it never happened ONCE.

But now i've bought an SSD and installed the chipset drivers and it did it almost straight away after I did that and its done it once tonight playing Mafia 2.

Im not saying im right, or that not installing chipset drivers is a good idea but when I reinstall Windows im going to see if not installing the chipset drivers does indeed cure the problem.

*also I have the same MB as you it might be a solution*

ACJJ619 · 7 Sep 2011 at 21:08

Okay guys I have an update. I used the AMD Overdrive utility and underclocked my card from the stock 900mhz to the lowest it will go - 775mhz.

This appeared to cure the problem, although I haven't yet run any games for an extended period of time to see if it's cured the problem completely or just made the crashes less frequent. Either way, it's still worth sending it back because you don't want to pay that sort of money for a card and then underclock it to perform like a card which is far less money.

It seems to me like ATI made the card at 900mhz for performance but didn't allow it to take enough voltage to run at that speed. You could use MSI Afterburner to increase the voltage to the card but frankly, I wouldn't want to mess with the voltages. I'd rather just send the card back and get an EVGA GTX 460 which I know will work.

mikeo · 7 Sep 2011 at 21:37

Yet another card that wont run stable at stock volts! Don't know ... but there seem to be more around these days than there used to be (and yes, I had to return a Gigabyte card recently for this very reason)!? Though I suppose that graphics cards are maybe pushing the boundaries more than they used to.

If it was me, I would try Afterburner to see if this confirms the problem / issue. Then it's up to you whether you are prepared to accept it.

If still not happy and within the required time frame, I would DSR it myself.

ACJJ619 · 7 Sep 2011 at 21:41

Yeah I guess so.

Sorry, DSR? New to this

.

What is the returns policy? Overclockers would probably argue that the card isn't faulty (Although clearly, they are all critically flawed by default). Can I just send a working graphics card back for a full refund?

westie17 · 7 Sep 2011 at 21:41

It does seem to be a strange problem, I agree ACJ underclocking the card is not really a long term solution, I have sent a webnote to OCUK for support.

MikeRossyBoy, thats interesting, we have similar specs, you also have a powercolor card (I believe VTX cards are associated with powercolor somehow). I do have the lastest chipset drivers but I am not going to reinstall everything, especially as others are having similar issues. I assume you returned your 6850? What make was it?

MikeRossyBoy · 7 Sep 2011 at 22:01

My 6850 is an XFX model and i've kept it (Partly as I replaced the god awful cooler with an aftermarket one) but I wasnt bad enough for me to return the card.

Operation · 7 Sep 2011 at 22:09

mikeo said:
Yet another card that wont run stable at stock volts! Don't know ... but there seem to be more around these days than there used to be (and yes, I had to return a Gigabyte card recently for this very reason)!? Though I suppose that graphics cards are maybe pushing the boundaries more than they used to.

If it was me, I would try Afterburner to see if this confirms the problem / issue. Then it's up to you whether you are prepared to accept it.

If still not happy and within the required time frame, I would DSR it myself.

They're pushing the boundaries of how cheaply they can make them and how well they work. Of course some cards from all brands will have some issues, but 'VTX' seem to have scrimped on their custom cooler and I'd imagine they take the same approach with all of the bespoke components. Unfortunately there is a reason for price differences in non-reference cards.

ACJJ619 · 7 Sep 2011 at 22:41

Hmm. I'm just gonna see if I can get a full refund and buy this EVGA GTX 460. It's the same price and same performance. I had an EVGA card before (8800GT) and it's been brilliant.

GTO656 · 7 Sep 2011 at 22:56

So does this error occur on certain games or literally every games lol?

westie17 · 7 Sep 2011 at 23:27

Anything that gets the GPU going.

eddyr · 8 Sep 2011 at 00:18

As operation mentioned, I think the VTX cooling may be the critical factor in many who are having to underclock. It keeps the core just about allright, but there is no additionall cooling on any of the power regulation components and they run pretty toasty like they're being pushed hard. (Don't know if they scrimped there, someone with some knowhow in that regard could determine). It doesn't help that the airflow out the fins is hot at the normal fan profile. Its speculation at this point but it may be worth seeing if upping the fan to max solves some of the stock stability isues for you guys. Not a fix or worth putting up with, but to see whether that might be the root cause for some of you.

Mine is allright at stock, but there is no oc headroom at all unless I up the fan significantly. Has little effect on the core temp under stress test, but the rest of the temp sensors report drops in temp that then allow a little more oc. For the record Im open case with no airflow restriction or additional heat sources (W/C'd quad) that would be feeding warmed air and in a coolish room (20C if the thermometer is to be believed).

westie17 · 8 Sep 2011 at 10:45

I don't know if this is important or not, just had a look at GPU-Z and it reports my GPU voltage as 1.2V, standard for a 6870 is 1.175V, what would happen if I dropped the voltage to standard?

ACJJ619 · 8 Sep 2011 at 13:39

Strange. I thought it would be a problem with the card not getting enough voltage?

To me, there seems to be three options:

1. Decrease the core clock speed.
2. Increase the voltage.
3. Buy an Nvidia card.

Doug · 8 Sep 2011 at 15:09

ACJJ619 said:
Strange. I thought it would be a problem with the card not getting enough voltage?

To me, there seems to be three options:

1. Decrease the core clock speed.
2. Increase the voltage.
3. Buy an Nvidia card.

1. Unacceptable.
2. Unacceptable.
3. Got a 570 in my basket along with a 580, 560 & 6970... We'll see who wins

GTO656 · 8 Sep 2011 at 16:01

The company should have at least tested the card first before releasing it. quite daft really. wt drivers did u way did u guys install it from anyway. cd or online?