3870 problems

[spookywillow]

i just got a triplex 3870 back in replacement for my HIS x1950pro but it runs worse than the x1950 :/ tried the 8.1's AND 8.2'S

using the same settings as before im still getting the same fps or worse in Dirt, cod4 and crysis.

i've tried both in xp 32bit and vista 64bit and the results are the same.

i tried locking the card to 3d clocks with riva tuner after reading another thread but i cant see any option in riva tuner to do that.

while i was in riva tuner i noticed a gpu usage graph thats similar to the cpu usage graph, i've noticed that it only uses about 50% of the gpu while playing games but when i run the ati tray tools artifact tester it runs at a solid 100%

whats that all about? any help much appreciated as its driving me nuts

 

[Bonjour]

Sounds like there could be another bottleneck in your system.

CPU / Memory / Mobo bandwidth possibly.

 

[spookywillow]

but it all ran perfect before this card got here,
i could run cod4 on full details and AA and it would be smooth, crysis would run at 30fps on medium details but now i struggle to get 15 and Dirt just crashes after a few minutes saying the driver stopped responding.

 

[Bonjour]

Did you use drivercleaner when removing the other card?

 

[TheMorningStar]

Reinstall drivers maybe failing that a clean install?

Thats a really nice free upgrade though btw actually a 3850 would be really nice a 3870 is just sexy.

To be sure you could test the card in someone elses PC just to be sure.

 

[spookywillow]

used driver cleaner and fresh OS installs,

yeah it would be a very nice upgrade if i could get it working

i've got a feeling its something to do with the power management thing on the 3800's but i can't see any way to lock it in 3d mode...

 

[spookywillow]

got a bit more info now,

tested my card on my brothers pc and it run perfectly.

x2 5600
msi platinum mobo
2gb ocz 6400
480w tagan

tried loads of things on my pc and my psu rails are fine (tested with a multimeter during full load), independant tests on memory - cpu and gpu are all fine but whenever all 3 are being used at once the low fps and stuttering starts.

3dmark06 seems ok, http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=5846705 a bit low maybe and my cpu score is down a bit from my last run with the x1950pro. http://service.futuremark.com/compare?3dm06=3547307

dirt is just about playable on single player tracks until any kind of physics processing comes in to play, ie; it will run smooth but as i get to a stack of tyres or some taping that runs along the side of the track it slows down really bad, tracks with other cars on are impossible as fps drop to 15 and lower. it also crashes to desktop about 90% of the time at random stages.

cod4 is unplayable regardless of settings due to the stutter and sub 30fps,

crysis is the same as cod4 but with 25fps or lower.


all these games played fine with the x1950pro and i know the card works fine as it was tested in another pc. i've locked the clocks even though my card has the same powerplay speeds.

i want to play cod4

 

[gurusan]

Is your PCI-E speed still at x16?

 

[spookywillow]

yeah thats one of the first things i checked, http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/gydne/

 

[spookywillow]

some more info, my brother had problems with his 8800gt so he brought it down here and we fixed his problem ( msi left the plastic heatsink protector on the heatsink :S ) and theres no stuttering or low fps with that in my pc.

edit ; fixed it, card was undervolting