6950 Issues (stock, no mod)

[Aideh]

Lets start from the beginning: Bought a PowerColour HD6950 2GB a week or so ago, DOA. Wouldn't display any output and just blasted the fan when the operating system started to load. When the computer was reset, the fan would spin up and down 2 or 3 times, then the system would try to start up again (with no avail).

RMA'd that, and got a Sapphire HD6950 2GB. Initially, worked wonders, no problems at all (besides it being MASSIVE!). However every now and again when i try to boot the system, the card would just blast the fan, and on restart would do the fan spin up and down 2 or 3 times, before starting upp the system again (and succeeding).

Now, here's my conundrem: Is this a fault with the card, the motherboard bios, or the drivers? I'd say i am fairly computer literate and experienced, but this is an issue i've never come accross before, so i don't know whether to RMA just incase.

I will state: Neither cards were flashed/modded or overclocked in anyway, as i feel my system doesn't require it and i'd rather not take the expensive risk.

System Specs:
PSU: Corsair HX750W
Motherboard: Asus m3n72-d
Ram: 4GB DDR2 800
CPU: Amd Phenom II X4 965
Previous GPU: Ati 5770

I will also state that CPU and Ram are "AI overclocked" by 10%, and i have addressed it as a potential cause, but as this problem has only occured 3 times in about 20 start ups, i feel it is not the actual cause.

Many thanks in advance for your thoughts/ideas, would like to know whether to RMA the card or if the fault lies elsewhere if you guys have any experience with problems like these

 

[Cleeecooo]

Try flashing your mobo BIOS.
Then try your graphics BIOS to the latest one from Sapphire.
If that doesn't work then i would say it may be RMA time. However, try rolling back the drivers to a previous version or updating all drivers to latest.

 

[drifting]

I would suspect the PSU, however it's rare to see Corsair failing.

 

[tommybhoy]

however it's rare to see Corsair failing.

It happened to me, but it was a quick rma to Holland iirc.

 

[Paradiso]

I had a similar issue to this with my HIS 6950s crossfired when i first installed them. Since setting a fan profile in MSI afterburner its now fine, not sure if this alone fixed the issue or a combination of it a new drivers.

 

[Aideh]

Updated the motherboard drivers, ATI drivers are already up to date, unfortunately the problem occured again just now.


As the problem only occurs sometimes, and when it does it only requires a restart, i think i'll take my chances and keep the parts (as i don't really have a choice seeing as its crunch time in university >.< )

Thanks for all the input though will update this post if any future developments occur, may also try out MSI afterburner just incase

 

[hominid]

I would say a PSU issue, same as above. I had exactly this problem with a 5850 with a BeQuiet 850W PS and I tried everything to get it to cold boot, most of the time it would start with 100% fan speed exactly as you describe.

Last effort to sort it was change the PS, so I bought a cheapy Antec 650W PS and all fine now, as it was a fault finding exercise, and now it boots first time every time.

 

[Vtec9k]

try another PCI slot? I had a bent pin in one slot on one of my mobo's which resulted in this sort of thing.