ASUS 3850x2 Crashing

[eddiepropane]

I recently RMA'd my HD2900XT due to bad artifacting through Overclockers and received a 3850x2 as replacement.

I have just started putting the card through it's paces and I'm getting lots of display driver stopped repsonding and lock-ups playing games but no artifacting.

I'm on a clean install of Win 7 x64 with upto date drivers and have not been overclocking the card, do you think it sounds like a problem with it?

I've checked temps with Afterburner and has reached around 80c max with one chip always being between 5-10c higher at load or idle. The fans sounds like they jump up and down a lot but seem to only read off GPU1 temp which is the lower of the 2 and when this happens the framerate dips with it (well I think it does, possibly xfire related as 1st xfire setup).

I checked the bios settings using RBE and both show as previously modified with RBE, should that be right of a replacement from ASUS?

Cheers, EP.

 

[RavenXXX2]

Asus 3850x2 is known to have problems with overheating voltage regulators try directing some air cooling at the back of the card near the power connectors.

 

[MiNxYyY]

Try underclocking the card just a little, see if that helps

 

[eddiepropane]

I don't really know what extra I can do for cooling, it's in Antec P182 and I have had all 3 tri-cool fans on full tilt and for underclocking I can give it a go but don't think I shouldn't have to do either to make it work as standard

If the underclock works should I be doing a new RMA as it's not working as standard?

Cheers, EP.

 

[RobertN]

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SY-000-AN

may be able to direct some air at it

if all else fails maybe try applying some new thermal paste

Does the cooler get hot to the touch ?

if not maybe a bad contact

is your psu up to powering this card ? i know the 2900xt was a power hungry card but this is worse

 

[eddiepropane]

I know about the additional cooling I can provide in that way but don't really want to or should have to as the card should work fine as my air temps are good in the case (don't have them to hand now as at work!!)

I was thinking about the PSU myself - It's a Corsair hx520 I think.

I remenber it was 550w and just covered the HD2900XT with my existing setup, as it is an RMA replacement if they have provided a card that is too power hungry do you think I should be able to ask for a replacement that is no higher in power consumption as this is a negative thing and the warranty cover is for the same or better replacement?

The card is a B-Grade Replacement direct from ASUS so they should have checked contacts, thermal paste etc at their end and the cooler was just warm to the touch no hot by any means.

Cheers, EP.