Computer become unstable

decto · 2 Mar 2013 at 13:27

Hard to say, the PC is ok on the integrated graphics but they don't stress the system like a GPU so you can't rule out the rest of the system yet.

It could be a SSD / SATA issue though the samsungs are pretty good. Perhaps worth changing the cable and using a different sata port.

If you've tried everything else then you're left with motherboard, CPU or Graphics.

Seems odd you have had 2 duff graphics cards though

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Macky · 2 Mar 2013 at 13:30

When my 5850 died I decided to buy a new rig. The card lasted me about 2 years old old rig. Then OcUK said it was faulty and eventually sent me a 7850. The SSD is in 1/2 sata 3 ports so I will try it in the other Sata 3 port. Or should i try it in a Sata 2 port?

Also last time I tried the card in the spare PCIEx4 slot I don't think it worked properly as it wouldn't run aero? I'll try it again then try the score index on the x4 slot.

dacads · 2 Mar 2013 at 14:16

PCIEx4 isn't really meant to be used for graphics card as it won't run at full speed.

You should try the SSD in both sata2/sata3 ports

Macky · 2 Mar 2013 at 14:57

Okay so card crashes in both slots. Memtest shows no errors after 3 passes, tried switching SATA cable into SATA 2 port, no difference. I'll go try spare GPU..

Spare card works fine. This leads me to believe that it is the GPU.. Everything suggests that anyway.

Tried card on spare PC, crashes. Card at fault.

wazza300 · 2 Mar 2013 at 18:50

either pc memory or cpu voltage not enough imo

how are you overclocked? dvid or auto or fixed cpu voltage? set the cpu voltage response to fast in the bios

also tried setting power control slider to 20% in catalyst control centre/amd overdrive

Macky · 3 Mar 2013 at 13:24

Mate nothing is over clocked and the graphics card doesn't work on another computer either haha. I'd definitely wager the card is at fault.

wazza300 · 3 Mar 2013 at 15:16

Macky said:
Mate nothing is over clocked and the graphics card doesn't work on another computer either haha. I'd definitely wager the card is at fault.

did you set the power control slider to 20% though? it will crash on every pc if it needs a slight bump on power control,my card needs 10% some need 20% some need none

if it still crashes then yh the card is faulty

Macky · 3 Mar 2013 at 16:06

I will try it but why should I need to tamper with settings when the card did originally work fine out of the box and should work fine still?

wazza300 · 3 Mar 2013 at 16:16

Macky said:
I will try it but why should I need to tamper with settings when the card did originally work fine out of the box and should work fine still?

it depends,some games are more demanding than others,it doesn't add any voltage to the card it just raises the thermal/power limits of the card

I know mine will crash/lock up in certain games if I don't set it to 10% once I do that its fine for hours on end

my other 7850 doesn't need adjusting its left on 0%

Macky · 3 Mar 2013 at 16:18

My point is though, if I need to do this for it to work on any rig, why is Sapphire not either, doing it themselves, or telling me to do it?

wazza300 · 3 Mar 2013 at 16:36

I don't know,try it if it doesn't work can only be the card

but the option is there for a reason I guess,it does help a lot with stability whether overclocked or stock

Macky · 3 Mar 2013 at 18:24

Same problem when bumping max power up to +20 in overdrive.

wazza300 · 3 Mar 2013 at 18:26

I would rma the card then,it was worth a try to be sure

Macky · 3 Mar 2013 at 18:29

Aye I know mate. Cheers. Hopefully it will be dealt with swiftly as it took well over a month last time.