Definitive 7900 reliability test?

Angilion · 22 Jul 2006 at 21:10

I'm putting off Zalmanising my 7900GT because of the known issue with reliability. I can tolerate the stock Leadtek cooler. It's not horribly loud for a stock cooler and the pitch of the noise is a good one. I'd prefer it quieter and cooler (GPU temp nudges into the high 60s under load in this weather), hence the Zalman.

But...I don't want to put a Zalman on it and later find out that it's one of the delayed failure specials.

I've run 3dMark2006 for the Deep Freeze test, but what I really want is something I can leave running for a few hours and you can't loop just the Deep Freeze test.

Is there a better option than downloading a 600MB BF2 demo and looping a benchmark on that (if such a thing is possible anyway)?

FreeStream · 22 Jul 2006 at 21:39

From what i've seen, these problems with 7900s can start from the first pass of deep freeze or after a few months.

Stick it and see. Download ATi Tool and let the 3D cube keep going if you want to test.

CR.

MeatLoaf · 22 Jul 2006 at 22:10

Cant you just leave 3dmark looping?

LoadsaMoney · 22 Jul 2006 at 22:34

Its a waste of time, you may as well just bang a Zalman on it now, as as said above it could take months to go.

Angilion · 22 Jul 2006 at 22:54

Having looked at several hundred reports of the problem, it seems to me that almost all that go do so within a month and the great majority within days, with many going straight away.

Looping 3dMark06 would be repeatedly resting the graphics card. Besides, it's only the one test that's notorious for showing up this issue. You can loop a single test on the version you pay for, but not on the free version.

GoRedwings19 · 23 Jul 2006 at 04:57

The 7900gt failure rate also applies to the 7900gtx as well?

I see more 7900gt failure posts as that is what more people buy. But I would like to see for a comparable amount of the failure rates is it an equal amount?

Also failure rate between manufacturers. That would be interesting.

4Qman · 23 Jul 2006 at 09:54

GoRedwings19 said:
The 7900gt failure rate also applies to the 7900gtx as well?

I see more 7900gt failure posts as that is what more people buy. But I would like to see for a comparable amount of the failure rates is it an equal amount?

Also failure rate between manufacturers. That would be interesting.

The GTX doesnt have the problem as the 7900GT does...

All the cards are from the same design so it doesnt matter what brand you buy they all have the problem. There are newer PCB designes that carry different caps but these again still have the problem altho not as high falure rate on the newer design cards.

Semiskimmed · 23 Jul 2006 at 10:46

4Qman said:
The GTX doesnt have the problem as the 7900GT does...

but ive seen GTX's going down too :confused:

sugoi · 23 Jul 2006 at 10:58

aren't the EVGA 7900GT more reliable than others? I thought i heard from somewhere the memory they use on their cards are slightly different? if not at least there is the 90 day step-up programme.

LoadsaMoney · 23 Jul 2006 at 12:18

Semiskimmed said:
but ive seen GTX's going down too

Yes as the GTX's are buggered to.

GoRedwings19 · 23 Jul 2006 at 15:16

sugoi said:
aren't the EVGA 7900GT more reliable than others? I thought i heard from somewhere the memory they use on their cards are slightly different? if not at least there is the 90 day step-up programme.

Maybe they did that deliberately so you would step up to the 7900gtx or 7950

kbc · 23 Jul 2006 at 15:54

I've actually ran the ATI Tool on my old 7800GT using their artifact scanner, the temperatures began to rise rapidly and infact some how damaged the card. I began to get corruption when running a game of counter strike. That's just my experience with ATI Tool - probably didn't like my 7800GT, so had to RMA it.

After that I got a 7900GT which seemed to run fine, it was an XFX XXX edition - though I only had it for just over 2 months - it ran Deep Freeze fine...

locutus12 · 23 Jul 2006 at 16:42

Definitive 7900 reliability test?

theres 2 ways of ensuring reliability with a 7900GT,

1) dont turn it on.
2) pre emptive action, as soon as you buy it from the shop, RMA it without opening the box.

4Qman · 23 Jul 2006 at 23:26

locutus12 said:
theres 2 ways of ensuring reliability with a 7900GT,

1) dont turn it on.
2) pre emptive action, as soon as you buy it from the shop, RMA it without opening the box.

2nd that, my XFX which i thought was a brave soul decided to BSOD 2wice now. This is on the 4th day, i run 3dmark loop on deep freeze over night the day i got it without a single problem.

Then today it gave the most corrupt image ive ever seen. RMA time i believe. FFSake. :mad:

GoRedwings19 · 24 Jul 2006 at 07:33

I am seriously hoping the 7900gtx I ordered won;t have these issues. Otherwise I will move to the 7950 or x1900xtx.

hannibal2381 · 24 Jul 2006 at 08:31

I have a BFG 7900GTX OC 512 with the infineon memory without any prob's.
Had it nearly a week now and it's a beast, slightly quicker than the 7800gtx 512.

Hey 4QMAN, told you about that dodgy samsung memory.

lol

iGiDK · 24 Jul 2006 at 10:53

hannibal2381 said:
I have a BFG 7900GTX OC 512 with the infineon memory without any prob's.
Had it nearly a week now and it's a beast, slightly quicker than the 7800gtx 512.

Hey 4QMAN, told you about that dodgy samsung memory. lol

This might sound like an utterly stupid question mate (

) but how easy is it to tell that you have the Infineon memory (i.e. is it branded on the card or box? or did you just call up the retailer prior to making the purchase?)

Van_Dammesque · 24 Jul 2006 at 11:52

4Qman said:
2nd that, my XFX which i thought was a brave soul decided to BSOD 2wice now. This is on the 4th day, i run 3dmark loop on deep freeze over night the day i got it without a single problem.

Then today it gave the most corrupt image ive ever seen. RMA time i believe. FFSake.

Same here! It showed no signs of ill health for several hours then the next day bang artifacts in deep freeze.

At OP: You can loop deep freeze just select the various tests and just select deep freeze then goto the second button which is the loop options.
Another good test is FEAR, this will show artifacts quite quickly.

PS I had a Zalman ready to put on, it is a good job I didn't!

(After recommendations from this community to get an ATi in another thread and not touch the 7900 GT, I wish I did!

)

Van_Dammesque · 24 Jul 2006 at 11:55

locutus12 said:
theres 2 ways of ensuring reliability with a 7900GT,

1) dont turn it on.
2) pre emptive action, as soon as you buy it from the shop, RMA it without opening the box.

Quoted for the truth.
Thanks Locutus12 for your advice in another thread, unfortunately I did not heed your wise words, let this be a lesson for others