Faulty Hardware?

AdamScott85

AdamScott85

AdamScott85

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Joined
7 May 2016
Posts
739
Hey guys, so on my old rig that my son uses to game on, I think the old r9 290 has kicked the bucket, but it is a little strange so I just need it confirming. So what started happening about 3 days ago was, the pc would boot up to the windows screen and then just go black and stay black. At first I thought it was related to the bad Windows Update or corrupt Windows, it boots into safemode fine every time. So what I first tried was booting into safemode and uninstalling all drivers with DDU to install clean, turns out whichever driver for AMD is installed the black screen happened again and again. So after messing with it for a few hours I decided to format and I was pretty certain at this point it was Windows related.
So anyway I formatted and installed a fresh Windows, managed to install all of the motherboard drivers not a problem, installed Winrar and other bits no issues and restarted a few times. Then it came to installing the AMD driver again, so I chose one of the drivers and it asked to restart again, after restart the screen again goes black. So after this point I decided to format 1 more time but this time install onto a different hard drive, same thing. So anyway at this point I have pretty much tried everything, I checked the bios to ensure onboard graphics is disabled and even reset the overclocks etc etc.
I am pretty sure I can get my son a cheap enough card to run games on my old 1080p monitor, I don't want to spend much really, just enough for it to be playable for him with the settings up.
If anyone can think of something else I can try before replacing the card, please let me know.
 
Did you try more than just the latest driver? Tried reseating the card? What about a different port (e.g. DVI instead of HDMI or whatever)?
 
If the fault has followed onto a clean installation, short of trying a earlier driver version, you've already found the fault in the graphics card.
 
Which drivers did you try? Did you try the "AMD Minimal Setup" drivers? Does it happen on a clean install and only the AMD drivers installed, no other programs, no Windows updates, no additionally drivers for anything else? If so, try another format but this time install all Windows updates first (and no drivers for anything else), until there's no Windows Updates left, then try the AMD drivers.
 
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I tried 5 different drivers all from different dates (over a year difference with one), I tried reseating the card into the top pcie again and the 2nd, no luck.I tried a different DVI cable and the other port, I tried a different monitor. I am gonna move one of the 980ti's from this system over to that one shortly, if it boots it will be problem solved. Funny thing is, the card spins fine as it should, must just be faulty now. I also tried the AMD minimal setup David and formatted 2 times, the problem happened on the old install and on the 2 clean installs, exactly the same black screen. If using a 980ti also gives a black screen, I will then looks towards trying all of the windows updates before the amd drivers like you say, and maybe look at the other components.

Cheers Guys, will keep you posted with how this goes.
 
Update - I put one of my 980ti's in the machine and its working properly now. Will looks for a replacement now, anyone got any recommendations? I want to keep the cost down but still have something capable of gaming at 1080p properly. (Nvidia Only)
 
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If you want to try and troubleshoot it more, as I say, does it happen on a clean install with only the AMD drivers installed, no other programs, no Windows updates, no additional drivers.

If the above is true, does happen if you clean format it (again), install all Windows Updates *then* install the AMD drivers?
 
Yeah I did 2 clean formats and it happened every time mate. It happened with only the AMD drivers installed on the first, and on the 2nd I installed the AMD drivers after the other drivers and that is when it happened. The card is knackered it would seem. It lasted a fair amount of time though, I think about 4 years or maybe 5. I am looking around for a cheap replacement now, my son is made up to have one of my 980ti cards at the moment haha
 
How about one of the following?


My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £190.44
(includes shipping: £10.50)



​
I've chosen this particular 460 as it's Core speed is 1210MHz versus the rest at this price point that are 1090MHz, which then have a Boost Clock to 1210MHz. This particular card would require a PSU of 400W or greater, the rest require 300W. Someone with more knowledge will need to come along and say whether this actually makes any difference.

Either way I'd pick the 460 over the 550.

Edit: or if you can afford it go for the 4GB version of the 460. Of the below the Asus has a boost Clock of 1236MHz and 1256MHz in OC mode

If you are in the market for a RX 460, please do buy the 4 GB version over the 2 GB version if you plan 1080P gaming, okay? If you are at 720P, 2 GB is fine and that model in fact offer very good value.
Click to expand...

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/asus_radeon_rx_460_strix_gaming_4gb_review,27.html

My basket at Overclockers UK:

Total: £404.43
(includes shipping: £10.50)


​
 
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Cheers for that mate, I think I am gonna go with a purchase of fleabay. A mate was telling me earlier that he picked up a Zotac 780 last week for £68 and it works great. The same seller has other cards too so for the money I will get a lot more. Also I wouldn't touch AMD again tbh.

Thanks.
 
go for a new, cheapest 470 and get 3 yrs warranty. That will take care of your 1080p for a few yrs on Something i wont buy is a secondhand gpu or cpu, unless it has quite abit of warranty behind it- Never been OC, oh yeah!
 
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