Gainward 4870x2 Only Using One Core?

[Speed]

Hi Guys,

Basically I own two 4870x2 cards, I purchased the Gainward first which now appears to be faulty, showing and using only one core. I then purchased a Sapphire to replace it. Now the Gainward card itself appears to work fine, but it only uses one of the two cores, this is clearly visible in GPU-Z saying Crossfire is disabled and from the low 8k performance in 3DMark Vantage. GPU-Z on the Sapphire card detects two GPUs and gets around 11500 (CPU limited) in Vantage.

After trying loads of drivers, different operating systems and making sure Catalyst A.I is enabled I assumed that the card is faulty, my guess being that the bridge chip is faulty. So I sent it into Gainward in Germany (not cheap) who to be honest I've received frankly rubbish after sales service from. Firstly they flatly refused to replace the card as it is under 1 year old, but the business I purchased it from has shut down, so I manage to get them to accept it back.

I got it back recently and according to the paperwork it was repaired, but this isn't the case, it exhibits the same problem regardless of OS (tried Windows 7 x64 and Vista x86). I e-mailed them about this and was told:

“We tested the card on two different pc for long time and we can’t reproduce your problem. The card is working fine. Please check your PC."

No communication to let me know they couldn’t reproduce the problem, they just sent it back which is not very helpful at all. I replied asking how they tested it.

I can in fact switch the cards over, changing nothing, no changes to drivers, settings etc and the problem appears. So is there any reason anyone can think of aside from some bizarre incompatiablity that only affects a standard reference Gainward 4870x2 and my motherboard (XFX 780i) but not a standard reference Sapphire 4870x2, that would cause this problem? Or are Gainward wrong and my card is faulty?

Thanks,

Mark

 

[blaineoliver]

Try another persons pc, if they can do all 4 cores, then your pc is somehow at fault.

 

[Speed]

Try another persons pc, if they can do all 4 cores, then your pc is somehow at fault.

Easier said than done, don't know anyone local with a PC than can take a 4870x2.

What do you mean by "if they can do all 4 cores"?

 

[dmxdex2020]

each card has 2 cores hence x2

 

[Andrew Moore]

You say you have 2 cards... Do you run these in crossfire? If so, your boards an 780i which is sli chipset. Im a little confused here I must say.

Andy

 

[layte]

a 780i running a i7?

Interesting..

Or more likely the x58 board with that model number.

 

[chaosophy]

If they are both reference cards and you have no access to another PC to test in, maybe try flashing the Gainward with the BIOS from the Sapphire?

Back up the Gainward one first so you can re-flash it if they decide to take it back again or swap it for you. But unfortunately they don't sound to interested in helping so you haven't much too lose.

Even if you don't want to flash it might be worth ripping both BIOS' and then using an editor to compare, see if anything looks odd.

Do you get two display adapters listed in device manger with both cards? Does overdrive in CCC show two different temps and can you clock each core?

Might also be worth looking to see if ATi/AMD have any kind of test/diag software.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

Is one of those cards for someone else, as you can't run both of them together on an SLi board

I can't see why it wouldn't work on its own in there though (if the others removed, and the Gainwards put in the primary slot), so all i can suggest is to try another PC if you can.

 

[Speed]

each card has 2 cores hence x2

I know! But he said 4 cores.

I'm using these cards one at a time.

You say you have 2 cards... Do you run these in crossfire? If so, your boards an 780i which is sli chipset. Im a little confused here I must say.

Andy

No, I'm running them on their own, one failed, purchased another as Gainward were screwing around with regards to the RMA. The motherboard is a XFX 780i, so that is socket 775. Yes it is an SLi board and no I'm not trying to run it in crossfire.

a 780i running a i7?

Interesting..

Or more likely the x58 board with that model number.

Who said anything about an i7? 780i is a Socket 775 chipset!

If they are both reference cards and you have no access to another PC to test in, maybe try flashing the Gainward with the BIOS from the Sapphire?

Back up the Gainward one first so you can re-flash it if they decide to take it back again or swap it for you. But unfortunately they don't sound to interested in helping so you haven't much too lose.

Even if you don't want to flash it might be worth ripping both BIOS' and then using an editor to compare, see if anything looks odd.

Do you get two display adapters listed in device manger with both cards? Does overdrive in CCC show two different temps and can you clock each core?

Might also be worth looking to see if ATi/AMD have any kind of test/diag software.

Don't really want to go down the bios flashing route incase they take it back again. I'll see if I can swap the PSU in my sisters PC and try with that, but I expect it will be a waste of time and I'll get the same issue.

I'll check re the temps and overdrive.

Is one of those cards for someone else, as you can't run both of them together on an SLi board

I can't see why it wouldn't work on its own in there though (if the others removed, and the Gainwards put in the primary slot), so all i can suggest is to try another PC if you can.

Basically as mentioned above I didn't think I was going to get Gainward to RMA it, so I purchased another, but they finally did. So no, no intention of using Crossfire. Guess I should have clarified that in the OP.