HD 7950 Problems.

[Firesilver]

Been messing around with my 7950 in afterburner, bumping the Sapphire model I have up to 950/1350 on stock volts. Performance is great but when the OC is applied, there's a fairly loud buzzing/whining noise.

I realise it may well be a fairly significant problem and have a RMA code ready to go, but being that the noise is only there after OCing, surely when it's tested it'll be tested at stock speeds? Don't fancy having no GPU for a while and having to pay to get it sent back to me if it's found not to be faulty.

Any advice?

 

[ALXAndy]

Sounds like VRM "buzz" or whining. People mistake it for the capacitors but it's not that.

VRMs are coils. As they receive power they vibrate. It's not a good thing but it doesn't really indicate a serious problem.

 

[Firesilver]

OCUK think it's capacitors too. It's a fairly obtrusive noise and being that this is my first proper gaming rig any slight noises have been cause for concern!

If its tested at stock settings no faults will be found, completely pointless to RMA it then?

 

[hominid]

They will return it to you no fault found as they won't overclock it to induce the noise.

 

[ALXAndy]

Try contacting Sapphire. A friend of mine had a MSI 460 Cyclone that did the same thing and they were good enough to replace it.

I wish you luck, mind. Sapphire's customer support is manned by a few Chinese men who speak Engrish and make no sense whatsoever. So poor is their understanding of the English language their replies are completely nonsensical.

 

[Firesilver]

Meh, kinda sucks that it makes that noise with an OC. Spose its got 2 years RMA with OCUK guess I just got unlucky.

 

[ALXAndy]

overclocking is never a given.

 

[Firesilver]

Made the assumption cause the cards were touted as great overclockers, just got unlucky I suppose. I'll give Sapphire a try, not today tho, can't deal with Engrish today, too hungover.

 

[ALXAndy]

You'll have to sign up for their forum. I made the terrible mistake of buying one of their motherboards once.

Note, once.

Never ever again. What a complete heap of silicon faeces that was !

 

[straxusii]

Don't waste your time trying to return a card that only has a problem when overclocked unless you are using DSR, it will be returned to you.