MSI 5850 Artifacting - RMA time?

[SBD]

It seems my MSI 5850 has started Artifacting I have just uploaded a picture I took with my phone if a few people can confirm this for me.

One odd thing I noticed was MSI afterburner is reporting the Core Voltage as nothing! I have not overclocked my graphics card in the hope I would get the most life out of it

Is my Best option to RMA the card to OCUK or to MSI, if OCUK does not have any replacements would they have to order a 5850 from MSI and thus make the RMA process longer? I have had the card less than 12 months so I believe I should be RMAing to OCUK? Anyway here is the screen shot:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/20111120125443.jpg

 

[Sasahara]

before you RMA it try reseting it, just in case as sometimes a loose card can produce that.

 

[SBD]

Do you mean taking off the heatsink and cleaning it off to re-apply thermal paste? If so doesn't that void warranty?

 

[CinderzFTW]

Ouch that image is disturbing!

I helped a guy out with a similar problem a while back and it turned out to be the card but there are a few things you could try.

First of all, uninstall the drivers for the card and download the latest version.

Secondly, try going back to some older drivers if you have recently updated drivers. (AMD are idiots for drivers, I should know, I own a 5770.)

Thirdly, if that doesn't work, use a program like Driver Sweep to uninstall the drivers and install the latest version.

If any of this doesn't work, the card is dying.

ONE MORE THING... how old is the card?

If quite old and it cannot be RMA'd, try the Bakers way of fixing cards. I did it with my old 8800GTS which my misses now has and it worked when her card died and it didn't boot from my machine either.

Take card apart and clean it up.

Preheat oven to gas mark 6 or 200C for 10 minutes, place the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) with the core facing down (NO COOLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) on some foil with the shiny side facing UP!

Stick it in the oven for 8-10 minutes.

Take it out, leave to cool for 30 minutes or so.

Apply new TIM (thermal paste) and put the cooler back on (take advantage of this and clean the cooler too, dust is a *****)

Try booting!

Damn blind luck if it works, but it has worked for many people in the past.

Hope this helps!

 

[Surveyor]

If it's under warranty then taking it apart to change the thermal paste, or bake it in the oven, isn't a good idea.

Any sign of tampering and bang goes the warranty.

So if it's in warranty just try the software fixes and RMA it if that gets you nowhere.

If it's out of warranty then you can try whatever you like.

 

[Sasahara]

Do you mean taking off the heatsink and cleaning it off to re-apply thermal paste? If so doesn't that void warranty?

Nope, just re-seat it in the PCI-E slot if it's become loose over time sometimes you get that sort of issue.

 

[jumeeno]

Hey SBD, I feel for you. I have the exact same card and whilst it's not poor performance-wise, there are lots of bad things said about the MSI Twin Frozr II 5850 in particular. Mine will OC to 875MHz (fully, fully stable) but takes 1.26v to get there... but if you try to watch any flash video (YouTube) for example, you get an instant BSOD. This happens with even the tinniest OC. I looked into it a lot at the time of (post) purchase, and loads of people had similar issues.

If you can RMA it... do so!

 

[V F]

Ouch that image is disturbing!

I helped a guy out with a similar problem a while back and it turned out to be the card but there are a few things you could try.

First of all, uninstall the drivers for the card and download the latest version.

Secondly, try going back to some older drivers if you have recently updated drivers. (AMD are idiots for drivers, I should know, I own a 5770.)

Thirdly, if that doesn't work, use a program like Driver Sweep to uninstall the drivers and install the latest version.

If any of this doesn't work, the card is dying.

ONE MORE THING... how old is the card?

If quite old and it cannot be RMA'd, try the Bakers way of fixing cards. I did it with my old 8800GTS which my misses now has and it worked when her card died and it didn't boot from my machine either.

Take card apart and clean it up.

Preheat oven to gas mark 6 or 200C for 10 minutes, place the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) with the core facing down (NO COOLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) on some foil with the shiny side facing UP!

Stick it in the oven for 8-10 minutes.

Take it out, leave to cool for 30 minutes or so.

Apply new TIM (thermal paste) and put the cooler back on (take advantage of this and clean the cooler too, dust is a *****)

Try booting!

Damn blind luck if it works, but it has worked for many people in the past.

Hope this helps!

What scary advice. You remind me of some people that drop some petrol into cylinder heads and try to start the bike after it's blown the gaskets.

 

[gurusan]

If it's artifacting in 2d duties then I'd assume it's junk. RMA time

 

[SteveOBHave]

I get that if I don't push my DVI connectors in properly as well... Make sure everything is in and connected properly first then update drivers...