New build wrecking me!

Abus3

Abus3

Abus3

Associate
Joined
10 May 2011
Posts
24
Hi, I'm looking for a little advice on my new build:

Rampage III Extreme
i7 950
Corsair H70
Sapphire 6970
Corsair Vengeance 6GB @ 1600
X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional

My problem is the display drivers randomly stop working and my screen either displays a solid colour or stripes. I've tried re-installing Win 7, letting windows install graphic drivers, removing sound card and underclocking the GPU.
I eventually decided to take it to a local computer that have the components required to test further and they seem to be having a problem diagnosing the fault as well. One thing I wasn't sure about is if the software could be corrupt due to using the drive for storage then multiple installs of Windows without a full format. I didn't want to return the GPU without being 100% sure that was the problem because of the amount they will charge if no fault is found.
If anyone knows what my problem could be please tell me. I've had this computer for almost 2 weeks now and this problem since the day it was built :mad:
 
I'm not sure if they have but I don't have anything as good to test. I forgot to mention the problem happens sometimes whilst on the desktop, using Cinema4D and mostly on Call of Duty 4 but never on any other games
 
What power supply? and do you have the right connections to both the GPU and the motherboard.

Try booting from a memtest disk and checking each stick individually.

cheers, andy.
 
The power supply is and iCute 1000w which I know I shouldn't be using but it does the job. The shop that is checking my PC over said they have tested the mobo, cpu, ram and ran the gpu on a stress test for hours at 80 degrees and the problem didn't show. It just seems to show when it feels like it. I have 1 8-pin and 1 6-pin connected to the gpu but i noticed the mobo takes 2 molex into the board and 2 8-pin connectors, I have both of the molex adaptors plugged in but only 1 8-pin to the board
 
coldfused said:
Which driver version are you using?
Perhaps try sticking the card in the other PCI-E slot and see what happens?
Click to expand...

I've tried various types of drivers. Windows, ran the disk, latest from sapphire, latest from AMD and older versions from AMD. I haven't tried putting the GPU in a different slot but just assumed it should work in any
 
Abus3 said:
The power supply is and iCute 1000w which I know I shouldn't be using but it does the job. The shop that is checking my PC over said they have tested the mobo, cpu, ram and ran the gpu on a stress test for hours at 80 degrees and the problem didn't show. It just seems to show when it feels like it. I have 1 8-pin and 1 6-pin connected to the gpu but i noticed the mobo takes 2 molex into the board and 2 8-pin connectors, I have both of the molex adaptors plugged in but only 1 8-pin to the board
Click to expand...

The EZ plug (molex) are for multiple graphics cards it seems reading the manual. It asks for both 8 pins to be plugged in. I do not know this board, but maybe you should get a molex to 8 pin adapter and plug them both in. Does sound a bit like a power issue. You should try this before RMAing parts.
 
Ok I'll get my system back tomorrow and try using a molex to 8-pin and see if that fixes the problem. I did try reading the manual but it's like a bible lol. Thanks a lot for all your help everyone and I'll reply once I've tried these things. I'm going to buy a new power supply soon for this could anyone suggest one?
 
I've just searched the web about the 8-pin thing and it seems that only one has to be plugged in, you have both plugged in for "serious LN2 overclocking"
 
You can get power supplies with a EATX connector, usually reserved for server boards. These PSUs are expensive, I think XFX has one that is affordable and rather good.

Difficult to say unless you can talk to someone who has hands on experience with that board and its requirements. Worth asking the motherboard forums.

from manual



The weakest link is certainly the PSU.

also from manual, memory timings.

 
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Thanks for the images and please don't think I'm asking everyone to do this work for me I am also researching things. My RAM is on that image with the correct timings. I'm not exactly sure on the PSU but it seems that everyone I've spoken to has mentioned something about the PSU. I really need to test it with something good enough before I go spending money on something that may not fix my problem
 
Abus3 said:
Thanks for the images and please don't think I'm asking everyone to do this work for me I am also researching things. My RAM is on that image with the correct timings. I'm not exactly sure on the PSU but it seems that everyone I've spoken to has mentioned something about the PSU. I really need to test it with something good enough before I go spending money on something that may not fix my problem
Click to expand...

Sounds about right. In those cases with such complex motherboards, it's best talking to the pros. That's some serious piece of kit! I don't think half-arsing it can cut it.

First thing is a BIOS update, but you should have that already?

Flashing the graphics card BIOS to latest. Is that a true 6970 or a flashed 6950?

Then I'd check first on hardware conflict. Audio could be causing problems. IRQ conflicts, that sort of things. I've had display driver failures with my 5850 at some point, which were solved with a display driver update. But it wasn't pretty, I don't like ATI drivers.

That motherboard if filled with debug features and whatnot. I'd keep an eye on warnings and such things at boot or in the bios. Sometimes hardware glitches post events in the event logs (administrative tools). Worth a gander.

Try the molex although it should still work with the 8 pin ATX connector unplugged, but It's possible the PSU is just not liking the setup. The rest looks like it should cope.

It's also possible you have a short or a dodgy connector somewhere, but quite unlikely.
 
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olivier renault said:
Sounds about right. In those cases with such complex motherboards, it's best talking to the pros. That's some serious piece of kit! I don't think half-arsing it can cut it.

Try the molex, but It's possible the PSU is just not liking the setup. The rest looks like it should cope.

First thing is a BIOS update, but you should have that already?

Flashing the graphics card BIOS to latest. Is that a true 6970 or a flashed 6950?

Then I'd check first on hardware conflict. Audio could be causing problems. IRQ conflicts, that sort of things. I've had display driver failures with my 5850 at some point, which were solved with a display driver update. But it wasn't pretty, I don't like ATI drivers.

That motherboard if filled with debug features and whatnot. I'd keep an eye on warnings and such things at boot or in the bios. Sometimes hardware glitches post events in the event logs (administrative tools). Worth a gander.

It's also possible you have a short or a dodgy connector somewhere, but quite unlikely.
Click to expand...

I updated the mobo bios the day it was built and yes it's a true 6970. I tried check the IRQ but it flew over my head lol. I did try removing the sound card but still had the same issue so i assume that it's not a hardware conflict.
 
Display driver crashing and screen corruptions are GPU problems. It depends if this occurs gaming or on desktop doing nothing. If this happens on low load, it's most likely a graphics card / bios / driver / conflict problem. If it happens under load or more frequently, then my guess is the PSU (85.3% if I have to put a number on it).

But to be fair, you would benefit from a proper PSU anyway. If going SLI or thinking of it, I would select the HX850 which can be found for under £130, or the XFX 850 Black (out of stock). Both, IIRC, Seasonic units and very similar. The TX950 is not modular but will support tri-sli. Seems to have a single 8 pin ATX connector.

What driver version and BIOS version on the graphics card? When installing drivers, uninstall the previous drivers first, and install after a reboot.

Reviews of all the best PSUs at JonnyGuru.

HX850.

TX950

XFX 850 Black.

Plus loads more like the new OCZ ZX or CoolerMaster Gold series. But for me, a 850W XFX / Corsair HX would be idea for a single / dual card setup and the kind of hardware you have. Tri SLI 6970 would be pushing it, so you'll need more power.
 
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