VPU Recovers (HD3870X2)

[Durzel]

I'm getting some intermittent VPU Recovers with my HIS HD3870X2 bought from OCUK early February. Card isn't overclocked, and it seems to be game-dependant (I can play TF2 forever without issues, but in some other games it will keep recovering). Somtimes I can play a game for 30 mins or so, other times it will VPU recover 3 times in the space of 5 mins.

The fan is running fine on the card but I've noticed it never seems to speed up. Temps are a bit of a concern too, card seems to run between 65-70 degrees at idle.

The only solace I'm taking from it at the moment is that it does actually manage to recover each time instead of hard-locking my computer, but when it does happen my screen just freezes for a few seconds before going black and then finally coming back. Obviously in any kind of competitive game this cripples me.

Is this something I can realistically expect to be able to RMA without a load of hassle given it's an intermittent fault and seems to be game-dependant?

 

[skunksta]

Its the drivers m8 i get the same problem in some games UT3 to name one.And mine idle's just under your's temp around 62 due to the fan speed being at 26%.Rivertuner and put it at 45-50% all the time and your see the temps drop hell of a lot.And cant see you getting a RMA due to ATI's crap drivers of late but guess you could try.May be try the beta's about 8.4***


Also i found 8.2 much better for 3dmark but as for gaming they sucked hard for me the powerplay issue and the VPU's come much much more on 8.2.The 8.3 was abit better but stil happened.The best results for gaming i have found yet are the hotfix 8.3 but for ME they stil knock about 5000 of my 3dmark score not that it matters as it games much better.This is XP 32bit btw.

 

[zootfloot]

Agreed on the drivers being the problem.

I have the HD3850 Model, and up until a couple weeks ago was experiencing the exact same problems as you.

Updated the drivers and never had a VPU Recover situation since.

 

[Durzel]

Thanks, I'm on 8.2 currently - will give 8.4 a blast as soon as it's out and go from there.

It seems a bit strange that I have to use Rivatuner to automatically speed up the fan - surely the card should do this itself?

 

[skunksta]

It Does its got its own fan profiles.But in 2d mode i dont think they would kick in or need to.
Think mine ramps up to around 40 odd % after a few hours gaming in 3d mode and i think it dont ramp up that much until i hit like 80c.

 

[tutu]

You can try a new BIOS (010.079). I have mine passive so I don't have any fan issues.

Also I believe the VPU recover can sometimes be fixed by disabling a second monitor or not installing CCC.

Yesterday my system crashed (second display turned off, first display was corrupt). I also had a couple of VPU recover errors before this happened. Updated my BIOS and no issues yet.

Temps seemed fine (about 39c) with a S1.

 

[skunksta]

His is a X2 so his temp and mine should be a lot higher than your's.

 

[tutu]

His is a X2 so his temp and mine should be a lot higher than your's.

I was referring to mine crashing but the temps seemed OK. Points to a driver problem according to several posts on the net. (probably because ATI use .NET!)

 

[Durzel]

Thanks for all the help, 8.4 cleared everything up as predicted by you guys Also had the fringe benefit of fixing the flickering deathcam in Team Fortress 2 that has been around since it came out.