Weird GTX460 OC problem.

[Dervious]

CowboyTony,

I`ve had a gander at that link you posted, and although there are lots of problems with GTX460s, I can`t find the thread that relates to the problem I have been having. It still sounds likely to be a compatability issue (although Gigabyte did aparently test my MB with a GTX460). Maybe it`s just some GTX460s won`t work with some motherboards.

Before I switched from ATI to Nvidia, I did ask the question "will an Nvidia card be OK in my AMD MB ?". The reply was "yes".

This has been the worst upgrade experience I`ve ever had with a PC. I expect memory compatability issues, but not graphics cards.

 

[CowboyTony]

I'm with you all the way - I only switched from ATI as I wanted 3D and NVidia's 3D vision supports the most games with the least hassle... Even if I return my 460 as "not working" I'm stuck with the 3D Vision kit so need an Nvidia solution to the freezing problem...

 

[Dervious]

I`ve just read several threads regarding poor performance. On the one or two games I tried my GTX460 with, I wasn`t that impressed with how the games were running (before they crashed). It wasn`t much of an improvement over my old HD4850 512mb. I sort of put this down to the fact that I was having trouble with the card crashing. However, I did get my card stable when I switched to a new motherboard, but gameplay still wasn`t exactly smooth.

I see a few people are suggesting it`s a driver issue. I was under the impression from the Nvidia brigade that ATI drivers were supposed to be poor. I can honestly say in the couple of years I was running my ATI card, I never really had any issue with drivers, or the card.

I`m begining to regret my purchase. I`ve had the new card for over a month now, and I have hardly been able to use it.

Shame, because the Gigabyte card is so quiet (if and when it works under load).

 

[CowboyTony]

CowboyTony,

I`ve had a gander at that link you posted, and although there are lots of problems with GTX460s, I can`t find the thread that relates to the problem I have been having. It still sounds likely to be a compatability issue (although Gigabyte did aparently test my MB with a GTX460). Maybe it`s just some GTX460s won`t work with some motherboards.

Before I switched from ATI to Nvidia, I did ask the question "will an Nvidia card be OK in my AMD MB ?". The reply was "yes".

This has been the worst upgrade experience I`ve ever had with a PC. I expect memory compatability issues, but not graphics cards.

When you say you can't find the thread that refers to the problems you've been having, your OP says

Every time I put the gfx card under load, the screen would freeze within seconds/minutes.

the OP in the link I sent you is about random freezes - I asume your freezes to be random but perceived as only happening when under load...

 

[Dervious]

When I click on the link, it takes me to the forum lobby.

Update. Found a thread (19 pages long) with similar tales of freezing which seem to be MB compatability issues.

If I`d have known this before buying it, I`d have stayed with ATI. The Gigabyte GTX460 OC has had such good reviews too !

 

[CowboyTony]

sorry - try this link http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=187401

 

[Dervious]

Thanks for the link.

It might be where I just found this......

"Intresting:
This Sparkle GTX 460 1024MB had these freezing issues on two different computers, but on my computer it works perfectly! All three computers are easily up to supposed requirements. I even have it overclocked by 20% from reference level..no probs.

My rig:
Windows 7 - 64-bit
Asus P7P55D evo
Core i5 750
2x2GB Mushkin DDR3-1600
Corsair HX620 first and now Seasonic X-750
---

My bet is that some of the GTX 460 cards have serious compitability issues. "

 

[Dervious]

I`ve spent hours swapping components, testing, installing OS's, installing drivers, Bios Updates, changing Bios settings. I`ve then had to listen to lots of advice such as "it`s probably the PSU, have you done a clean Windows install ?" etc. I`ve wasted time by sending my MB for repair, having gone through the fault finding process. Now my GFX card and MB are on their way to Gigabyte.

I've now lost a lot of confidence in Nvidia. It wouldn`t be so bad if I was just unlucky, but it now seems that this is quite a widespread issue.

Tony, I have now followed on from your post on the Nvidia forum.

Thanks again for pointing this out.

 

[Dervious]

Update......

Just had an email from Gigabyte -

Dear Sir,

In regards to this RMA number:

I am informed there was some error with your existing VGA card when being used with the sent motherboard. Therefore we have swapped this item and now no errors are detected. It appears the original VGA somehow was failing to match up and work with the motherboard correctly. We conclude the motherboard is not at fault as after we swapped the VGA, the item ran without error (no stop/starts) for 2 hours.

Both items are being returned today by City Link.

Regards

Returns Dept

That`s pretty quick service by Gigabyte, I only sent the items last Friday.

Let`s see how I get on when the MB/GFX card arrive back here. Any more hassle and it`s "au revoir Nvidia. Sorry about that AMD, I`ll never be unfaithful again".

 

[Dervious]

Motherboard and replacement GTX460 are now back.

First of all I tested the new GTX460 in the motherboard that I`ve been using while my main MB has been away. This GTX460 refuses to output any video when installed in this system ! The onbaord graphics take over and the system boots into windows. Yes, both PCIe power connectors were connected. I cleared the CMOS memory and reseated the card in the PCIe slot a couple of times. I thought Gigabyte had sent back a faulty gfx card, but they said they had tested it with my main MB. I have now assembled my system with my original MB, and it does seem to work properly (no luckups under load).

The whole Nvidia experience has been a bad one. I now have a gfx card which seems to work properly in my system as it stands today, but should I swap my motherboard, it`s going to be a lottery whether this gfx card will play ball. It certainly won`t work in the other motherboard I now own (although I will do a final check, just to make sure).

I`m wondering if I should return this card and go back to AMD.

 

[trev1976]

Hi Dervious

Still having problems mate ? me too , Im so frustrated now i dont know weather to chuck this card on ebay and lose another £80 + the £50 ive spent in postage and testing , This has been my worse PC experience ever

If i sell the card on ebay i think in total it will owe me roughly £330 , thats a complete joke seeing i paid hard earned cash for something that should work in my motherboard

Ill have to pay for another HD 5770 and go backwards as i know that will work , Its put my right off building another PC ever

 

[Dervious]

Trev,

The replacement card is now working OK in my original motherboard, I have now been testing the card and using it "as normal" for a few days. It certainly doesn`t work in the newer motherboard that I recently bought (yet the first GTX460 that I had from OcUk did !). I`ve emailed Gigabyte to let them know what`s going on, and I`m waiting for a reply. I`ve asked them to acknowledge that there is a fault with some or all of these cards, and that a solution is being worked upon. If I don`t get a reply, or there isn`t some sort of official statement, I still have a faulty card (although not with the motherboard I`m currently using).

Luckily, I haven`t been charged for the first test on my original motherbaord, but it has cost me nearly £20 in postage to send two parcels back to Gigabyte. There is no doubt in my mind that there is some sort of design problem with quite a few of these GTX cards, and I don`t see why customers should be losing out, or having to put up with this. I know that there can be compatibility problems between various components, but when I install a modern Gigabyte PCIe graphics card into a modern Gigabyte motherboard's PCIe socket, I expect it to work.

 

[Ezyryder]

Trev,

The replacement card is now working OK in my original motherboard, I have now been testing the card and using it "as normal" for a few days. It certainly doesn`t work in the newer motherboard that I recently bought (yet the first GTX460 that I had from OcUk did !). I`ve emailed Gigabyte to let them know what`s going on, and I`m waiting for a reply. I`ve asked them to acknowledge that there is a fault with some or all of these cards, and that a solution is being worked upon. If I don`t get a reply, or there isn`t some sort of official statement, I still have a faulty card (although not with the motherboard I`m currently using).

Luckily, I haven`t been charged for the first test on my original motherbaord, but it has cost me nearly £20 in postage to send two parcels back to Gigabyte. There is no doubt in my mind that there is some sort of design problem with quite a few of these GTX cards, and I don`t see why customers should be losing out, or having to put up with this. I know that there can be compatibility problems between various components, but when I install a modern Gigabyte PCIe graphics card into a modern Gigabyte motherboard's PCIe socket, I expect it to work.

If the products are deemed faulty you are entitled for a refund on your postage costs, I would chase them about this.

 

[RedDanDoc]

Oh god I'm worried now! I'm thinking of ordering a 4 series card this week.

 

[Dervious]

Oh god I'm worried now! I'm thinking of ordering a 4 series card this week.

I would be concerned. Knowing what I know now, my GTX460 would have been sent back within 7 days under the DSR. I now have an RMA'd card which I know doesn`t work in my other motherboard. It is another faulty card, but at least it's working with my current motherboard. I would be more sympathetic if this was and isolated case, but it is not.........

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=187401&st=0

I will say, however that the Gigabyte GTX460OC 1GB card is a nice card when it`s working. Fast and very, very quiet.

 

[RedDanDoc]

I would be concerned. Knowing what I know now, my GTX460 would have been sent back within 7 days under the DSR. I now have an RMA'd card which I know doesn`t work in my other motherboard. It is another faulty card, but at least it's working with my current motherboard. I would be more sympathetic if this was and isolated case, but it is not.........

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=187401&st=0

I will say, however that the Gigabyte GTX460OC 1GB card is a nice card when it`s working. Fast and very, very quiet.

well I'm now leaning towards a GTX570.

 

[subbytna]

This isn`t a chipset compatability issue. Gigabyte have tested a GTX460 in my motherboard, and it works OK. My GTX460 won`t work in my motherboard. So, it appears that my GTX460 is faulty. The thing is, if I send it back to overclockers, it will almost certainly test OK in another motherboard.

And Gigabyte reckon my motherboard is OK.

I`ve tested my GTX460 in three other motherbaords, and it`s OK.

Put the two together, and it`s not OK !

so it's not the card then....I have the same card and I can't fault it, no problems and no sound..the thing is so quiet even under load

 

[Dervious]

so it's not the card then....I have the same card and I can't fault it, no problems and no sound..the thing is so quiet even under load

Careful what conclusions you jump to. The card was faulty (beacuse it wouldn`t work with that particular MB. I now have a replacement GTX460 that does work with my MB).........



My 1st GTX460 worked in the new MB, but not the old one (locked up under load). It also worked in 2 other systems.

My replacement GTX460 works in my old MB, but won't output any display in my new MB. This is OK for the moment, becuase the new MB was just a temporary replacement while I was having trouble with my old MB.

Same RAM, same CPU, same PSU (700w), both GTX460s are exactly the same make/model with the same bios.

I wouldn`t be posting about this problem if I wasn`t sure that it is a real fault, and not something I`m doing wrong.