7970 Matrix Platinum - safe mode all the time

[czeslaw]

Hello,

I've run into an issue with my graphic card.
After building my pc, installing windows 8 and drivers my card was flashing green all the time. I discovered that it was connected to Asus EPU engine, what I described here: http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?29501-Matrix-Platinum-EPU-Engine&country=&status=

Since then my card was doing perfect. Today I've opened my chassis, removed RAM to try it with different PC, installed it again and now my card is in constant safe mode (led indicator flashing green). GPU Tweak ask me each time after boot to "recover my graphic card" but after boot it's still green !

Please help ....

Can it be that something happened to my psu and now graphic card can't work normally ?
Should I try holding the safe button while pc is booting ? Flashing card's bios ? Resetting the motherboard's bios ?

[Meowws]

Hello?? can anyone listen to me? IS THE OVERCLOCK THAT ASUS MADE THAT CAUSE ALL OF THIS SYMPTOMS! You either underclock their hard coded settings or suffer with RMA!! Blah blah blah, ram problem, power problem, overclock problem! Is their card design problem! Stay away from Asus Overclock cards!!! I RMA my HD7970 Direct CU II 3 times in a row! Stuck with defect cards, lets give ASUS HELL!

[czeslaw]

Going into safe mode was not VGA fault! It's because of too low CPU Voltage!
If someone is interested in the case, I've started another topic:

http://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?31565-MVF-MATRIX7970-Plz-help-to-resolve-issue-with-gpu-dur...

[czeslaw]

@i_kpb_x - PSU may not be sufficient for 2 GPUs. If you power on your Matrix card with no additional power cables plugged in - leds will turn purple. The same if your CPU has not enough power - leds => purple.

[czeslaw]

I've just flashed my 7970 Matrix Platinum U2 bios to Matrix Platinum R9280X U2 bios from techpowerup. I've read somewhere cards are ALMOST identical and flashing 7970 with r9280x is not a problem.

Drivers: 13.11

Pros:
- My safe mode issues *were gone for an hour (safe mode returned after psu was switched off)
- I can fully UEFI boot with CSM Off
- Gaming is OK - played Dead Space3 in 2560x1440 max quality and seems to be ok and stable
- Idle temps seems to be lower = 37 deg celsius
- I can now switch between R9 and 7970 bioses with U2/U3 bios switch

Cons:
- GPU Tweak is not working now! I've switched to MSI Afterburner but there is no core voltage control (UnofficialOverclockingMode enabled) * Version 2.4.6 IS WORKING !
- Card still has noticeable coil whining (have to live with that)
- Max resolution stuttering in some games is still (independently from the vbios) very bad 😞 ! For example Diablo III when exploring new area...
- GPU Tweak still not showing GPU VRAM usage. Always zero.

[desmondwiera]

I get the same problem too..
It is weird tho because the first time I buy this card I'm using msi z77 gd65 and it works fine. And when I upgrade the motherboard to asus maximus gene vi it works fine too.. The problem started when I upgraded the motherboard into asus maximus formula vi...
Tried to flash the bios into the newer one, didnt solved the problem.
Strange thing is if I'm not using my pc for a day or two, it will be back into safe mode again. But if I using it constantly, the problem goes away.
FYI I'm not into OC for a moment. All the system are running into stock default.
I wonder what cause this? and is this some kind of software error or hardware error? does this problem affects in the future?
Thanks

[czeslaw]

Yes card goes back to safe mode after sleep / power off / sometimes after psu off.
I'm thinking to RMA the motherboard as I can't reproduce the test case (distinguish when it goes to safe mode)... I think it's quite random. Behaviour also changes if card is after stress, but in other computer it was doing OK (no safe mode).

I've already checked everything except for RMAing the motherboard...

[desmondwiera]

aww... shoot...
I purchase the motherboard in another country.. Maybe i will try to borrow another vga from friend to test for a while.. hopefully it'll doing okay
Planning to sell this matrix and change into r9 280 or maybe 290.. I'll inform you later if the problem solved..

[heichalot]

czeslaw wrote:
OK there's a new symptom. MATRIX makes this "buzzing" sound, when game starts, stops just in the second when I exit the game!!

I had similar situation with my 7970 ghz, when I overvolted or overclocked the memory too much, the card kinda screaming too.
not buzzing, more like a really fast tickticktickticktick, well it does sound like a loud buzz (maybe?)
but never forced me to a safe mode tho

desmondwiera wrote:

Planning to sell this matrix and change into r9 280 or maybe 290..

not trying to be captain obvious, but matrix plat 7970 and r9 280 are the same thing isn't it? only difference are on the fans & sleeker design.

[MADBADGER]

It is discouraging to read that so many people have this issue. I built a new computer and have the same issue with my Asus Matrix HD7970 Platinum having to "recapture your video card" which requires a re-boot. It's not my first computer build, but it is my first ever AMD/ATI video card and will be my last! I am soliciting some help if any is available. Thank You in advance.

Asus Maximus Extreme VI
Intel 4770k
Noctua NH-U14S
Sandisk Extreme II 480 GB
2 x Western Digital 2TB HDD
Kingston Hyper X beast 32GB
Antec High Current Pro Platinum 1000w
Plextor optical drive
2 x Asus optical drives
Corsair Obsidian 650 case
Windows 7 pro x64

[waintdeir]

I had the Green flashing too... but i solved it now.

Here is what helped me out:

1. Download the Matrix 7970 Flash from asus.com support.
2. Download the Matrix 7970 VGA Driver from asus.com support.
3. Run the flash-tool.
4. Install the drivers from asus.com (not amd.com)

In adition to that i also upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro x64.

My system:
VGA: ASUS Matrix 7970 Platinum
MB: ASUS Crosshair IV Formula
CPU: AMD Phenom II x6 1090T
RAM: Corsair Vengeance Low Profile 1600 9-9-9-24 (CPU-NB voltage @ 1.2V)
SSD: Samsung 128GB 840 Pro
HDD: 3 x 1GB SATA2 - RAID0 (3TB)
ODD: Samsung Blu-Ray SH-B123L
PSU: CoolerMaster Silent Pro Gold 700W
CPU-Cooler: Antec Kühler h2o 620
RAM-Cooler: Geil EVO Cyclone 2
Case: Antec Nine Hundred