Radeon HD 7970 DC2 TOP - Issues

[stitch]

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to post my experiences with my first iteration of this card just so that others were aware of some signs that they may have a defective card.

Windows 8:
Yes, I know this card doesn't even have preview drivers yet, but oddly it worked best under Windows 8. The issues I encountered were limited to random BSOD after the system sat idle for long periods of time (even with power saving features turned off like turning of the monitors and sleep). It seemed to run games just fine. The only odd-ball thing I noticed off the hop was the factory set clock when I opened up Overdrive was the 3D clock was set to 600 MHz. Even after that things were okay except for the random BSOD.

Windows 7:
This is where things went south fast. Running a game like Battlefield 3 or Mass Effect 3 at 1 GHz (factory overclock) resulted in a crash (3 screens, 1 different colour per screen) as soon as the GPU's 3D clock kicked in and the game was going to go full screen. I checked voltages, I checked card temperatures, everything seemed okay (except for the well documented VRM issue) with the card. My system voltages are stable, temperatures are nice and cool (my CPU generally only hits 40c if it is really hot in the room.) I disconnected devices, tried with only one monitor, no banana. So I downclocked the GPU to 925 MHz. Battlefield 3 now loads as does Mass Effect 3. Battlefield 3 does crash after 15-20 minutes with a black screen crash, but I was expecting that to no doubt be another issue un-related to the card itself.

So what am I doing? I'm taking it back to the place of purchase and praying that they have a newer revision of the card with the VRM cutout on the backplate and will see if the store will test it before I take it home.

[HiVizMan]

Thank you Johan for reporting back I hope you remain problem free from now on.

[Spoony]

12.7 is better yes BUT still wont work with more than 3 screen and i have 2 of these top cards that SHOULD do 6 screens each and they just dont 3 is your max but they work well as 3. but there is issues clearly but ive had none since 12.5 except for the none over 3 screen setup

[Sarg_Scorpio]

Spoony could you give me more details about the issue to be able to use 6 screens on this card as i want to pass this information on. Also have the 12.7 drivers fixed all other issues or did you have to do something else to fix them ? eg was reading about someone changing PCIE speeds ? or power-saver from the motherboards?

[Spoony]

yeha i had to down clock the cards for them to be stable to 925/1350 or they have a **** fit when gaming under medium to heavy load which is doing my head in.

also ive got 6 screens all have VGA/DVI/HDMI/DP on them regardless of what cables or config i try to run them in ONLY 3 will work at any one time, all screens are in the AMD CCC center and seen so thats all good but when i try to activate a 4th screen it says i must disable another screen to get that screen to work so only 3 will work at any one time, ive put the switch on the card up or down swapped each card around still get jack.

its nothing to do with drivers i dont think as i have an 5000 eyefinity6 card and that works fine with no issues at all. monitors are dell and samsung 3 of each and there res per screen is 1920x1200 i have also got some 1920x1080 screens at work ive tried and they dont have it either.

its doing my nut and im VERY unhappy witht his cos i ordered the card took 4 weeks to arrive, but i went and got 3 extra screens while i was waiting and i cant use them there just sat in the box right now so ive wasted money on them and if im honest i feel very much that i wasted it on the card.

but yes your right on the 12.7 driver they are a MASSIVE upgrade from the last sets of drivers and to that end ive tried 11 different drivers to get the eyefinity working on more than 3 screens and get same issue so i doubt its the drivers that are at fault when other cards work with the driver but this card doesnt.

[stitch]

Spoony wrote:
yeha i had to down clock the cards for them to be stable to 925/1350 or they have a **** fit when gaming under medium to heavy load which is doing my head in.

also ive got 6 screens all have VGA/DVI/HDMI/DP on them regardless of what cables or config i try to run them in ONLY 3 will work at any one time, all screens are in the AMD CCC center and seen so thats all good but when i try to activate a 4th screen it says i must disable another screen to get that screen to work so only 3 will work at any one time, ive put the switch on the card up or down swapped each card around still get jack.

its nothing to do with drivers i dont think as i have an 5000 eyefinity6 card and that works fine with no issues at all. monitors are dell and samsung 3 of each and there res per screen is 1920x1200 i have also got some 1920x1080 screens at work ive tried and they dont have it either.

its doing my nut and im VERY unhappy witht his cos i ordered the card took 4 weeks to arrive, but i went and got 3 extra screens while i was waiting and i cant use them there just sat in the box right now so ive wasted money on them and if im honest i feel very much that i wasted it on the card.

but yes your right on the 12.7 driver they are a MASSIVE upgrade from the last sets of drivers and to that end ive tried 11 different drivers to get the eyefinity working on more than 3 screens and get same issue so i doubt its the drivers that are at fault when other cards work with the driver but this card doesnt.

In an effort to see if I could find some reason that my store would take this cursed card back, I hooked my one monitor which takes HDMI and DVI up along with my other two DVI monitors.

All 4 show up and are usable as extended desktops.... It must be a Crossfire limitation, not the card if in single-card mode.

*sigh*

[Tennobanzai]

Well I started my 3rd RMA and this time I stated I do not want them to return the same exact card and if anything I would like an exchange for something equivalent to it. They emailed back with a RMA # and Attn to someone there. Last 2 times was just an RMA # and no specific person. I've realized I have spent a total of $75 on shipping now..

Prior to this I spoke to a rep and tries to troubleshoot. In the end he just said I need to start an RMA

[Spoony]

you will get the same card back and it wont have anything changed on it i can asure you of that.

its a wste of time doing that and a waste of money.

i think in the near future once the 7870x2 or 7990 comes out from a different brand i will be changing and i think it will be back to sapphire like my other gear is and stop wasting my time with Asus GPU's, mobo's top class and plenty of help GPU's they dont give a flying **** about them or who buys them and there MASSIVE ISSUES

[bit1der]

After RMA got my 7970 dc2T. FAIL again.
Now I get random black screens of death, "stripes" screen of death and drivers shutdown (sorry for my english))
My overclocking experience says it could be gpu voltage problems. (NO I didn't overclock it yet:p)
12.6 drivers made it worst. BF3 lanches after 4th time.
Didn't have time to install 12.7, but I don't think it will help.

Is there a decision beside RMA, coz I'm tired waiting for 1 month:(
....ASUS - begining to hate you...


And one more question - In BF3 I get only 35-45% GPU load with ULTRA video options, and the FPS is not very high. Is it normal? (I'm currently short of RAM - only 4 GB)

[Meowws]

I have the same issue on the HD 7970 DCII.


Since April of 2012, I already posts numerous topics describing the zebra stripe, blue screen, white screen and black screen hangs or freeze with audio at background still running while playing a game or before launching a game! AMD never listen!!!

The problem is that these problems happen very randomly, you get it on certain application at certain times! E.g. even running Photoshop CS5 & 6 will had that black screen freeze!

My research concludes that:
Used drivers 12.1 or the beta ones that come in the disc if you are not playing BF 3. For user that play games like SC 2, DB 3, etc. Those that play BF 3, install 12.5 or 12.7! However, you will still experience crashes randomly. E.g. 3 out of 5 times u restart u will not encounter this issue.


As a result of this, all this Asus Technician keeps on asking us stupid question like the following to delay our solution.?

Did you overclock it?
Did u have the latest driver?
What window version?
Clean install?

I HAD ALREADY WARRANTY TWICE TO DATE! AFTER WHAT I HEARD FROM U ABOVE, I AM FURIOUSLY ANGRY ON NOT ABLE TO USE THIS EXPENSIVE CARD FOR GOOD!


For those who is wanting to try "BIOS FLASHING" to fix this issue. Or Reformat their windows, or try chaing window bit rate from 64bit to 32bit! BEEN THERE, DONE THAT! NONE OF IT ARE WORKING!.!"


Beware that the ATI drivers cannot uninstall or install cleanly itself. You need to get ATI Uninstaller to remove it completely, like always, poor drivers support by AMD.

To simplified and check your DC II card having this issue: Do the following:
1) Install AMD Catalyst 12.4, 12.6, 12.7
2) Run Starcraft 2, play multiplayer game.
3) It should show the black stuttering audio screen after loading screen!


THOSE THAT HAVE THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY BUT THE ISSUE DISAPPEARED, TRY REPLICATING IT WITH THIS:
1) When there is no black screen freeze or hang, it will not hang no more!
2) Restart your PC at that stage will not have the black screen freeze or hang!
3) To have it freeze or hang again, shut down your PC completely till not Eletricity is being passed thru, then Boot up again! The issue will happen randomly again! Try drivers 12.4 and 12.6 for maximum black screen of hangs!

FIXING IT IN A FUNNY WAY I DISCOVERED OVER THE MONTHS
1) Install AMD CATALYST 12.5
2) Run a video at background
3) while still visible viewing at the video
4) launch your game like BF3 and SC2!
5) it will not hang or black screen!!
6) Damn right sure is an hardware issue!

The reason God Damn asus cannot fix it is because, the problem scope area is way too big! When I get to play games like COD 3, SC2, DB3, they assume my problem have to do with BF 3 compatibility! because I still get the BLACK SCREEN HANG AT BF 3!! Not like i have any of these issue back with my old cards.

[Tennobanzai]

I'm having the same problems as Meowws.. I've given up completely with this card and Asus customer service. Usually Asus makes my favorite GPUs and motherboards but I will never buy from them again after this terrible experience.

Spoony wrote:
you will get the same card back and it wont have anything changed on it i can asure you of that.

its a wste of time doing that and a waste of money.

You were right. Got the same exact card for the 4th RMA.