290X 2D Troubles

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
While I was waiting for a 7970 RMA to come though as I discussed in the other thread, I went and picked up a good deal on a 290X as the 7970 was by a couple years the most advanced GPU of my 2 machines so in the end both would be upgraded and I would have the 290X to use while waiting on the slllooowww RMA.

Problem I've run across is that I'm getting what looks to be a much more common than I thought trouble with the 290x causing my computer to freeze/black screen on "demanding" 2D sources (heavy flash browser page or youtube videos).

Just started an RMA for the 290X and wondering if any others ere have had the same issue and what's the likelihood that I'm in for a long process till I get a card that works.
 

brandonmatic

Member
Jul 13, 2013
199
21
81
I haven't had this issue myself but I've seen a lot of posts about it. Hopefully it's just the fact that only the people who have problems post about it, but it seems not terribly uncommon.

Although people have posted various "fixes" for the problem I would just RMA until you get a card that works fine out of the box.
 

chubbyfatazn

Golden Member
Oct 14, 2006
1,617
35
91
*raises hand*

I bought my 290 from a fellow member here in November last year, and it was free of the black screen issue until about a month ago. Then it just randomly started.

I seem to have had a bit of luck by going into Power Options in the control panel and setting the profile to "High Power," but I still black screen occasionally. Seems to happen soon after I power on the machine or wake from sleep; if I can get past an hour or two of use then it generally doesn't black screen again. Gonna see if I can force the card to always run in 3D mode and see if that fixes it.

A friend of mine had the same issue and solved it by flipping the BIOS switch on the card (to the backup one). Dunno why that worked since he never flashed any other BIOS on it.
 

richaron

Golden Member
Mar 27, 2012
1,357
329
136
*raises hand*

Yeah I've seen a bunch of people with similar complaints. They see the brand "AMD" and assume card is broken. 99% of the time it's user error; most likely an unstable overclock and/or PSU problems (old/insufficiently powered/incorrectly plugged).

Of course they hardly ever come back to admit it was their fault all along... No-one likes to be wrong.
 

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
I had this issue. RMA'd my card, new card has not had this issue.

old asic was 69, new asic is 75
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
Never seen asic reference before, but looking it up and mine seems to be 76.

At first I thought this was a software issue and did some troubleshooting that way (was initially happening only in chrome on one flash based browser game).

At first it would only happen if I had two flash tabs open. Then one would do it. Then tried ie and had no problems for a week, then starting occurring again. Then YouTube alone would do it.

Lastly I tried connecting with just igpu then both, just internal does nothing while with both I eventually got an actual crash code which pointed toward display driver hardware error.
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
In several of the many threads i've read through the last couple of weeks, a couple talk about suspecting low volt values for the 2D side as a reason, with it being set so low to help keep overall temps in line when the 3d side is revved up.
 

richaron

Golden Member
Mar 27, 2012
1,357
329
136
*raises hand*

Yeah I've seen a bunch of people with similar complaints. They see the brand "AMD" and assume card is broken. 99% of the time it's user error; most likely an unstable overclock and/or PSU problems (old/insufficiently powered/incorrectly plugged).

Of course they hardly ever come back to admit it was their fault all along... No-one likes to be wrong.

Yeah... These things can also cause the symptoms you're experiencing.
 

lupi

Lifer
Apr 8, 2001
32,539
260
126
Mailed old card last Thursday and got new tracking number a week later, so it will be about 2 weeks total from dropping off old till new one arrives.