5770 artifacts? Or card that should be RMAed?

[hans030390]

I noticed that the 5770s are supposed to OC pretty well. Everything I've read shows people being able to OC to ~950/1400 (from 850 and 1200). For some reason, I'm stuck at 900/1350.

If I start OCing the CPU above 900, I will have random pixels on my screen flash green. Usually this is one or two at a time, randomly. They usually only appear in the window that is rendering something (ex: Furmark in windowed mode). They seem to increase in frequency the higher I OC. Trying to OC to 950 will either crash my computer or lock up the program every few seconds until I exit it (which sometimes also locks up the whole computer for a moment).

The memory, however, doesn't seem to show the exact same signs. I may have just forgotten, though. I did notice, however, that the program and/or computer would lock up, like the CPU. 1350 with an OC, though, isn't too disappointing.

Whenever I've OCed graphics cards before, I usually get noticeably visible artifacts when I've gone too high. Rarely would something lock up, crash, or do something nearly undetectable (like 1 green pixel every 5-30 seconds or so).

I'm wondering if it's my PSU (which is just a pretty basic 500 watt Rosewill) or my card. If my card, is it just a rare disappointing card for OCing? Or is it actually defective? I ask this because some quick research on Google led me to another forum where someone else was having the green pixel issue with their 5800 series card, though they weren't overclocking.

 

[error8]

Why should the card be defective, if it's running artifact free while is at stock clocks? Your card is fine, is just that is probably a "bad" ocer.
And never take all the threads you see about overclocking, as 100% objective, since there are people that will either lie about their clocks ( very sad but true ) or some just don't know, or care to test their clocks for stability as they should. So while you think the avarage oc for a 5770 is 950 mhz, it might be lower then that, or there are just a couple of fantastic cards that are able to hit that clock.
You could also try to increase the fan speed and voltage, or even change the heatsink to achieve higher overclocking numbers.

 

[hans030390]

Why should the card be defective, if it's running artifact free while is at stock clocks? Your card is fine, is just that is probably a "bad" ocer.
And never take all the threads you see about overclocking, as 100% objective, since there are people that will either lie about their clocks ( very sad but true ) or some just don't know, or care to test their clocks for stability as they should. So while you think the avarage oc for a 5770 is 950 mhz, it might be lower then that, or there are just a couple of fantastic cards that are able to hit that clock.
You could also try to increase the fan speed and voltage, or even change the heatsink to achieve higher overclocking numbers.

It really does seem to be the average OC. All the reviews claim the card is very good at OCing. Same with everyone else that's mentioned it (that I've read). If I was able to get closer to 930 or so without a few of the green pixels showing up, I'd just accept that my card isn't quite as good as theirs. 900 just seems low. My memory seems to be alright.

As you mentioned, though, maybe I'm the only one testing it hard enough to notice a few green pixels. You REALLY have to sit and stare to notice them, and it has to be with something like Furmark.

I could try upping the voltage. Heat isn't the issue, though...I know that much. I never go over 80c on full load (I'm talking the extreme burn mode of Furmark).

I know that it works just fine at its specified clocks. Because of that, I know I could probably never exchange it. Still, it makes me wonder, considering A) green pixels = a very strange artifact that I've never seen or heard of before and B) the green pixels seem to be an issue with the 5800 cards, and ATI said that means the card is defective. Hopefully my card doesn't start crapping out on me down the road.

 

[Number1]

I am picking one up tomorrow an I will be OCing it. Ill let you know my results.

 

[error8]

Still, it makes me wonder, considering A) green pixels = a very strange artifact that I've never seen or heard of before and B) the green pixels seem to be an issue with the 5800 cards, and ATI said that means the card is defective. Hopefully my card doesn't start crapping out on me down the road.

Artifacts can be all sort of colors, they could show up as green, white, red pixels, or like grey 3d faces and polygons ( my card does that ). Lock-ups also appear often when you oc a videocard, mostly when you're upping the GPU clock too much and the voltage is too low and can't support the frequency you've set. But if they don't show up at stock, then there is nothing wrong with the card.

I know that it's annoying when your card seems to clock less then everyone else's, but I had this particular problem with at least 3 of my last cards. Neither of them would seem to hit the "majority's" clocks. But there really isn't anything you can do about it, instead of fiddling with the heatsink and bumping the voltage. Or you could try to be at peace with what you already have and enjoy your games, because, if you really start benching your overclock, you'll see that all that energy and nerves you've spent for increasing the clocks, didn't really gave you too much extra speed, or nothing that you can feel, like you have when you obtain 1ghz more out of your cpu.

 

[Schmide]

The only way to ensure a card doesn't crap down the road is to not OC it. If you do overclock it, you are voiding your warranty and should not return it. This is the risk of the overclocker. I have destroyed many a hardware just to chalk it up to experience.

 

[Highmodulus]

I wonder is part of it is that the reviewers tend to have very well ventilated boxes with high end PSU's?

 

[hans030390]

I wonder is part of it is that the reviewers tend to have very well ventilated boxes with high end PSU's?

Perhaps. My PSU is so-so.