BFGTech 6800 OC Ultra Woes...

[xbreezex]

Hello all, long time reader, first time poster here.

I've done what i think to be a good job searching for all threads on this and i've yet to find one that adressed my problems regarding this card.

I recently build a brand new system for x-mas, specs are as follows

Athlon FX-53
Asus A8V-Deluxe mobo
2 gigs Corsair XMS pc3200
WD Raptor 74 gigger
Antec TrueControl 550watt PSU
2 plextor cd/dvdroms
*BFGTech 6800 Ultra OC 256meg
Win XP Pro w/ SP2

Everything went fine during the install, all hardware seemingly recognized, im thinkin i'm about to be in heaven when i get through the xp install, update xp, install 4n1's and lastly install the defauly BFGTech provided video drivers. After the reboot I get into windows and find this terrible video tearing and pixellation, as can be seen here.

Click here for dreadsome image

This image was stolen from BigWayne, Sorry for rapin yer bandwith my big brudda. He is having the same problems, only on a PnY 6800 Ultra, but the distortion is identical to mine.

So far here is what i've tried doing to alleviate this problem.

-Tried multiple 4n1's
-Tried multiple detonator drivers, including WHQL cert/betas/Omega's...used safemode/driver cleaner 3.3 for removal.
-formatted/reinstalled XP x3
-Hooked up rig with barebones to check psu power (only powered mobo/video/cd/floppy)

The video card is powered correctly as is has its own dedicated power cables and the psu *should* be lightyears beyond sufficient wattage.

To make matters worse, I have absolutley voided my warranty by hooking up the GPU to a waterblock. This is the 5th rig I've built and watercooled. I'm very confident that I didnt negativley affect the video card in any way by installing the waterblock.

Like I said, I have seen a few threads regarding pixellation usually fixed by drivers as well as threads detailing the FastWrite bios option, but I wanted to bring this to light incase anyone has had this identical problem and corrected it somehow.

Thanks in advance, and sorry to be coming down on BFGTech with a $450 horror story.

xbreezex
:|

 

[Corey0808]

I thought had BFG had a no questions asked warranty policy?

 

[xbreezex]

I was on he phone with a BFGTech rep and he asked me have i modified the card in any way...I didnt give him my name or part serial so i said yeah, i put a water block on it...

Shortly after that he gave me a few suggestions, told me he was no allowed to talk to me about it, then hung up with my quickly.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Did you put the block on before even using the card@stock in the system first? If you can see well enough to try the following, install coolbits and significantly reduce the core and ram speeds and see if the IQ becomes normal. I just fixed a ti4600 with bad ram by editing the bios to run the ram @ half its rated speed and the symptoms weren't too different than yours'. Also check the temps if you can see them well enough because I suspect you either have a heat related issue or the GPU or ram is now borked.

 

[xbreezex]

i put the block on the card before i installed windows...but the card install was clean and pretty easy, I took it off to make sure all the ram/gpu was seated and making good contact. With the koolance block im using the 4 pin tightening system makes it pretty impossible to break the gpu.

hmmmmmm....still stumped like a mofo.

 

[aldamon]

The same thing happens to my 6800 GT with my Swiftech MCW50 installed. My card needs the RAM sink installed and a 80mm fan pointed towards it or the RAM or something else on the card overheats. If I were you, I'd put the stock RAM cooler back on and point a fan towards the card. I put some velcro on top of my Mag 3 pump, which happens to be next to the video card, and stuck the fan there. Good luck.

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: xbreezex
I was on he phone with a BFGTech rep and he asked me have i modified the card in any way...I didnt give him my name or part serial so i said yeah, i put a water block on it...

Shortly after that he gave me a few suggestions, told me he was no allowed to talk to me about it, then hung up with my quickly.

1. You should have run it stock a few weeks to test the card not being defective.
2. If you're going to use a waterblock on a card with 1100MHz RAM, you should use a DangerDen or Innovatech that cools the RAM as well? 550MHz (1100) is pretty high frequency for bare chip air cooling?

 

[302efi]

Originally posted by: Rollo

2. If you're going to use a waterblock on a card with 1100MHz RAM, you should use a DangerDen or Innovatech that cools the RAM as well? 550MHz (1100) is pretty high frequency for bare chip air cooling?

DDR3 don't get that hot... Qouted by AnandTech in their 6600GT reveiw...
"Retail Geforce 6600GT Exploration"



GDDR3 doesn't usually get that hot

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: 302efi

Originally posted by: Rollo

2. If you're going to use a waterblock on a card with 1100MHz RAM, you should use a DangerDen or Innovatech that cools the RAM as well? 550MHz (1100) is pretty high frequency for bare chip air cooling?

DDR3 don't get that hot... Qouted by AnandTech in their 6600GT reveiw...
"Retail Geforce 6600GT Exploration"

GDDR3 doesn't usually get that hot

No, I think Rollo's heat suspicion is accurate. The stock cooler may have been blowing cool air onto the RAM chips. I have heard of similar stories regarding watercooling a CPU; many people have their motherboards overheat because of insufficient airflow.

An 80mm fan pointed at the card should alleviate the problem. Otherwise I would try going back to the stock cooling to see if the problem persists.

 

[drpootums]

my new Leadtek 6800GT does the same thing to my screen!

I'm gunna RMA that tomorrow, sorry if it doesnt make u feel better...

 

[nRollo]

Originally posted by: 302efi

Originally posted by: Rollo

2. If you're going to use a waterblock on a card with 1100MHz RAM, you should use a DangerDen or Innovatech that cools the RAM as well? 550MHz (1100) is pretty high frequency for bare chip air cooling?

DDR3 don't get that hot... Qouted by AnandTech in their 6600GT reveiw...
"Retail Geforce 6600GT Exploration"



GDDR3 doesn't usually get that hot

Most of those cards had heatsinks on the RAM though, did you notice?

I have never seen a 6800U that did not have the HSF cooling the RAM.

 

[302efi]

Originally posted by: Rollo

I have never seen a 6800U that did not have the HSF cooling the RAM.

Well if I'm paying $500 + for a card, I hope it would have something on the ram...bare ram showing would not sell a card at that price🙂

Not trying to start a war, just qouting what the Anand said in there reveiw😉

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: drpootums
my new Leadtek 6800GT does the same thing to my screen!

I'm gunna RMA that tomorrow, sorry if it doesnt make u feel better...

Did you modify the card whatsoever? Did you overclock it?

 

[xbreezex]

the card comes factory overclocked...once i got into windows one of the things i tried was underclocking the ram and gpu with powerstrip...

The waterblock i have on the card cools both the gpu and ram also.

I noticed that during the windows loading screen, as well as in safe mode, there is minor graphical glitching, or pixellation. This leads me to further believe the card is fubared.

shite.

 

[302efi]

Originally posted by: xbreezex

I noticed that during the windows loading screen, as well as in safe mode, there is minor graphical glitching, or pixellation. This leads me to further believe the card is fubared.

shite.

Damn..if you see problems in the windows loading screen then the card prob is fvcked..there us no drivers loaded yet so it would have to be the card🙁

You should try and do what aldamon said:

If I were you, I'd put the stock RAM cooler back on and point a fan towards the card

 

[xbreezex]

will do, ill be back later with some updates...

will also put in my old 9800 pro just to be sure its not a mobo problem. Gunna take me forever to drain the coolant and fix the h20 loop 🙁