GPU Died little help...

[VulgarDisplay]

So my 7970 just died last night. Playing BF4 and all the sudden screen goes black. Computer is still running I have sound, tried rebooting, and get windows sounds.

No signal to monitor, so I assume it's dead.

The question is, what is the best price/performance card from $450-600 right now? It's the gtx780 probably, but will my aging 2500k be severely limit the gtx780?

Mantle was awesome for my use case (low settings, high FPS) and I don't know if I'm willing to give up the 120fps locked that I was getting, but I don't feel like paying $540 for a r9 290. Will the gtx780 be able to keep my minimums up around 120hz at all low settings 1080p?

4.5ghz 2500k

I'd love to get an aftermarket r9 290 for around $500 but I don't think it's happening especially when I need one asap.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

I had a 780 (just stepped up to 780ti) and I had a similar usage scenario where I would keep BF4 at all low minus textures, FPS were definitely past 100 although I cant remember the exact numbers, sorry.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

It looks like I can find an XFX double D for around $500, but shouldn't I avoid that cooler and XFX as a whole like the plague?

How's the EVGA ACX cooler on the gtx780?

 

[nwo]

A 4.5GHz 2500k will not limit a GTX 780. I'd say go for it, it is the best price/performance card in the $450-600 range. Why don't you opt for a 280X? They are about $400 now

 

[VulgarDisplay]

A 4.5GHz 2500k will not limit a GTX 780. I'd say go for it, it is the best price/performance card in the $450-600 range. Why don't you opt for a 280X? They are about $400 now

You need to understand what my usage is though. The 2500k limited my 7970 in dx11 at low settings/1080p. I got minimums around 70fps in dx11, but in mantle it never drops below 120fps.

Visuals aren't that important to me, maintaining that magic 120fps/120hz number is paramount.

 

[wand3r3r]

It looks like I can find an XFX double D for around $500, but shouldn't I avoid that cooler and XFX as a whole like the plague?

How's the EVGA ACX cooler on the gtx780?

290? Supposedly they fixed the design for the 290/x's with the new DD. The 79xx/280x DD were the problematic cards. For the same price I'd take a custom 290 (and mine, or at least have the option). I wouldn't go reference 290 unless it was $100 cheaper than the 780. If you are looking at higher prices for the 290's then the 780 would be a wiser buy for gaming.

 

[f1sherman]

Double D has traditionally been god awful, but I seem to remember that that has changed with 290/x.

If BF4 minimums is all you care about go 290,
but with summer incoming and mining profitability hitting bottom, I'd take 780 without thinking twice.
Possibly reference, and undervolt it as far as it goes.

Either way 4.5 GHz 2500k will not be holding you back. It's certainly much faster than 4570k.

 

[nurturedhate]

That almost sounds more like a monitor issue than a gpu issue. A lot of times when a gpu goes you would hard lock and not be able to boot.

 

[nurturedhate]

Also, you will see minimums in bf4 around 70, even with my setup.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Also, you will see minimums in bf4 around 70, even with my setup.

In mantle with the 7970 my minimums were 120fps...

What's the verdict on aftermarket 780's? There are a ton of them available, which ones are known to have hynix and good coolers?

 

[Termie]

You need to understand what my usage is though. The 2500k limited my 7970 in dx11 at low settings/1080p. I got minimums around 70fps in dx11, but in mantle it never drops below 120fps.

Visuals aren't that important to me, maintaining that magic 120fps/120hz number is paramount.

If you go GTX780, I'd recommend win 8.1 if you don't already have it, because it adds quite a bit of performance. Not as much as Mantle, but still significant.

The ACX cooler is excellent. A little loud at idle, but relatively quiet at load. The XFX is apparently pretty good too, completely different from the old Double D cooler. At the same price and in your situation, I'd recommend the 290. Overall, though, the 780 ACX is the better card taking into consideration all gaming scenarios.

 

[SLU Aequitas]

I had the ACX cooler, it was pretty quiet (echo Termie in that it was a bit louder at idle), and remained quiet while under load. Also allowed me to OC pretty easily.

 

[futurefields]

I dont understand why you need to buy a new GPU the 7970 is still a great card isnt it?

Cant you RMA it or something? Is it already out of warranty?

My Sapphire 7950 has a 2 year warranty, I assume that means if anything ever happens to the card within 2 years, I get a replacement 7950.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I just ordered a 780ti myself so you know what I'd tell you to do. If I'd gotten in on the dell deal for the 290 that's where I'd be.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

I dont understand why you need to buy a new GPU the 7970 is still a great card isnt it?

Cant you RMA it or something? Is it already out of warranty?

My Sapphire 7950 has a 2 year warranty, I assume that means if anything ever happens to the card within 2 years, I get a replacement 7950.

My plan was to buy a new card, RMA the 7970 and then sell it while their value is still really high. Being without a card for weeks is not an option.

UPDATE: Switched out the display port cable with a DVI cable and it started working again. The display port cable didn't work with 2 different monitors. I'll buy a new cable test it, and if it's still not working then the display port on the card is out. If so then I'll just stick to my plan of buying a new card, RMAing and then selling the 7970 to a miner.

 

[CropDuster]

I have the XFX 290 DD and it runs like a champ. 65-70* with the default fan curve in afterburner and it locked at 980mhz in BF4.

 

[Termie]

My plan was to buy a new card, RMA the 7970 and then sell it while their value is still really high. Being without a card for weeks is not an option.

UPDATE: Switched out the display port cable with a DVI cable and it started working again. The display port cable didn't work with 2 different monitors. I'll buy a new cable test it, and if it's still not working then the display port on the card is out. If so then I'll just stick to my plan of buying a new card, RMAing and then selling the 7970 to a miner.

Glad you got it working, and good thinking to try a different cable. I've actually had display port cables break - they are more fragile than any other type of connector. Definitely order a new cable before ditching the card.

 

[nwo]

If you're so concerned about minimum fps particularly in BF4 why would you then even consider nvidia? Even though GTX 780 is higher performance than a 7970, it will significantly lag behind if you factor in mantle support.

Sell the 7970 for $350 and buy a 280x for $400.

 

[Techhog]

If you're so concerned about minimum fps particularly in BF4 why would you then even consider nvidia? Even though GTX 780 is higher performance than a 7970, it will significantly lag behind if you factor in mantle support.

Sell the 7970 for $350 and buy a 280x for $400.

haha what? Maybe if you have a quad-core Bulldozer...

 

[spat55]

I would check it is your GPU first, could be a dead monitor or PCI-E lane.

EDIT: Just seen you have got it working now.

 

[nwo]

haha what? Maybe if you have a quad-core Bulldozer...

Not only is BF4 an AMD biased game, but Mantle itself makes a huge difference in fps, especially at lower resolution/less demanding settings...

Also:

As the resolution decreases, and AA, the CPU becomes the bottleneck. AMD Mantle seems to excel in that scenario, providing substantial performance improvements, even with our overclocked i7 3770K.

 

[Techhog]

Not only is BF4 an AMD biased game, but Mantle itself makes a huge difference in fps, especially at lower resolution/less demanding settings...

Also:

Okay? That doesn't mean anything without an actual comparison between the 7970 and the 780.

 

[Subyman]

That almost sounds more like a monitor issue than a gpu issue. A lot of times when a gpu goes you would hard lock and not be able to boot.

Yup, looks like that's right. It is typically always a cable or monitor issue.

 

[tweakboy]

What was your room temp when the RIG passed away ? This can be just a HSF fix.

Try all ports in the back to your dvi to dvi ,,, for example. A 780 to a 780 tI ? Im waiting for 880 GTX for 500 dollars. That is reasonable. gl

 

[VulgarDisplay]

I had another monitor on hand so I ruled that out. New display port cable comes Tuesday. If the display port is bad on the card I will buy a new GPU RMA the 7970, and then sell it for close to what I bought it for 2 years ago. Pretty sweet deal if you ask me.