HD 6990 Artifacting on my X58 MB; AMD acknowledges issue

[96Firebird]

Anyone can be asked for proof. Anyone who fails to produce proof is suspect.
Anyone who blindly believes is an idiot.

Kinda like the proof that Nvidia had something to do with the Crysis 2 tessellation? :sneaky:

And thats pretty bad if you can't even open up CCC. Have you tried clearing the drivers and using a generic Windows driver, just to see if it will boot up? Or safe mode (not sure what drivers safe mode uses...)?

 

[Gikaseixas]

i really don't know how well it works on the AMD MB.

If i recall correctly you said it that it worked fine when you placed it on your AMD mb w/ a Phenom II 980BE. But if you're not so sure please go ahead and test it again.

 

[waffleironhead]

Kinda like the proof that Nvidia had something to do with the Crysis 2 tessellation? :sneaky:

And thats pretty bad if you can't even open up CCC. Have you tried clearing the drivers and using a generic Windows driver, just to see if it will boot up? Or safe mode (not sure what drivers safe mode uses...)?

I dont know what this crysis tesselation thing is, so I dont know why you are quoting me, but ok. :biggrin:

 

[96Firebird]

I dont know what this crysis tesselation thing is, so I dont know why you are quoting me, but ok. :biggrin:

Yeah, I probably should have stated that wasn't towards you. I was just quoting your words, which I agree with. Sorry for the confusion...

 

[Madcatatlas]

Kinda like the proof that Nvidia had something to do with the Crysis 2 tessellation? :sneaky:

And thats pretty bad if you can't even open up CCC. Have you tried clearing the drivers and using a generic Windows driver, just to see if it will boot up? Or safe mode (not sure what drivers safe mode uses...)?

No idea why you are derailing this thread with a proven case of Nvidia hampering or paying for unused effects in a game that bears their TWISMTBP tag. Did you really miss the invisible OCEAN of tesselation? Or the extremely overdone tessalation on FLAT surfaces?

Go read that thread, this is about apoppins 6990.

And happymedium, you asked "do you think another 6990 would make a difference", im tempted to say "no", since the problem could lie with his motherboard, but if it isnt his motherboard or something in his Intel setup, then ofcourse another 6990 might help.
apoppins 6990 might just have bitten the sour grape of hardware failure. Its a product of human minds and hands, it can fail as can another other single card.

 

[CarpeDiem99]

The important question is: Does this happen with retail cards? Has anyone experienced this issue before with a retail card or does it only affect review cards?

 

[apoppin]

If i recall correctly you said it that it worked fine when you placed it on your AMD mb w/ a Phenom II 980BE. But if you're not so sure please go ahead and test it again.

i followed AMD's instructions - to try it in another MB and then switch it back

It worked in the AMD MB and booted into Win 7 with no artifacts. i launched a 3D and then shut down the PC and stuck it back into my Intel PC

It worked for a little in the x58 while but when i rebooted, i got the same old BSOD garbage back

So you are calling all the reviews and negativity about the 590s faulty PCB and powerphases or whatever they are called, lies and conspiracy? Am i putting words in your mouth? i think not. These are your words. And i would love for someone to list all those sites, and i will start with someone called W1zzard ...

W1zzard got a lot of flack for the irresponsible way he tested, if i remember right. And you are the one talking about a "green conspiracy"
- i just turned it back on you with a possible red one.

 

[Vesku]

DO you think another 6990 would make a difference?

If it's a hardware issue with his 6990, yes. He said it worked for a while with his x58 board. No way to determine if the x58 runs the card in some manner that eventually causes distress without running a new card on it.

 

[apoppin]

The important question is: Does this happen with retail cards? Has anyone experienced this issue before with a retail card or does it only affect review cards?

We don't have that information. The only clue came from AMD themselves who said "sometimes it happens"

Review cards are supposed to be the equivalent of retail cards. Obviously mine would be a very early one.

DO you think another 6990 would make a difference?

Probably. i sure would like to find out. But AMD is not talking to me now.

 

[Gikaseixas]

I don't know what kind of warranty review cards have but AMD could at least get the card from you and test/fix it since you're a partner, you help them by reviewing their hardware, they should help you if it breaks (well, not saying it's broken, again you need to test on more mb's).

Guess you must have pissed them off at some point...

 

[apoppin]

I don't know what kind of warranty review cards have but AMD could at least get the card from you and test/fix it since you're a partner, you help them by reviewing their hardware, they should help you if it breaks (well, not saying it's broken, again you need to test on more mb's).

Guess you must have pissed them off at some point...

AMD gives no warranty if the HD 6990 is run in the AUSUM position.
UPDATE: i'm sorry, i misread that. AMD gives no warranty to review cards.

The only thing that i might have pissed them off about is this issue
- i got a copy of DE3 from AMD for review.

 

[Firestorm007]

Have you gone green? I think I saw you last night in that Green Lantern costume....Oh! the horror!

P.S.

I'm just kidding, Apoppin...

 

[apoppin]

Have you gone green? I think I saw you last night in that Green Lantern costume....Oh! the horror!

P.S.

I'm just kidding, Apoppin...

Seriously, i couldn't do that. i really like both companies and their products. And we have build ABT on fairness.

However, that doesn't stop me from bringing up issues as they arise. Or there would be no spine to our site and no real credibility - just a site "selling" the latest HW.

 

[Elixer]

Probably. i sure would like to find out. But AMD is not talking to me now.

You think ?
This has to be about the worst way to handle your specific issue, but you dug your own grave.

 

[apoppin]

You think ?
This has to be about the worst way to handle your specific issue, but you dug your own grave.

Let's put it this way, they stopped talking to me ten days ago when the problem surfaced,

What is wrong with me posting my issues here and trying to see if there are potential solutions; any other cards with similar issues, or just to let people know there is a possible "fix" to a broken card that is as simple as putting it in another MB to somehow "reset" it. This is more like a PSA.

So now you think AMD really is that petty? That a forum post about issues with a HD 6990 will affect them one way or another? i sure hope not. Nvidia is not that small-minded and i seriously doubt AMD even keeps track of what is posted on the forums.

If my investigation makes ABT's front page, then they would notice. i'd send them the link to it.

And i got Heaven 2.5 looping on my Phenom II system now. Temps are mid-80s
- stock factory settings on the card. If it survives a few hours, i'll even stick it back into my X58 MB to see if it "resets" again.

 

[tviceman]

If it's not exploding then it isn't dying in as fun a fashion (or in a fanboyism hatred news worthy way) as other cards.

 

[apoppin]

If it's not exploding then it isn't dying in as fun a fashion (or in a fanboyism hatred news worthy way) as other cards.

No you're right .. but my story is unique. Have you ever heard of a video card that worked in one MB - then stopped working? And the best part is when you are told by the manufacturer that a potential "fix" is to stick it in another MB.

88C and the fan is getting annoying now but it is running Heaven 2.5 normally in my Phenom II system. What if it works again when i stick it back into my X58 MB?
----And if it doesn't work, look for it to explode in the most fun fashion possible on a Youtube video

 

[96Firebird]

88C and the fan is getting annoying now but it is running Heaven 2.5 normally in my Phenom II system. What if it works again when i stick it back into my X58 MB?

Maybe you cooked the problem away?

 

[apoppin]

Maybe you cooked the problem away?

i am just following AMD's suggestion to "try it in another MB"

The first time, after running it in my Ph II system, i was able to put it back into my X58 MB and it ran benchmarks for an hour or so. After i rebooted, it no longer ran and moving it back and forth between systems no longer made any difference - BSOD in the Intel System and function in the Phenom II system.. This is the first time that i am keeping it for HOURS in the AMD PC.

Who really knows WtH is going on? Just AMD, i suspect.

 

[Outrage]

No you're right .. but my story is unique. Have you ever heard of a video card that worked in one MB - then stopped working? And the best part is when you are told by the manufacturer that a potential "fix" is to stick it in another MB.

You are a reviewer @ a hardware site, they probably thought you had some spare mb's around you could test it with, that is not the first advice they would give to a normal customer.

 

[apoppin]

You are a reviewer @ a hardware site, they probably thought you had some spare mb's around you could test it with, that is not the first advice they would give to a normal customer.

i do and you are quite correct; i have several. i also would expect that a normal customer would get a RMA number at that point.
^_^

Wish me luck. After a long run in the Phenom II PC (and an appropriate cool down) i am going to retry it in the Intel PC.

 

[Firestorm007]

Seriously, i couldn't do that. i really like both companies and their products. And we have build ABT on fairness.

However, that doesn't stop me from bringing up issues as they arise. Or there would be no spine to our site and no real credibility - just a site "selling" the latest HW.

I know and I trust your opinion. You've always been fair to both sides.

 

[Firestorm007]

nvm

 

[Silverforce11]

That is really odd, card works in X58 MB, then dies. But works fine in another MB.

Suggests your X58 MB is starting to show its age and cannot deliver STABLE current over the PCIE lanes at max load. Other cards may not stress the X58 board enough to see an effect, perhaps they are not configured to draw the max from the MB but rather from 6/8 pins instead.

If the 6990 failed in another MB, then its the culprit obviously.

 

[apoppin]

Here's the update.

i ran my HD 6990 for over two hours in my Phenom II MB; no issues that i could see except it scored low in Vantage compared to usual. But then everything is completely stock speeds.

i put it back into my X58 MB which was just running HD 6970 without issues (everything at stock) and it starts up - but the second i get the message, "device driver installed", it artifacts and BSoDs
:'(

i really wanted to skip 2600K; there is so little improvement over my i7-920 at 4GHz in gaming. And if i did get SB, i would certainly want to compare performance with my current CPU with HD 6990/GTX 590.

i am out of ideas.

Suggests your X58 MB is starting to show its age and cannot deliver STABLE current over the PCIE lanes at max load. Other cards may not stress the X58 board enough to see an effect, perhaps they are not configured to draw the max from the MB but rather from 6/8 pins instead.

You might have a point - except that it artifacts on the desktop the second Windows sets up the drivers for it. Power draw is at a minimum.