HD3870 problems

[jlqrb]

I just picked up a used HD3870 and I have had many issues with it since I purchased it.

I have tried to change the settings in my motherboard options but that didn't work, I changed power supplies to the current 620 watt Corsair PSU that I have now and I made sure all power connectors where plugged into the board including the 12v connectors that are only really needed when running more than one GPU.


Problems.

1. No matter what I do the card only runs at PCI-E x8 and not at x16.

2. It will sometime run stable at stock timings of 800/1200 and sometimes it will not. I use ATI tool and CCC to test.

3. Temps are very high, they idle at around 60c and load at around 80c.

Even with these issues the card still smokes my 7600gt but I will get pixel errors at random spots while gaming and rarely the game freezes and the whole PC needs to be shut down.


System

AMD 9500
DFI LP UT 790FX
2GB corsair Dominator DDR2 1066
Visiontek HD 3870
WD 74GB raptor
Corsair HX620W

Thanks

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i'm not sure if this will solve ur problem but maybe there was an error while uninstalling/installing drivers, did u use driver cleaner in safe mode? you should try again using ati's cat 8.5's

how did u check if the card is running x8 or x16?

60c and 80c load isn't bad, but i think u can use rivatuner to change fan settings.

and theres also a slight chance you got a damaged card with the artifacts, the prior user could've shorted something out or broke something while playing with it (i.e. while reapplying thermal paste)

 

[jlqrb]

I did use driver cleaner in safe mode. I also did a fresh install of windows a few times. The only thing I can think of is that the bios in the card were damaged some how ( either bios flash or removing fan ). If that is the case would a bios flash help ?

 

[stepone]

Have u tried re-seating the graphics card heatsink & applying some fresh AS5?

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

If you just picked it up, return it and tell them the problem. Nothing wrong with that

 

[schneiderguy]

Originally posted by: jlqrb

3. Temps are very high, they idle at around 60c and load at around 80c.

That is normal with the stock cooler and default fan speed settings.

 

[daveybrat]

Use Rivatuner to set the fan speed higher and see if that helps.

 

[jlqrb]

Thanks for the replies ! Rivatuner did bring the temps down to 55c idle. One more thing I noticed is that no matter what load I am under my fan speed stays at 40% unless I manually set it with Rivatuner. Shouldn't the fan auto adjust ?