Horrible problems with 4870x2 card

[Chaotic42]

So I picked up a 4870x2 card since it seemed to be the card to get. Unfortunately, my system has been nightmarish since I got it. I wiped everything clean and reinstalled Windows.

I'm having horrible audio problems, including skipping, crashing, and generally horrible performance. World of Warcraft swings from great to unplayable in seconds. Windows just dies sometimes.

I'm using the 8.11 drivers. The system is useless with my X-Fi installed and has a lot of problems with my on-board sound. I disabled everything except my headset, and it works almost acceptably. Sometimes.

The absolute worst is getting 1-2 fps in WoW. I've seen that a lot of people have this problem, but no one has any solutions.

I'm going to RMA it and get a 280 if I can't get it working. This is absurd. Has anyone had these issues and if so, have you been able to fix them?

 

[Wreckage]

This thread got locked because we are not allowed to talk about ATI in a bad way, but the 8.11 drivers have a major problem with the x2
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2253189&enterthread=y

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
This thread got locked because we are not allowed to talk about ATI in a bad way, but the 8.11 drivers have a major problem with the x2
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2253189&enterthread=y

That's not why it was locked at all.

Besides, we need more details about some things. Does CCC show both GPUs and show them running on a PCI-E x16 slot? Have you tried 8.10 drivers to check? Did you try setting Catalyst AI to advanced?

 

[IlllI]

Chaotic42 give a detailed list of your system components

(clicking on your system in your sig led to nothing)

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd

Originally posted by: Wreckage
This thread got locked because we are not allowed to talk about ATI in a bad way, but the 8.11 drivers have a major problem with the x2
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2253189&enterthread=y

That's not why it was locked at all.

Besides, we need more details about some things. Does CCC show both GPUs and show them running on a PCI-E x16 slot? Have you tried 8.10 drivers to check? Did you try setting Catalyst AI to advanced?

Yes, it shows both GPUs running on PCI-e at x16.

Graphic Bus Capability: PCIe 2.0
Maximum Bus Setting: PCIe 2.0x16

Catalyst AI is set to Advanced

I have not tried the 8.10 drivers.

As for the rest of my system:

Intel DP965LT Motherboard
Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 2.4GHz
4GB DDR2
Adaptec 29160 SCSI HBA
Fujitsu 36GB U160 SCSI - Main OS
Western Digital 750GB SATA - Storage/Programs
2xDell 24" LCD
Logitech headset

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Wreckage
This thread got locked because we are not allowed to talk about ATI in a bad way, but the 8.11 drivers have a major problem with the x2
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2253189&enterthread=y

Well, while I am highly annoyed by what's going on with my system, I'm willing to try and fix it. I do worry though, and it appears that ATI wants to stick to a monthly release instead of a "when we have a fix". That's how it looks, anyway.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Your motherboard have the latest BIOS? I've heard of some older motherboards not functioning with newer cards without BIOS update.

Also try only 1 monitor on the card and see what happens. Just a thought.

You can always try cap 8.10 as well, worth a try.

 

[SSChevy2001]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Well, while I am highly annoyed by what's going on with my system, I'm willing to try and fix it. I do worry though, and it appears that ATI wants to stick to a monthly release instead of a "when we have a fix". That's how it looks, anyway.

Is you problem just with WoW? If so try disabling the CF and see how it performs.

If not then load 8.10 and still disable CF for WoW.

ATi currently has big release with stream coming up, which is more than likely why we haven't seen any leaked beta drivers.

Anyway 8 more days for 8.12, can't wait to test out stream.

 

[apoppin]

First of all, ATi told me there are real problems with X2 or CF and WoW
- there are issues that will not be fixed until Dec 10 [Cat 8-12]
[i played the WoW trial to compare WoW with AoC and LotRO over 56K dialup; 4870 ran WoW great - X2 had nasty flashing textures]

And i hear there are issues with Cat 8-11 although i have just begun testing with them and have discovered no issues [yet]
- you might try 8-10 which i found very stable

 

[Majic 7]

I have had no problems at all with the 8.11's, X2 and Vista 64. Not even with Fallout 3 which is supposed to be a crash fest for everyone if you read the Bethesda forums. I think this problem is probably similar to the problems some have with Vista 64 and games, some have it but most don't. Don't have WOW and never will so I can't comment on problems with that.

 

[Genx87]

Does CF or these x2 cards require the control center? I had terrible issues with my 4850 until I uninstalled the control center software.

 

[nitromullet]

Chaotic42, you aren't by chance running WoW with 8x Adaptive AA are you? In my experience ATI has really poor performance in WoW with 8xADAA. I've never seen frames as low as 1-2, but definitely in the single digits. 4xADAA works great through.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Chaotic42, you aren't by chance running WoW with 8x Adaptive AA are you? In my experience ATI has really poor performance in WoW with 8xADAA. I've never seen frames as low as 1-2, but definitely in the single digits. 4xADAA works great through.

No, I'm running at 1x Multisample.

I don't know about the control center thing, I've heard horror stories about it before.

As far as WoW, flashing the BIOS has made it run about as well as it did on my 7800GTX, so right now I'm out $500 for about a 2% performance decrease. I should be able to hold out until 8.12 comes out, but having been through the whole product creation, QC, delivery cycle myself, it worries me that a problem this big wasn't found before release. Surely World of Warcraft is on their QC checklist somewhere.

Anyway, I suppose I'll bide my time rather than just RMAing the thing and paying a 15% stupidity tax in the form of a restocking fee.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Chaotic42, you aren't by chance running WoW with 8x Adaptive AA are you? In my experience ATI has really poor performance in WoW with 8xADAA. I've never seen frames as low as 1-2, but definitely in the single digits. 4xADAA works great through.

No, I'm running at 1x Multisample.

I don't know about the control center thing, I've heard horror stories about it before.

As far as WoW, flashing the BIOS has made it run about as well as it did on my 7800GTX, so right now I'm out $500 for about a 2% performance decrease. I should be able to hold out until 8.12 comes out, but having been through the whole product creation, QC, delivery cycle myself, it worries me that a problem this big wasn't found before release. Surely World of Warcraft is on their QC checklist somewhere.

Anyway, I suppose I'll bide my time rather than just RMAing the thing and paying a 15% stupidity tax in the form of a restocking fee.

To be fair, didn't WoW just make over their engine and double the draw distance? i notice some pretty nice lighting i never saw in screen shots. i think if you play with some of the CCC settings you can play it OK. i hated WoW and it was torture for me to play it; so i switched to a single 4870 for the screen shots; i like AoC a lot better.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: apoppin
To be fair, didn't WoW just make over their engine and double the draw distance? i notice some pretty nice lighting i never saw in screen shots. i think if you play with some of the CCC settings you can play it OK. i hated WoW and it was torture for me to play it; so i switched to a single 4870 for the screen shots; i like AoC a lot better.

Surely the engine was available to the hardware developers. NVIDIA seems to have done okay.

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Chaotic42, you aren't by chance running WoW with 8x Adaptive AA are you? In my experience ATI has really poor performance in WoW with 8xADAA. I've never seen frames as low as 1-2, but definitely in the single digits. 4xADAA works great through.

No, I'm running at 1x Multisample.

I don't know about the control center thing, I've heard horror stories about it before.

As far as WoW, flashing the BIOS has made it run about as well as it did on my 7800GTX, so right now I'm out $500 for about a 2% performance decrease. I should be able to hold out until 8.12 comes out, but having been through the whole product creation, QC, delivery cycle myself, it worries me that a problem this big wasn't found before release. Surely World of Warcraft is on their QC checklist somewhere.

Anyway, I suppose I'll bide my time rather than just RMAing the thing and paying a 15% stupidity tax in the form of a restocking fee.

Welcome to the world if ATI... "Wait until the next Cat comes out", you'll get used to hearing that. I don't really understand monthly releases. Why don't they just fix stuff when it's broken regardless of what month it is?

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: apoppin
To be fair, didn't WoW just make over their engine and double the draw distance? i notice some pretty nice lighting i never saw in screen shots. i think if you play with some of the CCC settings you can play it OK. i hated WoW and it was torture for me to play it; so i switched to a single 4870 for the screen shots; i like AoC a lot better.

Patch 3.0 ran fine at 8xSSAA/16xAF with my GTX 280 with shadows/draw distance at max.

 

[Creig]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Why don't they just fix stuff when it's broken regardless of what month it is?

They do. And soon as they fix it, they can get it out to consumers within one month. Nvidia, on the other hand, sits on their fixes internally and only releases them once they deem they have a large enough stockpile of them. Which is usually once every 4 to 6 months.

Personally, I'll take the monthly updates.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: nitromullet

Originally posted by: apoppin
To be fair, didn't WoW just make over their engine and double the draw distance? i notice some pretty nice lighting i never saw in screen shots. i think if you play with some of the CCC settings you can play it OK. i hated WoW and it was torture for me to play it; so i switched to a single 4870 for the screen shots; i like AoC a lot better.

Patch 3.0 ran fine at 8xSSAA/16xAF with my GTX 280 with shadows/draw distance at max.

Patch 3.0 ran fine at 8xMSAA/16xAF with my ASUS HD4870/1GB with shadows/draw distance at max.

How is SLi and WoW? .. the only issues i can find are with multi-GPU ATi and WoW

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: Creig

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Why don't they just fix stuff when it's broken regardless of what month it is?

They do. And soon as they fix it, they can get it out to consumers within one month. Nvidia, on the other hand, sits on their fixes internally and only releases them once they deem they have a large enough stockpile of them. Which is usually once every 4 to 6 months.

Personally, I'll take the monthly updates.

That may be so, but honestly, I cannot recall the last time I had a driver issue with NVIDIA drivers, and I certainly haven't had any with my GTX 280 (or GTX 280 SLI). Granted, I don't tend to play through a stockpile of older games, and I'm, sure the newest games tend to get more attention. Don't get me wrong, generally ATI drivers are good, but every time you have have an issue the fix is always "wait for the next Cat".

...in retrospect, I guess I should say that this is probably more of a knee jerk reaction on the part of the "ATI community". ATI's release schedule it really fine, maybe it's the yokels that just always respond to every ATI issue with "wait until the next Cat" that annoy me.

Originally posted by: apoppin
Patch 3.0 ran fine at 8xMSAA/16xAF with my ASUS HD4870/1GB with shadows/draw distance at max.

...but not 8xADAA/16xAF.

The 4870 will tank with 8xADAA enabled http://steelforest.net/video/4...280_files/image042.gif (this is form even before patch 3.0) Every ATI card I've tried in the past year (3870 X2. 4850, 4870 512MB, and 4870 X2) couldn't handle 8xADAA in WoW.

How is SLi and WoW? .. the only issues i can find are with multi-GPU ATi and WoW

I didn't play much when I had my dual GTXes (I don't currently have an active acct), but I don't recall any issues.

 

[Tempered81]

power supply?

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: jaredpace
power supply?

1000W Antec

 

[FalseChristian]

This may seem simplistic but it usually works for me at least. Reformat and reinstall Windows and start off on a clean slate. It surely won't hurt considering the investment you have made, right?

Edit: Sorry. You'll have to be easy on me. My I.Q. is only 72.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: FalseChristian
This may seem simplistic but it usually works for me at least. Reformat and reinstall Windows and start off on a clean slate. It surely won't hurt considering the investment you have made, right?

He already did. Third sentence in the original post.

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: Creig

Originally posted by: nitromullet
Why don't they just fix stuff when it's broken regardless of what month it is?

They do. And soon as they fix it, they can get it out to consumers within one month. Nvidia, on the other hand, sits on their fixes internally and only releases them once they deem they have a large enough stockpile of them. Which is usually once every 4 to 6 months.

Personally, I'll take the monthly updates.

Actually, chances are the game was developed and thoroughly tested with NV hardware so any needed fixes were included in the drivers before the game was even released. Its also been well-documented that it will most likely take 2 months before AMD gets a fix in for a game due to alternating driver trunks. You can reference the Phoronix article or Derek's writings if you want to know more about them.

As for the common misconception about NV's driver releases and fixes:

Vista 64 drivers since June 07

I believe there's 31 something WHQL and Beta drivers, all downloaded from Nvidia's site. There's no 4-6 month gaps and you'll also notice the driver releases are more concentrated in Q3 and Q4, which also coincides with the majority of game releases.