Possible faulty/overheating GPU after sale, replacement recommendations

[RageValley]

Hey,

I recently sold a PC to a friend and after a few weeks he complained of seeing unusual graphics on screen, sometimes the screen would go dark, other times grainy, other times graphics would appear garbled flap around the screen.

The card is XFX Radeon 7970 3GB GDDR5 Double Dissipation Edition

In one specific example he said he was playing GTAV and the grey lamp posts were transforming into flat grey triangles and then flickering around their usual position.

He also sent this screenshot.

Any ideas what is going on here? Is the card on it's way out?

Idle temps on the card seem to be around 60c, which I thought was quite high for a card not doing anything.

During gaming (GTAV) the temps were going as high as 70c - as far as I am aware thats not too worrying.

The card is in a small case but does have ample cooling.

The card is not overclocked with AMD Overdrive I believe.

Here is the settings during GTA, He sent me this:

Right after this happened:

I'm essentially going to need to foot the bill to get this fixed, but looking for some advice before parting with cash... Is it overheating? or is the card dying?

I would like some recommendations for a suitable replacement? It can't be worse, but I don't want it to be much better either so that it doesn't cost me much.

Finally, if I replace the card is there anything I can do to recondition it? new/better cooling? maybe it's worth contacting XFX.

Any advice is appreciated thanks.

 

[RageValley]

We just let GTAV idle for a while and it's now hitting 80c

 

[96Firebird]

You can monitor the temps in real-time using something like MSI Afterburner with RTSS to see if the card is overheating. Also, see how much dust has built up in the card over the years, and see if the location of the tower is creating an overheating condition (ie if it is in a cabinet without ample space there might not be enough airflow).

If all else fails, your card should have a lifetime warranty from XFX. Should be able to RMA it without issue.

 

[EXCellR8]

If not, GPU thermal is not hard to apply... just find some small screwdrivers. I've taken cards apart to find that barely anything has been applied to the surface of the core. Uncommon, but completely possible.

 

[RageValley]

You can monitor the temps in real-time using something like MSI Afterburner with RTSS to see if the card is overheating. Also, see how much dust has built up in the card over the years, and see if the location of the tower is creating an overheating condition (ie if it is in a cabinet without ample space there might not be enough airflow).

If all else fails, your card should have a lifetime warranty from XFX. Should be able to RMA it without issue.

We have been monitoring temps they're going into the 80s, graphical issues start in the 70s though. The inside of the case is dust free, I was amazed when I opened it up before selling that there wasn't a grain of dust inside, it has good airflow.

I didn't realise it had a lifetime warranty i'll give that a go.

 

[RageValley]

Can anyone suggest a replacement? A similar model, like the R9 series? Better, not worse please.. possibly better at cooling

 

[nurturedhate]

The cheapest RX 470 you can find. Preferably somewhere under $180, or a 1060 3gb at the same price. Everything else is going to cost more. I'd go the RMA route personally.

 

[Thinker_145]

Can anyone suggest a replacement? A similar model, like the R9 series? Better, not worse please.. possibly better at cooling

4GB RX 470.

Sent from my HTC One M9

 

[Rifter]

Can anyone suggest a replacement? A similar model, like the R9 series? Better, not worse please.. possibly better at cooling

rx470

 

[Ranulf]

Is he using the latest video drivers? I've not played GTA5 in 4-6 weeks but I've had one set of drivers in the past 8 months or so cause weird graphical glitches in the game (on a 7870 card). Nothing as serious as your screenshots though.