Solved: Something wrong with my new HD7850?

[imported_Cota]

Hi again.

I finished building my new box a couple days ago.

i5 2500k
Asus P8Z68
GSkill 8gigs
M4 SSD/Barracuda HDD
Seasonic X650 Gold
Sapphire HD7850 with 12.3 Catalyst
Plugged into a Dell 2407WFP. 1900 x 1200 @60Hz
Windows 7 64bit Home

All goes together well. I install the first game, Everquest 2 (don't laugh) (ok, go ahead, I'll wait). It runs beautifully. I didn't think a modern computer could run it so well.

However, I get these horizontal bands that flicker across the screen in game. Best way to describe it is like when you see a CRT monitor on TV, those bands that move up and down on the CRT? That's sorta what it looks like, but much less pronounced. Or a TV with bad over-the-air reception. If I showed you guys a screenshot, you probably couldn't see it. It doesn't display this problem in Windows. It doesn't display the problem in splash screens or zoning screens. Just in the 3D enviroment.

First test I did, was to install another game. Oblivion (newest 3D game I own =/). The bands are present in Oblivion as well. Next thing I did was pull the card and run off the Intel iGPU HD3000. Everquest 2 would barely run, but no bands present. I put the HD7850 back in, arranged the power cord differently, checked all the other cables and connections. Bands are back.

So I don't know if this is a software (drivers?) or a hardware issue. Is there anything else I can to troubleshoot? Did I get a lemon?

Thanks,

-Cota

 

[Stuka87]

It sounds like RF interference from something. But I have only ever gotten it when having other cards with a high EMF right up against the video card. From the sounds of it you don't have this.

I don't have either of those games so I can't compare them with my 7950. It seems unlikely two games that share nothing in common would have the same driver issue.

I would contact Sapphire support, as it sounds like there is a filtering (capacitor) issue with your card.

 

[flexy]

This sounds like what is also known as "tearing".

You can prevent it from activating "VSync" either in Game or in Control Panel.

You might also want to experiment with other drivers and/or settings like double buffering, triple buffering if available (game or control panel).

 

[imported_Cota]

I fired off an email to Sapphire. They don't even have a US telephone number. I hope it doesn't take long to resolve. I'd like to be able to take advantage of Neweggs 30 day return policy if I have to.

You know, I thought it looked like interference too. But I've never seen it happen before in a computer. I have no idea what could be causing it.

This sounds like what is also known as "tearing".

You can prevent it from activating "VSync" either in Game or in Control Panel.

You might also want to experiment with other drivers and/or settings like double buffering, triple buffering if available (game or control panel).

It's definately not VSync. That's working just just fine. I also played around with every in game graphic setting I could to see if it was something like that causing the bands. But the bands appear no matter the settings I used. I haven't tried using old drivers though. I'll wait and see if Sapphire responds before I start mucking up my pristine install.

Thanks,

-Cota

 

[RavenSEAL]

Sweep off 12.3 and install 12.1, see what happens.

 

[imported_Cota]

Sweep off 12.3 and install 12.1, see what happens.

Uninstalled 12.3 per instructions on AMD's website. Display went into VGA mode. Rebooted. Installed 12.1. Never was prompted for a reboot. Catalyst Control Center wasn't available from Desktop, and display remained VGA. Tried to scan for new hardware, no go.

Reinstalled 12.3. Do I need a 3rd party uninstaller?

Thanks,

-Cota

 

[Stuka87]

12.1 Doesn't have support for the 78x0 chips as far as I know. They were not released at that time.

 

[Maitox]

I also have the tearing issue with my 60Hz Samsung XL2370 Led monitor using my new 7850. Everything used to work just fine with my 3 year old 4850.

My system currently has both my monitor (through DVI) and my HDTV (through HDMI) connected to my PC.
The monitor supports 60hz refresh and the HDTV 75Hz.

I see no tearing in my HDTV, but when using Clone as my display option, I had tearing in my monitor. Once I disabled Clone and switched to Extend, the tearing went away.

Using 12.4 Beta drivers.

Hope this helps if someone with a 60Hz screen is having the same issues

 

[Jaydip]

Hi again.

I finished building my new box a couple days ago.

i5 2500k
Asus P8Z68
GSkill 8gigs
M4 SSD/Barracuda HDD
Seasonic X650 Gold
Sapphire HD7850 with 12.3 Catalyst
Plugged into a Dell 2407WFP. 1900 x 1200 @60Hz
Windows 7 64bit Home

All goes together well. I install the first game, Everquest 2 (don't laugh) (ok, go ahead, I'll wait). It runs beautifully. I didn't think a modern computer could run it so well.

However, I get these horizontal bands that flicker across the screen in game. Best way to describe it is like when you see a CRT monitor on TV, those bands that move up and down on the CRT? That's sorta what it looks like, but much less pronounced. Or a TV with bad over-the-air reception. If I showed you guys a screenshot, you probably couldn't see it. It doesn't display this problem in Windows. It doesn't display the problem in splash screens or zoning screens. Just in the 3D enviroment.

First test I did, was to install another game. Oblivion (newest 3D game I own =/). The bands are present in Oblivion as well. Next thing I did was pull the card and run off the Intel iGPU HD3000. Everquest 2 would barely run, but no bands present. I put the HD7850 back in, arranged the power cord differently, checked all the other cables and connections. Bands are back.

So I don't know if this is a software (drivers?) or a hardware issue. Is there anything else I can to troubleshoot? Did I get a lemon?

Thanks,

-Cota

Op can u post the display tab info of dxdiag?

 

[DominionSeraph]

You mentioned screenshot; have you actually done this and seen this banding? (This is actually a useful troubleshooting tool -- if the problem is present in the screenshot it rules out a display issue.)

 

[zebrax2]

I also have the tearing issue with my 60Hz Samsung XL2370 Led monitor using my new 7850. Everything used to work just fine with my 3 year old 4850.

My system currently has both my monitor (through DVI) and my HDTV (through HDMI) connected to my PC.
The monitor supports 60hz refresh and the HDTV 75Hz.

I see no tearing in my HDTV, but when using Clone as my display option, I had tearing in my monitor. Once I disabled Clone and switched to Extend, the tearing went away.

Using 12.4 Beta drivers.

Hope this helps if someone with a 60Hz screen is having the same issues

Try running both at 60hz

 

[dazelord]

My first post here, been a long time lurker.

I have the Sapphire HD7850 as well and exactly the same problem. I have a fairly old 24" Benq T241WA @ 1920x1200 60Hz connected to the DVI output of the 7850. Since the monitor only has VGA input I'm also using a dsub to dvi converter.

When running 3D games, I'm constantly getting horizontal flickering lines. I can't say for sure if the cause is the converter/vga cable itself or if it is the dvi output. Anyhow, if I'm outputing signal to one of my LCD TV's with HDMI the problems are completely gone.

It seems others have this problem as well... and the solution is using HDMI
http://eu.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/3660288547

 

[bigsnyder]

Cable swap may be in order

 

[imported_Cota]

My first post here, been a long time lurker.

I have the Sapphire HD7850 as well and exactly the same problem. I have a fairly old 24" Benq T241WA @ 1920x1200 60Hz connected to the DVI output of the 7850. Since the monitor only has VGA input I'm also using a dsub to dvi converter.

When running 3D games, I'm constantly getting horizontal flickering lines. I can't say for sure if the cause is the converter/vga cable itself or if it is the dvi output. Anyhow, if I'm outputing signal to one of my LCD TV's with HDMI the problems are completely gone.

It seems others have this problem as well... and the solution is using HDMI
http://eu.battle.net/wow/en/forum/topic/3660288547

Interesting. I was running the same set up with the vga/dvi doo-hickey. Same resolution and refresh rate too. I've already returned my card to Newegg though, and I'm just running off the iGPU for now till I figure out what to do next.

If the DVI output is the culprit, I wonder if it's exclusive to Sapphire, or if other brands would have the same issue?

-Cota

Edit:

Damn damn damn. My monitor does have a DVI input. I even tried it with the 7850, but I couldn't get a signal. The monitor's on screen display wouldn't come up while it didn't have a signal and I couldn't change inputs. I said heck with it for now, and went back to the VGA input with the VGA/DVI converter. After reading dazelord's post, I went back and played with it again, and managed to get it switched over to the DVI input (powered off and on and it changed inputs on it's own then). So I bet you the problem is indeed the DVI to VGA conversion and now I have no card to test it with. I probably returned a perfectly good card. I'm such a tit. In my defense though, I did exchange emails with Sapphire support and they finally told me to return it and get it replaced.

-Cota

 

[dazelord]

Interesting. I was running the same set up with the vga/dvi doo-hickey. Same resolution and refresh rate too. I've already returned my card to Newegg though, and I'm just running off the iGPU for now till I figure out what to do next.

If the DVI output is the culprit, I wonder if it's exclusive to Sapphire, or if other brands would have the same issue?

-Cota

Edit:

Damn damn damn. My monitor does have a DVI input. I even tried it with the 7850, but I couldn't get a signal. The monitor's on screen display wouldn't come up while it didn't have a signal and I couldn't change inputs. I said heck with it for now, and went back to the VGA input with the VGA/DVI converter. After reading dazelord's post, I went back and played with it again, and managed to get it switched over to the DVI input (powered off and on and it changed inputs on it's own then). So I bet you the problem is indeed the DVI to VGA conversion and now I have no card to test it with. I probably returned a perfectly good card. I'm such a tit. In my defense though, I did exchange emails with Sapphire support and they finally told me to return it and get it replaced.

-Cota

Sorry to hear that man, I hope you get a new card real soon. These 7850's are too good to live without.

I can also confirm that using the DVI output from the Sapphire 7850 does indeed work well if you don't use a dvi to vga adapter. I've tried three different adapters and get the same weird horizontal lines.

 

[blckgrffn]

Damn damn damn. My monitor does have a DVI input. I even tried it with the 7850, but I couldn't get a signal. The monitor's on screen display wouldn't come up while it didn't have a signal and I couldn't change inputs. I said heck with it for now, and went back to the VGA input with the VGA/DVI converter. After reading dazelord's post, I went back and played with it again, and managed to get it switched over to the DVI input (powered off and on and it changed inputs on it's own then). So I bet you the problem is indeed the DVI to VGA conversion and now I have no card to test it with. I probably returned a perfectly good card. I'm such a tit. In my defense though, I did exchange emails with Sapphire support and they finally told me to return it and get it replaced.

-Cota

No one is going to blame you for that. Were you using an adapter that came with the card?

 

[imported_Cota]

No one is going to blame you for that. Were you using an adapter that came with the card?

Nope. I was using the one that's been on the end of my VGA cable for how ever many years it's been there. I even thought about trying the one that came with the card, but I said to myself, "What difference could that make?".

My punishment now is to wait for some 7850's stock to show up.

-Cota

 

[blckgrffn]

Nope. I was using the one that's been on the end of my VGA cable for how ever many years it's been there. I even thought about trying the one that came with the card, but I said to myself, "What difference could that make?".

My punishment now is to wait for some 7850's stock to show up.

-Cota

At least you are accepting that graciously

Hopefully you'll hook up the new one(s?) and they'll work perfectly Let us know!

 

[imported_Cota]

Problem Solved.

It was indeed the conversion process, DVI to VGA. I got the new card today. Plugged it in using the DVI, and the problem was gone.

Plugged it in with my old DVI to VGA converter and the problem was back.

Plugged it in with the DVI to VGA converter that came with the card, and the problem was back.

For what ever that's worth. The signal doesn't like to be converted I guess. I'm curious if that is a Sapphire thing or a 7850 thing or something else entirely.

Also, I noticed text is much sharper on the DVI.

Thanks for the help! Especially you Dazelord, if you stumble back in here. Without you, I imagine I would have gotten the new card, plugged it back in with the converter and beat my head against the wall.

-Cota