Some info on those x1950pro blackscreen problems

BlingBlingArsch

Golden Member
May 10, 2005
1,249
0
0
yo,
lateley a number of ppl have encountered an issue with their new x1950pro card during gaming. The screen would turn black while the sound would continue playing.
It took those *sapphire staffed mods* from the sapphire forum weeks to admit that its not a PSU problem at all - guess they´ve been busy deleting hate posts - but some guys smarter than me pointed into the right direction eventually.
Long story short here are some pics of the card´s parts that - if not cooled properly - tend to overheat during 3D games aka of the VRM´s (Voltage Regulator Module) of the memory and gpu itself.

http://img171.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=72608_Untitled_2_122_315lo.jpg
http://img28.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=72609_dpwmti4_122_564lo.jpg

The picture below shows an attempt to cool these small troublemakers when an aftermarket cooler like VF900 is used. I know its too many of those lil heatsinks and i wouldnt suggest anyone to use that many of them since u could shorten somehing but I myself used only two single GPU Memory heatsinks and a 120mm fan that would blow on them. But even with this method blackscreen were comin back when i ran some games and gpu benches.

http://img41.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=72616_mitkuehler_122_447lo.jpg

What can we conclude from all that?
Dont use an aftermarket cooler or be aware of the VRM temp problem.
Stick to the standard coolers from the manufacturer and pray that they are designed well enough. Different manufacturers are offering different cooling designs..check them out before u buy.
Have fun with the card anyway, they are pretty fast and not too expensive :)

greetz



PS: have another and longer read (and more insightful regarding the competences of the moderators) over at the sapphire forum:
http://www.sapphiretech.com/en/forums/showthread.php?p=54365#post54365
 

CrystalBay

Platinum Member
Apr 2, 2002
2,175
1
0
Thanks , My Asus has an awesome cooler and clocks like a dickens. I did not realize the dpwm were such a problem...
 

mblue

Junior Member
Nov 27, 2006
10
0
0
I haven't heard much about the bb ATI version, but Sapphire seems to be having some serious issues with these. So far this has been enough to get me to return my x1950pro to BB. I don't want a card that is just barely being cooled properly.
 

Matt2

Diamond Member
Jul 28, 2001
4,762
0
0
I have some instability issues with my X1900XTX and for a very long time I have eyed the voltage regulator as the #1 culprit, but never did anything about. My VRM is cooled by a joke of a heatsink and I have had problems just like you are describing.

Mine is a Powercolor.