Problems with r9 290 tri-x, help

Hardware Hub GPU
1

About 2 days ago i had just upgraded from asus 7770 2gb (which was working perfectly fine) to r9 290 tri-x from sapphire.

Now before i get into it i need to say that i had problems with the nvidia 970 too.

I have installed and re-installed the drivers, even ended up re-installing windows but it did not work properly, the problem was that i would get weird vertical lines on the screen. when i go in game and actually start playing it would slowly go away, but when going back in windows they would appear back.

I would get the same thing in a live linux.

 system specs:
fx 6300
asrock 970 extreme 4 mbo  (i thing that could be the problem)
8gb ram
xfx 550w bronze psu
120 gb ssd
2 tb hdd
1 tb hdd
usb 3 pci card
 

2
  • Have you tried another monitor?
  • Tested the 290 in another machine?
  • memtest
  • tried another pcie lane
  • updated your BIOS >>  http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/970%20Extreme4/?cat=Download&os=BIOS

Could be the psu but since you mention you had issues with a 970 of which uses not much more than a 7770 in most instances its hard to say... would be well worth your effort in testing with another psu as well. xfx units have 5yr warranties so dont be afraid to rma it.

The only definitive way to rule out the motherboard is to swap it out and test again. Perhaps one of your mates has a 970/990 board you can borrow for a day.

3

I can't try another monitor, but i did try the same monitor with my laptop.

I can't try the same card in another machine (don't have one). 

Have not made the memtest yet. 

Tried another pci-e lane, didn't work. 

Have not updated the bios.

But it works perfectly fine in safe mode.

Oh and just now I am getting the famous black screen.  

4

boot safemode?

uninstall everything. empty windows no drivers preinstalled.

Then when card is first plugged in, it will automatically install basic drivers.

 

if that basic drivers gets you these lines then you need to install AMD catalyst omega drivers .

if they make ur screen go crazy then you uninstall it.

 

 

try these  things.

 

feels like bad GPU it self OR bad PSU cause not nuff power at all.

 

5

I have just used a ddu to uninstall the video drivers. Now it works perfectly fine, but i need the drivers for actually using the card, can't even user windows aero, not even speaking about playing games.

Then, i have tried to re-install the drivers from the actual driver cd. Didnt work.

6

Check both bios of the card (I assume it has a little dual-bios dip switch, full reboot first, disable HW FastBoot in Bios/Uefi for this just in case as well).

I assume the second monitor you tried had another cable, otherwise check cables - are you using DVI-D?

Maybe check on Techpowerup Firmware Database for newer bios / reflash same one maybe even. http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/index.php?architecture=&manufacturer=Sapphire&model=R9+290&interface=&memType=&memSize= . You can use Ati Win Flash, took some 5min, freezes screen and program, so no touching the power button.If anything goes wrong, you got a second bios left anyway. 

Check with Hawaii Info / Memory Info (google pls) if you got Hynix or Elpida - or take off cooler to check. Elpida has more black-screen issues. While you are at it, if you open it up, make sure everything is as is should be - and I am not joking unfortunately. Pls check my link below... (i.e. memory getting hot maybe)

DDU in safe mode, run for both nvidia and also amd (twice total),w/o allowing Win to install new ones (little check box), but was already mentioned.

 

Vertical lines could relate to the gpu or the memory (or many other things like outputs etc pp), although memory usually gives black screen straight away, where gpu gives funny flashes, lines and you name it. It is strange that you experience more issues in Windows than in games though. 

Maybe try MSI Afterburner, and just set core at 947 and memory at 1250 (stock reference), see if that makes any difference at all.

 

If all fails, maybe just DOA ... :(

My Sapphire 290X Tri-X had a broken fan, my replacement Vapor-X has QC issues: https://teksyndicate.com/forum/gpu/sapphire-r9-290x-tri-x-oc-warranty-issue/194025

g/l

7

Firstly i have tried to underclock the card, it worked. Then i had uped the core voltage by 25 and the core clock by 100 (from 1000 to 1100), left the memory clock the same (1300) and it works perfectly fine.

8

I had the same problem with my sapphire r9 290 vapor x. Was getting black/white lines randomly popping up on my display.

 

Out of the box vapor x vram, is overclocked to 1400mhz as opposed to the 1250mhz most 290s come with. I went into catalyst control center/performance/amd overdrive and lowered it there. Black lines went away completely.

9

Glad you got it fixed :)

10

thanks :D.....now i can finally enjoy my r9 290 :)

11

I am glad that this worked for you. From what you are writing, it sounds that you have the 290 OC version (1000,1300 stock OC). If the card does not manage those settings without you increasing core volt manually, it may indicate that your gpu is on the lower side of the silicon lottery. 

You could still check up if there is a newer bios available, just in case. In any way, 1100 core clock is already decent, and I am not sure how much overclocking you were planning to do.

If you feel like it, you could check how much (or too little but that's unlikely) thermal paste is on the gpu, and maybe apply you own, which usually workes a few degrees cooler. And again, while you're at it, check if Sapphire assembly staff forgot some plastic wrapper / thermal pads inside the card... ;)

best, k

12

It's probably because it's not Hynix.

13

Yeah, that's what I thought he'd check...

Usually the Sapphire cards are Hynix though, while the premium Asus and MSI cheaped out and got Elpida