Debug my PC

[ProxyAmenRa]

I recently bought a Gigabyte 7970 ghz and my computer has issues detecting the card. Sometimes it detects the card and sometimes it does not. It is annoying when the computer suddenly does not detect the card when in operation.

Can anyone debug this issue?

 

[walfin]

have you updated drivers?

have you made sure there is no hardware issue (e.g. card not seated properly in socket)?

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

The card does not fit into the pci express port very well. It wobbles quite an amount. The pcb where the pins are seems a bit thin in comparison to my old graphics card.

I could try a different pci express port but I am unsure whether or not the next port down is a x8 or x16. Do pci express ports even work that way?

 

[BigApplePi]

What happens when it doesn't detect? The card should be firmly seated but more importantly the cables must be firmly inserted both at the card end and the power source end.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

What happens when it doesn't detect?

It defaults to Window's basic graphics drivers.

The card should be firmly seated but more importantly the cables must be firmly inserted both at the card end and the power source end.

Being firmly seated is an issue. The card wobbles a bit even after being bolted in. I believe my cable are firmly plugged in.

 

[walfin]

Being firmly seated is an issue. The card wobbles a bit even after being bolted in. I believe my cable are firmly plugged in.

Your slot has the plastic thingy to prevent it from coming out right?

Maybe you can try to take it out and wipe the gold contacts. Sometimes there is dust.

You might try using a different screw for the card if it still wobbles. It shouldn't.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Your slot has the plastic thingy to prevent it from coming out right?

The lock tab? Yes.

Maybe you can try to take it out and wipe the gold contacts. Sometimes there is dust.

Yes, there could be dust in the port itself. The card was perfectly dust free when I plugged it in.

You might try using a different screw for the card if it still wobbles. It shouldn't.

Where it is bolted in it is firm. The other side is able to wobble. That is to be expected. It just wobbles more than my old card.

 

[Duxwing]

What are your overall system specs?

-Duxwing

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

What are your overall system specs?

-Duxwing

CPU: i7 860 ~3.4 ghz
PSU: Superflower 850 W Bronze Cert
Ram: 4 GB Channel A, 4 GB Channel B
Motherboard: Asus P7P55D PRO
OS: Windows 7 64 bit

I have been meaning to replace my hard drive for quite some time. It could be buggy.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

If you've made sure everything is proper, test the same card on another PC / test a different card on the same PC. After that I would send it in, you don't want to miss the window for refund/exchange if the problem is with the manufacturing.

I could try a different pci express port but I am unsure whether or not the next port down is a x8 or x16. Do pci express ports even work that way?

Motherboard: Asus P7P55D PRO


Expansion Slots
2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode)
1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots (at x4 mode, 2.5GT/s)
2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 (2.5GT/s)
2 x PCI

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

If you've made sure everything is proper, test the same card on another PC / test a different card on the same PC. After that I would send it in, you don't want to miss the window for refund/exchange if the problem is with the manufacturing.

You know that feeling you get that the product you received from the store has already been opened?

Anyhow, good advice but I don't have another computer to test the card on.

Motherboard: Asus P7P55D PRO


Expansion Slots
2 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (single at x16 or dual at x8/x8 mode)
1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots (at x4 mode, 2.5GT/s)
2 x PCI Express 2.0 x1 (2.5GT/s)
2 x PCI

I see. I will try a different pcie 2.0 x 16 port.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

The issue seems to have resolved itself.

 

[Duxwing]

The issue seems to have resolved itself.

Great!

-Duxwing

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Now I am wondering why benchmarks on the net are better than my own.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

I spoke too soon. Half of the time the computer does not detect the graphics card. I tried a different pci express slot and the same thing occurred. Interestingly enough, when I swapped slots windows installed the proper drivers itself. It was only after I installed the AMD drivers (catalyst control centre) and installed them, the detection issue occurred again. I deduced this from the observation that when I uninstalled the drivers and used driver cleaner, the issue did not occur. I think I shall run an experiment to try and rule out the hypothesis that it is the catalyst control centre drivers which are the issue.

 

[Duxwing]

I spoke too soon. Half of the time the computer does not detect the graphics card. I tried a different pci express slot and the same thing occurred. Interestingly enough, when I swapped slots windows installed the proper drivers itself. It was only after I installed the AMD drivers (catalyst control centre) and installed them, the detection issue occurred again. I deduced this from the observation that when I uninstalled the drivers and used driver cleaner, the issue did not occur. I think I shall run an experiment to try and rule out the hypothesis that it is the catalyst control centre drivers which are the issue.

We await the results.

-Duxwing

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I spoke too soon. Half of the time the computer does not detect the graphics card. I tried a different pci express slot and the same thing occurred. Interestingly enough, when I swapped slots windows installed the proper drivers itself. It was only after I installed the AMD drivers (catalyst control centre) and installed them, the detection issue occurred again. I deduced this from the observation that when I uninstalled the drivers and used driver cleaner, the issue did not occur. I think I shall run an experiment to try and rule out the hypothesis that it is the catalyst control centre drivers which are the issue.

I remember reading some people had issues with their utility programs but not the drivers themselves.

So your options are:
Windows automatic driver search (you said you tried this already though, right?)
Installing official drivers without the utility
Downloading an older version, maybe several months to a year back

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

The issue definitely occurs when drivers are installed with the catalyst control centre. This has been an interesting experience. Nvidia has better drivers.

 

[Hawkeye]

I'd format - fixes 99.9% of problems every time.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Formatting is a pain.

 

[Hawkeye]

Formatting is a pain.

But, you'd know that if the card still failed, it means it's not the software. I myself have a 7950 (I'm not as flashy ) and I've not had any issues at all. I did a clean install (I always do when I beef up my machine).

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

(I'm not as flashy )

lol. It is not as if I bought a GTX Titan, 7990 or GTX 690. :P

 

[BigApplePi]

Are you talking to the manufacturer to help you with the install?

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

If more issues manifest I will be getting in contact. The current solution seems to be sound. Two days have passed and no detection issues. I am hopping for the best.

 

[Duxwing]

lol. It is not as if I bought a GTX Titan, 7990 or GTX 690. :P

Try to buy one or two models behind the curve: you get almost the same performance for often a hundred dollars (as measured in USD) less. I think?

-Duxwing

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

I normally just buy the "best" and don't upgrade until the hardware is not able to do what I want. My gtx 295 ($500) lasted 4.5 years.

 

[Duxwing]

I normally just buy the "best" and don't upgrade until the hardware is not able to do what I want. My gtx 295 ($500) lasted 4.5 years.

Perhaps an even better choice could be to buy the 'best' and then simply buy more of it as time wears on: two Crossfired 7950s could outperform a single 7990, and the second 7950 will be much cheaper than the first. As more power is needed, you buy more hardware. Eventually, however, you will run out of space and need to start "fresh" again with the latest hardware, but not nearly as much of it.

-Duxwing

 

[Hawkeye]

I flashed the bios on my 7950 and made it think it's a 7970. So I've overclocked it to a 7970 and it still remains relatively cool. Better yet, it's stable

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

I flashed the bios on my 7950 and made it think it's a 7970. So I've overclocked it to a 7970 and it still remains relatively cool. Better yet, it's stable

Doesn't the 7950 have less cores than the 7970?

 

[Coolydudey]

Doesn't the 7950 have less cores than the 7970?

I've don the same: they were only bios-locked! (I went 6950-6970)

 

[Hawkeye]

Doesn't the 7950 have less cores than the 7970?

Yeah, the 7970 has more cores, but what does this actually mean?

Well, it means in a benchmarker like 3DMark 11 you get an extra 500 points (wooo - not that these stats mean anything useful). In gaming you'll get a 3-5% performance boost (about 2-4fps).

Is the difference noticable? No, not at all.

The 7950 overclocked technically is a 7970, only sucking less power out of your machine and less money out of your wallet ^^

The real advantages are superficial.

However, if you overclock a 7970 then things are a little different. The overclocking capability isn't in the same league as the 7950 though.

 

[Duxwing]

Yeah, the 7970 has more cores, but what does this actually mean?

Well, it means in a benchmarker like 3DMark 11 you get an extra 500 points (wooo - not that these stats mean anything useful). In gaming you'll get a 3-5% performance boost (about 2-4fps).

Is the difference noticable? No, not at all.

The 7950 overclocked technically is a 7970, only sucking less power out of your machine and less money out of your wallet ^^

The real advantages are superficial.

However, if you overclock a 7970 then things are a little different. The overclocking capability isn't in the same league as the 7950 though.

*bows, wearing a tunic* Teach me, O Master, in the Way of The Overclock.

-Duxwing

 

[Coolydudey]

*bows, wearing a tunic* Teach me, O Master, in the Way of The Overclock.

-Duxwing

That would be me...
Having said that, I'm not a fan of GPU overclocking unless necessary

 

[Duxwing]

That would be me...
Having said that, I'm not a fan of GPU overclocking unless necessary

What's wrong with overclocking?

-Duxwing

 

[Coolydudey]

What's wrong with overclocking?

-Duxwing

Meh, it's a bit messy compared to CPU over clocking, without major speed gains

 

[Hawkeye]

Meh, it's a bit messy compared to CPU over clocking, without major speed gains

Saaay wut!?

I would have said it's the other way around. You can get up to 40% increase in performance out of a 7950.

I doubt there are many CPUs that can get equivalent overclock performances. You need to up the voltages of both the CPU and RAM to get anywhere near. RAM is usually the culprit in causing issues with overclocks.

I'd say overclocking a GPU is less messy and more stable than CPU tinkering.

 

[BigApplePi]

What's wrong with overclocking?

-Duxwing

Heat. Too hot and it will malfunction and may stop. I use Precision X to check on the temperature. Temp is not the only factor. I have a Titan, overclocked it and it Nan'd out. Don't know why.

 

[Hawkeye]

I have a Titan

 

[Coolydudey]

Saaay wut!?

I would have said it's the other way around. You can get up to 40% increase in performance out of a 7950.

I doubt there are many CPUs that can get equivalent overclock performances. You need to up the voltages of both the CPU and RAM to get anywhere near. RAM is usually the culprit in causing issues with overclocks.

I'd say overclocking a GPU is less messy and more stable than CPU tinkering.

I've got a larger performance increase than that with my CPU (with some 100 dollar cooling, closed water loop, it's a hybrid system, very easy, corsair H60 or H70 is my model I think).

For small overclocks GPUs are easy, and you are right. But in general, you can't reach the over clocking capacity of a CPU even if the CPU only has a high-end air cooler unless you use water cooling for your GPU...

 

[Duxwing]

Saaay wut!?

I would have said it's the other way around. You can get up to 40% increase in performance out of a 7950.

I doubt there are many CPUs that can get equivalent overclock performances. You need to up the voltages of both the CPU and RAM to get anywhere near. RAM is usually the culprit in causing issues with overclocks.

I'd say overclocking a GPU is less messy and more stable than CPU tinkering.

How would one 'up the voltages'?

-Duxwing

 

[Coolydudey]

How would one 'up the voltages'?

-Duxwing

For CPU and ram from the bios, for amd cards from catalyst control, for Nvidia cards I'm not sure.

By the way, hawkeye, the stock clocks on the hd 79xx are a bit low

 

[Hawkeye]

I have an AMD 1090T running @ 4.01GHz
12GB of RAM
7950 running @ 7970 clock speeds.

I have no water cooling. My GPU has a stock cooler and my CPU has an Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro.

The PC is quieter than a person whispering

My machine has run stable from day one and I've never bothered to check the temperatures for this reason. ^^


As for performance, I've yet to find a game to cripple it on full settings. Although, Shattered Horizon with a full server makes it sweat.


[edit]

For GPU voltages, use MSI Afterburner.