AMD 7950 Overheating/Display Driver Stopped working

[ShooX]

Hello

I have a pretty annoying problem with my PC/GPU - Everytime im playing anything no matter what settings - low-ultra on ANY game (doesn't happen on CS GO suprisingly) my graphics card hits 85c+ and crashes (I used to get BSOD's from it ages ago but not anymore,) now it just freezes (screen) has stopped working and computer stoppes responding and I have to reset it, but before it just displayed "Display Driver stopped working but successfully recovered" in which case it started working again but I had to restart 3d applications and web browser as they were just blank.

I have been monitoring temperatures for MONTHS and everytime GPU's temperature hit 85c(about) it just crashed. Everything else within computer isn't heating up. I would like help with this as I literally don't know what to do anymore.

List of solutions I tried -

Spoiler

*Buying new case(Corsair 200r) (Fan at the front (air in), Fan at the back(air out), 2 fans on the side of the case (air in) etc. All fans are 120mm ones)
*Installing a watercooler (Corsair h100) on CPU (blows air out of the case at the top)
*Installing a watercooler (Corsair h50 with extra fan) on GPU (blows air out of the case)
*Setting fans (GPU watercooler) to 100% after it goes over 50c so it would cool faster
*Setting everything in AMD Overdrive to lowest possible settings with everything off
*Tried KB2665946 (all solutions) - instead of resetting after not responding it just freezes now
*Tried multiple of different drivers off AMD website (cleaning old ones with driver sweeper etc.)
*Tried disabling High Definition Driver and Realtek High Definition Audio (as I use usb headset)
*Tried updating Motherboard bios (no difference)
*Tried some other solutions too

I have been testing the GPU with OCCT

Results (there is fps drop at very start because window wasn't active)
OCCT

Temperatures while IDLE

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Temperatures under LOAD (Playing Deus Ex on max settings for about 30 minutes suprisingly didn't crash on me this time)

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My Computer Specs:

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CPU - AMD FX8120 3.1GHz (Turbo Mode enabled in BIOS)
MOBO - Gigabyte GA-990XA-UD3
RAM - 8GB DDR3 (cheap ram)
SSD - Kingston 120GB
HDD - WDC(something) 500GB
GPU - AMD Sapphire 7950 HD 3GB (not overclocked)
PSU - Corsair CX750 Bronze Certificate

If you require more information than that I will gladly provide them. I hope someone came across similar issue and found a solution...

About GPU Watercooler

Spoiler

It uses kraken g10 to fit the cooler in, it is doing much better job than stock cooler as it takes around 30-50 minutes for it to overheat where it took 10-15 before.

Update:

I monitored it with GPU-Z and the VRM 1 - temperature hits 100c+ within 300 seconds of running OCCT and VRM 2 - temperature hits 76c. From what i read is that they hit 125c (VRM 1) and GPU crashes. Is there an efficient way to cool them down?

 

[OguzDastan]

I have had problems with my AMD 7950 R9 too. It ended up getting burned. Not like smoking and stuff, but just stopped working. I had to go to the shop i bought my parts from, and i got a GTX 760 2GB instead. He said the card got overheated even though it should have handled it. He said "It's typical AMD cards".

So my answers would be, get a new card as the AMD 7950 is still a beast, its very unstable.


Btw im very happy for the new GPU. It is very stable.

 

[Salvinha]

I have a Powercoloer HD 7950 for two years now, never had any problem, and it is a beast, until today I play all games in Ultra in 1080p (except for AA settings, always set to FXAA).
Unfortunatelly I lost my HD 4870x2 like this a long time ago. Some AMD manufacturers are just not good.

 

[OguzDastan]

True, the AMD 7950 was a beast for me, but it let me down after almost 2 years. I got the GTX 760 as replacement for the AMD, and im not complaining, because i get much more stable fps and less screen tearings with this card.


ShooX, whats the AMD cards manufactorer? Maybe its the same as mine, and maybe its that manufactorer who has these problems for the 7950 card. I have seen a few have problems with the R9 280, but its not always the same equal quality.
Atleast through my experience it isn't.

 

[ShooX]

As I stated in initial post, the manufacturer is Sapphire. It's really annoying as the VRM's are overheating and I don't know what to do with it. :/

 

[coozie7]

OK, something's obviously wrong...I know I'm a genius for that, but there's no way a liquid cooler shouldn't keep that card cool.
So, at the risk of sounding insulting, take the GPU cooler block off and check its contact with the GPU die, the '7950 comes in 3 flavours depending on its age BTW: One where the die surface is below the surround, one where the die is level with the surround and one where the die is a little above the surround.
Is there any cooling on the VRMs?, an old trick is to use either thermal tape or adhesive to attach a row of memory coolers like these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835708008 not a perfect solution but it does work.

 

[garrick]

Did you try cleaning the cooling fins? Those cards get pretty dusty after a few months and if so it will quickly overheat.
Another problem could be the thermal grease drying out so if all else fails try reapplying some arctic silver and see how that goes.

I thought VRMs were cooled by the GPU fan blowing air over them? If you installed water cooling how are the VRMs cooled?
Can you try pointing a fan directly on the GPU and see if it still overheats?

 

[ShooX]

I have already trying cleaning literally everything in my computer, Thermal paste is fresh too so I don't think its drying out and also as I have mentioned I'm using kraken g10 on it which has a fan blowing onto them. I suspect I will need to install some heatsinks on them maybe that will cool them down a bit. I will post here when I'll do it.