Asus R9 280X Artifacts -> RMA for other model?

[VinnieWalker]

Hello all,

First, I want to open this message with thanking the people on this forum, as it has been a tremendous help in building my first PC.

I built the following system:
Mobo: Asus H87-Plus
Processor: Intel i5 4670K
RAM: Corshair 2x 8GB DDR3 Vengeance
Video Card: Asus R9 280X DCU II TOP
PSU: Seasonic S12G 750W

I think these are the main specifications that are necessary to know right now.

Since installing the PC, I've had major artifacting and graphical problems in games like Battlefield 4, World of Warcraft and Diablo 3, but also while using Chrome.

Funmark gives problems right from launching the burn in test, but 3DMARK Fire Strike seems to work without artifacts.

The only way I can minimalize it is to set the GPU clock and the memory clock back to the AMD numbers (950 mhz GPU and 6000 mhz memory), so I made the decision to RMA the card.

Because it is only 2 days old, I can go for another model (other 280x or a GTX 770).

I've seen quite some problems with the card that I'm using right now, and I would like to ask suggestions here which card would be better suitable, or if I should just go for a replacement.

Thanks in advance and sorry if my grammar is bad, I'm not native English.

 

[Wort]

I know this question is extremely annoying, and in most cases completely unnecessary, but I have to ask you: Have you tried installing different drivers?

I've seen a lot of problems with r9 280x cards. Some of them are based on software level, the other ones had faulty hardware. Actually, artifacts are so common on these cards, that you must be lucky to get non-faulty gpu.

If I were you, I'd RMA it and go for GTX 770

 

[JOHNN93]

i have the same card and it gives me artifacts in call of duty i saw a bios update and a new driver thar promises to eliminate minor artifacts caused in games.i belive a 770 whould do better it has the same or better preformance and nvidia has nice features like the adaptive vsync and a ton more.i bought it because of the mantle support.but a lot of people have a lot of artifacts and complaints.for the price to preformance the gpu gives its not that bad.but if you want a refund bcause of it not being able to satisfy your needs(artifacts lag and not being able to play your favorite games)THEN F... IT.the choice is up to you.

 

[VinnieWalker]

Thanks for your response, Wort.

I have tried the drivers supplied on the DVD, the 13.11 beta 9 and the 13.12 stable release. All three show the same problems.
Like you say, I got the idea that artifacts on these cards are too common to try another one, so I prefer to go for a safer GTX 770.

Edit: I used Driver Sweeper in between every switch between drivers by the way, and I've updated the bios through the website of ASUS.

 

[Wort]

Thanks for your response, Wort.

I have tried the drivers supplied on the DVD, the 13.11 beta 9 and the 13.12 stable release. All three show the same problems.
Like you say, I got the idea that artifacts on these cards are too common to try another one, so I prefer to go for a safer GTX 770.

Edit: I used Driver Sweeper in between every switch between drivers by the way, and I've updated the bios through the website of ASUS.

Let me ask you, where do you live and how much did you pay for r9 280x? Maybe I can find a good replacement for your card

 

[VinnieWalker]

i have the same card and it gives me artifacts in call of duty i saw a bios update and a new driver thar promises to eliminate minor artifacts caused in games.i belive a 770 whould do better it has the same or better preformance and nvidia has nice features like the adaptive vsync and a ton more.i bought it because of the mantle support.but a lot of people have a lot of artifacts and complaints.for the price to preformance the gpu gives its not that bad.but if you want a refund bcause of it not being able to satisfy your needs(artifacts lag and not being able to play your favorite games)THEN F... IT.the choice is up to you.

Thanks for your response, JOHNN93.

I'm going to return this card for sure, the question is more like, should I try another one of this card, or is it nearly stupid with all the problems with this model to try another 280X (may it be from Asus or another manufacturer)

 

[VinnieWalker]

Thanks for your response, Wort.

I have tried the drivers supplied on the DVD, the 13.11 beta 9 and the 13.12 stable release. All three show the same problems.
Like you say, I got the idea that artifacts on these cards are too common to try another one, so I prefer to go for a safer GTX 770.

Edit: I used Driver Sweeper in between every switch between drivers by the way, and I've updated the bios through the website of ASUS.

Let me ask you, where do you live and how much did you pay for r9 280x? Maybe I can find a good replacement for your card

I live in the Netherlands, and bought the r9 280x for 299,00 euro.

 

[Wort]

Thanks for your response, Wort.

I have tried the drivers supplied on the DVD, the 13.11 beta 9 and the 13.12 stable release. All three show the same problems.
Like you say, I got the idea that artifacts on these cards are too common to try another one, so I prefer to go for a safer GTX 770.

Edit: I used Driver Sweeper in between every switch between drivers by the way, and I've updated the bios through the website of ASUS.

Let me ask you, where do you live and how much did you pay for r9 280x? Maybe I can find a good replacement for your card

I live in the Netherlands, and bought the r9 280x for 299,00 euro.

If spending another 40€ isn't a problem for you, I would get r9 290 instead. it has 20% better performance, and 40€ is not that much for, as good price/performance ratio, as r9 290 has to offer.
http://www.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=110102&agid=2448&pvid=9ncseodh8_0&ref=27

 

[JOHNN93]

asus is a good manufacute and a lot of people have had problems with other manufactures that i saw.we had to replace a faulty gigabyte a week ago.amd seems to be a bit behind it consumes more watts to give you half of the benefit you whould get from nvidia.check the specs of the 770 and a r9280x.
Memory Clock
7010 MHz ( MHz GDDR5 )
Memory Interface
256-bit
nvidia
Memory Clock
6400 MHz ( 1600 MHz GDDR5 )
Memory Interface
384-bit
amd
nvidia with a lower memory bus and power consumption outpreforms the 280x.

 

[VinnieWalker]

Thanks for your response, Wort.

I have tried the drivers supplied on the DVD, the 13.11 beta 9 and the 13.12 stable release. All three show the same problems.
Like you say, I got the idea that artifacts on these cards are too common to try another one, so I prefer to go for a safer GTX 770.

Edit: I used Driver Sweeper in between every switch between drivers by the way, and I've updated the bios through the website of ASUS.

Let me ask you, where do you live and how much did you pay for r9 280x? Maybe I can find a good replacement for your card

I live in the Netherlands, and bought the r9 280x for 299,00 euro.

If spending another 40€ isn't a problem for you, I would get r9 290 instead. it has 20% better performance, and 40€ is not that much for, as good price/performance ratio, as r9 290 has to offer.
http://www.hardwareversand.de/articledetail.jsp?aid=110102&agid=2448&pvid=9ncseodh8_0&ref=27

I've been thinking about the r9 290, but unfortunately I already went for broke on this PC and can't miss 70 euro (the extra costs at the Dutch store I used) right now. Using the site you gave would costs 50 extra including shipping.

Is this card nearly free of the problems that the r9 280x suffers from?

 

[VinnieWalker]

asus is a good manufacute and a lot of people have had problems with other manufactures that i saw.we had to replace a faulty gigabyte a week ago.amd seems to be a bit behind it consumes more watts to give you half of the benefit you whould get from nvidia.check the specs of the 770 and a r9280x.
Memory Clock
7010 MHz ( MHz GDDR5 )
Memory Interface
256-bit
nvidia
Memory Clock
6400 MHz ( 1600 MHz GDDR5 )
Memory Interface
384-bit
amd
nvidia with a lower memory bus and power consumption outpreforms the 280x.

Yeah, I see the same when looking at BF4 benchmarks with different GPU's. The 770 sometimes outperforms the r9 280x here, and the game is optimalized for AMD. In most other games, the 770 seems like the better choice.

 

[themadtaxi]

Hey, I have MSI version of the card with the same issue and was able to resolve it. My Fix might work for you. Inside the GPU box I found a scrap of paper that showed a small physical switch on the the bottom of the card that toggles between "hybrid" bios and Legacy bios. The hybrid bios, which is on by default for some reason, is supposed to help improve wake times from hibernation and reboot. I found my switch on the underside near the very front (closes to the display ports) and toggled it to Legacy. That solved all of my artifact and frame rate issues.

 

[bishop168]

Hey, I have MSI version of the card with the same issue and was able to resolve it. My Fix might work for you. Inside the GPU box I found a scrap of paper that showed a small physical switch on the the bottom of the card that toggles between "hybrid" bios and Legacy bios. The hybrid bios, which is on by default for some reason, is supposed to help improve wake times from hibernation and reboot. I found my switch on the underside near the very front (closes to the display ports) and toggled it to Legacy. That solved all of my artifact and frame rate issues.

@themadtaxi
Hi, could you please take the photo for how to fix the problem?
Thank you so much!