ASUS R9 290 DirectCU II OC Black Screen on Factory Clock Settings

[Elyk247]

Hello,

I recently purchased an ASUS R9 290 DirectCU II OC Graphics Card and have had some trouble with it. I have been using MSI Afterburner to adjust the memory clock from the factory setting of 1260 MHz GDDR5 to 1000 MHz to play games. I believe this is where the issue lies as I have played the Witcher 3 with a core clock of 1000 MHz and memory clock of 1000 MHz for upwards of 7+ hours straight. However, when I play for 3-5 minutes at stock settings at 1260, the black screens always return. I am currently using the most recent Catalyst 15.7.1 Driver Version.

My Specs

ASRock H97M PRO4 LGA1150/ Intel H97/ DDR3/ Quad CrossFireX/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&GbE/ MicroATX Motherboard
Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad Core Processor
ASUS R9 290 DirectCU II OC
Team Vulcan 8gb DDR3 1600mhz System Memory (2 x 4096MB)
Western Digital Blue 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive
Thermaltake PS-TPD-0850MPCGUS-1 850W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Windows 8.1 64-Bit

Thanks

 

[Robert Cook]

power supply is not an issue, that would seem to be the card, perhaps an RMA?

 

[Elyk247]

I'm using two PCI-E cables (one 8-pin, the other 6-pin), I might try using different cables but its looking more and more likely an RMA is where this dour saga ends up. Thanks for taking the time to help

 

[Shaun o]

Well the cause may be heat, so check it`s temps.
A factory cooler that is ill fitted.

Left over driver software after an update to a more new version causing a conflict.
First of all use driver sweeper from geeks3d to remove any reference in the windows registry for graphics drivers.
Restart your system, then go and download the latest catalyst driver for the ATI card.
Install a temp monitor for the GPU, that creates a log file of temps when the card is under load.
74c is acceptable full gpu loading temps, any higher in the 80c-90c range we have a cooling problem.

Run it at factory clocks and see if it still crashes.
Post the results.
I doubt it is PSU related as it`s a good brand of PSU and 850W output, and likely only about two years old.
Try not to have the in built Ati overclocking app enabled the same time as MSI after burner ect, have a check if it is the case.

 

[Robert Cook]

Well the cause may be heat, so check it`s temps.
A factory cooler that is ill fitted.

Left over driver software after an update to a more new version causing a conflict.
First of all use driver sweeper from geeks3d to remove any reference in the windows registry for graphics drivers.
Restart your system, then go and download the latest catalyst driver for the ATI card.
Install a temp monitor for the GPU, that creates a log file of temps when the card is under load.
74c is acceptable full gpu loading temps, any higher in the 80c-90c range we have a cooling problem.

Run it at factory clocks and see if it still crashes.
Post the results.
I doubt it is PSU related as it`s a good brand of PSU and 850W output, and likely only about two years old.
Try not to have the in built Ati overclocking app enabled the same time as MSI after burner ect, have a check if it is the case.

80-90C is a problem? this is a R9 290 we are talking about, those things can run into the 90s with little or no no throttling.

 

[renz496]

RMA

 

[Elyk247]

Well the cause may be heat, so check it`s temps.
A factory cooler that is ill fitted.

Left over driver software after an update to a more new version causing a conflict.
First of all use driver sweeper from geeks3d to remove any reference in the windows registry for graphics drivers.
Restart your system, then go and download the latest catalyst driver for the ATI card.
Install a temp monitor for the GPU, that creates a log file of temps when the card is under load.
74c is acceptable full gpu loading temps, any higher in the 80c-90c range we have a cooling problem.

Run it at factory clocks and see if it still crashes.
Post the results.
I doubt it is PSU related as it`s a good brand of PSU and 850W output, and likely only about two years old.
Try not to have the in built Ati overclocking app enabled the same time as MSI after burner ect, have a check if it is the case.

I used Display Driver Uninstaller and that didn't work. I then ran the Witcher 3 on my GPU's stock settings and used SpeedTree to document the temps. Looks like it was about 89 degrees when it black screened within 5 minutes from idle temperatures.

 

[Robert Cook]

89 is not that high for a R9 290. that should not be the issue.

 

[Shaun o]

It may not be the Gpu but other components that don`t like the heat, memory for example.
Or Vrm temps once the board is in full operation and at 70 to 80% Gpu load.
The rest of the board on the card will heat up also not just around where the Gpu is.

I would Rma the card if still under warranty from the brand maker of it.
Why not it`s there for the purpose if the card is not functioning right and results in a freeze or a black screen.
The black screen is a clear indication that something is getting to hot, because the driver contains safety features to protect the Gpu ect from burning out or damage to it due to excessive heat.
It terminates all gpu function to cool the card down in extreme situations.
And why often people are met with a black screen and, or a system freeze.
The driver terminates all gpu operations and instructions running.

If you backed the clocks off it would generate slightly less heat.
A 280x card is basically a 7970 card re badge. A 290 card will run slightly hotter.

How is the Air flow in the rest of your case? if you have space to fit extra fans in the front and back of your case.
buy some more fans and fit them in a push pull config if the case.
It may well help to tame the Gpu temps a bit, if the case you have is pretty compact.
Or simply Rma the card as said, and be done with it, till provided with a like for like replacement card.