ATI Radeon HD 5970 Problem

[f0rcerec0n]

The system will stop responding and then either recover or I will need to do a hard reset. This issue only occurs when at idle core clocks. I have very rarely locked up in graphically intensive environments where the core clocks are at maximum. The card is not overclocked and temperatures are normal.

Alienware Aurora Desktop
Overclocked Intel Core i7 920 (3.2GHz, 8MB Cache)
6GB Triple Channel 1333Mhz DDR3
Single ATI Radeon HD 5970, 2GB GDDR5
Cosmic Black, Alienware Aurora Chassis, 875W PSU

RETURNED

 

[shadow187]

What's your power supply? You'd need something like an extremely good quality 550W, or a decent 650Watt to run that setup.

 

[f0rcerec0n]

Cosmic Black, Alienware Aurora Chassis, 875W PSU

 

[shadow187]

Have you overclocked the card at all? What are your temperatures?

 

[f0rcerec0n]

No overclocking on the card
Idle temp in the 40s and 50s
Max temp in FurMark is low 90s

 

[f0rcerec0n]

It is also important to note that this issue only occurs at idle clock speeds. I have never had a problem in 3D intensive environments where the clocks are at max speeds.

 

[hernan9999]

i have the same problem and nobody knows what it is.we re facked

 

[flyinfinni]

maybe idle voltages drop too low? Might be worth downloading one of the voltage tweaking/ocing programs and see if you can mess with the idle voltages.

 

[f0rcerec0n]

It has to be something along those lines because it performs perfectly in 3D.

 

[f0rcerec0n]

RETURNED

 

[flyinfinni]

Probably not a bad call. Good luck with the replacement;-)

 

[f0rcerec0n]

Probably not a bad call. Good luck with the replacement;-)

Thanks!

 

[microterf]

haha, with 5970 stock. Good luck GETTING a replacement soon!

 

[f0rcerec0n]

I ordered Dual 5870s instead.

 

[flyinfinni]

Ahh- good call. Dual 5870's will do you very well

 

[Tauvas]

Alienware Aurora Desktop
Overclocked Intel Core i7 920 (3.2GHz, 8MB Cache)
6GB Triple Channel 1333Mhz DDR3
Single ATI Radeon HD 5970, 2GB GDDR5
Cosmic Black, Alienware Aurora Chassis, 875W PSU

RETURNED

I am having the same issue with my Alienware Aurora, I just got it 3 days ago, mine locks up at the welcome screen sometimes with major artificacts and is completely locking up in games as well when in high resolution. They're sending me a replacement card, if that doesn't work I'll be returning my desktop as well.

My set up is not much different than yours, have a 960 processor.

Intel Core i7 960 (3.2GHz, 8MB Cache)
6GB Triple Channel 1333Mhz DDR3
Single ATI Radeon HD 5970, 2GB GDDR5
Cosmic Black, Alienware Aurora Chassis, 875W PSU

 

[builderbobftw]

This is why you guys need to build it you'reself.

 

[flyinfinni]

Lol- I'm with you Builderbob- however, some people just don't have the time or feel comfortable doing that.

 

[builderbobftw]

My record time for a complete disabmble of a machine is 1 min 45.4 seconds.

 

[bystander]

I imagine a complete disabmble in that time involves an axe. Am I right?

 

[builderbobftw]

It took me a few thousand tries and a few years to get that score/time.

(My student job, I have a life)

It involved a power screwdriver, thick gloves, and a lot of courage.

 

[pietrooch]

Hi there chaps
I've got XFX Radeon 5970 Black Edition, Intel Core i5 750, 8GB G.Skill Ripjaw 1333 in Dual Channel, Antec modular PSU 650W and exactly the same problem as f0rcerec0n.

It's got nothing to do with your processor, mobo or PSU. It's all about ATI display drivers. The company is blaming people's hardware but it's simply impossible that a vast majority of those who bought Radeon 5970 have a faulty hardware.

I managed to overcome this problem which prooves that there's nothing wrong with my PC.
It used to freeze every 5-10 minutes but now everything works just fine.
Here's what I did:
- upgraded my bios so I can manualy set the fan speed in Catalyst
- set everything in Catalys to Quality meaning:
a) Anti-aliasing x16
b) Anti-aliasing mode - Quality
c) Aniso-filtering x16
d) Mipmap - Quality
- manually set the fan speed to 35%
Problem solved or at least reduced to a minimum.

There seems to be a problem with the card in idle mode.
Now I just have to be patient and wait until ATI finally launches some proper drivers

Hope I helped some of you.
best regards
pietrooch

 

[flyinfinni]

I think maybe it was the BIOS flash that fixed your problem. Its probably caused by a BIOS setting that lets the idle clocks and voltages get too low to be stable, causing the problem. BTW- you can manually set the fan speed in Catalyst Control Center anyway- without a BIOS flash.

 

[Guest]

I never got that with my old Sapphire 5970 even @ 1Ghz/1175Mhz, what mhz is the GPU idling at? Try running msi afterburner and Gpuz to see idle voltage and load voltage. It could be faulty memory that cant low clock at 300.

 

[pietrooch]

I never got that with my old Sapphire 5970 even @ 1Ghz/1175Mhz, what mhz is the GPU idling at? Try running msi afterburner and Gpuz to see idle voltage and load voltage. It could be faulty memory that cant low clock at 300.

Cheers elie Did what you said and downloaded that MSI afterburner tool. From initial 1.049 V increased to 1.062 V. The system seems much more stable now, I don't even have to keep the fan speed at 35% anymore however the temps are reaching 80 C in stress after benchmarking the card

Thanx again elie.