Fake R9 380x?

[Foldalot]

Recently I opened this thread No way to check GPU core voltage and while it seems that this issue is solved, I have another one with this GPU.

Today I searched some info about ASUS Strix R9 380x and found out that it has 2x6 pin connectors. Mine has a 1x8 pin connector, just as a ASUS Strux R9 380 2GB which I had few days before and replaced it with R9 380x 4GB, because of the slight improvement and no cost (the store has some weird prices).

Now when I add this to the problems I had with the GPU's voltage which is mentioned in the linked thread and all the BSODs and crashing with unigine benchmarks I find this quite suspicious. I also found out about people flashing their r9 285 and 380's BIOS to make them appear as 380x.

On the box of the R9 380x as a system requirements it says that I need 2x6 pin connectors, although the GPU inside the box has only place for 1x8pin connector.

I have a theory that the GPU is somehow flashed to be represented as a R9 380x while actually being R9 380. It is obviously OCed to the specs of an R9 380x and then the voltage is locked which is mentioned in the linked thread.

A friend bought the same GPU from the same store 1 month ago and it has 2x6 pin connectors. Everything else is the same, the GPU's looks, the stickers with the S/N on it, the box.

Unless anyone knows of a ASUS Strix R9 380x with 1x8pin connector, this is very suspicious, and even so, why does it say on the box 2x6 pin connectors?

So, facts that the GPU is fake
1. 1x8 pin connector, just as R9 380
2. No indicator of core voltage
3. ASUS Tweak casues BSOD and has weird behavior
4. Friend has the same GPU from the same store with 2x6 connectors

Facts that the GPU is legitimate
1. Gigabyte has R9 380x with 1x8pin connector
2. When I type the serial number of the GPU on ASUS's website, it gives me R9 380x
3. Passmark and 3DMark 11 scores are what you would expect from R9 380x
4. Everything I compared with my friend's GPU from GPU-z is literally the same.

 

[nukemaster]

Maybe they switched to a single 8 pin(i would look more clean with a single cable bundle). Contact Asus to be sure.

6 pin cables are good for 75 watts and 8 are good for 150. So an 8 pin is as good as 2 6 pins

 

[anti-duck]

There are two versions of the ASUS R9 380X, the STRIX 380X with 2x6-pin PCIe and a core clock of 990MHz in OC mode (P/N - 90YV0900-M0NA00), then there's the STRIX R9 380X OC with 1x8-pin PCIe and a core clock 1050MHz in OC mode (P/N - 90YV0901-M0NA00).

You don't often see the standard STRIX R9 380X anymore, I dunno if ASUS have stopped making it or something.

 

[Foldalot]

then there's the STRIX R9 380X OC with 1x8-pin PCIe and a core clock 1050MHz in OC mode (P/N - 90YV0901-M0NA00).

According to the P/N number on the box I have this one.

But I guess I can contact ASUS just to be sure.

 

[nukemaster]

Well that seems good. It has an 8-pin.

 

[anti-duck]

I forgot to add that the box of both versions are also exactly the same, everything is the same except the STRIX OC has an 'OC' sticker on the side of the box. Probably a bit lazy on ASUS' part because they do require different PCIe power and the box should really reflect that.

 

[Foldalot]

I do have an "OC edition" placed on the side of the box. I guess everything is alright then.

 

[anti-duck]

I do have an "OC edition" placed on the side of the box. I guess everything is alright then.

Yeah, I would bet that yours is legitimate. I dunno what is going on with GPU Tweak though 🙁

 

[Foldalot]

Yeah, I would bet that yours is legitimate. I dunno what is going on with GPU Tweak though 🙁

Before I pick a solution and close the thread, would you mind reading the linked thread and sharing your opinion on the voltage issue and why unigine benchmarks (valley and heaven) are sometimes crashing at specific scenes?

 

[anti-duck]

I'm not sure why anything is crashing (is this also happening when you put your video card into another PC?), but the voltage not appearing is because the voltage is locked on that card, it was the same with both of my R9 270's if I remember correctly.

 

[nukemaster]

Custom boards may actually use different voltage controllers and hardware monitoring chips. It could be something as simple as that. Not all cards allow voltage adjustments or even monitoring(but clearly if gpu weak allows it, the card is capable of it.).

As for the BSOD with the Asus software, I would guess it is just buggy.

Video cards are more than upto the task of controlling voltage as required.

 

[Foldalot]

I'm not sure why anything is crashing (is this also happening when you put your video card into another PC?), but the voltage not appearing is because the voltage is locked on that card, it was the same with both of my R9 270's if I remember correctly.

I gave the GPU to my brother to test it and it couldn't be done since he had a problem with flickering, not being able to have a resolution higher than 1600x900 and 30Hz, weird stuff. Although he had to use DVI for his monitor, while I use HDMI. So our guess was that the flickering might be due to the DVI. Although we can't rule out a possibility for a faulty GPU.

Nevertheless, thanks for the info. You saved me the embarrassment of having to call the store with false information about the box and the GPU.

Hopefully no new issues will arise.

 

[Foldalot]

Custom boards may actually use different voltage controllers and hardware monitoring chips. It could be something as simple as that. Not all cards allow voltage adjustments or even monitoring(but clearly if gpu weak allows it, the card is capable of it.).

Video cards are more than upto the task of controlling voltage as required.

Yeah, I was joking with my friends calling this GPU plug n play. However, I'd like to have more control over the voltage, but I'll deal with it.

 

[anti-duck]

I'm not sure why anything is crashing (is this also happening when you put your video card into another PC?), but the voltage not appearing is because the voltage is locked on that card, it was the same with both of my R9 270's if I remember correctly.

I gave the GPU to my brother to test it and it couldn't be done since he had a problem with flickering, not being able to have a resolution higher than 1600x900 and 30Hz, weird stuff. Although he had to use DVI for his monitor, while I use HDMI. So our guess was that the flickering might be due to the DVI. Although we can't rule out a possibility for a faulty GPU.

Nevertheless, thanks for the info. You saved me the embarrassment of having to call the store with false information about the box and the GPU.

Hopefully no new issues will arise.

With all that, it does sound like you might have a faulty GPU to be honest, don't go RMA'ing it just yet though. I would make a new thread on here listing all the problems you've have and get opinions on whether you can do something or do have a faulty GPU.

 

[Foldalot]

With all that, it does sound like you might have a faulty GPU to be honest, don't go RMA'ing it just yet though. I would make a new thread on here listing all the problems you've have and get opinions on whether you can do something or do have a faulty GPU.

Yeah, I was planning on testing it for few more days and then see whether to RMA it or keep it. I'll also think about opening a new thread, perhaps if I gather more info about the GPU's issues.

 

[Foldalot]

I just want to mention that I resolved one issue. The Unigine Heaven benchmark was crashing because it was in fullscreen. I found on the net that some R9 380 users complained about Heaven crashing at a specific scene (the same where I crash) and the solution was to run Heaven in windowed mode.

So this means that the GPU runs quite well with benchmarks and games, and the issues with the locked voltage and asus tweak aren't convincing enough to RMA it. The only remaining issues I should look at again is the flickering on my brother's PC.

 

[nukemaster]

It all almost sounds like a driver issue.

You may want to submit a report.
http://www.amdsurveys.com/se.ashx?s=5A1E27D23A3DE979

 

[Foldalot]

Thanks, will do if necessary