- Sep 19, 2009
- 81
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- 18,630
Long time reader first time poster 
I'll try and keep this concise. I've been seeking help with a graphics card issue I've had. Basically I own a 790FX motherboard which allows me to run two ATI cards in a CrossFireX method at x16 each. I've only been running one card at a time to test each card (thankful I did) and have encountered problems.
I have the exact same graphics card for the CrossFire solution, as in I am using the same make and manufacturer (EAN/UPC barcode is the same at the back). Now get this. One of my 3870s which I bought can only run at x8 speed. It was correctly seated and plugged in with a quality PSU.
When I bought the card it looked like it had been opened before as the drivers CDs appeared to have been opened, a molex cable had been taken out of the plastic and there was no static bag, rather a bubble wrap bag. Still as it was the first card, I bought it. When the second card (again remember same make and model) arrived, it came with a static bag in completely mint condition which leads me to believe this one could have been returned.
And now back to the problem. I run the "mint" condition card which I am sure is brand new and it runs at x16 speed. The card that I suspect was used can only run at x8. I'm using the same slot of testing both cards and have not changed any components or settings. Both cards are the same cards, using the same BIOS and so on.
It's really annoying because I tend to find that although the card I suspect is used and faulty can pass a 3Dmark loop is still can often cause issues in Left4Dead and general browsing, but it's random and can take 20 minutes to appear. I might be playing when suddenly the screen cuts out and graphics hangs, 15 seconds later all good.
The mint condition 3870 card has NO issue what so ever. I'm keen to do an RMA but seeing as the retailer isn't keen on doing one plus seeing they were fairly shady in the first place, is there any way I can fix this myself?
Is it possible for a card to be fixed from x8 to go back to x16 or is this some kind of issue that is unfixable on my end? I'm guessing someone had the same issue beforehand and returned it to the retailer.
I'll try and keep this concise. I've been seeking help with a graphics card issue I've had. Basically I own a 790FX motherboard which allows me to run two ATI cards in a CrossFireX method at x16 each. I've only been running one card at a time to test each card (thankful I did) and have encountered problems.
I have the exact same graphics card for the CrossFire solution, as in I am using the same make and manufacturer (EAN/UPC barcode is the same at the back). Now get this. One of my 3870s which I bought can only run at x8 speed. It was correctly seated and plugged in with a quality PSU.
When I bought the card it looked like it had been opened before as the drivers CDs appeared to have been opened, a molex cable had been taken out of the plastic and there was no static bag, rather a bubble wrap bag. Still as it was the first card, I bought it. When the second card (again remember same make and model) arrived, it came with a static bag in completely mint condition which leads me to believe this one could have been returned.
And now back to the problem. I run the "mint" condition card which I am sure is brand new and it runs at x16 speed. The card that I suspect was used can only run at x8. I'm using the same slot of testing both cards and have not changed any components or settings. Both cards are the same cards, using the same BIOS and so on.
It's really annoying because I tend to find that although the card I suspect is used and faulty can pass a 3Dmark loop is still can often cause issues in Left4Dead and general browsing, but it's random and can take 20 minutes to appear. I might be playing when suddenly the screen cuts out and graphics hangs, 15 seconds later all good.
The mint condition 3870 card has NO issue what so ever. I'm keen to do an RMA but seeing as the retailer isn't keen on doing one plus seeing they were fairly shady in the first place, is there any way I can fix this myself?
Is it possible for a card to be fixed from x8 to go back to x16 or is this some kind of issue that is unfixable on my end? I'm guessing someone had the same issue beforehand and returned it to the retailer.
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