Sapphire R7 260x black screen!!!

[Aravind92]

Bought a sapphire R7 260x 2gb(says oc edition but core and memory clocks are lesser than referrence) 25 days back.
Whole system is new.Got a black screen just when sitting on the desktop two days after i built the pc.Restarted pc,everythjing fine for 2 weeks,black screen again,all components running fine inside the cabinet,still black screen tried unplugging and replugging DVi cable,no go,monitor still gets signal after black screen.This was with the the driver which came along with the gpu.
Then installed 13.12 from amd webiste,black screen next day,just when browsing the internet.
Uninstalled that too and installed 13.12c from sapphire which had catalyst version 14.1,worked fine for 8 days,black screen again when watching a movie.Movie sound form the speaker turned into a wird long loop,still monitor was recieving signal.So uninstalled that too and installed 14.3 beta.Restarted the pc and when installiong arkham origins,black screen again,restated the pc and uninstalled that too and installed 13.10.Worked fine for one day and black screen again just after starting the system when browsing thorugh my folders on the hard disk.

Everytime i do a clean uninstall and boot into safe mode and run driver sweeper and only then i install another version.

When gaming this has never happened,No heating issue,max temp is 76 even with crysis 3.To be noted:I live in India,chennai.It is summer now and temps are between 35 and 40c outside.

Even tried leaving the system on for 5 minutes after black screen,display does'nt comeback,all components would still be running.I have to hard shut down and restart everytime this happens.

Even before i bought this card i knew many are facing this issue,with all manufacturers like asus,xfx,sapphire and all.Stll took a risk by going with the card.I just wanna know if it is hardware issue or a driver related problem.If its latter i can wait for a table version.Just wanna make sure it is not a hardware issue,if so i will have to rma this card.

I could not relate each occurance with another,happens completely random.Everytime happened under diferrent scenarinly thing i could get out of those were like the gpu did not have lot of work to do.Was almost at idle.

Tested drivers:
13.20(worked fine for 2 days black screen,again worked fine for 2 weeks,black screen) which came along with the disc(for some reason this was released before 13.10 or 13.12)
13.10(good for 1 day)
13.12(good for 2 days)
13.12c from sapphire website.(good for 8 days)
14.3 beta(not even for 1 hour).

My whole system config is:
I3-3220
Gigabyte B75m-D3h
Corsair value select 4gb 1600mhz ddr3
Seagate barracuda 1 tb
Sapphire R7 260x 2g Gddr5
Power supply:Corsair VS450(UK version)34A on 12v.

 

[Aravind92]

All these benchmark numbers so useless

And the reviewer credits it without knowing the side effects

S***t...Shud've been atleast 8 watts along with 7790...

 

[Atreyix]

I didn't read much, But if your still having a black screen, Try taking out the video card. power the pc on, turn it off and insert again.

 

[Aravind92]

I didn't read much, But if your still having a black screen, Try taking out the video card. power the pc on, turn it off and insert again.

Will try and did you have the issue...

 

[Aravind92]

Tried altreyix suggestion...Happened again today when watching a movie and heard the movie's sound but black screen and everything stopped responding...

 

[frontwing]

Happened again...browsing through folders...

Did you install the 14.6 driver already?
Since I disabled ULPS on the previous driver no more black screens.
Btw, do you have AMD chipset drivers? is so, do not uninstall them when uninstalling the old Catalyst driver
before you install the new one.

 

[Aravind92]

Haven't ried 14.6 yet...ulps did not help(was ok for 10 days after disabling ulps)...Don't have amd chipset drivers...

 

[bayonet14]

Does AMD r Sapphire know about this?

 

[Aravind92]

Does AMD r Sapphire know about this?

They should...and just installed 14.6 beta..lets see how it goes...

 

[bayonet14]

Just had two crashes in one day. 14.6 beta was good for a week or two.. I give up on this card. If there's a way I could have this replaced since the store won't allow any replacement with a different brand.

 

[Bagzi]

Just had two crashes in one day. 14.6 beta was good for a week or two.. I give up on this card. If there's a way I could have this replaced since the store won't allow any replacement with a different brand.

I replace my for GTX 650 TI 2 weeks ago,for few bucks more,they didnt say notin, and i am satisfied

 

[Catburger123]

He guys, I installed the 14.4 driver plus the new Afterburner 3.0 software from MSI. No more blackscreens at all! ( 10 days now) After burner has new support for the r7 bonaire GPU. Disable ulps and that's it. You can also make a 2d profile, but I noticed that it's not realy needed. Works better then sapphire trix and I'm glad I can watch my movies again .

q8400 , 8 gig
Sapphire r7 260x 2gb
w7 ult 64
all energy savings in windows are turned off

 

[Silent Hunter]

I have been using a PowerColor R7 260x for 2 weeks, no problem so far. Running Phenom II X4 965BE, BIOSTAR TA890GXB HD mainboard with 12GB RAM.

How long does it takes between the day you bought the card and the first black screen?

And btw, if you haven't read, this thread is worth reading http://forums.amd.com/game/messageview.cfm?catid=454&threadid=173579&STARTPAGE=1&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear

 

[Bagzi]

He guys, I installed the 14.4 driver plus the new Afterburner 3.0 software from MSI. No more blackscreens at all! ( 10 days now) After burner has new support for the r7 bonaire GPU. Disable ulps and that's it. You can also make a 2d profile, but I noticed that it's not realy needed. Works better then sapphire trix and I'm glad I can watch my movies again .

q8400 , 8 gig
Sapphire r7 260x 2gb
w7 ult 64
all energy savings in windows are turned off

About 3-4 day,but when install driver you can see something wirde on screen like blinks or what else that is first sign of nightmare

I have been using a PowerColor R7 260x for 2 weeks, no problem so far. Running Phenom II X4 965BE, BIOSTAR TA890GXB HD mainboard with 12GB RAM.

How long does it takes between the day you bought the card and the first black screen?

And btw, if you haven't read, this thread is worth reading http://forums.amd.com/game/messageview.cfm?catid=454&threadid=173579&STARTPAGE=1&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear

 

[Aravind92]

Its not going to be fixed now...Guess the card is faulty..Running 14.6 beta and happened today morning...

 

[bayonet14]

Guys please read this... this is from the Sapphire forums, this is the R9 but with the exact same symptoms with the R7. This might be a possible cause and solution.

Read mtdew332's answer

https://www.sapphireforum.com/showthread.php?33235-R9-290-Black-Screen

 

[bayonet14]

From mtdew332:

"So after two weeks of searching for the cause / solution to my Black Screen issue, I think i've finally nailed it down.
With some help from overclock.net forums.
I'll just quote it here.

(This black screen from power transitions occurs because the memory clock jumps up to full speed (1250, etc), while the GPU voltage (which also controls the IMC--this is the problem) is STILL running at idle volts of 0.9xxx). That idle voltage is too low to handle the IMC, which is controlling the memory running at that speed (this is NOT due to defective memory modules btw), and thus the card black screens.)

The fix, is to increase the GPU voltage, which ALSO increases the idle voltage to the IMC as well. (previous generation cards used separate voltages for idle clocks and 3D). This Is purely a bios/design problem. The IMC should NEVER be running at 0.9xx when the memory jumps to full speed, or, alternatively, there should be 'lesser' memory speed jumps, for when a light load is put on the GPU, so the memory doesn't jump from 150 MHz to 1250, but instead it could be 500 MHz for a very light load (like when the core goes from 300 to 450 MHz), etc.
This is exactly my issue and the solution.

Symptoms
1: Black screen on cold boot.
2: Random Black Screen while at desktop / browsing web / youtube
3: No Black Screen Issues while gaming.

Solution
1: Upped my core voltage to plus 25mV using MSI AB.
This upped my VDDC to 1.008V at idle and stabilized the Memory controller for those jumps from 300/150 to 450/1250 at the desktop and now no more Black Screens.

I still occasionally see one on cold boot if it happens before Windows and AB loads to set the new voltage.

The Permanent Solution would be a bios with the slightly higher core voltage.
Or a way to edit the bios and set it manually myself."

"I submitted one and also suggested that the alternate solution posted above of limiting the memory speed to a max of 500mhz instead of 1250mhz in 2D mode may be a better solution.
Since increasing the core voltage also increases heat and will cause the cards performance to drop some since it will throttle more to stay within thermal limits.

Ive actually tried this with a program called GPU tweak from another vendor that allows you to actually set/limit 2D core and mem clocks.
And it works just as well as upping the core voltage a bit.
I set the 2D core and memory at a fixed speed of 450/500....no Black screens.

So limiting the 2D memory clocks to 500mhz would work just as well with no voltage/temp increase or drop in 3D performance."

 

[Aravind92]

From mtdew332:

"So after two weeks of searching for the cause / solution to my Black Screen issue, I think i've finally nailed it down.
With some help from overclock.net forums.
I'll just quote it here.

(This black screen from power transitions occurs because the memory clock jumps up to full speed (1250, etc), while the GPU voltage (which also controls the IMC--this is the problem) is STILL running at idle volts of 0.9xxx). That idle voltage is too low to handle the IMC, which is controlling the memory running at that speed (this is NOT due to defective memory modules btw), and thus the card black screens.)

The fix, is to increase the GPU voltage, which ALSO increases the idle voltage to the IMC as well. (previous generation cards used separate voltages for idle clocks and 3D). This Is purely a bios/design problem. The IMC should NEVER be running at 0.9xx when the memory jumps to full speed, or, alternatively, there should be 'lesser' memory speed jumps, for when a light load is put on the GPU, so the memory doesn't jump from 150 MHz to 1250, but instead it could be 500 MHz for a very light load (like when the core goes from 300 to 450 MHz), etc.
This is exactly my issue and the solution.

Symptoms
1: Black screen on cold boot.
2: Random Black Screen while at desktop / browsing web / youtube
3: No Black Screen Issues while gaming.

Solution
1: Upped my core voltage to plus 25mV using MSI AB.
This upped my VDDC to 1.008V at idle and stabilized the Memory controller for those jumps from 300/150 to 450/1250 at the desktop and now no more Black Screens.

I still occasionally see one on cold boot if it happens before Windows and AB loads to set the new voltage.

The Permanent Solution would be a bios with the slightly higher core voltage.
Or a way to edit the bios and set it manually myself."

"I submitted one and also suggested that the alternate solution posted above of limiting the memory speed to a max of 500mhz instead of 1250mhz in 2D mode may be a better solution.
Since increasing the core voltage also increases heat and will cause the cards performance to drop some since it will throttle more to stay within thermal limits.

Ive actually tried this with a program called GPU tweak from another vendor that allows you to actually set/limit 2D core and mem clocks.
And it works just as well as upping the core voltage a bit.
I set the 2D core and memory at a fixed speed of 450/500....no Black screens.

So limiting the 2D memory clocks to 500mhz would work just as well with no voltage/temp increase or drop in 3D performance."

I am not with increasing the voltage but limitting the memory should be it if i had known how to do it...

 

[bayonet14]

From mtdew332:

"So after two weeks of searching for the cause / solution to my Black Screen issue, I think i've finally nailed it down.
With some help from overclock.net forums.
I'll just quote it here.

(This black screen from power transitions occurs because the memory clock jumps up to full speed (1250, etc), while the GPU voltage (which also controls the IMC--this is the problem) is STILL running at idle volts of 0.9xxx). That idle voltage is too low to handle the IMC, which is controlling the memory running at that speed (this is NOT due to defective memory modules btw), and thus the card black screens.)

The fix, is to increase the GPU voltage, which ALSO increases the idle voltage to the IMC as well. (previous generation cards used separate voltages for idle clocks and 3D). This Is purely a bios/design problem. The IMC should NEVER be running at 0.9xx when the memory jumps to full speed, or, alternatively, there should be 'lesser' memory speed jumps, for when a light load is put on the GPU, so the memory doesn't jump from 150 MHz to 1250, but instead it could be 500 MHz for a very light load (like when the core goes from 300 to 450 MHz), etc.
This is exactly my issue and the solution.

Symptoms
1: Black screen on cold boot.
2: Random Black Screen while at desktop / browsing web / youtube
3: No Black Screen Issues while gaming.

Solution
1: Upped my core voltage to plus 25mV using MSI AB.
This upped my VDDC to 1.008V at idle and stabilized the Memory controller for those jumps from 300/150 to 450/1250 at the desktop and now no more Black Screens.

I still occasionally see one on cold boot if it happens before Windows and AB loads to set the new voltage.

The Permanent Solution would be a bios with the slightly higher core voltage.
Or a way to edit the bios and set it manually myself."

"I submitted one and also suggested that the alternate solution posted above of limiting the memory speed to a max of 500mhz instead of 1250mhz in 2D mode may be a better solution.
Since increasing the core voltage also increases heat and will cause the cards performance to drop some since it will throttle more to stay within thermal limits.

Ive actually tried this with a program called GPU tweak from another vendor that allows you to actually set/limit 2D core and mem clocks.
And it works just as well as upping the core voltage a bit.
I set the 2D core and memory at a fixed speed of 450/500....no Black screens.

So limiting the 2D memory clocks to 500mhz would work just as well with no voltage/temp increase or drop in 3D performance."

I am not with increasing the voltage but limitting the memory should be it if i had known how to do it...

You can do it with GPU tweak or MSI afterburner

 

[Aravind92]

From mtdew332:

"So after two weeks of searching for the cause / solution to my Black Screen issue, I think i've finally nailed it down.
With some help from overclock.net forums.
I'll just quote it here.

(This black screen from power transitions occurs because the memory clock jumps up to full speed (1250, etc), while the GPU voltage (which also controls the IMC--this is the problem) is STILL running at idle volts of 0.9xxx). That idle voltage is too low to handle the IMC, which is controlling the memory running at that speed (this is NOT due to defective memory modules btw), and thus the card black screens.)

The fix, is to increase the GPU voltage, which ALSO increases the idle voltage to the IMC as well. (previous generation cards used separate voltages for idle clocks and 3D). This Is purely a bios/design problem. The IMC should NEVER be running at 0.9xx when the memory jumps to full speed, or, alternatively, there should be 'lesser' memory speed jumps, for when a light load is put on the GPU, so the memory doesn't jump from 150 MHz to 1250, but instead it could be 500 MHz for a very light load (like when the core goes from 300 to 450 MHz), etc.
This is exactly my issue and the solution.

Symptoms
1: Black screen on cold boot.
2: Random Black Screen while at desktop / browsing web / youtube
3: No Black Screen Issues while gaming.

Solution
1: Upped my core voltage to plus 25mV using MSI AB.
This upped my VDDC to 1.008V at idle and stabilized the Memory controller for those jumps from 300/150 to 450/1250 at the desktop and now no more Black Screens.

I still occasionally see one on cold boot if it happens before Windows and AB loads to set the new voltage.

The Permanent Solution would be a bios with the slightly higher core voltage.
Or a way to edit the bios and set it manually myself."

"I submitted one and also suggested that the alternate solution posted above of limiting the memory speed to a max of 500mhz instead of 1250mhz in 2D mode may be a better solution.
Since increasing the core voltage also increases heat and will cause the cards performance to drop some since it will throttle more to stay within thermal limits.

Ive actually tried this with a program called GPU tweak from another vendor that allows you to actually set/limit 2D core and mem clocks.
And it works just as well as upping the core voltage a bit.
I set the 2D core and memory at a fixed speed of 450/500....no Black screens.

So limiting the 2D memory clocks to 500mhz would work just as well with no voltage/temp increase or drop in 3D performance."

I am not with increasing the voltage but limitting the memory should be it if i had known how to do it...

You can do it with GPU tweak or MSI afterburner

Yeah already did it with msi ab(memory to 750)..always had it in background..never really thought of setting a 2d profile with it..You've been a gr8 help bud..

 

[bayonet14]

From mtdew332:

"So after two weeks of searching for the cause / solution to my Black Screen issue, I think i've finally nailed it down.
With some help from overclock.net forums.
I'll just quote it here.

(This black screen from power transitions occurs because the memory clock jumps up to full speed (1250, etc), while the GPU voltage (which also controls the IMC--this is the problem) is STILL running at idle volts of 0.9xxx). That idle voltage is too low to handle the IMC, which is controlling the memory running at that speed (this is NOT due to defective memory modules btw), and thus the card black screens.)

The fix, is to increase the GPU voltage, which ALSO increases the idle voltage to the IMC as well. (previous generation cards used separate voltages for idle clocks and 3D). This Is purely a bios/design problem. The IMC should NEVER be running at 0.9xx when the memory jumps to full speed, or, alternatively, there should be 'lesser' memory speed jumps, for when a light load is put on the GPU, so the memory doesn't jump from 150 MHz to 1250, but instead it could be 500 MHz for a very light load (like when the core goes from 300 to 450 MHz), etc.
This is exactly my issue and the solution.

Symptoms
1: Black screen on cold boot.
2: Random Black Screen while at desktop / browsing web / youtube
3: No Black Screen Issues while gaming.

Solution
1: Upped my core voltage to plus 25mV using MSI AB.
This upped my VDDC to 1.008V at idle and stabilized the Memory controller for those jumps from 300/150 to 450/1250 at the desktop and now no more Black Screens.

I still occasionally see one on cold boot if it happens before Windows and AB loads to set the new voltage.

The Permanent Solution would be a bios with the slightly higher core voltage.
Or a way to edit the bios and set it manually myself."

"I submitted one and also suggested that the alternate solution posted above of limiting the memory speed to a max of 500mhz instead of 1250mhz in 2D mode may be a better solution.
Since increasing the core voltage also increases heat and will cause the cards performance to drop some since it will throttle more to stay within thermal limits.

Ive actually tried this with a program called GPU tweak from another vendor that allows you to actually set/limit 2D core and mem clocks.
And it works just as well as upping the core voltage a bit.
I set the 2D core and memory at a fixed speed of 450/500....no Black screens.

So limiting the 2D memory clocks to 500mhz would work just as well with no voltage/temp increase or drop in 3D performance."

I am not with increasing the voltage but limitting the memory should be it if i had known how to do it...

You can do it with GPU tweak or MSI afterburner

Yeah already did it with msi ab(memory to 750)..always had it in background..never really thought of setting a 2d profile with it..You've been a gr8 help bud..

Did it work? Did it stop the blackscreens?

 

[Aravind92]

will have to wait and seee...And the profile doesn't work after restart...Have to open ab and apply the profle again to get it to work...

 

[frontwing]

Haven't ried 14.6 yet...ulps did not help(was ok for 10 days after disabling ulps)...Don't have amd chipset drivers...

will have to wait and seee...And the profile doesn't work after restart...Have to open ab and apply the profle again to get it to work...

Yes, trying the same with MSI AB, I can save the 2d profile, but after a restart or cold boot it defaults?

 

[bayonet14]

Used AMD Catalyst Control Center and moved memory clock to 750mhz yesterday. No blackscreens so far. Will post if something happens.

 

[Nuc1eoN]

I also have got the black scree issue on my MSI R7 260x OC. I wrote to MSI and they told me it's probably a faulty card, but then I found this thread....

This is a real shame and my MSI card has got a voltage lock on it! So no way to fix it without a new bios lol.

Btw I also regularily get artifacts in Windows or games, but it did get better over time with the new drivers. My blue screen issues are gone, too.

What a fail from AMD.

 

[bayonet14]

I'm gonna declare this problem solved. No more black screens for me. I get black screen crashes at least once a day, now no more black screens. All I did was move the memory clock (not the core clock) to 750mhz using Catalyst Control Center. The problem this card has it's overclocked and too unstable for setups and mobos to handle.