Screen tearing with games v. hd 7870

[jason612]

I just built a computer and it has xfx HD 7870, i5, windows 7 64bit.
I been getting alot of screen tearing in games like WoW, GW2, and on the menu screen of dota 2. like this:
http://i.imgur.com/hlW4u.jpg
It doesnt look bad in this screen shot but those shadow lines flicker throughout the screen and is very distracting.
I have the settings set to recommended settings with vsync on. All my drivers are up to date including on my monitor. Is this a gpu issue? I really dont want to rma it but I have no idea what is wrong.
I have the monitor set to 60hz as well as on my CCC and in game.

 

[mlcaouette]

Run fraps during gameplay to see is vsync is actually working.

Also always try and activate vsync in game first, if not possible try in CCC, if that doesn't work well than you can edit the games config file but that can be semi complex.

 

[jason612]

Not sure how to tell if vsync is working but fraps as well as the fps in wow matches 60fps. I tried activating it in CCC but it doesnt seem to allow me to apply the change...

 

[McLizardman4]

I am experiencing the same problem with a 7850. Can I ask you if you connect your monitor with a DVI or a VGA connector, or if you use an adapter?

 

[bystander]

That doesn't look like screen tearing. It seems to be a driver bug or software bug.

 

[McLizardman4]

That doesn't look like screen tearing. It seems to be a driver bug or software bug.

I think it is software related as well. I think that the new AMD drivers for the 7000 series are designed only to be used with digital input, such as dvi. I did some research and it looks like using a DVI instead VGA plug and an adapter fixes the problem, but I can't verify this for myself as I have no way to test it.

 

[dscudella]

Bystander is right, that's not screen tearing. I would completely uninstall Catalyst, download the new Catalyst 12.11 and install those. World of Warcraft has well documented issues with 78xx's that are fixed with the new drivers.

 

[nukemaster]

I am not sure how WoW is setup, but make sure it is a vsync and not fps cap. You can cap fps to 60 and still get this if actual vsync is not on.

 

[jason612]

I think it is software related as well. I think that the new AMD drivers for the 7000 series are designed only to be used with digital input, such as dvi. I did some research and it looks like using a DVI instead VGA plug and an adapter fixes the problem, but I can't verify this for myself as I have no way to test it.

Hmm you may be right because I am using a VGA plug with an adapter. My other monitor is hooked up via HDMI but I use the VGA one as my main. Ill update catalyst, recheck and let you guys know. I have no money for a new monitor so hope this works.

 

[McLizardman4]

Hmm you may be right because I am using a VGA plug with an adapter. My other monitor is hooked up via HDMI but I use the VGA one as my main. Ill update catalyst, recheck and let you guys know. I have no money for a new monitor so hope this works.

Go ahead and try that, and let me know. I am using the CCC version 12.10, so I could update to the beta drivers if that works for you.

 

[jason612]

Hmm so I uninstalled CCC 12.10 and installed CCC 12.11 but it didnt seem to do anything...
Set force vsync in CCC but im still getting the flickers in game.

 

[bystander]

Hmm so I uninstalled CCC 12.10 and installed CCC 12.11 but it didnt seem to do anything...
Set force vsync in CCC but im still getting the flickers in game.

Your problem is not tearing, v-sync will not help.

 

[jason612]

Your problem is not tearing, v-sync will not help.

Anything else I can do?

 

[bystander]

Anything else I can do?

Post on the WoW boards, they may have seen the problem before. It is also possible a memory issue. These types of problems are either software, driver or hardware issues. You've looked at the driver issue, you can check WoW forums to find out if it's a software issue, and hopefully it's not a hardware issue, as those are tough to track down.

 

[jason612]

This is a video(not me) that is very similar to my issue. The guy apparently fixed it with an RMA, is that my only option? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6DfNOQ9W9k&feature=related

 

[blazorthon]

If it was fixed with an RMA, then it was probably a hardware problem. You could try that if you really think that you had the same problem and maybe it'll help, but IDK for sure.

 

[bystander]

This is a video(not me) that is very similar to my issue. The guy apparently fixed it with an RMA, is that my only option? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6DfNOQ9W9k&feature=related

It could be, it's either hardware or software. You might want to check out the WoW forums to see if others are having the issue before you settle on RMA. Do other games have this issue?

 

[jason612]

It could be, it's either hardware of software. You might want to check out the WoW forums to see if others are having the issue before you settle on RMA. Do other games have this issue?

Yea I get it REALLY bad in GW2 and on menu screen of dota 2. It looks identical to the issue shown in the video.

 

[bystander]

Yea I get it REALLY bad in GW2 and on menu screen of dota 2. It looks identical to the issue shown in the video.

If it's not drivers, as you ruled that out, and it's happening on multiple games, that takes out the software problems, that leaves DX drivers, or something with the hardware.

Do you have an old/spare video card you could test? It would suck to RMA the card and still have the issue.

 

[jason612]

If it's not drivers, as you ruled that out, and it's happening on multiple games, that takes out the software problems, that leaves DX drivers, or something with the hardware.

Do you have an old/spare video card you could test? It would suck to RMA the card and still have the issue.

Yeah thats what im afraid of :/
I dont have another card to test, just built this pc because my old one was really old haha.

 

[nukemaster]

Ok well from the video that is nothing to do with vsync.

lack of vsync does this

Very much looks like a bad card(or very unlikely bad ram, but with bad ram I am sure your system would be crashing all the time).

 

[McLizardman4]

If possible I seriously recommend you try a monitor with a digital connection, because it seems that a lot of people have found success with that method.

 

[jason612]

If possible I seriously recommend you try a monitor with a digital connection, because it seems that a lot of people have found success with that method.

Tried it with my monitor on hdmi, doesnt work. RMA'd the card and it should be in tomorrow so ill update if its still occuring or if it was just a bad card.

 

[paddys09]

That is what is known as Z-Fighting, most commonly connected with driver issues...

Usually a software problem, never encountered it as a hardware issue... used to see this quite frequently on AMD 6xxx cards with certain drivers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z-fighting

 

[paddys09]

Here is a video explaining it a bit better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7zDKlsyu6s