xfx R9 290x DD Throttle crysis 3

dznuts

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Oct 18, 2014
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picked up a new xfx r9 290x "upgrade from 7950 boost vapor-x " but this xfx is running very hot 94*c room temp is 77*F and a well vented case with many 120mm fans. same temps with side of case off. i have tryed 100% fan speed and drop the voltage with msi afterburner -19mv core voltage but this sucker still gets too hot and starts to downclock.

Should i go for a RMA or is their something i can do?
 
its too late to return the card. are they really notorious for running hot? i read a few reviews about the card before getting it and they all said the cooler was good and they even overclocked it. "hardocp, eteknix, techreport and some youtube vids"

is their anything i can try before going for a RMA?
 
After speaking with XFX support i was told that the Thermal pads on the heatsink are not cut to the right size and does not make full contact with All the chips for the VRM "common problem" and that 94*C and Throttle is normal. The support agent assured me that it is a reference PCB so at least it looks like after market coolers should work.
 
So, do you plan to install an aftermarket cooler on your card? Seems to be the only option if these temps are not acceptable to you.
I don't think he knows what he's saying though. VRM temperatures are not reported by software, so if the GPU is being cooled properly then it shouldn't have that high a temperature.
Anyways, there you go.
 
Yes im looking into nzxt kraken g10 + corsair H55. i have GPU-Z to show VRM 1 and 2 temps. what the tech support guy told me seems right. VRM1 temp is 98*C after 20min of game play. i do get the feeling that the cooler is not installed right / missing some thermal pads so when i can get some thermal pads and some thermal compound i do plan to try and get the double dissipation cooler to work for me first.

UPDATE: pulled the Card out and Tightened some of the screws for the cooler. Core temp is now 84*C 90% fan and no longer throttling. But VRM1 temp 101*C so i will still be picking up some thermal pads and paste and refitting the cooler in hopes to get the vrm's in check.
 
Card Has Died Before i could get a new cooler or refit the factory cooler. I have a RMA# for the card and will be shipping it soon.
 
got a replacement card only took 2weeks. XFX Mark says card tested fine but Sent a new card. this New card Ran much cooler but has Died as well lasted 20 days and does not post in any of my other systems. While my Card was being replaced i got a New EVGA supernova 850W psu to rule out my old PSU.
My 2nd time calling up for RMA and XFX Mark was Rude and has said its my MOBO or PSU. i now have 3 systems and 4x PSU to test with and the card does not work in either of them. I tested the last card in 2 systems with different psu and it did not work in either of them but XFX Mark says the card was good. I will get back when my 2nd RMA is done
 
"My 2nd time calling up for RMA and XFX Mark was Rude and has said its my MOBO or PSU. i now have 3 systems and 4x PSU to test with and the card does not work in either of them. I tested the last card in 2 systems with different psu and it did not work in either of them but XFX Mark says the card was good. I will get back when my 2nd RMA is done"

Hello dznuts,

Im sorry you feel our support was rude. When a customer sends in a card that says "Does not POST or produce signal" yet the card posts and makes signals, then passes all of our tests, typically the customer is angry. We understand, its not fun for us either. Trust me, if it didn't post, its much less work and much easier to just FAIL the card and send a replacement. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

As a courtesy, we replaced the card anyway for your peace of mind, yet the replacement also doesn't post in your system. Our job is to diagnose and solve your problems. Your problem isn't the graphics card alone, I would contact the motherboard manufacturer and see if they can give any insight or know of any related issues with R9 series.

As a courtesy, we always offer to RE-RMA it, however, I don't want to waste your time, I don't believe this would solve your issue. If memory serves, you were offered another RMA and prepaid shipping label, despite the issue before us.

You've tried multiple video cards that worked and multiple PSU's that worked, but you haven't tried this card in a different motherboard correct? Please contact us directly for personal troubleshooting and faster response times.

Also, our presence on Toms is to go above and beyond for the sake of the community and the users who need help. If you were offended, please forgive the offense and consider it a byproduct of differing results.

Thank you
 
I have tested this card in 3 other working systems all with different mobo's it does not work in any of them. i have finally got through to ASrock and confirmed the 290X is KNOWN to WORK they have tested with a windforce 290x. As stated before this card was working "for 20days" and the first card worked longer then that. now the 2nd card nolonger posts in any of my computers same as the last card. Their is nothing wrong with any of my systems as they work fine with other video cards the only problem is the 290x not working anymore. Im gona have the card tested at a local computer shop i worked at from 2003-2007 as a tech and see what their test results are as i dont want to here that the card is fine again. i have a RMA And the Prepaid label i will be sending this new card back for replacement pending more tests, Though testing in 3 different systems should be enough to show the card is infact the bad part.
 
Its Alive! after testing in a total of 8 different computers and still no post we tryed flipping the bios switch on the video card and now its working again. im not sure if its a bad bios on the other switch positions or if the switch was somehow not fully turned but that switch is so tiny i don't want to touch it again if i don't need too. I don't see any difference with bios 2 on the card. I hope this is my last problem with this card and my last time having to call XFX.
Thanks Toms
 
Well that did not last long. not posting again now on any bios selected. Got the Card boxed up and going back for Another RMA. I will be selling the replacement and hope to pickup a Sapphire. This will be my last XFX card.
 
i am waiting on the RMA from XFX then i need to sell it before i can get a new card. it could be a few months before i get a sapphire. its a good thing i have a 7950 vapor-x to use for the time.
 
i got card #3 and decided to just use it, you know 3rd times a charm.

Card #3 Over Heats Just as card #1 And just like card #1 the Cooler was loose. i put a few turns on the screws and got the core temp in check "76*C max Down from 94*c" But Just like card #1 the VRM 1 Temp is over 100*C in under 30min of Farcry 4 100% fan speeds

To compound this XFX Kevin Told me the wrong size "thinkness" thermal Pads so i am out another 35$.
The pads on the card is more like 1mm - 1.25mm "ram" and 3mm "VRM". Not .5 and .25 that i was told by XFX Kevin

I think the problem with the card is the cooler was made too cheep Just a flat plate. and instead of machine the cooler they just fill the Gaps for the VRM with a REALLY REALLY Think thermal pad est. 3mm thick

I know for a FACT the Temp problems are not do to my setup as Card #2 did not have any heat issues. but i did not take the cooler off card #1 or #2 so i cant confirm if there is a difference in the coolers.

Card #1 revision 1.0 hynix - Loose Cooler, Bad VRM cooling @ 100% fan. Died in about 5-6 months
Card #2 revision 2.1 hynix - No Cooler problems fan stayed under 80% but No POST after cold boot one morning. Died in 25 days
Card #3 revision 3.1 elpida - Loose Cooler, Bad VRM cooling @ 100% fan. Not long for this world i fear

i have done some research and found that the GELID Solutions CL-R9290-01-A R9 290 Series VRM Cooling Enhancement Kit can be mounted to the Back of the card and to good effect. i have ordered a kit and will find out soon.
 
Installed the GELID VRM1 heatink on the back of the Card. VRM1 is down to 90*c Max. more then 10*C drop
installing was easy but i needed to pickup 2 new screws

 



Hey man I read all your posts and it was quite interesting. I have exact same card you do, but when I game I rarely touch 90C for VRM temps or 80 for Core. But, I play open case, so that helps of course. The only times I get high temps on it, is when my FPS is 80 plus. I play on 60FPS screen , so I lock FPS at that since more does not do me any good. More FPS , more heat. But just so you know VRM temps for Hawaii chips rated as high as 125C. May be you had bad luck with the first 2 cards, it happens. I have used mine for about 3 month, no problems nor throttle. But the question I had is about a kit you bought, since I thought even my temps were a little high for my taste. Were you able to use same dual fans and heat sink after install? Did it fit fine?
 


Also, check out my build. It's simple, but does the job.

I just realized you have a reference card not the DD model. Sorry, did not mean to confuse you.

https://pcpartpicker.com/b/nwvV3C
 


yes i did not remove the stock DD cooler to install the VRM1 heatsync on the back side of the card.
I run on 144hz screen this for sure makes the card run hotter as you have said.
 
I see. Well that explains a lot. Once you get to those high FPS , liquid cooling is needed. So , you do have the Double Diss. card, is that correct?