Diamonds 5970 from newegg, many problems (TIM pics)

[Transisto]

Is anyone else having trouble with their Diamond 5970 (from newegg)
Did you have to falsh the bios and replace thermal paste and add pads to VRM to make basic use of them ?

I can't raise voltage using atitweak nor radeonVolt,

On one of them, one of the core can't overclock past ~760mhz on 1.05v

First core get VRM throttled constantly to 550mhz at default voltage / default clock. (with temp at 76c)

How is this acceptable ?

Edit : They also look far from new : http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/ShowThread.aspx?PostID=777284#777284


TIM application ; I have no idea what species could have messed up the TIM this much.

There are holes with no paste on the GPUs with corresponding hole on the heatsink,  This is BAD.

http://imgur.com/a/0THwO#1
BIG:
https://i.imgur.com/HH3z6.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/00sbP.jpg

Note : I have not touched anything, only removed the heatsink. - These card are sold as new.

[btc_artist]

Watching, since I have the same card (but haven't been able to set it up yet).

[Turbor]

Try AMD GPU Clock tool. Don't know if it works with 5970 but it's worth a try.

[btc_artist]

I think cgminer has built-in overclocking functionality as well.

[Transisto]

Try AMD GPU Clock tool. Don't know if it works with 5970 but it's worth a try.

I need to overvolt this on Linux.

[SlaveInDebt]

Used cards for sure. Have you monitored each vrm temp? I'd wager a vrm isn't working (indicated by lower temp) if you can't get past 1.05v

[ArtForz]

Yup, sure looks like a used card.
That TIM on the GPUs isn't original; all ref 5970s I pulled the fansink off of had phase-change pads, not goop.
Also, good idea with the dead phase. Check VRM temps under load, if one of the 3 phases is a lot (20C+) cooler than the others you got a dead phase; the card will generally still run but unstable and OC like crap.
If that's not the case... idiot who replaced the GPU TIM didn't replace the thermal pads for the VRMs. Most important ones are the one for the core VRMs. the long one under the fan and the smaller of the strips above the vapor chamber. inductor, ram and pcie bridge pads aren't really that important. Used a bunch of a 1mm sheet of 3M 5591 I had lying around. worked like a charm.
In linux a slightly modified radeonvolt works for reading VRM temps and overvolting 5970s.
As for the holes in the paste... bet the monkey who applied the paste touched the die and didn't degrease it before applying new paste. that generally ends up looking *exactly* like this.

[Transisto]

I have replaced the TIM on both GPU with MX-2 and added some to the pad I didn't replace.

I replaced only the pads on VRM with some ram pad I scavenged from a broken 4870.

The same GPU #1) that had lower clock is now defective at stock clock, ; the fan ramp up 100% after 2-3 share and a reboot is needed.

It look like the jelly pads from the other card are worst performing than what was already there.

I don't know what VRM is assosiated with what core, but the 3 VDDC in GPU-Z are arround 90c with one GPU(#2) running.

[plastic.elastic]

I have replaced the TIM on both GPU with MX-2 and added some to the pad I didn't replace.

I replaced only the pads on VRM with some ram pad I scavenged from a broken 4870.

The same GPU #1) that had lower clock is now defective at stock clock, ; the fan ramp up 100% after 2-3 share and a reboot is needed.

It look like the jelly pads from the other card are worst performing than what was already there.

I don't know what VRM is assosiated with what core, but the 3 VDDC in GPU-Z are arround 90c with one GPU(#2) running.

Fell so bad for you...

Looking to make some bucks and newegg burned you.

Time to replace the cards

[sadpandatech]

Aye, that is rough. No reason the VRM should be at 90c with only 1 GPU going. Are all 3 VRM reporting about the same temp?

Have you contacted Newegg? There is 30day replacement there. And should be a warranty with Diamond if you can't accomplish anything with newegg.

[plastic.elastic]

Aye, that is rough. No reason the VRM should be at 90c with only 1 GPU going. Are all 3 VRM reporting about the same temp?

Have you contacted Newegg? There is 30day replacement there. And should be a warranty with Diamond if you can't accomplish anything with newegg.

I would return the damn cards, warranty from Diamond is poop

[m3sSh3aD]

Wow, A company worse than XFX, never thought id see the day

Feel bad for you mate, Them duel cards are not cheap!

[jjshabadoo]

I have a few of these and mostly have found them to be okay so far. You DO need to replace the TIM and pads though. I have been working on this and will post when I find a great recipe. I also would appreciate any advice from people here. I found using 1mm thermal pads from phobya did not work if you use them on all ram, vrm, etc. The heatsink wouldn't make proper contact with the gpu chip. My next try will be 1mm pads on VRM and .5mm on everything else because I was not getting good contact with the GPU chip when I used 1mm pads all around.

For the record, mine looked new for each one I bought and I have 7. I currently have four running at 800/300 24/7 and they have been doing well with the stock heatsink, paste and pads(have not taken them apart yet).

I took apart the other four(1 is amd brand) in hopes of achieving better cooling and higher clocks. I'm shooting for a 24/7 stable 850/300 on air. I'll add that the rigs are in a cold basement that doesn't get above 15c or so even in the summer.

Once I start working on them again I will take some pics and post what I did, maybe we can create a work log thread for these cards.

Also, you better register them with diamond for the 5 year warranty ASAP just in case. Their customer service might suck, but you will get a new card or refund eventually.

[plastic.elastic]

I have a few of these and mostly have found them to be okay so far. You DO need to replace the TIM and pads though. I have been working on this and will post when I find a great recipe. I also would appreciate any advice from people here. I found using 1mm thermal pads from phobya did not work if you use them on all ram, vrm, etc. The heatsink wouldn't make proper contact with the gpu chip. My next try will be 1mm pads on VRM and .5mm on everything else because I was not getting good contact with the GPU chip when I used 1mm pads all around.

For the record, mine looked new for each one I bought and I have 7. I currently have four running at 800/300 24/7 and they have been doing well with the stock heatsink, paste and pads(have not taken them apart yet).

I took apart the other four(1 is amd brand) in hopes of achieving better cooling and higher clocks. I'm shooting for a 24/7 stable 850/300 on air. I'll add that the rigs are in a cold basement that doesn't get above 15c or so even in the summer.

Once I start working on them again I will take some pics and post what I did, maybe we can create a work log thread for these cards.

Also, you better register them with diamond for the 5 year warranty ASAP just in case. Their customer service might suck, but you will get a new card or refund eventually.

How many time do i have to say this, Can you read?

1mm - ram
0.5mm VRM

[cicada]

How many time do i have to say this, Can you read?

1mm - ram
0.5mm VRM

Read what? Your mind?

I don't see you mentioning this anywhere else in this thread.  Perhaps you've mentioned it several times in other threads, but you shouldn't expect others to read your post history.

[plastic.elastic]

How many time do i have to say this, Can you read?

1mm - ram
0.5mm VRM

Read what? Your mind?

I don't see you mentioning this anywhere else in this thread.  Perhaps you've mentioned it several times in other threads, but you shouldn't expect others to read your post history.

I expect anyone competent enough to actually redo their cards to search for the subject they dont know about.

Seriously, when you remove the OEM HSF, dont you see the different pads with different thickness?

Monkeys talk monkeys do

[jjshabadoo]

I mixed up ram and VRM in my post. Glad elastic pointed out even if his delivery was impolite. I wouldn't want anyone to mix that up and fry their card.

[plastic.elastic]

I mixed up ram and VRM in my post. Glad elastic pointed out even if his delivery was impolite. I wouldn't want anyone to mix that up and fry their card.

I'm known for being an ass. Nothing personal.

[jjshabadoo]

No worries, hell you got me straight with my cards and that's all I care about.

I've redone four of them now with shin-etsu X23-7783D on the GPU's, 1mm phobya thermal pads on the ram and .5mm fujipoly thermal pads on the vrm.

Cards have been clocked at 800/300 for over 24 hours with no shutdowns in an open rig. Bottom card max temps of 50c or so and top card at 55c. Once I get the extenders going and get them out of the open case I should be good to go.

Once I learned to heat up the shin-etsu in a glass of hot water I was able to spread it perfectly with a thin plastic card.

I'm not going to mess with my other 4 5970's just leave them stock and compare them to the ones I just redid see if all this was worth it.

[Transisto]

The thermal pad I used are so elastic I don't think they'd have problem compressing between 1mm and 0.5mm