Bad GPU Core? (Sort of long post)

[someone703]

Got 2x5970; a Diamond and a Sapphire card.

Diamond is definitely working fine.

The Sapphire seems to be giving me issues.

Tested my PCI-e slots by swapping the Diamond card around so they're fine.  1200W PSU so it's not a power issue.

Did a fresh install of Windows to be sure.

I can boot into Safe Mode fine with both cards in.

Safe Mode Device Manager shows this (before installing Catalyst):


I was able to boot into Windows fine without Catalyst Control Center and drivers installed.

After installing Catalyst + drivers, my screen just went completely black with a blinking underscore cursor.

If I try to restart it'll just either hang at the Windows loading screen or just say that there's no signal getting to my monitor.

Device manager shows this (after Catalyst installed):


Anyone experience similar issues before?  Is the Sapphire card bad?  Or is it because I don't have a Crossfire cable/dummy plug set up?

Bought it off a guy on Craiglist (non-local so I used PayPal).  Tried texting the guy to see if he has a receipt and whether or not the warranty would still be valid if it's the card.  Haven't heard back yet so will give him a bit before I decide whether to dispute with PayPal or not.

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I've been messing around with it for several hours and I'm kinda annoyed since I didn't get any mining done today with just the solo card.

Pretty sure if I remove the Sapphire it'll boot fine.  Will try and remove all the drivers again, pull out the Diamond, and install Catalyst with just the Sapphire but I think I already tried that but will again to be sure.

Edit:  Yup, booted fine to Windows, after installing Catalyst and restarting it hung at Windows loading screen...  Was able to boot into Safe Mode fine right after though.  Is it a driver or hardware issue?

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[Dexter770221]

Driver version?
I've had a similiar problem (BSOD at startup) with earlier versions of drivers (11.9 fixed this- if I remember correctly).

[someone703]

Just got home and tried Catalyst 11.9.

Still no go...

Will try and use Drive Sweeper and give it another go.

Sapphire BIOS: 012.013.000.002.034996

Will check the Diamond one after.

[TheHarbinger]

Looks like one of the GPU cores is a dud.

[someone703]

Damn, that's kinda what I was thinking too but was hoping it might be a BIOS thing.

Seller responded and said if I send it back he won't have any problem with me doing a chargeback on the payment.  Not sure why he wouldn't just let me get some info to RMA it with Sapphire but that's his prerogative.

2 options now I suppose:

1.  Send it back; look for another 5970 or wait for 7990.

2.  Try and troubleshoot it with Sapphire warranty support (without a receipt) and see if they'd let me RMA & what kind of fee they'd charge (and be short a card for 2 weeks or so).  Although I'm paranoid he might already be in their system and it'd send up a flag if I tried to submit a ticket with the serial number lol.

[dmcurser]

they charge a 15 fee for processing and i was give an expected turn around time of 3-6 weeks just mailed 4 cards to them monday

[Starcraftman]

Yea I had the EXACT same symptoms as you, except it was with a sapphire 5830. Turned out to be a dead card.  I think that is just how sapphire cards behave when they die...