Problem with 5850

[Dargo]

I've got a 5850 that won't mine (freezes every time). The card is recognized OK in BAMT, and displays OK when it is connected to a monitor. I've tried different configurations and narrowed the problem down to this card (it's not the pcie riser, same problem when switching pcie slots, power connections, etc.). Also, I'm not overclocking it - it wont' mine even at very low or moderate settings. When I disable it in the BAMT configuration file and mine with my other cards, Fan% and rpm show "n/a" in GPUmon for this card, but not for the others (even if they are disabled). So apparently GPUmon can't get fan % or rpm from this card. I'm out of troubleshooting ideas here - any suggestions? I'm on the verge of trying to RMA it. It's XFX brand if that has any relevance.

[MelMan2002]

If you take it out and try to spin the fan with your finger does it have any resistance?  Those fans can get gummed up easily.

[Dargo]

If you take it out and try to spin the fan with your finger does it have any resistance?  Those fans can get gummed up easily.

I'll try that, but this card hasn't really had enough use to get gummed up. It freezes immediately, so it's not overheating from a slow spinning fan. And when I set the fan speed to 70-80% it spins right up no problem.

[Dargo]

Update: I've now found the issue is that this card isn't cooperative with BAMT for some reason. It runs fine if I start it manually with Phoenix, but if I try to start it using the BAMT config script, my computer freezes. The problem seems to be that the card doesn't want to tell BAMT what its fan speed is, and BAMT freaks out about this. So I'll either ask about this in the BAMT support thread, or just sell it and pick up a used Sapphire. I'm leaning toward the latter since this isn't a very good card for mining (the core doesn't overclock very well, and the memory doesn't underclock very well - only down to about 425 or so). 

[oldDirty]

Is there no option in bamt to disable this?

[Dargo]

Is there no option in bamt to disable this?

Disable what? Are you talking about disabling the fan speed query? If there is a way to do that, it might solve the issue, but still my inclination is to just ditch the card.

[wildemagic]

... So I'll either ask about this in the BAMT support thread, or just sell it and pick up a used Sapphire. I'm leaning toward the latter since this isn't a very good card for mining (the core doesn't overclock very well, and the memory doesn't underclock very well - only down to about 425 or so).  

You wont regret getting a saphire, I just picked one up and its great for both over and underclocking.
Underclocking goes all the way down to 545/150@0.85v, 666/150@0.95v

Does 925/150 on stock vcore no probs - gets a bit hot tho in my Shuttle mini box and I dont like stressing the 300w PSU.

In my rig which idles at 50w no load, this card only adds 40-45w @ 666/150@0.95 (so it goes from 50w to 95w loaded, measured at the plug)
Does about 105w-110w at stock speed and voltage, so underclocking is well worth it for me (im on offgrid solar so I need to sip the power)

So im pretty happy with this card.