MSI R5870 Lightning voltage problem

[MaynardX]

Hello everyone
At first excuse me for my bad english as I don't speak this language fluently.

So I have this kind of problem. As I try to change voltage of the cards GPU using Afterburner (ver 1.5.0, 1.5.1, 1.6.1) there is no change at all. Both voltage control and monitoring options enabled. In 2D card maintains 0.973V (Afterburner shows 0.949V), when I enter 3D mode (Kombustor, Heaven 2.0, 2.1 benchmark)- the GPU maintains 1.175V although Afterburner shows my desired voltage. Also in 3D when multimeter shows stable 1.175V, in AB spikes appears like 0.600V or 0.949V. And more interesting when I check option "force const voltage" the graphics driver hangs (red or blue pattern all over the screen) and OS hangs also. I've used 10.6 and 10.4 Xtreme-G drivers so far. I also tried flashing BIOS. So i tried this solution
http://hwbot.org/forum/showpost.php?...4&postcount=10

and this one also
http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/7...24.100305.html
with no luck at all.
Guys please help...

My system:
Motherboard: Asus Rampage Formula (Mr. Solors mod bios 0001);
CPU: Intel Q9450;
RAM: G.Skill 2x2 DDR2-1200 CL5;
PSU: Enermax Infinity 720W;
second GPU GeForce 8800GTS G92. I tried settings w/ and without Geforce.
All settings using system on stock, no OC.

[steponz]

You need to do the bios update... Look on hwbot.

[steponz]

http://hwbot.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6187

[MaynardX]

Thanks Steponz but I did it already, even twice. Also tried and flashed with bios posted in second link address.

[Splave]

did you try using afterburner Xtreme? I think it was 1.5.1x that worked great with mine. (make sure its xtreme version)

[MaynardX]

Hello Splave. Well I must admit I haven't knew about this version of Afterburner. I can't find it anywhere though. Could you help me?

[BenchZowner]

Hint hint... download section... under extreme overclocking... my place

[MaynardX]

No way BenchZoner, I can't find it:/ Please have mercy I'm voltage-starved

[MaynardX]

You mean YOUR place? I got it Sorry too much work lately. I found it and will give it a try.

[MaynardX]

Unfortunately no luck. Tried version of yours BenchZowner. Unistalled old AB (version 1.6.1), even rebooted and cleared registry before installing 1.6.0x. The same strange behavior, readings and hanging with "force const. voltage":/ Am I doing something wrong here? Damn I'm quite frustrated. What else can be done? (except RMA)

[BenchZowner]

Try the 1.51x version, the 1.6.x wasn't working properly with the 5870's.
If 1.51x fails too, then I guess you'll have to RMA the card, or do a physical ( hardware ) mod ( but that's going to void your warranty )

[MaynardX]

No luck at all either with 1.5.1x Maybe last thing. What kind of bios and catalyst did you use while successfully overclocking this card ?

[BenchZowner]

Catalysts older than 10.4 should work absolutely fine.
BIOS ? The latest one provided by Garrett Wu @ guru3d.com forum

[MaynardX]

Thanks BenchZowner you're beeing very helpful. I'll try cat 10.3 after flashing the bios. Could you point me which one of these should I use, as I can't establish which is Garret Wu's? I'll do it tomorrow and will post my result now I don't have time left.
http://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/i...mSize=0&page=1
I really would like to avoid RMA cause adding this card to my LC loop was really pain in the arse:/

[MaynardX]

I'm done. I tried every BIOS version dedicated to 5870 Lightning, with 10.3 drivers (just in case to be sure the drivers work correctly) and AB 1.5.1x (thanks again BenchZowner) but absolutely with no luck at all. RMAing the board. Really disappointing product from MSI. Thanks guys for help. Best regards.

[NCspecV81]

I just picked up a lightning II and I can throw the bios up if you want it?

I pulled this out of it on everyday normal well above ambient water cooling

[MaynardX]

Hello NCspecV81

Yes of course it would be great. Please uploaded your BIOS version. By the way what is the new Lightning II about?

[NCspecV81]

here it is

http://www.mediafire.com/file/sbskzc...zud/light2.bin

[MaynardX]

Thank you very much. I'll try it this evening. Best regards.

[MaynardX]

Unfortunately new bios didn't help. Not possible to change my cards voltage. I also tried ones again other AB versions and ATI drivers. There is only one difference compared to other bios versions. AB reads correctly stock 3D voltage which is 1.175V. And that's all. So right now I'm quite sure I just bought me a faulty sample.

[Splave]

i had to rma 2 cards before I got one that accepted voltage changes.Rma tme

[NCspecV81]

are you unlocking voltage control in AB?

[MaynardX]

Oh man, two times Splave? My bad I watercooled my card before checking if it works correctly. Yes NCspecV81, everything concerning voltage unlocked in AB. So I've already contacted my local distributor and will receive solution to this problem this afternoon.

[MaynardX]

Well Okey...

But please don't laugh at me right?

So I decided to check my card in other PC before I RMA it. And I found that the problem wasn't my card alone but the sound... driver:/ It was modified X-Fi driver so I unistalled it and installed web version only. Now card works perfectly, well at least voltage control does.

I'd like to ask you for other advice. I can raise GPU clock to 1070MHz with 1.33-1.340V. I know that the warranty is available up to 1.350V. But I see that GPU/Shader temp (in HWInfo32 and AB) is no more then 39/42 stress and 48Celsius for DRAM. I guess that there is plenty of room for GPU OC but is it worth it? Wont I damage the GPU with more voltage?

[MaynardX]

Guys I know it might look silly asking this but please share your thoughts. I'm newbie in voltage modding card as this is my first one of this type.