6800le 'Black Screen' - The Complete Guide: Identification, modification and reason

[SikaRippa]

Could you try something for me? Lower your memory overclock. Say, half of stock speeds to start with. Does it still black screen?

Obviously it shouldn't be black screening at stock speeds and you should probably either send it back or try the cap mod, but I want to know if lowering the memory clock solves the problem for you aswell

I think that was for me

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There is no point for me (now) to test that, because I am now debugging 'version 1b' card which has not yet made BS. I know that the first (=very bad) version of the GW-cards were working properly having underclocking of ~500-600 MHz.

However, these issues about underclocking, RMA if you can etc. are described quite detailed in the original post

[SikaRippa]

why should I use a 1000uf capacitor?
Default the card has 470uf, don't you think it would be enough to solder a high Quality Sanyo Capititor there in place?

I get my card next week, whenn I have the BS, I will resolder ALL the big capicitors und replace them by Sanyo Capacitors.

12 Capacitors are on one card, right? (I don't think SMD Caps will make any problems)

5 very big caps (violet)
2 big caps (green)
5 samller ones (black)

Someone has an idea at which value caps DEcrease performance?
Is it only a problem at power on a system?
http://www.clubic.com/photo/00107274.jpg

I am sure that it is not required to change all the capacitors !!!

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The capacitors that I THINK might be bad components are c136 and c143 (having green labels), and since they are connected parallel the total capacitance is ~ 1000 uF. Modified cards (see e.g XFX-card in post #1) are using larger values, therefore it is suggested that larger value is better.

I have been thinking A LOT what kind of capacitors would be good enough for
that purpose and I am not still sure.. There are much more 'moving parts' in that circuit, that I thought at the starting point. At least following aspect are critical:

- Very low ESR ( value of < 0.05 ohm, I do not know exact value yet)
- Very high ripple current (value > 1 A , I do not know exact value yet)
- Capacitance value 470 uF (or higher BUT very high value causes other problems..)

I am working all the time to make good specs, but it is not easy beacause I found
very stange aspects that have to be re-checked (I will post this info soon...)

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Before make that modification please post following details:

- What is your card model/version
- What labels there are at top of those "c136 and c143" caps e.g. "4 8 470 6E"
- What kind of Sanyo capacitors you are going to use (the one I mentioned ??), AND how you can obtain those in small volumes ( I have not yet found a place ) !

[markiemrboo]

I think that was for me

--

There is no point for me (now) to test that, because I am now debugging 'version 1b' card which has not yet made BS. I know that the first (=very bad) version of the GW-cards were working properly having underclocking of ~500-600 MHz.

However, these issues about underclocking, RMA if you can etc. are described quite detailed in the original post

Ah ha Ok.

As for the Sanyo caps, there's actually 50x Sanyo 1500uF / 10v / 105C capacitors on ebay at the moment :o The can size looks massive from the pictures. No specs listed though.

There's also some 'Sanyo OSCON' caps on there, 220uF / 10v .. the specs are:

3370mA
27Ohm @ 300kHz

Any good?

[SikaRippa]

Ah ha Ok.

As for the Sanyo caps, there's actually 50x Sanyo 1500uF / 10v / 105C capacitors on ebay at the moment :o The can size looks massive from the pictures. No specs listed though.

There's also some 'Sanyo OSCON' caps on there, 220uF / 10v .. the specs are:

3370mA
27Ohm @ 300kHz

Any good?

You mean these ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=WDVW
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=WDVW

.. I think no good for replacement for the originals, because they are leaded (bulky) components (=hard to place etc.). I wonder those should be ~ same size, SMD-components like shown in here:

http://www.semicom.co.uk/manufacture...ducts_svp.html

[markiemrboo]

Yeah those, well, the first link isn't the exact ones I found but very similar.

Are you going to go all the way and actually replace the [believed to be] faulty caps now?

[SikaRippa]

Yeah those, well, the first link isn't the exact ones I found but very similar.

Are you going to go all the way and actually replace the [believed to be] faulty caps now?

No at least now.. I have to solve some/many aspects before I will modify anything (e.g. capacitor specifications !), and therefore a unmodified card is required.

[SikaRippa]

!!!! Version 1.5 of the document has been posted !!!!

- A noisy audio due to GF6800 has been investigated
- Provides a very easy way to test by LISTENING if something is wrong with the card ..

[dandaman]

thanks! i feel better. im scared the returns dept at this company will start to accuse me of time wasting and say it must be my system....

the dual fan gainward didnt BS, but it only lasted an hour in my system because i couldnt hear myself think

[SikaRippa]

thanks! i feel better. im scared the returns dept at this company will start to accuse me of time wasting and say it must be my system....

the dual fan gainward didnt BS, but it only lasted an hour in my system because i couldnt hear myself think

It is wierd that they (=that company) have not heard about BS-feature, because so many are complaining !!

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Could you make a noisy audio test (see my previos post and updated#1) with MSI-card, in order to clarify the differences between GW and MSI ? It is very easy to perform and NO modifications is required.

[markiemrboo]

Sika, the audio test... I think you may find it interesting to know that I seem to have this problem, I think.

I don't have a cd audio cable, the noise doesn't come through my speakers. It comes from the actual card? There's no weird noises (high pitched squealy noises) when the card is idle, as far as I can hear, but when I start something 3D some funny high pitch noises seem to come from the card.

Is this the same thing you're talking about? I always assumed this was normal. My other Leadtek 6800 also makes these noises... but I don't know if that one black screens. Haven't had time to test. It has '44 470 6E' caps.

EDIT: By the way, your sound links dont work

Angelfire does not allow direct linking
from offsite, non-Angelfire pages,
to files hosted on Angelfire.

This practice of 'remote linking' reduces
our ability to serve out the homepages
of our members quickly and efficiently.

[SikaRippa]

Sika, the audio test... I think you may find it interesting to know that I seem to have this problem, I think.

I don't have a cd audio cable, the noise doesn't come through my speakers. It comes from the actual card? There's no weird noises (high pitched squealy noises) when the card is idle, as far as I can hear, but when I start something 3D some funny high pitch noises seem to come from the card.

Is this the same thing you're talking about? I always assumed this was normal. My other Leadtek 6800 also makes these noises... but I don't know if that one black screens. Haven't had time to test. It has '44 470 6E' caps.

EDIT: By the way, your sound links dont work

That is most likely the same problem, since I could heard the noise when listening near the card. I wonder what part is acting as a loudspeker ?? In the case I explained above the noise is connected by molex-cable, because of taking it off removes also noise - at loudspeakers.

Anyway, you test proves that this is a common feature of BS-cards and maybe also feature of BS-cards-in-future !!!!!

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I know those **** -links.. it is angelfire again ! I managed to download them by copying the link and paste it a new window - not so nice but working !

[markiemrboo]

Copy pasting the link in a new window ( tab actually ) worked.

Those noises seem really bad on yours, oerhaps not the same thing I am experiencing? The noise actually comes out of your speakers aswell? Mine makes noises, but not as bad as what I heard from your recording

[SikaRippa]

Copy pasting the link in a new window ( tab actually ) worked.

Those noises seem really bad on yours, oerhaps not the same thing I am experiencing? The noise actually comes out of your speakers aswell? Mine makes noises, but not as bad as what I heard from your recording

Please, note that I amplified those signals VERY MUCH and only the frequency variation is relevant. These noise signals have been recorder by connecting mic-input directly to audio-out.

Could you get an audio cable and make a test I wonder these cables can be found everywhere e.g. packaged usually with a CD-player.

[markiemrboo]

I think I have an audio cable laying about somewhere. I'm not entirely sure if my motherboard onboard sound/soundcard ( not your regular Audigy2, Audiotrak Prodigy here :P ) even has the pins for the cable though. I don't remember seeing them before...

I'll have a look and get back to you shortly.

[markiemrboo]

My onboard sound has the 'CD-IN' pins. I'll try and find a cable, switch back to onboard sound with some headphones, and see what happens...

[Flib]

I can get 200pieces for 15€

Ratings:
10V 1500uf

[dandaman]

the MSI is really quiet. barely audible. thats a plus point.

the gainward is loud enough to be heard in the next room with the door shut. and my speakrs have to be on pretty load to drown out the racket.

but thats about as scientific a response as i can give because ive removed both cards and have no intention of inserting either of them again. sorry

[markiemrboo]

the MSI is really quiet. barely audible. thats a plus point.

the gainward is loud enough to be heard in the next room with the door shut. and my speakrs have to be on pretty load to drown out the racket.

but thats about as scientific a response as i can give because ive removed both cards and have no intention of inserting either of them again. sorry

He wasn't actually talking about fan noise :P

I can't find a CD audio cable, so all I can say is that mines makes some strange high pitch noises somewhere from the card.

[SikaRippa]

the MSI is really quiet. barely audible. thats a plus point.

the gainward is loud enough to be heard in the next room with the door shut. and my speakrs have to be on pretty load to drown out the racket.

but thats about as scientific a response as i can give because ive removed both cards and have no intention of inserting either of them again. sorry

Yes, as markiemrboo commented this is different issue in addtion to a poor fan of GW-cards.

There are a number noise sources in every PC, thus this extra noise is hard to identify even if you exactly know what you are looking for. You can imagine how long it took for me to find out the mechanism or logic behind this problem ....

If you want to help/test it in a proper manner, please follow the instructions in post #1.

[dandaman]

oh yeah, i did have some strange whining noises coming out of my speakers for a while. i never imagined it was due to the card tho.

I figured it was due to either some kind of interference from the mess of wires round the back of the pc, so i tidied them up. it made no diference.

then i thought it might be the cordless phone my wife insusted on putting next to the speakers. so i moved it and it stopped.

[SikaRippa]

oh yeah, i did have some strange whining noises coming out of my speakers for a while. i never imagined it was due to the card tho.

I figured it was due to either some kind of interference from the mess of wires round the back of the pc, so i tidied them up. it made no diference.

then i thought it might be the cordless phone my wife insusted on putting next to the speakers. so i moved it and it stopped.

So this odd noise is quite common feature ! Do you still have that sound with your new MSI ?

[SikaRippa]

I can get 200pieces for 15€

Ratings:
10V 1500uf

Not so high price, could you specify exact code for those caps (are they 'Sanyo SVP'-model) ?

[bertos]

Hi! I'm new one here and my English isn't so good as it should be,so sorry for some mistakes I'd might make here

Nice job SikaRippa !!! This post answers some questions, or at least gives a way to find a soultion for this 6800LE problems.
I only want to describe my case and share with you all with my observations. I also ask you for eventually answers or comments about it. I've got GW 2100LE, with the capacitors marked as: 43 470 6E, and I don't expierience these BSs! I can run 3D mark 2003 (2005) many times, I can play some 3D games (Half Life2, SWAT 4, Toca2 etc., Far Cry, Splinter Cell 3 etc.) and nothing – no BS. I run also at overclocked card (355/810 Mhz, 12p,6v) and all is OK. But one thing bothers me, and it happens randomly. Especially when the card is overclocked, and especially in FarCry and Splinter Cell 3 – I get these “hang ups” with very high and annoying noise in loudspeakers. The game freezes for few seconds, and mainly freezes for good (Splinter...), sometimes it goes further (FarCry). Always I am able to back to the desktop though. As I said – I run on 4 unblocked pipelines and higher then default freqs. but it happened on default parameters as well.
What do you think about it? Is my card faulty? What should I do next?

Thanks and best regards...

[Flib]

Sanyo SAY Model

Kondensator, Sanyo, Elko, 1500uF/10V (PE=200Stk) SAY-0002
Typ: 10MV1500WGL
8x20 mm, RM 3,5, high quality, 105 GradC

are they fine?

[SikaRippa]

Hi! I'm new one here and my English isn't so good as it should be,so sorry for some mistakes I'd might make here

Nice job SikaRippa !!! This post answers some questions, or at least gives a way to find a soultion for this 6800LE problems.
I only want to describe my case and share with you all with my observations. I also ask you for eventually answers or comments about it. I've got GW 2100LE, with the capacitors marked as: 43 470 6E, and I don't expierience these BSs! I can run 3D mark 2003 (2005) many times, I can play some 3D games (Half Life2, SWAT 4, Toca2 etc., Far Cry, Splinter Cell 3 etc.) and nothing – no BS. I run also at overclocked card (355/810 Mhz, 12p,6v) and all is OK. But one thing bothers me, and it happens randomly. Especially when the card is overclocked, and especially in FarCry and Splinter Cell 3 – I get these “hang ups” with very high and annoying noise in loudspeakers. The game freezes for few seconds, and mainly freezes for good (Splinter...), sometimes it goes further (FarCry). Always I am able to back to the desktop though. As I said – I run on 4 unblocked pipelines and higher then default freqs. but it happened on default parameters as well.
What do you think about it? Is my card faulty? What should I do next?

Thanks and best regards...

Hi ! Do not worry about language, I am not also native English speaker and wonder the guide might be 'very bad language' for native speakers - but I do not care, since the most important think (for me) is the information itself !

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Wierd features indeed.. could you specify following details:


- Have you 'AGP Fast Write' off or on ? (It is set usually in bios). There has been some freezing problems with some 6800-card when 'Fast Write' = on
- Is you card looking like the figures posted (which one) ? If not could you post a figure of it OR provide a link to web-page having such figure OR explain what is different comparing those cards ?
- Have you used the card for a long time ?
- Do you think that the noise is similar to those examples ?
- IMPORTANT ONE: when card hangs, is the noise high or low frequency ???

It is interesting that you have encourted quite similar freezing features than 'markiemrboo' (see posts above), it would be nice to know wheather your card has also *fixed* like 'GW version 1b'. I am just wondering IF this fix would remove BS, but makes card freeze sometimes (????).