Bad 4850?

[SPQQKY]

Hey all, got my 4850 today and before I headed to work, installed it quick and ran a couple of benches. Problem is, after the benches (3dmark 03 & 05), I get artifacts when back in 2D. Basically I have a lot of pixels flashing red and green.
During the benches, there are no artifacts, only after I'm back in 2D.
I don't think it's a heat issue, simply because it was fine during the benches and didn't seem to get too hot (unable to get temps either - will see why later),but I had little time and I'm sitting at work now.
Just wanted some input so I might have something to fall on when I get home to try and troubleshoot. Any help, suggestions is greatly appreciated.

[MotF Bane]

I've had a few flickering pixels on flash animations and such, and they'll hold when I close the flash window for a few seconds. It's definitely not a heat issue, I'm on a test board and CCC is modified. Only saw them a couple times though.

[ea6gka]

i have the same issue , and thats on my second 4850 (first one was RMA'ed)

[SPQQKY]

Not sure now if it's not a heat issue....I set fan to 65% and ran the benches and it doesn't artifact when I'm back in 2D. I had it at 50% before. Can now see temps and daayum!!! This thing is a little toaster (I read about heat before I bought it, but wasn't prepared for this). Will most definitely be getting some after market cooling if the card holds out that long. Want to crossfire eventually, but spending extra on better cooling is going to set this poor SOB back a bit.

Will keep testing and see how it goes.

[Morais]

This also could be because of Powerplay.When back to 2d, the memory clocks get reduced and causes "flickering" on some screens.As others said, check if that is a heat issue.

[perkam]

Use the fan fix and set a higher fan speed on idle.

Perkam

[SPQQKY]

I've used the fan fix to set two profiles - one for idle at 40% and one for 3D at 65% and it sounds like a freakin' leaf blower.

[perkam]

I've used the fan fix to set two profiles - one for idle at 40% and one for 3D at 65% and it sounds like a freakin' leaf blower.

Looks like you need to get an after market cooler.

Non-ref designs for the 4850 from Asus and such should be out by August.

BTW, did you change the standard compound to AS5 or something, because that alone decreases temps by a good 10C.

Perkam

[deathman20]

Whats the temps on the card?

GPU and the other 3 sensors, curious to what they read since I know 1 of my cards has a really high sensor #2 & #3 which sucks.

[SPQQKY]

If I keep the fan @ 65%, I can run 3D without artifacts when going back to 2D. I've not changed anything on the card ATM. Wanted to get a feel for this thing before I messed with it. Will probably change the thermal compound tonight and maybe pick up a slot cooler temporarily to help get heat out from under the card.
Can't give temps right now, still at work.

[ea6gka]

i concur it is a heat issue , ran mine @90% and i had no artifacts. Kudos to ATI for supplying a card with inadequate cooling.

So why should i spent 30 euros for an aftermarket cooler and not add another 20 euros to buy a 4870??????????

[Devious]

I got artifacts in 2d when flashing a custom bios which had too little vgpu. I know you havent done that but im just saying its not always heat related.

[SPQQKY]

I got artifacts in 2d when flashing a custom bios which had too little vgpu. I know you havent done that but im just saying its not always heat related.

I was thinking the same thing since it didn't do it when running 3D, only after dropping back into 2D mode. But with the fan cranked up, there are no artifacts.
Is there a BIOS available that may be supplying more voltage for these cards?

[SPQQKY]

After some gaming with the card, I just couldn't keep it cool enough. It would crash in some games or heat up so bad the artifacts would show up. I have good case ventilation and had no problems with my 8800GT. So I brought my card back and ended up getting a GTX 260. I know I could have gotten a 4870 for the same cash, or spent even more on some after market cooling, but the experience with the 4850 left a bad taste in my mouth, beside, the gtx 260 works like a dream out of the box, like all graphics cards should (hint to ATI/AMD). Won't be messing with ATi until maybe the next releases.

[nukec]

I will use this topic. I have 4850, and it has weird smell. Is this normal? I mean i can smell it out of my case. I know its GPU because when i snif i only fell that smell when i move my nose on GPU.