4870 Overclocking Thread

[Blkout]

Looks like card #2 died today. When they fail, they just won't post. Playing COD4 last night for awhile, temps were about 38 core, 52 vrm. Shutdown. Today it wouldn't start. Swapped GPUs, posted fine.

Second GPU dead in 2 months. I'm done with ATI. Moving to Nvidia at this point. The first one died at stock speeds. The amount of spontaneous death with these cards is frightening, in fact is SDS - Spontaneous Death Syndrome.

For what it's worth, you did modify your card. Most other people running the stock cooler haven't had this issue. I don't think it's really fair to point the finger at ATI when you clearly voided your warranty and modifed your card.

[dnottis]

For what it's worth, you did modify your card. Most other people running the stock cooler haven't had this issue. I don't think it's really fair to point the finger at ATI when you clearly voided your warranty and modifed your card.

Ya, but the first one died and it was stock. Regardless 2 dead HD4870s added the pile that others have had die doesn't look too good if you ask me.

[dejanh]

Ya, but the first one died and it was stock. Regardless 2 dead HD4870s added the pile that others have had die doesn't look too good if you ask me.

Ya, I had a reference Diamond HD 4870 die on me as well couple of days ago (5 maybe?). Bought it from NCIX, came home, installed it, installed the drivers, rebooted, loaded up 3DMark06 ran a couple of tests, rebooted to go to Ubuntu to install the drivers and I was greeted with a black screen at POST...card trying to spin up the fan over and over and over, diagnostic LEDs blinking, no video out. Took it back to NCIX 2 hours later, they put it in their system to test it right away...no video...full refund.

I understand that there is a lot of these cards that are being sold, a lot of people that do not have complaints, but I have just been having s*** luck with them...

[0ut0fstep]

Ive now modded 4 of the visiontek cards 2 for myself and 2 for a buddy. using mcw60 block and just cutting the stock cooler down to cool the VRM's. none of these cards have crashed while running furmark ive reached the 120c mark after 130seconds of stability testing on furmark. but the cards are all still solid. im thinking its a manufacturing flaw on someone's part and its not ati's imo because at stock setting with stock cooler the VRM's run plenty within spec using a computer as it should be. Diamond HIS powercolor etc.. if these cards are failing visiontek is doing something they aren't. and yes I have renamed furmark so i get double the frames and stress it as much as possible.

[dnottis]

Ive now modded 4 of the visiontek cards 2 for myself and 2 for a buddy. using mcw60 block and just cutting the stock cooler down to cool the VRM's. none of these cards have crashed while running furmark ive reached the 120c mark after 130seconds of stability testing on furmark. but the cards are all still solid. im thinking its a manufacturing flaw on someone's part and its not ati's imo because at stock setting with stock cooler the VRM's run plenty within spec using a computer as it should be. Diamond HIS powercolor etc.. if these cards are failing visiontek is doing something they aren't. and yes I have renamed furmark so i get double the frames and stress it as much as possible.

Mine have never died while pushing them. They die when trying to come on. Strange. It was fine all day yesterday was playing some COD4, RS vegas 2. Shut her down. Today the card was dead, no more posty, ever. Just like that. My other one did the same thing, just up and randomly died. You better knock on wood so you dont have them all die on you tomorrow

Picked up the GTX 260 from the FS forums here today.

[0ut0fstep]

Mine have never died while pushing them. They die when trying to come on. Strange. It was fine all day yesterday was playing some COD4, RS vegas 2. Shut her down. Today the card was dead, no more posty, ever. Just like that. My other one did the same thing, just up and randomly died. You better knock on wood so you dont have them all die on you tomorrow

Picked up the GTX 260 from the FS forums here today.

Sounds to me like a power issue. Electronics that arent getting enough juice voltage/amperage wise tend to die when you shut them off and try to power them on again. Just to be on the safe side I would take your power supply and put it on a voltage tester or test with multimeter make sure you are within spec. Failing electronics are like light bulbs they never die when they are on they die when you hit that power button and give it that last little surge. It coulda been the cards but after 2 dying on you the same exact way I would check your power make sure its clean to be safe man.

[dnottis]

Sounds to me like a power issue. Electronics that arent getting enough juice voltage/amperage wise tend to die when you shut them off and try to power them on again. Just to be on the safe side I would take your power supply and put it on a voltage tester or test with multimeter make sure you are within spec. Failing electronics are like light bulbs they never die when they are on they die when you hit that power button and give it that last little surge. It coulda been the cards but after 2 dying on you the same exact way I would check your power make sure its clean to be safe man.

power supply is fine. everything is in spec. checked with mm already, its a 1000 watt TT. Stuck in another GPU no problems. Its a problem with the GPUs.

I don't know why people are so afraid to call a spade a spade. There are alot of reports of HD4870s that just up and die. When yours finally does, then it will be a GPU issue. When it's someone elses, it must be something else. The HD4870 series while being a huge jump in engineering have its weakness.. sudden death.

I should mention for like the 5th time. The first card had issues from the start, that one dying was a blessing. The second one was a great overclocker, ran cool and really sucks to lose.

[dejanh]

Ive now modded 4 of the visiontek cards 2 for myself and 2 for a buddy. using mcw60 block and just cutting the stock cooler down to cool the VRM's. none of these cards have crashed while running furmark ive reached the 120c mark after 130seconds of stability testing on furmark. but the cards are all still solid. im thinking its a manufacturing flaw on someone's part and its not ati's imo because at stock setting with stock cooler the VRM's run plenty within spec using a computer as it should be. Diamond HIS powercolor etc.. if these cards are failing visiontek is doing something they aren't. and yes I have renamed furmark so i get double the frames and stress it as much as possible.

From the people I have had an opportunity to talk to so far, I have heard the least complaints about Visiontek cards. Kind of funny...maybe they are more stringent in ensuring no faulty cards come out because of the lifetime warranty