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Question

Artifacting/

Feb 14, 2015 12:23AM PST

I built a gaming rig this past summer, it has acted very temperamental from the get go. Where did I go wrong? someone please inform me, I am fairly knowledgeable with hardware, I have an A+ but it has been a few years maybe I am missing something here...

anyways this is my build.
amd fx-8320 Black
corsair h80i cpu cooler
2 x 8GB corsair vengeace pro 2133mhz cl10
m5a97 r 2.0 mobo
samsung 840 evo ssd
r7 260x dc2oc 2GB video card
ultra etorque tower
evga supernova 650gold
blu ray burner
some corsair silent series fans

Air flow ( because i know this will come up)
1 front fan pulling in
2 side fans pulling in
1 top fan out
h80i (push/pull 2 fans)on rear blowing out.


PROBLEM:
I have artifacting even when i am not gaming, and when i game it will be fine for a long time and then huge artifacting triangles come up...

First thought is heat issues of course

The cpu never goes above 40 Celsius and the video card never goes above 65 celsius and thats peak....normal gaming such as Titanfall max settings runs about 56 celcius average.

I RMA'd the MOBO, the RAM, and the Video card.

still having the issue...

updated mobo firmware, video software, directx, catalyst control center....all showing the most current updates.

Please if you have any more ideas i would be thrilled.

Thanks alot

Discussion is locked

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Answer
So if it's not heat, it's a failed part.
Feb 14, 2015 12:27AM PST

Did you try other graphic cards?
Bob

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agreed
Feb 14, 2015 2:51AM PST

I agree, which is why i already RMA'd the Video card, The motherboard, and the RAM

I highly doubt it is the processor, i feel like there would be other indicators if it were the processor...

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Wait. That's not in the top post.
Feb 14, 2015 3:02AM PST

I didn't read the parts have been replaced.

There is a problematic area in the PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817438005 notes 20A rails so as this is an older PSU it could have lost its edge and power dropouts could cause troubles.

Why this PSU? Strange for gamers that build to not go with single rail models.

Quick tests? Cover off, change rails and re-test.

And don't dismiss work on the GPU. Many GPUs need this work IN SPITE of temp readings. Don't dismiss it.
Read http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-r9-290x-thermal-paste-efficiency,3678.html
Bob

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-r7-260-review,3736-8.html notes about a 100 Watt card so an aged multi-rail PSU could be trouble.

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explained
Feb 14, 2015 4:22AM PST

i chose that power supply because it was fully modular, it was gold rated and i didn't think it mattered how many rails it had.... i used to use a crossfire setup and was told that it was good for crossfire...(not currently doing this as i have been having problems) but i wanted enough vga slots to expand.

Not sure the difference between what the manual says here, VGA1 and 2 are - 12v2 VGA 3 and 4 are 12v4

i switched to VGA3 and i started titanfall, played a few minutes and then it closed and told me that the display driver stopped working properly

i had ASUS GPU monitor going and this is what it looked like when the game shut down....

i can only assume that the gpu power section looks suspect

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If this was mine I'd
Feb 14, 2015 4:29AM PST

Unplug what I could since I don't need an ODD for testing and then do the GPU work. It's running along at 100% for quite a while so that could be trouble.

HOWEVER one client had "optimized" a game and it took a few rounds to find they had turned on a feature that was known to cause display driver stopped responding crashes. They could not accept the finding and instead changed video cards. Along the way we changed up the PSU to another model (bigger) as well.
Bob

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i like
Feb 14, 2015 8:47PM PST

i like it, plus it is the only thing i havent changed....but no it makes sense. i ordered the corsair RM850 hopefully this will be better.

i tried to get a shot of the artifacting that i get in windows when i pull the charms out or right click the desktop but it doesn't capture on a PRTSCR which is odd?....the artifact will be completely stationary and not flickering and it is not there when i paste the screen capture..... might be a clue?

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THAT IS WORTHY OF ITS OWN DISCUSSION
Feb 15, 2015 12:33AM PST

There is a frame buffer that is for the display which is not what screen capture will grab. There are tomes on the web about this and worthy of its own discussion but it is a fine clue something is up with the GPU card or driver. It doesn't mean it is the driver, only that it's a suspect.

HOWEVER given the number of times I've found game setting issues I wonder if at times some folk would be better off on PS4 or such.
Bob

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interesting
Feb 15, 2015 12:51AM PST

I guess i will do some searching for driver fix's...although i have been down this road maybe the right wording will help

instead of the RM850 i changed to the seasonic X-850 (had much higher reviews)

I will do my investigating with the drivers

i still have another r7 260x in case its the card

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The clue it's the GPU is artifacting when not gaming.
Feb 15, 2015 12:54AM PST

-> Let me dive off to the side here.

Tell me about your motherboard chipset driver routine. Some folk try to get by with whatever Microsoft installed.
Bob

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routine?
Feb 16, 2015 9:19AM PST

i assume you mean the way i install drivers for the motherboard?

I go to the manufacturers website, which in this case it asus.com and i download the most up to date drivers they have

when i RMA'd the parts i thought were suspect i completely uninstalled the drivers first and then installed them fresh

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(NT) So how did the other GPU work out?
Feb 16, 2015 9:23AM PST
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r.proffitt=robert =bob lol
Feb 16, 2015 6:46PM PST

anyways haha the GPU didn't seem to change anything, while i don't recall getting any artifacting during gaming, I know for certain I was getting the screen blotches in windows, the ones i told you i couldn't screen capture.....so maybe the GPU did fix the artifacting issue? but like you said earlier the screen capture blotch is a whole 'nother topic.

now i have been down the software road as well, but maybe there's some setting or driver setup that wasn't done correctly...?

can frame buffer be adjusted?

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PS. Forgot a thing.
Feb 16, 2015 9:24AM PST

When changing motherboards Windows may act oddly. No one I know supports a motherboard change without a full wipe and OS install.
Bob

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you know bob
Feb 16, 2015 6:40PM PST

I fully agree....except, windows isn't acting oddly at all, it is performing exactly the way it was before the mobo swap. If there was even the slightest qwerk that i noticed i would certainly wipe and reload, but i see no reason to....

but follow me up one comment i want to reply to this question from proffitt but it may get confusing with the details.

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Answer
Over clocking?
Feb 14, 2015 1:45AM PST

I see 2133 ram are you pushing the machine out to that speed?

A cheap test......take the side panel off.
If it still does the same thing it did not cost you anything.

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not sure what you mean
Feb 14, 2015 2:53AM PST

I am not sure what you mean, the board is capable of 2133, I doubt i am pushing it to that speed while gaming, most games run 120FPS without any issue on 1866mhz...

let me know if i am not getting the question... again I am not sure what you're asking

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Ram
Feb 14, 2015 3:31AM PST

That cpu supports 1866 ram.
You installed 2133 ram.
If you did not change any settings the ram should clock down and run at 1866.

It looks like the mobo has a tool kit that contains cpu-z.
Load it up and have a look.
It should tell you what speed your running the ram at.

I don't expect ram speed to cause artifacts....just taking a wag.

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explain me
Feb 14, 2015 4:15AM PST

the board supports 2133(o.c) according to their website.

I didnt see an option to enable this i thought it was automatic, maybe i am mistaken

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Speed
Feb 14, 2015 8:31AM PST

Your mobo 'can' support a ram speed of 2133.
Your cpu 'can' support a ram speed of 1866.....stock or native mode.

If you get in there and fiddle with stuff you can push the cpu to use 2133 speed.
It's call ocing.......in my opinion it's more trouble than it's worth.

If you have not fiddled with stuff it's doubtful this applies.
If you have fiddled with stuff it might be a good idea to bring it back to stock.

What was the results of the side panel off test?

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side panel off
Feb 14, 2015 8:43PM PST

panel off didn't change anything

i like the idea of the PSU being the culprit here... it makes sense as it is the only think i have yet to change.

the entire pc was brand new (which doesnt always mean perfect) but then i RMA'd everything except the PSU

i even ran 2x r7 260x's crossfire just to see if i could get some support from the second card

now i see what you mean, the CPU is at 1866, gotcha, i kind of forgot that would be the limting factor there. but yeah havent OC'd anything

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Answer
It bites you
Feb 15, 2015 12:25AM PST

You're a good example of why supporting "gamers" tends to lead in a difficult path to a clear solution. Too often more attention is paid to the glitzy components like GPU and CPU rather than the basic foundation of the PSU and even the case itself. It all boils down to having the best from the go rather than finding out later to exclude any compatibility issues. The PSU is key to sustain the levels of power in order have prolonged play or even the juice to get it all going. Cooling comes in next because that provides a level where ideal heat levels are maintained which if NOT degrade all components and/or find the weakest link. The best advise I give when having to provide details on what to get to make a good gaming PC is just review what is being offered by so-called gaming outfits. These are already build as X, Y, Z systems for certain cost and sometimes wow factor but overall provide what is suppose to be a decent gaming PC. Thus, you find what went into a build and generally the "required level" of a gaming PC. I have yet to find a gamer that's happy for long and also settle for less than "MAX" or forced to a level that can be supported with a working setup. I thought to add my comment just so you know you're the 1st to have such problems. good luck

tada -----Willy Happy

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Answer
Can you use a camera to show the screen blotch?
Feb 16, 2015 11:07PM PST

I wonder if we're down to a display failure now. Sorry, can't reply as the forum bottoms out.
Bob

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yes
Feb 17, 2015 3:35AM PST

That's what I'm getting to, I will take a picture with my phone