6950 crossfire flicker?

[ViviTheMage]

Seems random, but in windows, or games, my screen(s) will flicker. I tried turning off one monitor, but it still seems to do it.

XFX 6950 2GB x2 oc'd and +20 .. unlocked shaders as well
i5 2500k
asus p8p67 pro

11.1a drivers
latest xfire profiles

Is there something I should turn off?

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Have you tested oc with occt? I don't consider any overclock stable without having passed the occt gpu test.

 

[ViviTheMage]

linky to occt test?

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=214
Run gpu test about 20-30mins and check the box for error checking on.

 

[ViviTheMage]

i'll run it now ... one thing I noticed is that in windows desktop/idle the first GPU seems to be at full mem clock and GPU clock.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

is your monitor connected through a displayport adapter? I have 2 mini DP to DVI adapters, one of them can do 1080p perfectly fine, the other flickers like mad at high resolutions, so I use it for my 720p projector without issue.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Both are going through DVI, on the same card. No adapters or anything.

I just did a 20 minute run, and it completed without errors.

 

[Morphine06]

Are they running at different refresh rates?

 

[ViviTheMage]

The same.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I ran OCCT for a few hours, zero errors.

Anyone else have any thoughts? My buddy has 2x6950's, gpu unlocked, etc, and he has no flicker.

one difference is he's on x58 and i7 950

 

[Darkrage]

I ran OCCT for a few hours, zero errors.

Anyone else have any thoughts? My buddy has 2x6950's, gpu unlocked, etc, and he has no flicker.

one difference is he's on x58 and i7 950

Is he overclocking the gpus too?. have you tried playing with no overclock to see if there is any difference?

 

[MrK6]

Do you both have dual monitors? It wouldn't be the first time dual monitors didn't play nice. Try forcing 3D clocks on both cards.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Is he overclocking the gpus too?. have you tried playing with no overclock to see if there is any difference?

his is oc'd, I have tried with no OC, and stock BIOS...same issue.

Do you both have dual monitors? It wouldn't be the first time dual monitors didn't play nice. Try forcing 3D clocks on both cards.

Where do I force 3D clocks?

I have 2 monitors, he has one ... but I have tried with just one monitor, issue persists.

My next test is a single GPU, remove the second one.

 

[ViviTheMage]

11.2 did not fix this.

 

[MrK6]

My next test is a single GPU, remove the second one.

Did running one card only fix anything?

To force 3D clocks at all time, download MSI Afterburner v. 2.1 beta 7. In the config file to enable unofficial overclocking, put in "2" instead of one and it will disable PowerPlay. Here's the specifics: http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?p=3870370 . Let us know if that works :thumbsup:.

 

[happy medium]

Make sure you only have ONE overclocking program running. uncheck the overclocking box in CCC and reinstall afterburner.

SOmetimes 2 overclocking programs will conflict and cause this problem.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I only had CCC, and the issue was there.

I pop open Afterburner, and it shows me the same overclock (no OC options available).

I'll try that MrK6.

 

[badb0y]

Probably the memory is clocking too low.

 

[ViviTheMage]

ingame it's maxed, at the desktop it lowers about half, or 200's

 

[badb0y]

What connections are you using for the monitor(s)?

 

[ViviTheMage]

DVI, both of them...plugged into the same card (top).

 

[ViviTheMage]

well, I played around a bunch more, and went to the stock BIOS and so far no flickers.

I was using XFX specific shader unlock BIOS

 

[MrK6]

well, I played around a bunch more, and went to the stock BIOS and so far no flickers.

I was using XFX specific shader unlock BIOS

Were you using your modified original BIOS or did you download that BIOS? You could try unlocking the shaders in your original BIOS to see if that solves the flickering when you unlock your cards. See here: http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/vidcard/159 and don't flash with a 6970 BIOS, modify your own BIOS using this program and batch file: http://forums.techpowerup.com/showpost.php?p=2137880&postcount=406

 

[ViviTheMage]

I gave someone on techpowerup my bios, and he moded it for me ... loads of people were using it too.

I actually tried one thing as a shot in the dark :

modded 6950 xfx bios (what i've been using all along), and BOTH crossfire connectors (was only using one before), and so far, no flicker...can't believe that could be it!

I have never flashed with a 6970 bios, i've read too many flakey issues, so i've only done the modded 6950.

 

[ViviTheMage]

bad news is it still flickers, good news is, it doesn't seem like as frequently?