7970 overclock auto shutdown

[ruhtraeel]

Hello,
I just overclocked my 7970 to 1100/1425 at 1125 VDDC. However, I was playing Crysis 3 when my computer automatically restarted. Temperatures were normal, around 55-60 degrees on the GPU.

I've never experienced an auto-shutdown, even when I had overclocked my 7970 to 1000/1425 at 1050 VDDC (stock voltage). I also ran OCCT for an hour, and after needing to slowly bump up voltage, I got to the point where it gave me no errors using 1125 VDDC.

I'm convinced that it is because my PSU (a workstation one) doesn't have enough 8 pins.
I am using this adapter: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX32414

I needed that adapter since I was lacking one more 4 pin molex from my PSU. I'm thinking that there's not enough power coming through that adapter to feed the other half of the 8 pin on the 7970.

Are my suspicions correct? Is there any way to tell?

Thanks

 

[ruhtraeel]

Hello,
I just overclocked my 7970 to 1100/1425 at 1125 VDDC. However, I was playing Crysis 3 when my computer automatically restarted. Temperatures were normal, around 55-60 degrees on the GPU.

I've never experienced an auto-shutdown, even when I had overclocked my 7970 to 1000/1425 at 1050 VDDC (stock voltage). I also ran OCCT for an hour, and after needing to slowly bump up voltage, I got to the point where it gave me no errors using 1125 VDDC.

I'm convinced that it is because my PSU (a workstation one) doesn't have enough 8 pins.
I am using this adapter: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX32414

I needed that adapter since I was lacking one more 4 pin molex's from my PSU. I'm thinking that there's not enough power coming through that adapter to feed the other half of the 8 pin on the 7970.

Are my suspicions correct? Is there any way to tell?

Thanks

EDIT: I just switched to a 750W PSU with enough 4 pins so that I don't have to use any adapters. It auto shutdown even faster this time.

What could be the problem?

 

[tg2708]

Did you flip the switch on the card to #2?

 

[ruhtraeel]

Did you flip the switch on the card to #2?

Yep, that was the only way I could get the voltage to stay changed.

 

[Jaydip]

What PSU is this?

 

[ruhtraeel]

What PSU is this?

Both are Delta ones, pulled from HP workstations. I have a 750W one as well as the 1050CB A, the latter pulled from an HP XW9400 workstation. I switched it back to the 1050w and made sure that the 8 pins aren't all coming from one rail (which was difficult since this psu has a boatload of sata power cables but only 3 4 pin molexes). I will test it again once I get home.

One of the caveats is that because the 1050w one only has 3 4pin molexes, I have to use a sata to 4pin adapter so I can plug the molexes into two dual 4 pin molex to 8 pin cables for the 7970.

The 750w one has many more 4 pin molexes, but it auto restarted even faster than the 1050w one.

 

[TerryMathews]

You checked your System log for errors? Specifically WHEA?

 

[ruhtraeel]

You checked your System log for errors? Specifically WHEA?

OCCT just said I didn't have any errors when I was running it for an hour on 60MB RAM. However, I tried Crysis 3 again and it auto restart around 5-10 minutes in.

 

[SolMiester]

I think games are a bit different when loading on GPUs, and I dont think all original fabbed 7970 can get 1100

 

[ruhtraeel]

I think games are a bit different when loading on GPUs, and I dont think all original fabbed 7970 can get 1100

I'm almost positive that it's my power supply.

When I was using the 750W one, it pretty much instantly shut down around 3 seconds after I was in-game in Crysis 3.

With the 1050W one, it gave me around 5-7 minutes.

The ASIC quality of my card is apparently 83%, and I've seen most people with a Sapphire 7970 get to like 1200/1250mhz with some voltage tweaking.

 

[SolMiester]

So thats 3 PSUs too weak for the OC & voltage?, 620, 750 & 1050w, i dont think so!

 

[ruhtraeel]

So thats 3 PSUs too weak for the OC & voltage?, 620, 750 & 1050w, i dont think so!

I never had a 620W, I only have a 750W and a 1050W.

I actually do have a Delta (same brand) 600W lying somewhere, but IIRC the cables were too short. I also don't know if 600W would be enough, since I have 4 hard drives, 5 fans, and 2 GPU's.

If worse comes to worse, I can just keep trying PSU's, since my/my dad's company throws out all their old computers anyways.


This is the current PSU in the system:
http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/psu_reports/DELTA ELECTRONICS-DPS-1050CB A-1050W-Report.pdf

The other two that I have are
Delta 750CB A
Delta 600NB A

 

[SolMiester]

I never had a 620W, I only have a 750W and a 1050W.

Sorry buddy, must of got confused, post #2 says you switched to a 750w, #10 to a 1050w, thought that meant you tried 3 PSUs...
However, I am struggling to imagine even an older 1050w struggling with an OC 7970?, it cant be drawing more than 280-310w at max...

 

[wand3r3r]

Try my util in my sig and scan for WHEA errors.

Normally when an OC fails on a GPU it doesn't reset the whole computer, just the display adapter (at least on win8). Do you get a BSOD?

 

[ruhtraeel]

Try my util in my sig and scan for WHEA errors.

Normally when an OC fails on a GPU it doesn't reset the whole computer, just the display adapter (at least on win8). Do you get a BSOD?

Just tried it, I get no errors.

I also don't get a BSOD or anything either.

I think it's also worth mentioning that once I turned on my heater at the same time as I am gaming on my laptop (this happened while I was playing CS:GO), the entire basement fuse tripped. I might actually try and relocate a power bar to see if that helps, but I doubt it will, since it auto restarts.

 

[KentState]

I'm having a similar experience, but not sure if it's the video card or something else. I can play BF4 for hours at a time or as little as 10 minutes and I get a random reboot. No errors in Event Viewer, no BSOD, just a acts like someone pushed the reset button.

 

[ruhtraeel]

I'm having a similar experience, but not sure if it's the video card or something else. I can play BF4 for hours at a time or as little as 10 minutes and I get a random reboot. No errors in Event Viewer, no BSOD, just a acts like someone pushed the reset button.

Have you overclocked your card? I might try putting more voltage in it (1175 instead of 1125)

 

[nico9]

I've an HD 7970 that will do 1260|1661 fine and my PSU is just a Corsair AX650.

 

[Face2Face]

What adapter are using to connect the 7970? 7970 has a 6+8 PEG connector. So what are you using to make the connection? I would think the Delta PSU's would have one or two 6pin PEG's connectors but no 8pins.

EDIT: You say you have a Sata to molex adapter. Then two-molex to 8pin? If so, I think the issue is the sata to molex connector.

 

[monkeydelmagico]

Using adapters on 79xx cards seems like asking for trouble to me. These cards draw alot of wattage.

 

[InfoTiger]

Using adapters on 79xx cards seems like asking for trouble to me. These cards draw alot of wattage.

No, they don't.
Look at my sigs.

 

[ruhtraeel]

What adapter are using to connect the 7970? 7970 has a 6+8 PEG connector. So what are you using to make the connection? I would think the Delta PSU's would have one or two 6pin PEG's connectors but no 8pins.

EDIT: You say you have a Sata to molex adapter. Then two-molex to 8pin? If so, I think the issue is the sata to molex connector.

I am using this adapter:
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX32414

The Sapphire 7970 actually needs 2 8 pins, which is why I am running into this problem. If it was a 6 pin + an 8 pin, I would be fine.

I am also tempted to believe that the issue is the Sata to molex adapter, but I've seen two-sata to 8 pin adapters before, which leads me to believe that Sata and molex both have the same throughput.

I've an HD 7970 that will do 1260|1661 fine and my PSU is just a Corsair AX650.

What is your voltage set at?

 

[MrK6]

How have some of you been here for so long and still don't know that wattage on a PSU means little?

OP, I agree with you that it sounds like it's a PSU issue. My first guess would be that the power distribution isn't set up for a gaming PC, and the 7970 is overloading a 12V rail. Do you happen to have the specifics or a picture of the sticker on the PSU (if it says it there)?

 

[Face2Face]

How have some of you been here for so long and still don't know that wattage on a PSU means little?

OP, I agree with you that it sounds like it's a PSU issue. My first guess would be that the power distribution isn't set up for a gaming PC, and the 7970 is overloading a 12V rail. Do you happen to have the specifics or a picture of the sticker on the PSU (if it says it there)?

Your right, this is not a gaming PSU looking at the 12v distribution but it still should work.

Looking at the picture of the 1050w, it looks like it has two PCI-E 6pin connectors. I may be hard to tracking down the individual rails because all of the 12v wires look to be all black, unless you can decipher the R, D and M. I think it's possible running this card using this psu, but you will need to choose your rails carefully. If you have two 6 pin PEG connectors then an adapter of this sort would more than likely work best. I wouldn't expect to overclock much or at all. If you have some extra money you should really be looking at another PSU oriented towards gaming.



here is a pic of the PSU label -

 

[MrK6]

Your right, this is not a gaming PSU looking at the 12v distribution but it still should work.

Looking at the picture of the 1050w, it looks like it has two PCI-E 6pin connectors. I may be hard to tracking down the individual rails because all of the 12v wires look to be all black, unless you can decipher the R, D and M. I think it's possible running this card using this psu, but you will need to choose your rails carefully. If you have two 6 pin PEG connectors then an adapter of this sort would more than likely work best. I wouldn't expect to overclock much or at all. If you have some extra money you should really be looking at another PSU oriented towards gaming.



here is a pic of the PSU label -

Excellent post, I agree. I'll also add that unless it's labeled you many times will have to take off the cover of the PSU and trace the internal circuitry to figure out the rail distribution. In the end, it really doesn't matter because each 12V rail only has 18A, so even if you get the 7970 on its own rail (which may be the case already), it will be very easy to overload it once you start overclocking. This being the case, I agree with Face2Face's recommendation of looking for a gaming oriented PSU. If you want to get an excellent PSU for cheap, this is a great deal atm: http://slickdeals.net/f/6337374-sea...-bronze-power-supply-55ar-lowest-price-newegg