my bad. i knew they can CF, juz wondering the vram utilization. will the 8gb gpu to be utilize fully or same with RAM theory, whichever is lower.

done that, but how bout the fan speed? set to auto or max?

So....after you test with faster fan speed, does the flickering/artifacts still occur?

If it didn't occur, then it might be subpar hynix VRAM even though it is running at correct 1500mhz and 1.5V.

You can create a custom aggressive fan curve for faster fan speed.


MSI Afterburner --> Settings -->Fan -->Tick "Enable user defined software automatic fan control".
You should know how to set the curve . Quite intuitive interface.

edit : Once you click OK, remember to HIGHLIGHT "User Define" near the Fan Speed (%)




Wait a minute.....does vram slight increase in voltage to 1.52 or 1.55v fix the artifacting at 1500mhz?
Or because of the max fan speed?
Which one work for your gpu? Both?

I am getting confused here...

This post has been edited by JohnLai: Jul 18 2015, 01:05 AM

i only use witcher 3 to test it

when i set the voltage to 1550mV, clock 1500, fan speed auto (at first it was 48% iinm)= flickering worsen

then i tried 1520mV (but afterburner kept decreasing it to 1519mV, dunno why but just 1 mV difference doesn't matter isn't it), clock 1500, fan 80% = played witcher 3 for 2 1/2 hour and there's no artifact/flickers detected..will test further by playing more than 3 hour to be sure tomorrow..

but it sure is noisy with 80% fan speed

Okay, this is interesting.
Since editing Hawaii is BIOS possible now, i volt mod an MSI R9-390x Gaming BIOS to have higher min voltage which previously i have problem with random blackscreen on IDLE because the min voltage is too low for my chip too handle.

I ran Firestrike 3 times for each BIOS.

MSI 290x Gaming BIOS modded to have lower minimum voltage | Slight overclock to 1070/1375
Gpu Score=12855 | 68c Max temp | 1.2v Max voltage | 59c VRM1

 
MSI 390x Gaming BIOS modded to have higher minimum voltage | Slight overclock to 1070/1375
GPU Score=13190 | 65c Max temp | 1.25v Max voltage | 61c VRM1


Can anyone with 290x run Firestrike with 1070/1375 clock speed and post your GPU Score?
I can't seem to install 15.7 when using 390x BIOS, don't know if AMD silently blocked it so i use 15.200.40 beta driver.

The 390 series seem to have bigger voltage range compare to 290 series. 

p/s: ignore my VRM2 temperature, it have a dud sensor.

This post has been edited by Acid_RuleZz: Jul 18 2015, 03:28 PM

Good thing you use witcher 3 to test. This game is really good in stressing GPU component especially in city of Novigrad at ultra settings.
1519mV for VRAM should be okay (never got the precise output anyway)
If there isn't anymore artifact after 1519mV and fan speed of 80% applied......then you got lemon Hynix VRAM which is too subpar (prone to instability and overheating even with the rated specification setting being applied).

Since you have been playing with fan speed at high rpm, why not apply a bit of overclock for your gpu core clock as well?
A little guidance ;
GPU core clock set to 1170Mhz (1225, 1188 or even lower 1160, for gpu core clock = the higher, the better) with gpu core voltage set to 1300mV (or 1265, for voltage, the lower the better).
Power Target set to 120% (aka +20%)
I only suggest this because you have been setting a high gpu fan speed at 80%.

The only downside of high fan speed = dust problem. Remember to keep fan and heatpipe fins clean.

Do more test with witcher 3. (Technically, for stressing purpose, unigine or furmark tends to be used)

EDIT:
Remember to report back if the gpu core OC is stable and which value you use.
Maintain the vram clock at 1500mhz and vram voltage at 1520mV (1519). Fan speed at 80%.
Stress the GPU to 100% usage, check for any artifacting/crashing/blue screen and report back the maximum temperature.

If the GPU OC is stable, I got final testing for you to do.
By the way, you didn't tell us your power supply unit model?

This post has been edited by JohnLai: Jul 18 2015, 10:43 AM

It's normal to get lower or higher voltage that your setting, it's either Vdroop or some sort of voltage table the VRM controller must follow. And it is normal that sometimes lower voltage gets better result, especially on your situation where the VRAM doesn't have heatsink on. Try to lower fan speed on the same setting you did to see whether is it because the VRAM temperature is the culprit is the problem or not.

Don't follow JohnLai suggestion. When you know there is problem overclocking it further is NOT the solution (increasing power target is fine), also if the VRAM really 'lemon' it will cause artifacts no matter what the voltage.

Actually, he said he already update to latest Vbios which reduces vram clock from 1600mhz to 1500mhz and vram voltage from 1.6V to 1.5V, but the flickering still happen.
That why I propose him to increase the VRAM voltage slightly. Of course, between 1550mV and 1520mV, of course 1520mV is a better choice.

The gpu core overclock is another matter........

My card with 15.7 driver get 12629 Graphics score with the clockspeed you asked.

I been tweaking my own vBIOS myself. Currently idle voltage is 887mV and 3D voltage is 1193mV (around 110xV when measured with GPU-Z running Metro 2033). I don't like using program to manipulate voltage and fanspeed. I want to boot up PC and straight play games

Thanks, maybe Win10 boosted my score a little.

I can't seem to tame this MSI 390x BIOS which is a shame because the memory timing is really good, the voltage spike up to 1.25v no matter what max voltage i put in DPM7.
Always get TDR when the clock fluctuates between IDLE-UVD or maybe this beta driver is the culprit or both.

How to edit the fan curve?

Perhaps, Windows 10 is known to make card faster.

I'm not bothered with 390X driver now that 290X also have the frame rate limiter I wanted to make my card cooler, runs at lower voltage and faster fan to lower temperature. All the 390X vBIOS exhibit higher temps from my testing and I don't need to overclock since all the game I play runs at great framerate.

You can download HawaiiFanEditor made by DDSZ.

EDIT: If you didn't notice, TheStilt made some very interesting vBIOS for reference 290X with various clockspeed and voltage offset plus the tweak of his own. You can try it.

This post has been edited by Najmods: Jul 18 2015, 07:50 PM

Yup, already tried that last week but the BIOS didn't work for me. GPU-Z show nothing and i can't install any driver. Similar thing happened when i tried XFX BIOS.

He specifically state that the BIOS is for Hawaii XT A0 (ASIC Rev. C9x) MLU Bios for MBA C67101xx board designs and have this logo near PCI-E connector.


Didn't bother to check mine.

Your link for the fan editor is broken btw but already got the file after a quick workaround. Thanks.

Fury Nano will be release next month, hopefully Fury production is in top gear already.



Hopefully Goldfries can test this.

i.e. for referenced card. If yours not referenced card then it's not for you.

This post has been edited by kizwan: Jul 18 2015, 10:29 PM

It's for cards with reference board right? Not reference card because i saw guys with Gigabyte Windforce and XFX DD successfully flashed their card although the latter is not stable.

I only set High graphic setting on the game..my PSU is Seasonic S12II Bronze 620W

err do i have to tweak that far? as a newbie in this thing, i'm scared to do advance stuff to my gpu

maybe i'm not gonna overclock it that far..but i will test the fan speed..will gradually decrease the speed to see how it happen..i thought i'm not gonna be easily annoyed with the noise, but 80% speed sure is noisy and annoying..

RMA is still an option i'm gonna do anyway but just don't know when will I'll have free time to go to PC shop for warranty claim..

I meant referenced board of course. All referenced cards & early revision of 290X Tri-X & MSI Gaming 290X are compatible with the modded BIOS. I don't know whether there's later revision but early XFX DD also use referenced board. Gigabyte Windforce was never use referenced board as far as I know. Later revision of these cards (Tri-X & MSI Gaming) no longer use referenced board & the "AMD" logo also missing on the board.

I have a question regarding these BIOSes thingy. I have never toy around with one before.

Is it correct for me to assume let's say, I can buy a powercolor R9 390 and flash the MSI R9 390 so that I can get the OC setting of the MSI card?

Ah, i see. No wonder it doesn't work for me although 290x Gaming review show ref. board design.

Yes, but not recommended to do so and AMD might lock modded BIOS again.

Good PSU, can rule out unstable pcie voltage supply.

Well..... the tweaking is up to you.

In case if you RMA your GPU, remember to double check the VBIOS version once you got a new one.
Later you got the batch with 1.6V + 1600Mhz vram = sure the vram dies sooner.
So, update accordingly before heavy gaming.

Eh,so how ar? You said you will test the gpu for more than 3 hours, still got artifacts?
EDIT: If only set the VRAM 1519mV with fan speed auto, still artifacting? Or fan speed 80% is needed?

This post has been edited by JohnLai: Jul 19 2015, 10:41 AM