Troubleshooting!

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Alrighty here goes.

I've recently come into some graphics related problems (started last week). Nothing has happened to the computer prior to the problems as far as I'm aware.

So relevant information about the computer:
Motherboard: Asus P8Z77-V LE Plus
CPU: i5 3570k (running at stock)
GPU: 2x Gigabyte Windforce HD7950 in Crossfire
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) 1600MHz
PSU: Coolermaster GX750W
So I've been gaming the past month or so since completing this build in 3 screen eyefinity without any issues. However, last week after a few minutes of smooth gaming the game would start to stutter and I would get sound artifacts associated with this. The game was then unplayable and I quit out to the desktop where the mouse movement is jumpy for a minute or so after quitting to desktop. It then recovers and general browsing and computer use is smooth.

Everything driver wise is up to date, and I've tried to figure out what part is causing the problems. I've ruled out the CPU with a prime95 torture test (no problems).
I ran FurMark burn in test at 5760x1080 (AA off) with the cards in CF - Stuttering started again.
I ran FurMark with the CF off using GPU1 and the stuttering was still there.
The only permutation of testing I haven't tried yet is GPU2 only. However, I'm not sure if that's the problem?

I ran Far Cry 3 with crossfire enabled and quickly ran into the same problems but the data gathered by afterburner was interesting, the GPU2 temp data is clearly wrong (drops from 50-60 to 0 as problem presents) and the usage drops to 0% too.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/a5r3dp6q6u1kb63/HardwareMonitoring.hml
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z494ym8sp7pm5tz/MSI log.png

I collected the same data + FPS info from FurMark (5760x1080 with AA off) and saw similar behaviour:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uz045i096cypidi/Furmark MSI log.png
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6sn8cg6febxvgwo/HardwareMonitoringfps (furmark).hml

So my current thinking is that there's something funky going on with GPU2, but if that was the case then the problem would be gone with GPU2 not being used/connected/powered... Leading me to the motherboard (the chances of 2 GPUs failing simultaneously must be pretty remote?). What do you guys think?

I have another motherboard kicking about (P8Z68-V LX) that I could try but it'll be a real pain in the neck to do that so I wonder if anyone here might be able to help?

Any more info needed just let me know :)

(posted this in a couple of places - probably bad etiquette but I'm desperate for a solution)
 
Sounds like a failing GPU or GPU driver.
What I'd try is taking out GPU2 completely rather than just disabling CF and leaving in GPU1 and vice versa, see if it still stutters.
 
ah just a thought, have you got ATI overdrive enabled? i had a stutter issue with that switched on and 2 5770 in crossfire.

but otherwise swapping the cards around to rule them out as above would also be a good shout.
 
Okay, task manager looks okay during the fault, I've made sure overdrive is off (it was anyway).

So the things I've tested and their results:
Both GPU in CF: Problem
GPU 1 in use with CF off (bridge out power out GPU2): Problem
GPU 1 only (GPU 2 physically removed): No problem
GPU 2 only (GPU 1 physically removed): No problem

This looks like a CF issue, I've tried using a different CF bridge and that hasn't made any difference. Only other part of CF if both cards are okay is the motherboard isn't it?
 
Download the latest graphics card driver but don't install it yet.
Boot up into safe mode.
Completely uninstall the graphics card driver.
Restart back into safe mode
Install the latest graphics card driver driver
Restart into safe mode again
Restart into normal windows, give it another go.
 
The problem crops up in all games so I've just been testing to see if the problems happens with FurMark as it's more repeatable.

I've done the completely obliterating any sign of AMD drivers and CCC then installing the latest drivers, repeating with beta drivers and that hasn't helped :(
 
Okay update - both GPUs tested in slot 2 (slot 1 empty) produces the problem - so motherboard at fault?
 
neil_g said:
What speed is slot 2 set at in the bios?
Click to expand...

Should've been 8x I think?

Anyways I've got my replacement motherboard (decided to ask for refund and got Z77 Sabertooth for a few pounds extra (nice dust protection on slots and stuff - gimmicky for sure but it's a nice board!) and decided to upgrade to an AX series PSU while I was at it. Can't reproduce the problems now, just trying to get everything back the way I like it now :)
 
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