SOLVED... 4870 x2 no longer functions (Block shorting issue) - Page 11 - Overclock.net

*CyberDruid* · 12-01-08

Yes I got the M3 x 6.

If you want PM me and I will send you some for NC.

chrcoe · 12-08-08

Ok, so the PSU I got is obviously a big upgrade and would have been needed in the next 6 months anyways, but it was not the problem. I received the screws from Cyber but they got here to soon! (I returned/exchanged the card because I was closing in on my point of no return) it should be here on Tuesday/Wednesday and I will be using the M3x6 nylon screws instead of the stock Steel screws with the paperwashers(the paperwashers come to think of it caused me to have to try alot harder to screw in the screws because in some spots they weren't long enough which caused some areas to warp the board very slightly)... this could have been an issue as well.

One more question for you Cyber since I think you are the only other one to use the nylon screws...
The longer screws that go into the heatsink plates, do I need nylon ones for those or does it not matter there? The heatsink plate is touching the board right around the holes, but the screws are not, would the plates cause shorting if installed incorrectly? Should I use the electrical tape idea under those just to be safe?

Thanks, I just want to know exactly how you got yours to work with the nylon screws (as stated, I haven't tried yet but I'd rather be certain how yours ended up working before I start and mess something up).

-Chris

chrcoe · 12-11-08

Ok update on this ..

I got the new card hooked up tested with stock cooler, reinstalled everything from scratch (yes the stock setup worked ok but i want it watercooled bc i don't like the sound of a jet taking off after like 5 seconds..)

So i installed 8.10 CCC and everything was great so I turned off after getting everything flawless

Ok so I turned it on after the waterblock was on, this time i turn it on and thought success! bc I got a signal, the card ran it's own bios I can assume because right after the mobo's bios posted, the screen shuts off and then the 3rd light in turns on (the 4870x2)

I did some research and got this..

"Heya,..
LEDs for the HD4870X2 -
HD4870X2 (R700)
D14è (R753) 6 Pin power unplugged
D13è (R724) 8 Pin power unplugged
D15è (R819) Overheating (Thermal issue)
D5è (R323) GPU-1 (Master) No power
D7è (R570) GPU-2 (Slave) No power "

The third one in here would indicate it is overheating because the first two show no power .. and as I said before, it worked stock. So I can only assume that maybe something is messed up as far as thermal paste/pad goes.

I can't remount the damn thing anymore because all the thermal pad is now used up after several remounts.

I am using the nylon M3x6mm screws so i am guessing now it isn't shorted bc I still get a signal, just it turns off right after the mobo posts.

so does anyone have any ideas ? another thought .. the heatsink plates on the back of the card, it seems certain spots no matter what I try will not fully push down, like they are stuck, but if I tighten them anymore I am sure I'll break the card and have to exchange it again

Thanks in advance hopefully

I might try to re-seat just the heatsinks on the back or maybe take the screws out and redo the screws maybe ? i don't fkin know anymore

-Chris

chrcoe · 12-11-08

ok quick update..

been googling for some time now came across this...

Quote:

i have the xspc waterblock for the 4870x2. at first, when i booted up my computer, i would see the bios and everything, but after a certain amont of time, my screen would always go blank... while my computer was still running. out of 5 LEDs arranged from left to right on the 4870x2 (located above the 8-pin pci-e connection), the middle one was lit, and the monitor goes off precisely when that LED goes on.

tried booting again, this time, clamping the block + card together with my hands... the monitor didnt shut off until much longer. it was then when i realized that the 3rd LED meant the card was overheating... even though i felt i screwed the block to card hard enough... apparently i didnt. i had to put muscle into redoing it and made the block+card connection as tight as possible. so now it's good sitting chilly at 30C idle

so evidently I didn't tighten it enough for fear of warping it .. but this guy I PM'd him and he got back to me pretty quick said he just went out form the center and tightened them all a bit more over and over til it stayed on for good

Syrillian · 12-11-08

So is it a, "go" now?

I noted that you mentioned using all of the thermal padding, but if you are not having luck you may need to try again.

I know that this is not a pleasant thing to hear, but I feel for you: I re-mounted something like 6 times, and swapped stock with LQ at least twice. That meant draining the system each time

I'm still a little miffed about it all. When a customer pays that much money for a block of copper and acrylic it should fit, mount and function flawlessly.

I realise that there is the element of human error involved, and with me involved that percentage can be pretty high sometimes... but for love of Buddha, it should not be a struggle... I still feel like I "lucked out" getting them to work.

I hope that you get this resolved soon.

P.S. The 8.12 CCC suite is out and seems to be okay for my hardware.... so far....

*CyberDruid* · 12-11-08

I had read something about it not working great for X Fire in XP..but apparently Vista is a go.

chrcoe · 12-11-08

ok so another update LOL ... i tightened them down a bit, and it now does this LED dance .. turns on all 3 at start, then puts the 3rd one on .. again, then it shuts off, then it alternates back and forth between my HDD light, my CD/dvd burner light and the Overheat LED (3rd) on the 4870x2 ..

anyways so evidently i didn't have enough thermal paste or something wasn't properly touching the block so it overheated instantly ? so I need to remount the sucker.. gonna do that tomorrow night after work, I'm tired and it's bedtime.

Sorry for so many posts so soon, just figured someone could get some use out of these in the future ..

anyways I'll update if I actually get it working for more then 10 seconds tomorrow night.

-Chris

chrcoe · 12-11-08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syrillian

So is it a, "go" now?

I noted that you mentioned using all of the thermal padding, but if you are not having luck you may need to try again.

I know that this is not a pleasant thing to hear, but I feel for you: I re-mounted something like 6 times, and swapped stock with LQ at least twice. That meant draining the system each time

I'm still a little miffed about it all. When a customer pays that much money for a block of copper and acrylic it should fit, mount and function flawlessly.

I realise that there is the element of human error involved, and with me involved that percentage can be pretty high sometimes... but for love of Buddha, it should not be a struggle... I still feel like I "lucked out" getting them to work.

I hope that you get this resolved soon.

P.S. The 8.12 CCC suite is out and seems to be okay for my hardware.... so far....

Yea i don't mind remounting, i just have to be extra careful because the thermal padding gets messed up each time I try to remount unless i'm super careful.

and no, it's not a go yet

I just was happy i found someone else with the same issue of it powering up past bios post finally then shutting off due ot overheating.

and damn straight, if i pay this much for a fkin block of copper I want it to work ..

and yes human stupidity is about 60% of my issues

I need to loosen the screws if nothing else and tighten them to about 50% of what they are now and see if it works before i try and remount.

I have enough thermal paste to last me for awhile, just no padding left. Would it be a good idea to use some of the stock thermal padding since I am running out ?

As far as having to drain the system .. I have my table setup so I can actually twist the waterblock out of the way and install the card with stock cooler on it and run it without disconnecting any waterparts... so that's atleast a plus lol

thanks again

-Chris

*CyberDruid* · 12-11-08

I have some Akasa Thermal Pad material if you need it. I am adding it to the FS thread I have going. PM

Sounds like a real PITA.

What I did was tighten everything down really well then loosen it completely then retighten it just barely. This squishes the TIM and seats everything. Then the screws just keep it aligned without too much pressure. I use a lot of TIM on GFX...much more than a CPU

chrcoe · 12-11-08

couldn't that damage the cores if there's to much ? How much for the thermal padding? and how much is there? ( in case I screw up or something)

-Chris

EDIT: noob question, TIM is the padding or the paste?

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SOLVED... 4870 x2 no longer functions (Block shorting issue)

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