Gigabyte GTX470 SOC black screen problem

[colets]

Hello
About a month ago I bought Gigabyte GTX 470 SOC (GV-N470SO-13I) and from the day one I’m experiencing the following problem: random black screens causing either computer halt or automatic restart.

First things first - my current configuration:
OS: Windows 7 64bit Professional
CPU: Intel Core i7 920 2.6 GHz
Motherboard: MSI Eclipse SLI
RAM: 6144 MB OCZ 1333Mhz Platinium CL7
PSU: Be Quiet! Dark Power P7-PRO 850W (6 lines +12V 20Amps each)
HDD: 3*Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB (2 of them in Raid 1)
LCD: 2*Samsung SyncMaster 2343BW (DVI-I)


Problem occurs only in 2D while working on desktop, browsing internet etc. It never happens in 3D – I could play games for hours or stress the card with Furmark without any problems. In 3D the card is extremely stable, it never hangs or overheat.

Occurrence of this error is purely random – sometimes computer works fine for few days and then suddenly it is black screening few times in a row.

What I’ve noticed - black screens occur most often about 30 sec after logon, probably when the card is downclocking.

Sometimes Windows 7 after reset caused by black screen gives me info that computer recovered form blue-screen error and I’m able to view mini-dump with Windows Debugger. It points that error is driver fault (VISTA_DRIVER_FAULT) caused by: hardware.

At first I thought this is driver related, but I’ve tested all driver versions between 197 and 260.69 without any luck. I’m always uninstalling vga driver in a proper manner (with cleaning leftovers in safe mode with Driver Cleaner).
Computer in safe mode, or without graphic driver works fine – no black screen error.

It works fine with other graphics cards – Radeon HD4890 and Geforce 9800GT (same drivers). As soon as I plug in GTX 470 black screen error comes back.

I’ve read on other forums possible solutions to this problem, because it is affecting a lot of people, but to this day no one has found a working solution. To narrow possible driver or hardware conflict I’ve uninstalled and removed or disable in BIOS every device that is not necessary to boot up the computer – with no success. I’ve updated motherboard drivers, bios etc. Still no luck.

After hours of trying to get rid of that problem I’ve surrendered and decided to RMA the card. After 3 weeks it came back from a local Gigabyte Service Center (Poland). All they did is to update cards BIOS and reapply TIM. They didn’t say they’ve triggered black screen error and it is gone after BIOS update.
When I’ve installed the card that is supposed to be good now, black screen error occurred just after second login. I’ve packed the card and RMA’d it again. This time local retailer refused a RMA, because they said the card is good – it survived 24h testing. No idea how they tested it.

I’m in a state of extreme frustration and I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything, I’m helpless. In my opinion there is obviously a hardware problem with my card, but it is hard to trigger so no one believes me, and I’m stuck with a faulty card.

I’m so tired I don’t want the card anymore and I want my money back, but I don’t know how to get it because my local retailer refuses to deal with it.

Please help me.

Forum topics with exact problem (differend brands but always GTX 470 card):

http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?m=586183

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1547753
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1537390     
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=183848
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=171657

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte UK Forum.

Whilst I feel extremely sorry for you and the problem you have I really can't see what we can do here.
 
The only thing I can think of if what you are being told is accurate is that there is a problem with your motherboard  PCIE slot that the card uses. Sometimes the weight of these cards can be sufficient to distort the slot and cause problems.

[colets]

Thanks for your reply, but during my struggle I thought that first PCIE slot might get damaged somehow and tested the card in both PCIEx16 slots. I haven't use second PCIEx16 slot before so it was 'brand new'. It hasn't affected the problem in any way. The card still black screened. Previously I owned Radeon HD4890 which was also quite heavy and I haven't got single issue with it. Furthermore I've change heatsink on my Radeon to this:

http://www.prolimatech.com/en/products/detail.asp?id=159&page=1

and belive me it was even heavier than Giagbyte GTX470 SOC, and it just worked flawlessly.

[Dark Mantis]

Well it would sound like a fault on the card itself then so you will have no option but to RMA it again but try going direct to Gigabyte centre.