keep losing display

[Al.Neri]

I returned my PC to PCS a few weeks ago with a loss of signal, which was diagnosed as a dead GPU. just over a week ago, I got my computer back with a new HD7970 installed.

for the first few days, everything seemed to be going well, but then I started experiencing display issues again. without warning, I would get vertical lines of alternating colour on my screen, like this:



each time the lines appear, they are different colours. I am also getting all white/all black screens as well, which as with the lines, appear without warning, and can either appear a few seconds after I turn my computer on, while I am gaming, or with the system just idling.

the only thing I can do when this happens, is reset my system, losing everything I was working on up until the point of it crashing.

right now, it is happening about 2-3 times a day and I don't know if it is driver related, or another hardware issue.

what is the most likely cause?

I am using the latest AMD drivers.

 

[NilSatis]

Normally these mean one of a few things:

1) The video card or monitor is going bad; as it is a new card, then have a look at the monitor being the problem, try a different one if possible. If connected via hdmi, try connecting via dvi instead, to eliminate the cable; as this is number
2) The cable can be faulty. I have seen a couple of pcs with a dodgy cable causing all manner of artifacts. Rare, but it could be this. Check the gpu port end has been screwed in if dvi, and not a bad hdmi cable if using that as i have seen many.
3) There is a problem with your Ram; this can also happen due to memory problems stemming from the ram on the computer but it can just as easily be the memory on the gpu is bad.
4) Can sometimes be corrupt drivers, but in years of using AMD I have never had this problem with vertical lines, other things may tell you its a driver problem but unless they are corrupted it is not. Anyway reinstall drivers to be sure, it is 5 min job to rule this out.
5) Faulty motherboard /pci-e slot.

I have a 7970; its a fantastic card; and should work without any issues on those latest drivers (12.10 are what I am using) I believe. If this is a new card installed and it is having this problem when your old one didnt then it would point to the card. However, as you have also had problems on your old card you are looking at the above reasons and possibly more to track down what is wrong. Have you thought of the pci-e slots on the motherboard possibly being faulty too, as this would give you problems on both cards stemming from the motherboard being faulty. Sorry that there is not one clear solution, but as your last gpu actually died (did it?) you would have thought the problems you used to have came from this. However if it is caused by the motherboard both cards will obviously display problems. You need to get this checked in with Pc Specialist again as this is not right, either a faulty card or you need to investigate one of the above causes. If you have been given an rma and it still isnt working correctly you need to get them to find out why this is. Try the steps above first. Good luck.