Screen goes blank when scrolling

[D. S. Veteran]

Hi. I just got a new PC and I'm having some troubles :wacko:

When I scroll down in the browser or in the Windows UI, the screen goes blank for a second then comes back. Has anyone had similar problems before?

The build is:

GA-X58-UD4P

i7 920

Gigabyte HD5850 connected through a DVI->VGA adaptor

3x2GB Mushkin 12800 RAM

Running Windows 7 x64

Already updated the Radeon drivers. The flickering also happens in the BIOS so I'm thinking my 5850 has some kind of issue :wacko:

Any help would be welcome. :unsure:

Edit: Put in my old Radeon X1600. Flickering stopped. Can the DVI -> VGA have anything to do with it? Seeing how the 5850s are scarce, I really don't want to have to send it back.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Bun-Bun

[D. S. Veteran]

Figured it out. Catalyst drivers are the issue. Default VGA driver from Win 7, no flicker.

Catalyst 9.10 - Flicker. :wacko:

Catalyst 9.11 just came out... lets see if it fixes it.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Bun-Bun

[HyBry]

what is ur power supply.

it might be that with real drivers it is drawing more power to the card and it can not handle it so it blacks out...

but i hope the new drivers fix it as it usually is just drivers.. :)

[Raa]

The default driver won't enable any of the features in the ATI card. Check the new driver, or try the 9.9 driver as well (if it works)

It could be a defective card - can you test it in another pc?

[Raa]

Double post.

[D. S. Veteran]

what is ur power supply.

it might be that with real drivers it is drawing more power to the card and it can not handle it so it blacks out...

but i hope the new drivers fix it as it usually is just drivers.. :)

Drivers didn't help. The screen still blanked on the default Win 7 drivers. My PSU is a 800W NOX Apex. More than enough juice to power a 5850.

I'll do some testing to exclude the monitor also. If the blanking continues, I'll have no choice but to RMA the 5850 :(

[D. S. Veteran]

Seems like the problem is the 5850. The computer started hanging at POST.

Here is what I tested:

Changed monitor -> Same random blanking.

Changed interface & monitor (HDMI into my 37LH5000) -> Same random blanking

PSU not supplying enough juice -> Was able to run SWAT 4 at Very High without any problems, close SWAT 4, open a JPG, the screen blanks :wacko:

Other computer hardware -> Put in my X1600, computer works fine, no problems during POST.

Am I missing something here? Or is my HD 5850 broken? :(

[HyBry]

could you play SWAT 4 without any problems?

seems strange that it would work on that and not desktop to be a hardware fault. I would like to believe it is some sort of software conflict... try updating your directx as I believe win7 uses that as well on areo desktop.

[Raa]

The 5850 will draw a LOT of power and uses the newer (higher) power cables - just check you've got them all in, including the 8 pin (not 6 pin) ?

My bet's on video card though. Did you try the 5850 in another pc?

[D. S. Veteran]

could you play SWAT 4 without any problems?

seems strange that it would work on that and not desktop to be a hardware fault. I would like to believe it is some sort of software conflict... try updating your directx as I believe win7 uses that as well on areo desktop.

Yes, SWAT 4 in Very High without any problems. The BIOS screen also goes blank randomly so it's not a problem within the OS. :wacko:

[D. S. Veteran]

The 5850 will draw a LOT of power and uses the newer (higher) power cables - just check you've got them all in, including the 8 pin (not 6 pin) ?

My bet's on video card though. Did you try the 5850 in another pc?

It uses 2x6 Pin PCI-E connectors. And yes they are in. It's not the PSU, because why would it blank while viewing a JPG and not while playing SWAT 4 on Very High (drawing much more juice).

I sent it back for testing and it will probably be RMA. Which sucks because they are hard to come by. Probably be a couple of months before I get a new 5850 :(

[D. S. Veteran]

Store says HD 5850 is fine. Put it in another machine and it runs without an hitch :wacko:

I'm completely at a loss here. Does anyone have any idea about what it might be?

[HyBry]

Try reinstalling windows if you have the option. It might be that there is some other driver conflict.

[D. S. Veteran]

Try reinstalling windows if you have the option. It might be that there is some other driver conflict.

A driver conflict that causes the BIOS to display the same symptoms?

[HyBry]

just a random thought. 5850 is supposed to be power efficient when idle so it might be trying to draw power from PCI-e port and not the additional power line. Whereas your mobo or PSU is not supplying enough power to mobo or the port for that so it cuts out until it is heavily utilized.

this is just a random thought and I am not sure if that is how it works. But since it is happening during post, makes it unlikely to be software issue, leaving mobo or PSU as the most likely suspects.