Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question

AMD Radeon x280 Crossfire: Shading appears Pixelated

Tags:
  • Video Driver
  • Image
  • Computers
  • AMD
  • Crossfire
  • Monitors
  • Radeon
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
Share
September 16, 2014 6:59:00 PM

I've recently purchased a brand new computer setup from a site called iBuyPower. A friend recommended it to me, as he purchased his own computer from there, so I figured I could give it a shot.
It arrived a few days ago, so I hooked up everything, followed a manual and made sure I didn't miss anything. I hooked up an HDMI cord into a monitor (also brand new) and everything's working quite well. The start screen was a rainbow, which appeared slightly pixelated at areas that involved shading. I dismissed it as a flaw in a stock image design and moved on.
My first thing i did upon getting the computer started was install Steam. I couldn't wait to finally start maxing out the games I played. I noticed even some of the shading in Steam's window (specifically the blue area) looked pixelated as well. It didn't bug me so much so I moved on once more.
While steam was installing, I decided it was time to get a wallpaper. I went ahead and set my search options to match my desktop resolution and went looking. I found many great ones, but there was an issue... almost all of them had the same issue as the rainbow background: poor, pixely shading. I shrugged off once more, deciding i was just having poor luck and decided i could always touch it up in photoshop or something.
Then came the part where I could not deal with the issues any longer: the shading issues persist in almost every game I try. Sleeping Dogs (With the HD textures), Team Fortress 2, Garry's Mod, Skyrim, etc. Every game has a shading issue that ruined the visuals for me. I'm being a little picky about this, but I didn't spend my entire open house money to not get the most out of my new computer. I can't even watch YouTube without this issue continuing to haunt me.
I've messed around with the AMD Catalyst and Monitor settings for a while, updated my drivers, but I just can't find a solution. I would really appreciate any kind of help I can get.

Here's a few examples. All in TF2, for it's the easiest to detect the issue in here.
http://imageupper.com/i/?S0400010080011W141090936013323...
http://imageupper.com/i/?S0400010080021W141090936013323...
http://imageupper.com/i/?S0400010080031W141090936013323...
http://imageupper.com/s03/1/7/G14109000061339638_1.jpg

I immediately apologize for my toaster camera, but surely in the last image especially that helps illustrate my issue.
If it is required, I can post (hopefully) better quality images in time.

Lastly, my Specs are:
CPU - AMD FX-8350 CPU (8x 4.00GHz/8MB L3 Cache)
Video - AMD Radeon R9 280X - 3GB - CrossFire
RAM - 32 GB Ram
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-970A-D3P -- AMD 970

And also
Monitor - 27" 1920x1080 ASUS VS278Q-P

BUT: I have also tried using other HDMI cables, other cable formats entirely, and even a different, older monitor, and the problem persists, so I'm suspicious that the problem lies in the computer itself.

-------------------

PS. While I'm here, as a bonus, if anyone can give any pointers on how to optimize AMD catalyst to run games well and give the best visuals possible, I'd love to hear them. This is my first gaming computer so I'm a little lost on what all to do.

More about : amd radeon x280 crossfire shading appears pixelated

September 16, 2014 7:04:12 PM

Increase Shader to Max Performance/High where possible.
m
0
l
a b À AMD
a b C Monitor
September 16, 2014 7:05:56 PM

have you tried disabling a card
m
0
l
Related resources
a b À AMD
a b C Monitor
September 16, 2014 7:10:03 PM

also what do you have your anti aliasing set to
m
0
l
September 16, 2014 7:12:05 PM

His AA should make those pixels smooth, even at the cost of frames.
m
0
l
a b À AMD
a b C Monitor
September 16, 2014 7:12:25 PM

are you sure thats the mobo can you give a link to the page you bought it from
m
0
l
September 16, 2014 8:57:08 PM

Jay Lavistria said:
Increase Shader to Max Performance/High where possible.


My AMD Catalyst doesn't have any Shader tab, or at least I can't find it to save my life.

coolcole01 said:
have you tried disabling a card


Yes I have. Nothing changes.

coolcole01 said:
also what do you have your anti aliasing set to


I've tried multiple settings with it. Same as application settings, enhance application settings, override application settings, which i have tried multiple different anti aliasing / anisotropic settings

coolcole01 said:
are you sure thats the mobo can you give a link to the page you bought it from


That may be an issue as I've ordered custom parts to my desktop. The site I've used though, is again http://www.ibuypower.com/

-------

Small note: My friend suggested that I just wasn't used to such resolution as I used to play on only 17 inches, and after messing with monitor settings, I've found very, very slight improvements, but nothing too special. Colors still don't want to blend too well, especially say, in logos, if a white glow were to appear on a black background. It's too bad that I can't find a shader setting, that sounds most likely what I need to be honest. Maybe I'm just stupid though; is there any place I should be able to find it?

Also, I'm going to try fiddling with a few more display settings to see if I can get anything to work, but I think I'm gonna stop stressing about it afterwards as I've been experimenting all day before this post. If nothing works, I'll reset everything to their defaults so nothing interferes with other suggestions. I'll remain off until tomorrow, so don't spend too much of your time on this, please. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.
m
0
l
a b À AMD
a b C Monitor
September 16, 2014 11:49:24 PM

Please read, and provide the following information as outlined. Use any of the methods and post the reported system specs so we can have accurate information including the actual components and operating system specs so we can help you:

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2299418/obtain-basic...
m
0
l
September 17, 2014 1:03:43 PM

darkbreeze said:
Please read, and provide the following information as outlined. Use any of the methods and post the reported system specs so we can have accurate information including the actual components and operating system specs so we can help you:

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2299418/obtain-basic...


PC Model Number = N/A (Custom Built)

Processor & Model Number = AMD FX Eight-Core Processor ~4.00GHz / FX-8350

Motherboard & Model Number = Gigabyte - AMD 970 / GA-970A-D3P

GPU & Model Number = AMD Radeon R9 280X 3GB Crossfire / Model - 6798 Developer - 148C (PowerColor)

RAM Model, size, speed & quantity = Corsair Vengence, 32 RAM, 1600, 4 cards

PSU = 850W Thermaltake SMART SP-850M-80 plus Bronze / SP-850AH3CCB

Sound card = None

Ethernet Card & Model = Onboard

Storage device & Model = 120 GB ADATA S510 SSD & Toshiba 2 TB HARD DRIVE

Other = N/A

OS = Windows 8.1

Motherboard BIOS = v.F5 - date: 08/06/2013

If some of these are incorrect, I apologize and I'll try to look harder, but I think I got
----------

Overnight, I've changed some gamma settings and it helped in SOME situations, but in exchange it drastically reduced the effects. Ex: The menu in Sleeping Dogs makes a glowing effect around what button you click. On normal gamma, the effect was pixelated, but it was large and in your face. On low gamma, The effect was much smoother, but its effect was about a third of how large it was before. I also don't like how dark and dull colors are, when on normal 1.00 gamma everything was bright and popped out. I can probably mess around with this part on my own, but I'm just throwing it out there.
m
0
l
a b À AMD
a b C Monitor
September 17, 2014 4:16:54 PM

I disagree with what's been said in the previous posts, for a reason. You indicated the abnormal color and pixelated images occurred in non-gaming environments such as the start screen and issues with resolution. Here is what I always recommend and it helps about 75% of the time.

It might not solve your issue and if it doesn't then other options for solving the problem can be pursued. Quite often pre-built systems come with generic installations of the operating system and drivers that is not adequate for all hardware and configurations. Try uninstalling all the existing video drivers using Display driver uninstaller first and then reinstall the driver at the link I will provide for the 14.7 drivers from AMD.

Back up your system if necessary, just to be safe, if you have a backup program. If not, you should get one as every system should be backed up. Or create a new restore point. Run the display driver uninstaller and select ok when it asks to start in safe mode then follow the instructions when it does. After it does it's thing install the new drivers. Download the drivers first, and don't try to cheat and just install the drivers without doing the uninstall first as that usually doesn't work if an issue is already present.

Display driver uninstaller:

http://www.wagnardmobile.com/DDU/

AMD Catalyst control center 14.7:

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/beta/amd-catalyst-14.7-rc3-...
m
0
l
September 17, 2014 10:42:40 PM

darkbreeze said:
I disagree with what's been said in the previous posts, for a reason. You indicated the abnormal color and pixelated images occurred in non-gaming environments such as the start screen and issues with resolution. Here is what I always recommend and it helps about 75% of the time.

It might not solve your issue and if it doesn't then other options for solving the problem can be pursued. Quite often pre-built systems come with generic installations of the operating system and drivers that is not adequate for all hardware and configurations. Try uninstalling all the existing video drivers using Display driver uninstaller first and then reinstall the driver at the link I will provide for the 14.7 drivers from AMD.

Back up your system if necessary, just to be safe, if you have a backup program. If not, you should get one as every system should be backed up. Or create a new restore point. Run the display driver uninstaller and select ok when it asks to start in safe mode then follow the instructions when it does. After it does it's thing install the new drivers. Download the drivers first, and don't try to cheat and just install the drivers without doing the uninstall first as that usually doesn't work if an issue is already present.

Display driver uninstaller:

http://www.wagnardmobile.com/DDU/

AMD Catalyst control center 14.7:

http://www2.ati.com/drivers/beta/amd-catalyst-14.7-rc3-...


Thanks for the provided links. Unfortunately after uninstalling and re-installing my drivers the problem persists and it still doesn't appear that this new Catalyst has any shader options to help either. Everything is back to their defaults upon re-installation, so... any ideas to go from here?
-------------
If not much can be done, then I don't wan't to take up too much of your time. This issue suddenly became less important as one of the video cards in my PC was defective and caused the entire system to crash if I left it in. I removed it and everything runs fine now... but sadly, this card wasn't the cause of the pixelation and the problem exists on the other one too. I will call in tech support in the morning to try to get more ideas and ship the flawed card back. Once again, thank you all for your help so far.
m
0
l
a b À AMD
a b C Monitor
September 17, 2014 10:55:12 PM

At this point, I'd RMA both cards. It's quite possible and probably even likely that you issue is due to problems with the cards themselves, especially since you already KNOW one of them was bad for sure.
m
0
l
!