PC won't boot properly after GPU overvolt typo

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
T

Thatguythatexists

Honorable
Nov 18, 2014
95
0
10,660
Fffffff*CK OKAY so basically I dun goof'd...
I'm running an MSI R9 390 on an (until yesterday) RM 550 from Corsair. Now obviously this is a little tight, and the RM series aren't known for being robust to begin with (CrapXon and all that), so I turned down the power target and voltage (as well as clocks to maintain stability) on my GPU to keep the system chugging until I could afford something better. So when I upgraded to an RM 750X I turned everything back up to normal. Unfortunately in my excitement I accidentally set the core voltage to +40 instead of +0. I realised this only a split second too late, right as I pressed the Accept button in afterburner, and was greeted with a black screen and an ominous buzzing noise. The PC will now only boot and function properly in Safe Mode on the 390, or normally on my iGPU. I tried both uninstalling Afterburner and disabling OC on startup from both these states - no luck. I can still only get to the logon screen before witnessing a glorious light show of rainbow colours followed by no light at all. I'm convinced the card is fried, and have already begun the RMA process, but I have my doubts for 2 reasons:
1. Why can the card still display an image during early boot up and in Safe Mode? If it was fried would this still be the case? Is it perhaps a catastrophic driver failure?
2. Surely only 40mV isn't enough to damage anything but the worst victims of the silicon lottery?
I haven't sent it off yet, so any help would be appreciated.
 
Solution
techgeek
I don't think that +40 is very high and it's doubtful at the desktop that it would hurt anything. For instance my 980 runs at 1008mV on the desktop and when I add +40 it sets it for +44 to arrive at 1052mV. This is well below the voltage the card uses for 3D applications as I've seen it as high as 1212mV.

I would try this, boot into Safe Mode or with the integrated graphics and completely uninstall Afterburner. When asked about keeping settings make sure to say No. Then reboot into normal mode. If this doesn't completely remedy the problem, uninstall your drivers via DDU and reinstall them. The first is likely to sort your issue, but I think for sure you issue should be corrected with both.
Sort by date Sort by votes
R_1

R_1

Expert
Ambassador
Sep 8, 2015
8,440
632
49,290
if your able, you can verify the driver theory by booting to a linux USB drive. download an iso (puppy for a tiny drive, mint for a larger- suggestions only) and use rufus to extract it to usb and make it bootable. reboot, if linux boots and runs then the v-card is most likely okay. if not well you know.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
techgeek

techgeek

Splendid
Apr 11, 2004
5,297
9
29,965
I don't think that +40 is very high and it's doubtful at the desktop that it would hurt anything. For instance my 980 runs at 1008mV on the desktop and when I add +40 it sets it for +44 to arrive at 1052mV. This is well below the voltage the card uses for 3D applications as I've seen it as high as 1212mV.

I would try this, boot into Safe Mode or with the integrated graphics and completely uninstall Afterburner. When asked about keeping settings make sure to say No. Then reboot into normal mode. If this doesn't completely remedy the problem, uninstall your drivers via DDU and reinstall them. The first is likely to sort your issue, but I think for sure you issue should be corrected with both.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
T

Thatguythatexists

Honorable
Nov 18, 2014
95
0
10,660
I tried the Afterburner solution already-no luck. DDU was my next port of call, will try tomorrow when it's not midnight. I remain cautiously optimistic, and idk why I didn't do that sooner. I guess I was preoccupied imagining all the excuses eBuyer could throw up about how "the card was tested but works perfectly" or "a direct replacement cannot be issued", as has happened in the past. Will try the Linux fix if still no luck. Good god, you know you're desperate if your last hope is Linux.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

Thatguythatexists

Honorable
Nov 18, 2014
95
0
10,660
I like the way you think, R_1, but this seems unlikely as the card will actually display the lock screen wallpaper on win10 briefly before the sh*tshow commences. Sorry, I should have been clearer about that. I'll see if I can find evidence to support your idea, but in the end it would kind of still stem from a potential driver issue, were the setting in Control Panel proven correct.
Think in text more often, it appears to suit you.
While I'm here, I may as well post a spec sheet.
Intel Core i5 4690k ( never got round to overclocking it, still chugging along at 3.9ghz)
MSI Z97A Gaming 7
Kingston HyperX low profile 1866mhz ddr3 2x8 GB (I believe it's called Vengeance or something, can't recall off the top of my head. Runs in XMP.)
Cooler Master Hyper 412S cooler
Fractal Design Define R5, complete with an extra front 140mm fan (basically, adequate cooling)
Samsung SSD 840 Pro 256GB
WD Blue 7200RPM 1TB HDD
Corsair RM750X.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

Thatguythatexists

Honorable
Nov 18, 2014
95
0
10,660
IT WORKS!! Turns out all I had to do was DDU the drivers and then reinstall. Been running Unigine Valley on Extreme HD for an hour, completely stable and performance was unaffected. DDU is fast becoming my favourite software. On another note, feels good to FINALLY have my PC truly finished and upgraded to my liking (for another 3 years until everything gets replaced again). Thx for the help guys!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
techgeek

techgeek

Splendid
Apr 11, 2004
5,297
9
29,965
Glad you got it sorted.

I didn't think you'd damage your card from such a small voltage offset. Particularly since you weren't even doing anything 3D intensive. I've had a couple issues where I've crashed during overclocking and had the same issue. Most times it was Afterburner, but occasionally it's been the driver. Something gets corrupted when it crashes and only a re-install of either will fix it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom