MSI R9 290X Lightning hardfreezing randomly

Hello again everyone 
As I've said in my first post requesting the new VBIOS that fixes the fan issues, I have recently gotten an MSI R9 290X Lightning.
I have had these problems since day 1, but I figured the new BIOS might help so I didn't mention them in my first post.
The problem is, after the installation of the card (i have not done any other hardware upgrades recently, the last upgrade i did was a year and a half ago with upgrading my PSU.) it started hardfreezing. I could only reboot the computer once it hardfroze, I could not move my mouse or do anything else. From what I have read from the one post that has pretty much exactly my symptoms ( www[dot]superuser[dot]com/questions/781673/random-hard-freezes-started-happening-after-installing-a-new-graphics-card ) is that apparently it is an incompatibility with the 700 and 800 series AMD chipsets. I would like some more confirmation though, as I have not found other sources saying that. It is still a relatively new card so the chances of someone using it on a not-so-recent mobo aren't big, so maybe that's why. Anyway, here are my specs:
CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1050t @ 3.5 OR recently @ 2.8 (default) GHz
Mobo: ASRock 890GX Extreme 3
Memory: Kingston 4GB (x4) KHX1600C9D3/4GX
GPU: MSI R9 290X Lightning
HDD: WD Green 1TB
OS: Windows 7 64bit
PSU: Thermaltake SMART M850W
This PC NEVER hardfroze before, and the only recent upgrade is the GPU. I have also done some other attempts:
1) Switched from Normal to LN2. No change.
2) Changed drivers. No change.
3) Changed bios AND drivers (since fans work then). No change.
4) Made sure the card is not overheating (it never crashes while playing a graphically intensive game anyway, it's ALWAYS on the desktop and/or in not so demanding games)
5) According to that post, I tried overclocking (and overvolting) it, while in both Original and LN2 with the additional 6 pin plugged in. While it did last a long time, it just crashed 5 minutes into booting windows earlier, so I can't say for sure. It is somewhat random when it crashes.
6) Used a system restore point to see if it might have been a software change. No change either.
One miscelaneous note: While it was on Original bios, it ALWAYS froze when launching Afterburner. I can confirm this as it froze 4 times exactly when Afterburner was started.
This is just about the most peculiar PC issue I've ever had so I really have no idea what else to do. I also ran a memory test, everything checked out fine.
Also, as I have said. It ALWAYS crashes on light load, no load (desktop) or when firing up Afterburner on Original bios. I ran a burn test 8 hours yesterday, and it did not crash. Then, 2 minutes after the test, it crashed while I was watching youtube. I can't seem to pinpoint the cause because, as I said, sometimes it crashes 10 minutes after the reboot (I am having to type this twice because of that...) or it can crash a day after reboot.
So, start with the suggestions guys! 

Are all three power connectors of the Lightning connected?

Similar Messages

  • MSI R9 290X Lightning random BSOD reboots with 2 CARDS

    Hi all. I've looked all over this forum and the web for a solution to my issue but haven't gotten anywhere.
    I recently bought two MSI R9 290X Lightning cards that are MSI refurbished/recertified. Both have the same symptoms in the same known-stable PC (no other upgrades other than the card). Seemingly at random, they will reboot the computer once every one or two days. I could be playing a game or browsing the web when it happens. It doesn't appear to be stress related since I can sometimes play games for hours and also run benchmarks and stress tests with no problems. Also not temp related since the card runs very cool (20s C at idle and no more than 50s C at load). When I inspect the memory dump upon booting back up, it always says WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR with a bugcheck code of 0x124 caused by module ntkrnlmp.exe. Upgraded from an EVGA GTX 660 that was rock solid and never BSODed, ever. And a GTX 560 Ti before that.
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    - Tried switching between Original and LN2 BIOS on the card
    - Tried Catalyst driver 14.9, 14.11.2 Beta, 14.12
    - Ensured there are two separate PCI-E cables going to the card
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    - AMD FX-4130 CPU
    - 8GB (2 x 4GB) G.SKILL Sniper DDR3-1600 RAM
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    - 3x SATA HDDs
    - Antec EarthWatts 650W PSU
    - Antec Three Hundred case
    - Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1

    Quote from: wengshunfeng on 29-December-14, 04:40:08
    I had same problems on my both R9 290X lighting just brought 1 month ago :(
    I think it was software(driver) problem, because 2 cards both active for heavy gaming (BF4) is fine without any problems. But if I play online 3D games that does not have CF profiles, and only single card active, my pc will randomly sudden shut down and restart. The card temperature was around 50C.
    Both cards running with Core i7 5960x + Asus x99 R5E + EVGA 1200W P2 PSU.
    I'm sure it was not caused by my other hardwares, because I use GTX 780 before without any problem, also I used DDU in safe mode to uninstall Nvidia drivers before swap cards.
    Sorry to hear you went through the same mess. From what I've read, a lot of people are having this problem with the R9 series (not just the Lightning or even the 290X).
    I definitely haven't ruled out the AMD drivers as the cause. I am using Catalyst 14.12 currently but have also tried 14.11.2beta and 14.9. What happened with your cards, did you get them stable?
    I achieved what looks to be complete stability on both my PCs by bumping the 2D GPU clock to 430 MHz in GPU Tweak, as I mentioned a few posts above. Wish there was a BIOS or driver update that fixed this issue, but oh well. I'd rather not go through the RMA hassle just for MSI to say they test fine or send me replacement cards that do the same thing.

  • MSI R9 290X Lightning & PCIe 2.0 Compatibility issues?

    A week ago I purchased the 290X Lightning from Amazon (Sadly, their logistics service was horrendous and is another reason why I returned both), Instantaneously I had issues. I thought the card must have been faulty as I have a 700W Cooler Master rated PSU which could easily handle the load I would have thought... (Correct me if I'm wrong here. I did try both cards with 8+8+6 and just 8+8 Pins), so I returned it for a replacement.
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    Sounds like your PSU!
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    PCI-E Gen 3.0 cards are backwards compatible with Gen 2.0, so that is not the issue. Up until last week I was running the Lightning on an Asus Saber-tooth 990 FX R2.0 board which is Gen 2.0 and had no issues. But my UPS battery alarm would go crazy when I fired up a game. This never happened when i had even 2 x GTX 780 cards in SLI, so this card alone is still pulling more juice than my system ever had (even with SLI 780's). So I would really suspect your PSU is the culprit here.
    What drivers are you running? I had Bluescreen with the latest 14.6 betas and eyefinity......
    (And why don't you like Amazon's logistics, I find amazon the be one of the BEST on-line e-tailors I have ever used)

  • MSI R9 290x lightning

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    Quote
    Normal UEFI implementations have always a fallback option to CSM to boot in legacy Mode!
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    If you want to complain further contact MSI about it: >>How to contact MSI.<<

  • MSI 290x lightning crossfire

    Hey guys I currently have 1 MSI 290x Lightning. A friend of mine just sold me his ASUS Rog Swift 27" 2560x1440 144hz monitor so I want to purchase another 290x lightning, will my EVGA Supernova 1000 G2 PSU be enough??

    Quote from: flobelix on 04-January-15, 01:51:31
    First of all please don't open multiple topics on the same issue. The one in Gaming (as you don't have a Gaming series vga) has been removed.
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  • MSI 290x Lightning throttling (Power limit issue?) HELP ME OUT MSI

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    I used this at the end of MSIAB target to get +400mV. "/wi6,32,8d,40".
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    Quote from: Rangerjr1 on 28-April-14, 19:16:17
    There's bound to be a MSI Rep or something on here though.
    No. This is a Users-to-Users Forum: >>How to contact MSI.<<

  • 290x lightning bios for fan control?

    Hi, would an updated bios fix my 290x Lightning not having manual fan control?
    Serial Number: 602-v307-04sb1403020690
    Here's a link to the bios:
    https : //drive . google . com/file/d/0B0bFt35qm1QVeWNhMW55Nmk2Tk0/edit?usp=sharing
    The forum wouldn't let me post a link, so it has six extra spaces. Apologies.
    Two side questions:
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    2) With Afterburner no longer being updated for new features, is there an alternative program that is continuing development?
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    For the vios:
    Use the attached UEFI vbios versions to fix the fan issue.
    TV307MH.101 is normal vbios, TV307MH.111 is LN2
    Create a bootable usb stick (https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=165175.0).
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    Rename TV307MH.101 / TV307MH.111 to 101.rom / 111.rom. Put the atiflash.exe also included in the archive on the USB stick too. Now boot from the stick.
    Type atiflash -p -f -noaper 0 101.rom (or 111.rom) [ENTER] and let it flash the vbios.
    Quote from: BarkingHorse on 13-June-14, 01:00:54
    1) Afterburner (even after a reset) says +63 on voltage. Is that a display error and though it says +63 it's actually at +0 extra, or is it actually just defaulting to +63 right off the bat? So, for example, if I set it to +100 would that actually be giving it +100 or just +37?
    It is +63 by deafult (without changing values)? With Normal or LN2 vbios or both? Did anything change with new versions above?
    Quote from: BarkingHorse on 13-June-14, 01:00:54
    2) With Afterburner no longer being updated for new features, is there an alternative program that is continuing development?
    I'm not aware of what you are talking as Afterburner is under development all the time. The latest version 3.0.0 final has just been released. >>How to use MSI Afterburner<<

  • Tri-Fire 290X Lightning PSU power

    Hi Guys,
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    A system with a single reference design R9-290X requires 33A and a 600W psu. For a Lightning make it 40A and a 600W. Any further Lightning will add 20A more. A psu for triple Crossfire with 290X Lightnings should therefor offer 80A and 1000W minimum. The Corsiar HX1050 is therefor on the edge of it's possibilities but should work if no excessive oc is planned.

  • 290x Lightning Black Screen

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  • Very disappointed with replacement quality for my MSI GTX 480 Lightning

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    Well the last post pics did not show up sorry here they are:

  • Radeon R9 290X Lightning High Heat?

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  • [Request] Newest bios/ln2 bios for r9 290x lightning 4g

    As tittle says im looking for regular bios and ln2 bios for r9 290x
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