Size issues for a Dual slot Card?

**drumworkshop** · July 27th, 2012, 01:15 PM

Okay so, I ended up buying a Corsair 500 watt power supply and a Radeon HD 7770 graphics card. I can run games PERFECTLY. Very smooth. But, on some games it will run smooth, but then it will freeze, the sound will still play behind it but i can't move or do anything. A couple seconds later a black screen pops up for one or two seconds and then the regular game screen pops up and I can play again for a few seconds before it does it again. This is really annoying and I don't know what's causing it. Any help guys?

**ShyguyXPC** · July 27th, 2012, 03:44 PM

If your running Windows 7 or Vista, its probably the Video drivers, or more accurately, Windows loses its "Connection" with them, and the drivers stop responding, Windows then tries to restart the drivers, and if it re-syncs with it properly, it returns to normal like you mentioned.

Its a common thing with Windows 7 and AMD as well as Nvidia drivers.

so far there is no one single work around that resolves it completely, though for some of us it rarely happens.

You can have to Identically built systems, running same software, games, etc, and one might happen once every so often, the other, all the time.

On my end, one of the tricks I learned that helps resolve it, works for some people, not for others.

Go into Control Panel for Windows, Click on Hardware And Sound, then Click on Power Options.

What ever you have set for power saving plan, click on Change Plan Settings next to it, then in the next window, Click on Change Advanced Power settings.

Once that new little window opens up, scroll down to PCI Express, then Click on the + sign if its not already showing "Link State Power Management".

Click the + Sign for that, and then change its setting to "OFF".

Click Apply, close the window (click OK), then save the settings in the prior window if it shows you can, then close all the control panel windows, and see if that helps (couldn't hurt to reboot the PC afterwards.).

Basically this eliminates the system from Cutting power to the PCIe slots for whatever reason, keeps the card from losing sync with the system, from what I understand.

It helped me on my end in my last system when I was having some problems, but may or may not work for you.

Usually I would get a message stating that my display drivers stopped responding in windows and could not be restarted, I haven't really had that problem since the "fix", even on my newer system.

Worth a try and see if it does anything in the way for fixing your problems.

Should also ask if you connected the 6 Pin PCI Express power cable from the PSU to the Video card to make sure its getting enough power?

**drumworkshop** · July 27th, 2012, 04:23 PM

Yes, I've connected that cable properly. And I've went to those settings and it was already turned off. Have any other suggestions? D:

**ShyguyXPC** · July 27th, 2012, 04:30 PM

Which drivers did you use? The ones that came with the card, or the latest off of AMD's website?

**drumworkshop** · July 27th, 2012, 04:42 PM

I've been using the latest ones off the website. But they have one other one that is currently a Beta. I'm installing it right now. I'll tell you if the problem stops after this.

**drumworkshop** · July 27th, 2012, 04:50 PM

Noo it still does it. That didn't help. It does the exact same thing.

**ShyguyXPC** · July 27th, 2012, 05:19 PM

no idea then, could just be the card. Can you return that and get something else?

Radeon 6850, 6870, or Geforce GTX 460/560?

Might have better luck with those than this one.

I have heard of some problems with the 7700's, but its never been one single card/brand/model or software set from what I have read on occasion, so more or less a really random thing.

but for every complaint I have seen, there's been dozens and dozens of other users who have had no problems at all.

Could just be the games your running too, just aren't willing to cooperate with the card.

Which games work and which ones are giving troubles?

**drumworkshop** · July 27th, 2012, 05:26 PM

The only games that work is Minecraft and GTA SA. The other ones that don't work are Team fortress 2, War inc. Battlezone, Alliance of Valiant arms, Call of Duty MW2 and America's Army 3. And GTA SA fails on occasion.

**JPMiller** · July 27th, 2012, 05:52 PM

before you go replacing hardware try some simple fixes first...
use driver cleaner to remove old drivers and install the last stable driver, not beta.
use gamebooster to turn off all backround software/processes that arent necessary for gaming...
While your at it, update all your drivers, especially the chipset drivers.
I'd also try taking the side off and putting a house fan blowing right over the video card just to rule out an instability caused by heat.
Those cases arent exactly made for airflow