Screen Flickering with Sapphire 7950 Mac Edition

[cledet]

I just purchased and installed the Sapphire 7950 Mac Edition on my Mac Pro (Early 2009). I'm on OS X 10.8.4.

Whenever I watch video or the occasional window switching, I would see flickering on the screen for a few seconds. It's connected to the DVI port. I tried using the DVI to Mini-DP adapter and same results.

Any hints to what it could be?

 

[GP-SE]

try it in SLOT 1
Run the 18.8.4 COMBO Update (Overwrites the Drivers)
try a different monitor

exchange the card

 

[cledet]

try it in SLOT 1
Run the 18.8.4 COMBO Update (Overwrites the Drivers)
try a different monitor

exchange the card

I tried all the above. Ordering a replacement. Hopefully it's just a defective card.

 

[Lichqueen]

I just purchased and installed the Sapphire 7950 Mac Edition on my Mac Pro (Early 2009). I'm on OS X 10.8.4.

Whenever I watch video or the occasional window switching, I would see flickering on the screen for a few seconds. It's connected to the DVI port. I tried using the DVI to Mini-DP adapter and same results.

Any hints to what it could be?

I have a same problem, Im connected to the DVI port too with Dell 2405, not a very serious problem, but want to know what happen, except replace a new one, do u think it is a driver problem??

 

[cledet]

I have a same problem, Im connected to the DVI port too with Dell 2405, not a very serious problem, but want to know what happen, except replace a new one, do u think it is a driver problem??

Replacement unit from Amazon had the same issue but the flickering happened less frequently.

I have another replacement coming in on Friday. If the problem persists with this second replacement then I would think it's most likely a driver issue.

By the way, PRAM reset did not help either.

 

[thekev]

By the way, PRAM reset did not help either.

It sounds like a driver issue. I don't know why anyone would suggest pram. Apple's support article mentions the times it may provide a useful solution.

 

[cledet]

It sounds like a driver issue. I don't know why anyone would suggest pram. Apple's support article mentions the times it may provide a useful solution.

I know but I was desperate.

 

[Garamond]

Defect card. I had the same problem with mine, but after replacing it with a new card everything works flawlessly.

 

[loveflying]

that right, Ordering a replacement. Hopefully it's just a defective card. thanks

 

[Broc27]

Same problem here

Hello, just wanted to chime in.

I installed a 7950 two weeks ago and I get flickers. They are rare and very brief but I don't feel like ordering a replacement.

Strangely the issue is non-existent on Windows, so a driver issue seems likely?

 

[cledet]

Still happened with my third replacement. Decided it wasn't worth it and returned the card. Most likely a driver for sure.

 

[jalcom]

Mac Pro Issues with Flickering on Sapphire 7950 Mac Edition

Well in my case I got the same issue regarding flickering in my 30" Cinema Display, I've also have a Mac Pro 2009 and it was driving me nuts. After read about the topic, I bought a Power Regulator for my equipment plus the UPS I had. Also I got my PRAM reseted... and Voila!!! Now the flickering is gone. I don't know if some power fluctuations in the voltage or the PRAM fixed my problem. But I got covered by the two sides...

Hope this help

Jalcom

 

[lantree]

It sounds like a driver issue. I don't know why anyone would suggest pram. Apple's support article mentions the times it may provide a useful solution.

Yes all point to the apple drivers, having the same problem but only on video playback from youtube ect. Loaded windows 7 up on bootcamp and the card is 100% stable. Not sure if I should return the card or wait for better drivers from ATI/apple ?

 

[thekev]

Yes all point to the apple drivers, having the same problem but only on video playback from youtube ect. Loaded windows 7 up on bootcamp and the card is 100% stable. Not sure if I should return the card or wait for better drivers from ATI/apple ?

This is just my opinion. It's a lower volume card. If it's properly installed and you are experiencing problems, I would return it. It's a third party card on a line that will not be available new in its current form within a few months. I'm not sure I would bet on an acceptable resolution to this issue.

 

[lantree]

This is just my opinion. It's a lower volume card. If it's properly installed and you are experiencing problems, I would return it. It's a third party card on a line that will not be available new in its current form within a few months. I'm not sure I would bet on an acceptable resolution to this issue.

I'm sending it back on Monday and going for a refund, I pulled it out last night and replaced my old card back into the macpro. The machine has gone back to normal no screen flicker durning video playback or high fan speeds on start up.

No idea what i'm going to replace it with though.

 

[thekev]

I'm sending it back on Monday and going for a refund, I pulled it out last night and replaced my old card back into the macpro. The machine has gone back to normal no screen flicker durning video playback or high fan speeds on start up.

No idea what i'm going to replace it with though.

Sorry man . There's always the NVidia 680 mac edition option, but it's roughly $100 more than the card you pulled out. If you look through the existing threads, people get all kinds of NVidia cards working without boot screens. Many of those cost considerably less.

 

[Cubemmal]

This is just my opinion. It's a lower volume card. If it's properly installed and you are experiencing problems, I would return it. It's a third party card on a line that will not be available new in its current form within a few months. I'm not sure I would bet on an acceptable resolution to this issue.

Yeah, that's why I've given up on cards in a Mac. I've always had problems of one sort or another. I've kicked around upgrading my video card but have waited to hear what bugs show up.

So I'll just get a new Mac Pro regardless of the price. Give me a no PCI mac, I've had it with third party cards!

 

[VirtualRain]

Yeah, that's why I've given up on cards in a Mac. I've always had problems of one sort or another. I've kicked around upgrading my video card but have waited to hear what bugs show up.

So I'll just get a new Mac Pro regardless of the price. Give me a no PCI mac, I've had it with third party cards!

Yeah, me too. I wonder if all the PCIe fans ragging on the new Mac Pro read these (countless) threads of all the wonderful experiences people are having with their Mac Pro PCIe upgrades

 

[Cubemmal]

Yeah, me too. I wonder if all the PCIe fans ragging on the new Mac Pro read these (countless) threads of all the wonderful experiences people are having with their Mac Pro PCIe upgrades

The problem is Apple, they resolutely care about supporting Apple only products. Look at the new Belkin and Matrox Thunderbolt expansion port, it seems to barely work. Wake the computer from sleep and ports drop off. Drives abruptly disconnect when going to sleep and other problems. These aren't difficult problems to fix but Apple engineering doesn't make it a priority. And that's just a TB expansion device!

I've had an eSATA card in my Pro, and got to enjoy a year or two of bugs and panics. Then magically it worked (there were a bunch of known bugs they finally got around to fixing). I also have a USB3 card which causes mysterious kernel panics. My Pro has been a problem child from day one actually, I think I finally got to use it mostly without trouble only recently.

So my rules are buy Mac (I like them as a user too much), and buy integrated. Which is why I want a new Mac Pro because it comes native with everything I'll need. I have zero interest in a Thunderbolt PCI expansion box.

 

[Lichqueen]

After around 3 days testing, I know what cause my Mac screen flickering, it is.....FIREFOX! I switch back to Safari and no more screen flickering these few days.

 

[ActionableMango]

I wonder if all the PCIe fans ragging on the new Mac Pro read these (countless) threads of all the wonderful experiences people are having with their Mac Pro PCIe upgrades

There are people reporting success (like myself). There no doubt people having success without saying anything. And there are people having problems, such as is reported in this thread.

What they all had in common is that they found the factory option lacking, and they all had the option to do something about it.

I would further point out that there are plenty of people having graphics glitches and problems with official Apple solutions too, on nearly all models of Macs.

 

[Donar]

After around 3 days testing, I know what cause my Mac screen flickering, it is.....FIREFOX! I switch back to Safari and no more screen flickering these few days.

Good find - just tried it out. No flicker.

 

[1nfr4r3d]

Hi guys, wading in on this, I've recently installed this card, I too am getting the flickering but I don't use firefox, I use chrome and safari. So what's the general consensus, bad drivers or card problems?

How would i go about testing the performance of this card vs older HD 5770?

To be honest, I don't know if I can feel that much of a difference between the two. It feels a bit snappier in places I suppose but not as much as I was hoping/expecting. Are my expectations too high or do you think I should have felt a substantial difference and should be getting more from the card?

System is 10.8.5, clean install on formatted spare drive (i'm testing before jumping from 10.6.8).

Any input greatly appreciated.

**EDIT**
Just noticed, Donar, you are running the exact same system as me, hex core 3.3 same ram and ssd. How are you finding the 7950 performance-wise? We do a lot with Adobe PS, AI and ID, you notice much improvement? Photoshop seems to stutter more than i expected on large files, panning and flicking, is that usual or should this card just glide? In that respect it doesn't seem much better than the 5770. Your thoughts...?

 

[DanielCoffey]

According to benchmarks on the Windows side, the 7950 should be about 200% faster on memory bandwidth than a 5770, 160% better at AF and nearly 90% better at FSAA.

The flickering is a driver issue and under 10.9 I have not seen the flickering anywhere near as often as 10.8.5. I can't say it has gone, but I have not been looking for it.

Photoshop CS6 recognised the card under 10.9 with no issues or editing what so ever but I should state that I have the EFI flashed and R17 modded card. PS reports an "AMD HD 7950 OpenGL Engine detected". Use Graphics Processor is ticked and under the Advanced options, Drawing Mode is set to Advanced and all options are ticked.

For me, the reason I bought the card was increased performance in Skyrim over my 5870 1Gb. The extra VRAM makes a real difference when handling large textures at 1440p. Remember the card will put out more heat under load and may cause the Expansion Bay fan to run faster and louder.

 

[cledet]

How would i go about testing the performance of this card vs older HD 5770?

Gaming. Play a fairly modern game with High settings. You'll see the difference.