M18x-R1 Dual AMD 6970 video card problem

M18x-R1 Dual AMD 6970 video card problem
windows 7 64 bit OS
I have got a used Alienware unit with a video card problem im trying to sort out
unit runs great with integrated graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000) no video problems
The problem is when I try to switch into dedicated graphics mode I get vertical line screen distortion
which will vary on the screen resolutin selected

I am on BIOS A05 and it will identify both cards as "ATI GFX"
The drivers are listed as standard VGA drivers in display manager
the problem is when I try to update to any version of AMD drivers I get BSOD
system will not boot untill I go to safe mode and revert back to the standard VGA driver on one or both cards

I have tried many differnt driver versions as listed uninstalling with revo uninstaller
running CCleaner cleaning registry, DDU cleaning in safe mode
and reinstalling new drivers with same results BSOD

I am not sure what driver is the best for my system but I have tried all these with the same BSOD results

amd-catalyst-15.7.1-with-dotnet45-win7-64bit
AMD Radeon HD 6970M, v.8.851.2, A02
8.902-111012a-128052C-Dell_ZPE
11-10_mobility_vista_win7_32-64_ccc

I think the master video card is dying and my last option left is to open the unit and swap it with the slave and try cooking it in the oven

should I first disconnect the croosfire cable reasemble to see if it works (I doubt the unit ever fired up in crossfire mode) or just assume that the master has a problem
and try swapping out the slave in its place and see if that card is any good
I hope both cards are not defective and died at the same time or its not a MOBO issue
would I also have to change any vbios for the slave to run in the master slot looks like both running vbios 013.012.000.012.040739

what video card drivers should I be using amd-catalyst-15.7.1
any ideas on troubleshooting this
if both cards dont work how do i determine if it is MOBO or cards do I have to buy and test a new card to be sure
thanks for any help here also im a noob at this
my first Alienware have tried to do a lot of research to fix it here and Google


**UPDATE** Finally got the nerve to do the tear down after exhausting every software option I could find. I swapped slave drive to the master slot and was able to load the drivers without any problems and the card works perfectly. so the master card confirmed was a slow death worked only with standard vga drivers with video distortion and bsod when any other driver loaded. Now all that's left to try is reflow oven on this old card.

 

THose cards had a high failure rate. PITA but you need to take it apart and swap out the card. I had a few die on mine. I was scared to use the machine or leave it turned on.

 

what catalyst control manager and drivers did you use for the amd 6970 cards please

 

I had same problems. I got those two card re-balling done professionally. Cooking doesn't sort long term issues...

 

Cards are dead, characteristic of 6970Ms. Be happy they managed to live this long...5 years is quite a lifespan for any high end video card

 

They aren't dead. They are just in DEEP SLEEP

 

would the HD 7970 or R9 290X be better choice I seen new ones on ebay

 

Better buy 680M/780M/880M

You can also buy 7970M if you want radeon

Don't buy 8970M or R9 M290x

 

I will purchase your dead cards if the price is right, I need a few brackets