GPU throttling ?

Patachief · July 7, 2015

Hello guys,

I'm a first time user of this kind of forum and I'll try to give all the needed info on first go.

I've just recently bought a second Gigabyte 280 (non x) OC version for my PC that I,ve been running for a year. For the first time, I've been interested in benchmarking my rig to see how it performs.

Regarding my GPU, there are some things I don't understand and need your help. I've notice that when running benchmark (Heaven, Valley, Firestrike, etc) my cards (I'm still only running on a single card waiting for a new Mobo to crossfire) doesn't stay at max clock speed (1072 from factory OC) is it normal ?

My build is:

i5-4690 (non K) running at stock on stock cooler

GA-H97-D3H

750W thoughpower 80+ gold from Thermaltake

G.Skill RipjawsX 8gig (2x4)

Crucical MX100 256gb SSD

Seagate Barracuda 3Tb harddrive

Intel wireless wifi/bluetooth PCIEx1 card

and an unknown CD/DVD writer

When I stress My GPU with aida64 I can read constant 1072 core clock on MSI afterburner and constant 100 GPU load while not going over 70 temperature.

Here are the number from Valley benchmark (as I said, could have been from any benchmark but i prefere watch Valley)

Running on Ultra at 4x anti-aliasing in 1920x1080

Using MSI AfterBurner for getting temp and speed

Benchmark Score 1956 (old card) 1934 (new card)

Core Clock: mostly 950 with some upspike to 1072

GPU Load : constant up and down between 60 and 100 (some drop even to 20)

Max temp 56 (old card), 60 (new card)

As you can notice both card act the same, only difference is my older card runs a bit better score and less hot.

Now I have rerun the benchmarks with the + 20% power slider on MSI

Score: 2103 (old) 2094 (new)

Clock: steady 1072

Gpu load : 95 to 99 never reaching 100

max temp: 63 (old), 67 (new)

Finaly I decided to underclock card to 950 while returning power lvl to 0

Score 1762

Clock mostly 845 with some ups to 950

Load 20 to 100

Temp 56

Is there something wrong with my card ? my power delivery ?

Will I be able to crossfire and overclock my setup for futureproofing when I will get a better Mobo ?

Senzelian · July 7, 2015

It's nice that you tried to include as much information as possible, but it's almost too much.

So, if I understand this correctly, then both of your graphics cards never reach their full potential as long as you don't turn up the power limit.
Does the GPU load jump on both cards between 60 and 100% ?

Patachief · July 8, 2015

Yeah exactly, on benchmarking they get to the max core clock but only for about 20 % of the time and yes both the new and my 1 year old card Load vary between 60 and 100 unless i raise de power level as you can see on the screenshot. Is it something to worry about ?

SkilledRebuilds · July 8, 2015

Yeah exactly, on benchmarking they get to the max core clock but only for about 20 % of the time and yes both the new and my 1 year old card Load vary between 60 and 100 unless i raise de power level as you can see on the screenshot. Is it something to worry about ?

The power level is not dangerous to use, its part of the hardware controlled by software.

It does not add more voltage, it just ensures that it stays at its higher performance target for longer....

If its set at the ZERO, IMO I call that 80% power efficiency, @ -20 I call that 60%, at the +20 I call that 100% power available to use.

Nothing to worry about by setting it at +20, in fact for a gaming machine it should be set on a positive value anyway.

/I have had the 260x/270x/280/290 & 290x as well as many HD7950's which are slower 280's before the rebrand, they all work the same, and the power slider is nothing to worry about and should be used as a positive value for Gaming.