GTX 970 poor performance?

[Frikken]

So I recently bought a GTX 970 for my system, and while the performance is great, it appears that my card is getting worse performance than other 970s. On 3dmark, this is the score I receive http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/6105000and on passmark performance test 8 I get a score of 5142 (compared to the 8k+ I should be getting). Now, I don't know if this is because I have a 1440p display as my main display (as well as another 1080p on the side), but I'd assume others are benchmarking on similar systems.

 

I got the card from Best Buy, and it seems to be a reference card, and I've been able to overclock with the following settings: http://screencast.com/t/2ycwM6vj

 

As for the rest of my rig, I'm running the following:

CPU: i5-4670k

Mobo: ASRock Fatal1ty H87

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB

PSU: Raidmax Hybrid 730W

 

I don't think anything would be bottlenecking the card, but perhaps people here know better than I do. Is this the case? Am I doing something wrong? Or is my card just bad?

 

EDIT: Also, I'm aware of the RAM issue, but I'm not  maxing it out for the most part.

[Guest Kloaked]

Did you buy the card for gaming or benchmarking?

[Hunched]

Did you buy the card for gaming or benchmarking?

I wish I could dislike comments

[Oberon.Smite]

The Firestrike score is plenty. Why are you worried anyways?

 

If you're really concerned, check that your GPU revs up to full stock clock. Use a stress tester and make sure all drivers aren't corrupted (happened to me once).

[Guest Kloaked]

I wish I could dislike comments

 

It's a valid question. I would like to know because if OP did buy it for benchmarking, there may be an issue there. If they bought it for gaming and it's performing like it should be in games, then there isn't a problem.

[Frikken]

Did you buy the card for gaming or benchmarking?

I guess it would make sense to mention gaming performance. I don't have much to compare with, but while I know performance has improved over my previous card (760), it doesn't seem like as much of an increase as I expected.

[Guest Kloaked]

I guess it would make sense to mention gaming performance. I don't have much to compare with, but while I know performance has improved over my previous card (760), it doesn't seem like as much of an increase as I expected.

 

Try running a game with an FPS overlay and compare your results to benchmarks from say, Anandtech.com.

[Geno Boost]

There are many factors like background programs check task manger for non critical tasks running in the background like bloatware or anti-virus program, Also cpu and motherboard configuration because if i recall h87 motherboards don't overclock well with K (unlock) processors. final major factor is the gtx 970 is low binned (gpu lottery), is the card aftermarket from evga/asus/etc. or nvidia branded like this card here is the link. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/nvidia-geforce-gtx-970-4gb-gddr5-pci-express-3-0-graphics-card-silver-black/9855169.p?id=1219441201895 

[Enderman]

I guess it would make sense to mention gaming performance. I don't have much to compare with, but while I know performance has improved over my previous card (760), it doesn't seem like as much of an increase as I expected.

but how does it compare to other 970 gaming benchmarks?

[Enderman]

I wish I could dislike comments

There's a reason why there isn't a dislike button on the forum.

[Guest Kloaked]

but how does it compare to other 970 gaming benchmarks?

 

There's countless scores with the same setup that get upwards of 12k or more.

[Enderman]

what are the temps of your CPU and GPU when running the benchmarks

[Frikken]

There are many factors like background programs check task manger for non critical tasks running in the background like bloatware or anti-virus program, Also cpu and motherboard configuration because if i recall h87 motherboards don't overclock well with K (unlock) processors. final major factor is the gtx 970 is low binned (gpu lottery), is the card aftermarket from evga/asus/etc. or nvidia branded like this card here is the link. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/nvidia-geforce-gtx-970-4gb-gddr5-pci-express-3-0-graphics-card-silver-black/9855169.p?id=1219441201895 

As I stated in my post, it's that exact card. I usually have a fair amount of stuff running in the background, but it shouldn't make as much of a difference as it does.

 

Try running a game with an FPS overlay and compare your results to benchmarks from say, Anandtech.com.

I can tell you off the back, at 1440p with max settings, Far Cry 3 gets a whopping 30fps. Minecraft w/shaders and 256x texture pack gets a cinematic 20fps (without shaders, consistent 60+, or shaders with a low-res pack). Saints row 4 1440p maxed I was getting 40fps on average. Borderlands 2 1440p maxed I was getting 60+ without phsx. With physx on high, I was getting around 35fps. Those are what I've tried so far, with the exception of low-intensity games like tf2, LoL, etc.

 

Tomorrow I could return with proper benchmarks (late here and I have class in the morning), but these could possibly give some insight.

 

what are the temps of your CPU and GPU when running the benchmarks

 

CPU never goes above 50c (liquid cooled). GPU maxes out around 70c under full load.

[rmac8530]

So I recently bought a GTX 970 for my system, and while the performance is great, it appears that my card is getting worse performance than other 970s. On 3dmark, this is the score I receive http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/6105000and on passmark performance test 8 I get a score of 5142 (compared to the 8k+ I should be getting). Now, I don't know if this is because I have a 1440p display as my main display (as well as another 1080p on the side), but I'd assume others are benchmarking on similar systems.

 

I got the card from Best Buy, and it seems to be a reference card, and I've been able to overclock with the following settings: http://screencast.com/t/2ycwM6vj

 

As for the rest of my rig, I'm running the following:

CPU: i5-4670k

Mobo: ASRock Fatal1ty H87

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB

PSU: Raidmax Hybrid 730W

 

I don't think anything would be bottlenecking the card, but perhaps people here know better than I do. Is this the case? Am I doing something wrong? Or is my card just bad?

 

EDIT: Also, I'm aware of the RAM issue, but I'm not  maxing it out for the most part.

I got a gtx 970 g1 gaming, and I returned it to get a replacement due to unsatisfactory Performance and Temperature of 82 degrees celcius. Still waiting for the new card. If nothing else works, you try that as well.

 

Just incase, here are the resolutions that I got from this forum, they didn't work for me but you could try.

 

 

- Go to control panel, check if your power saving option is set to "Performance". I don't have the card, I don't remember the exact term.

- Check if your ram sticks are in slots 1 and 3 for better performance.

- Do a clean install with your drivers. Use Display Driver Uninstaller, and make sure that there are no other drivers installed like the intel iGPU driver. Then install the latest driver from the manufacturer's website. 

 

That's all I know, goodluck! 

[Geno Boost]

This appears to to be low binned gpu most like because it's as the gtx 970 sold in mass numbers the aftermarket gpu vendors tend buy higher binned, thus they usually have higher and tend have higher overclock with the help of better pcb and aftermarket cooler. the reference cooler tends to be hotter then aftermarket cooler like ACX 2.0/DUII/Windforce/Twin Frozr. This leaves low binned gtx 970 for Nvidia branded. What are your gpu/memory speed numbers

[Frikken]

So an update, I ran everything once more after changing the power settings on the CP. Results are as follows:

Heaven 4: http://screencast.com/t/8arq8dRtiu

3dmark: http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/6118829?

Passmark: http://www.screencast.com/t/lLJxQElzC9x

Tomb Raider benchmark: Avg 60fps

Far Cry 3: 45fps avg. 1080p, 8x AA, dx11, ultra.

Borderlands 2 (not a great benchmark but it's something I play a lot): 1440p maxed out (including physx) 40fps avg.

Shadow Warrior: 1440p Ultra 8x AA avg: cinematic (24fps)

Saints Row 4: Ultra 1440p 45fps

 

Hottest I ran was 87c. Memory usage never went above 3GB. Clock speeds are running as intended (settings the same as the OP). I can tell that a few are running worse than benchmarks on LTT and others, benchmark programs are lower than other 970s (with similar specs). I'm not sure what's going on, but it doesn't seem to be running as well as it should.

[Hunched]

There's something wrong if your 970 is hitting 87c.

Are you sure the fans are on? Lol

[Frikken]

There's something wrong if your 970 is hitting 87c.

Are you sure the fans are on? Lol

They are but they don't kick into high gear on their own (at least, not at that temp). I can go into MSI AB and turn the fan speed up but I haven't needed to since the only time it hit that temp was during the Heaven benchmark. In games it doesn't go over 70c

[SteveGrabowski]

There's countless scores with the same setup that get upwards of 12k or more.

 

Not at those clocks

[SteveGrabowski]

Those scores look normal for the clock speeds you're running at. You should return that reference 970 to Best Buy and get a cheaper and better Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 970 where you're more likely to get another 200MHz or so. It seems like you got a pretty badly binned 970 to hit those kind of temperatures even with a blower cooler. I don't get the appeal of the reference 970s from Best Buy when you're paying $410 or so after tax. The best 970, the Gigabyte G1 Gaming, goes for $350 at newegg.

[Frikken]

Those scores look normal for the clock speeds you're running at. You should return that reference 970 to Best Buy and get a cheaper and better Gigabyte G1 Gaming GTX 970 where you're more likely to get another 200MHz or so. It seems like you got a pretty badly binned 970 to hit those kind of temperatures even with a blower cooler. I don't get the appeal of the reference 970s from Best Buy when you're paying $410 or so after tax. The best 970, the Gigabyte G1 Gaming, goes for $350 at newegg.

I got it in a rush because My old GPU died on me and I needed to get work done so I figured it's time to upgrade anyways. Are the reference cards from Best Buy just bad in general? Or only the one I got? If so, I may just return it and go with that (though I would miss the sexy LED logo on the top). However, if it's just my card itself, I'm fine with getting a replacement.

[SteveGrabowski]

I got it in a rush because My old GPU died on me and I needed to get work done so I figured it's time to upgrade anyways. Are the reference cards from Best Buy just bad in general? Or only the one I got? If so, I may just return it and go with that (though I would miss the sexy LED logo on the top). However, if it's just my card itself, I'm fine with getting a replacement.

 

I'd return it; you paid an $80 price premium for crazy hot 970. And then I'd buy a much better aftermarket card like a Gigabyte G1 Gaming, MSI Gaming, something like that for less online from newegg or amazon. Your particular card seems like a bad one if it's running 87C, especially at only 1174 MHz base clock. Performance wise it's pretty close to the out the box performance of my EVGA GTX 970 SC ACX 2.0. Here is my score at stock clocks for it (1165 MHz base):

 

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/5725759

 

Mine isn't particularly cool, but still maxes out at 73C when running an overclock to 1265 MHz base (the highest overclock I can get and be stable in Firestrike).

 

Is your card really loud if it's getting to 87C?

[Frikken]

I'd return it; you paid an $80 price premium for crazy hot 970. And then I'd buy a much better aftermarket card like a Gigabyte G1 Gaming, MSI Gaming, something like that for less online from newegg or amazon. Your particular card seems like a bad one if it's running 87C, especially at only 1174 MHz base clock. Performance wise it's pretty close to the out the box performance of my EVGA GTX 970 SC ACX 2.0. Here is my score at stock clocks for it (1165 MHz base):

 

http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/5725759

 

Mine isn't particularly cool, but still maxes out at 73C when running an overclock to 1265 MHz base (the highest overclock I can get and be stable in Firestrike).

 

Is your card really loud if it's getting to 87C?

It never got loud because the fan(s) never ramped up higher than 40%, turning up the fan speed manually could help,  but since I prefer quietness I guess this won't work out.

I bought this a week ago from Best Buy, so I'll see if returning it completely is possible. Though in the mean time, I will be without a GPU while waiting for an aftermarket one to come in.

[Hunched]

It never got loud because the fan(s) never ramped up higher than 40%, turning up the fan speed manually could help,  but since I prefer quietness I guess this won't work out.

I bought this a week ago from Best Buy, so I'll see if returning it completely is possible. Though in the mean time, I will be without a GPU while waiting for an aftermarket one to come in.

This is what you can accomplish with an aftermarket 970

http://www.3dmark.com/fs/4215857

 

It's worth it.

My Core Clock is actually 1550mhz despite it reporting 1323.

 

If you prefer quietness, an aftermarket card will also help with that.

[SteveGrabowski]

This is what you can accomplish with an aftermarket 970

http://www.3dmark.com/fs/4215857

 

It's worth it.

My Core Clock is actually 1550mhz despite it reporting 1323.

 

If you prefer quietness, an aftermarket card will also help with that.

 

Not all aftermarket ones though. My EVGA GTX 970 SC ACX 2.0 is only stable up to 1265 MHz base, with boost up to about 1466 MHz (not the official boost clock for that base, but the self overclock the driver does pushes it there). The G1 Gaming is definitely the way to go to get the most performance.