Palit Super Jetstream GTX980 Max/Boost Clock Throttling Issue

GrumpyGamer123 · August 2, 2018

I recently purchased a used Palit Super Jetstream GTX980 on eBay. It installs fine and the drivers go on no problem. It runs 3D games and benchmarks without artifacts but I felt the performance was lacking for a still fairly powerful GPU. So, I opened GPU Z while running a benchmark and noticed the clock speed way below what it should be. As you can see here: http://www.palit.com/palit/vgapro.php?id=2427&lang=en&p... , it should be able to boost up to at least 1304MHZ, yet it fluctuates between 700MHZ to around 830MHZ depending on the loading with heavier benchmarks like Superposition in 4K dropping it to low 700s and Heaven letting it go up to 830ish.

I did notice that the power setting in Nvidia control panel was at an energy saving setting (“optimal” I think) so changed it to max performance. This did allow the GPU to run at the full speed when idle i.e. in Windows and 2D apps and games, but it drops down again as soon as any 3D load is applied. GPU Z shows the performance cap reason as being constantly PWR (power green bar) and never changes, but what does that actually mean? Not enough power from PSU? or a problem with the power circuitry on the card?

The temps remain in the 60s under load maxing at around 68C. However, the card does have a rather odd quirk with the fans in that when under load they don’t spin smoothly, they spin up then stop over and over. They aren’t obstructed and can run normally as they do when the PC is first turned on and do when exiting the benchmark. The card has fan stop technology so they don’t spin for normal 2D loads, could this be somehow malfunctioning?

Please advise on what could be doing this and things I could try to fix it?

Swealteek · August 2, 2018

2 minutes ago, GrumpyGamer123 said:

GPU Z shows the performance cap reason as being constantly PWR (power green bar) and never changes, but what does that actually mean? Not enough power from PSU? or a problem with the power circuitry on the card?

Please post full specs of your rig so we can help you better

Yes power can be the problem I think it's not getting to litte power. try and installing somting like MSI afterbunner and slide the power bar to max.

If you pc das not get anathe power it wil shut down in moste cases AI 500 watt psu powerring a 750 watt pc

GrumpyGamer123 · August 3, 2018

Specs:

i7 3770 (3.4-3.8GHZ)

16GB Crucial Sport Ballistix DDR3 1600MHZ

360GB Kingspec SSD

2TB Seagate Firecuda SSHD

Be Quiet 530 Watt PSU

Windows 10 Professional

As this is my secondary system there is no monitor it hooks up to a 4K TV via HDMI

The PSU is perhaps near the minimum for this card? But Be Quiet is a good make so I wasn't expecting it to be an issue. I did briefly test the card in my main PC, which is a Ryzen 1800X, 16GB Corsair LPX DDR 4 3000MHZ, ADATA M2 256GB SSD, 2TB Seagate Firecuda SSHD and a Corsair CX850 Modular PSU. I expected it to work better with the much newer system and better PSU, but it actually was quite erratic. It initially run the benchmark (unigine heaven) but with the same capped speed. I went away to leave it for a few minutes and when I came back the screen was blank. Rebooted same, only thing I could make it display after that was the BIOS, which is really weird as it still works fine in the original PC (albeit not at full speed)

"Yes power can be the problem I think it's not getting to litte power. try and installing somting like MSI afterbunner and slide the power bar to max."

Is this safe to do? Will the card only take what it needs?