Gigabyte GTX 670 - Power target stays @ 47-70% - issue?

[asot]

Hi Guys,

I'm trying for a long time to identify why I have some weird fluctuations in FPS for games... and recently I narrowed it down to my GPU/PSU.

Using EVGA Precision X I've left the stock settings and I've noticed that in games the power % stays at max 70%. This happens even if I OC the core with 90 Mhz and memory with 180 while setting the power taget to 112%.

I've looked for examples on the net, and noticed other cards reach at least the 100% intended power level.

Should I be worried that my PSU is not giving enough power to the card? I've heard some noises with it before, but I really couldn't track the issue to it.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[NoOneLt]

Hi,

And what about full system spec, PSU, CPU, mb, also check with GPU-Z bus interface info? As i understood You are using EVGA VGA precision to set target power?

Try to run GPU-Z and check PerfCap reason, it can show You what is limiting performance, also You can provide us screenshot, mine GTX660 looks like:

 

[asot]

Hi,

Can't find out how to enable perfcap reason. System specs phenom 2 x6 1090t OC@3700, M5A99XEVO, 12 GB ram, 650W PSU.

 

[NoOneLt]

What is Your GPU driver version? Try to update to the latest NVidia drivers.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

IS this an SC series ? When manufacturer's build factory overclocked cards, there are several "steps" they take:

1. Use stock PCB, VRM and Cooler, add moderate OC
2. Use stock PCB, VRM and upgraded Cooler, add moderate OC
3. Use stock PCB, upgraded VRM and Cooler, and juice the OC a bit more
4. Use upgraded PCB, VRM and Cooler, and a bit more juice
5. Use upgraded PCB, VRM, Cooler, and a hand picked GPU and maximum juice

Thru the 5xx and 6xx series the SC models fit into categories 1 or 2 .... The EVGA Classified was in category 4 along with MSI's Twin Frozr PE series, Asus DCII and Gigabyte's Windforce. The Asus GCII TOP series is an example of category 5.

As a result, the SC series hasn't historically clocked as well as the competition from Asus , Gigabyte and MSI because of the VRM not being as beefy as the competition's. On the 7xx series however, i have not been able to find out anything about the VRMs in the current generation SC cards .... just drawing conclusions based upon what I have seen on the 5xx and 6xx series. For whatever reason, review sites have stopped commenting on the subject and another thing I wish they'd add is VRM temperatures.

Im not familiar with Precision ... Id suggest downloading the latest beta of Afterburner from the Guru3D site and giving that a shot.

http://www.guru3d.com/files_tags/download_afterburner_beta.html

 

[asot]

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4211&m=n

Hey,
Here's the card.

Edit: sorry for the short reply, was doing it from mobile. I'll try running the afterburner but there's one thing that I want to underline - even without overclocking the board at all, leaving it with factory defaults, the power % or TDP (guess it's the same thing ?) doesn't go over 75% when running a game (eg Crysis 3).
As I can see above, NoOneLt's 660 goes to almost 98%...

I'll try the afterburner but I doubt I'll see any change as both Precision X and GPUZ are showing the same thing.

 

[asot]

What is Your GPU driver version? Try to update to the latest NVidia drivers.

Hi NoOneLt,

Thanks for your replies. I have updated the screenshot. The TDP gets max to 75% - I'm not sure if that means the board is not using enough power or if that means it doesn't need to use the full power. But I've seen that OCed 670s go over the 100% power, somewhere to 130-140% max.

I'm using 314.22 drivers. Using the latest ones crash some games, like LoL, so I'm not using them anymore. The power issue remains regardless of the drivers so far.

 

[NoOneLt]

Hi, be sure to update to 320.49 Driver - WHQL, there was problems with 320.18 but they fixed it, i have no issues now with my GTX660.

That PerfCap depends on drivers, so You will know why performance is caped.

Also how You connect power to Your card? It has 2x6pin and You take it from PSU? What is PSU by the way? Exact model? As it seems it is power related somehow.

And be sure cars is connected to X16 slot near CPU (the upper one), and no device connected to second X16 slot.

 

[asot]

Hi, be sure to update to 320.49 Driver - WHQL, there was problems with 320.18 but they fixed it, i have no issues now with my GTX660.

That PerfCap depends on drivers, so You will know why performance is caped.

Also how You connect power to Your card? It has 2x6pin and You take it from PSU? What is PSU by the way? Exact model? As it seems it is power related somehow.

And be sure cars is connected to X16 slot near CPU (the upper one), and no device connected to second X16 slot.

Hey,

Updated drivers to latest. Here's SS after 1 sec alt tab from Crysis 3 (don't know how I can take a screenshot for GPU z without alt-tabbing)

I see I have a different perfcap reason, it seems. I'm using 6 pin and 8(6+2) pin connectors that came with the graphics card so not the ones that come directly from PSU (couldn't connect the 6+2 pin connector from the PSU - just won't manage to get it in)
Only using the first (PCI express 2.0 16x) slot.
PSU is - Rasurbo Gamin X Power 650W

Let me know if you need any more details from my side. Power issue still seems to be the same.

 

[NoOneLt]

Hi, its ok, and is seems something is constantly capping performance, when You mouse over PerfCap graph You should see how values changes, what are these values?

And about PSU, it seems to be this one? http://www.quietpc.com/ras-gap It says it have 2x6PIN PCI-E connectors, so be sure to use them to connect to You VGA.

Was there some 6Pin to 8 pin adapter With Your card?

Ithink there was something like 2xmolex to 6 and 8 pin adapters like this? :

Try to connect one 6Pin directly from PSU, and 8Pin with adapter but be sure to take Molex cable from PSU to with none of other HDD or something connected, take dedicated cable.

 

[NoOneLt]

You wrote about 8 Pin that You could not connect? It can be not PCIe cable but power cable connected to mobo, they have different shaped PINS so You can not connect it.

Made a little research As i understood 8 pin needed to ensure card can get 150W from PSU for sure, as 6PIN delivers 75W by standard, and +75W from PCIe slot. It is like safety factor from manufacturers, as they sure that if You have 8 PIN your PSU can provide 150W for sure, some info got from here http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/355547-28-adapter-question. And lot's explained about PINs here http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2066334.

So with 2x6PIN + PCIe You get 225W, and that is enough for GTX670 witch is rated ~150W, if molex adapter wont' work, You should try 6>8pin adapter as Your psu have 480W on 12V, seem more than OK.

And here it is suggested just to connect 6 pin directly to 8 pin http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supply-specifications-atx-reference,3061-12.html

 

[asot]

You wrote about 8 Pin that You could not connect? It can be not PCIe cable but power cable connected to mobo, they have different shaped PINS so You can not connect it.

Made a little research As i understood 8 pin needed to ensure card can get 150W from PSU for sure, as 6PIN delivers 75W by standard, and +75W from PCIe slot. It is like safety factor from manufacturers, as they sure that if You have 8 PIN your PSU can provide 150W for sure, some info got from here http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/355547-28-adapter-question. And lot's explained about PINs here http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2066334.

So with 2x6PIN + PCIe You get 225W, and that is enough for GTX670 witch is rated ~150W, if molex adapter wont' work, You should try 6>8pin adapter as Your psu have 480W on 12V, seem more than OK.

And here it is suggested just to connect 6 pin directly to 8 pin http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supply-specifications-atx-reference,3061-12.html

Hey,

Yes, I think that seems to be the PSU... but I've got 1x6pin and 1x6+2 pins connectors. I was using the 6 pin from the PSU and molex adapter for the 8 pin(from graphics card package). Now I've decided to try once more, and FINALLY managed to get the 8(6+2) connector from the PSU also in.
So now running with both cables directly from PSU.

Here are the results with running Unigine Heaven Benchmark 4.0 (window mode)

It seems that now, when running unigine or Crysis 3 I get to max 85% power. I'll do some more tests and let you know of the results.

And by the way, when I move mouse cursor over Perfcap nothing happens. I still get those orange/blue constant lines. From what I've read somewhere, orange could indicate an issue... but can't really find more about it 🙁

Thanks a lot for taking the time of helping me out with this ! Really appreciated.

 

[NoOneLt]

About PerfCap when mouse are over "PerfCap Reason" after some time it shows all reasons with explanation. And when mouse over perf cap graph, in your case it is blank,grey,orange/blue, move mouse over grey area You should see in place of VRel. VOp - Util value. And VRel. VOp in YOur case is current PerfCAp value, you can see it's meaning like i wrote.

There is not much info on the web, as this stuff is relatively new.. But i believe it is not necessary an error, maybe You should give more stress to the card and You'll see another picture.

GL and inform us on results!