Is there a way to limit GPU usage?

[xxxlun4icexxx]

Hey all. I am used to having Vsync on which usually keeps my 3 GPUs at 50-70% usage to get 60 FPS.

I just got a gsync monitor which works great however obviously all 3 of my GPUs run at around 90-100% during gaming since there is no target frame rate or anything.

Is there any way to limit the GPU usage to a certain number, say 85% or so? I thought maybe EVGA's frame limiter would do it but when I ran a 3d mark test with the framerate target set to 60, the gpu usage was still in the 90s.

Just wondering if there's a way to do it. I don't need 100+ fps and i need to keep my GPUs' temps and power in check.

Thanks,

 

[turkey3_scratch]

There's no way I've heard of to do this. Nor do I see reason to. Graphics cards are fully designed to maintain 100% usage at good temps, and if you have trouble with temperatures you might want to address that. Furthermore, in many games there are sometimes when it has a lot more to render and you might have to go over 85%. But I do not know any way to limit it maybe someone else does.

 

[Gam3r01]

Other than downclocking your processor to forcefully bottleneck the cards, no I do not know of a way to do so.
Not that there is any viable reason to do so anyway.

Why spend the money to get 85% of 3 980s?

 

[Brillis Wuce]

Try KBoost? It's a feature in PrecisionX. I've used it to automatically clock my GPU to 100%, and I believe you can adjust the setting you want it to stay at.

 

[ZeroGravity780]

If a game has the option to limit FPS im sure thats one way.

 

[xxxlun4icexxx]

Well thanks for the advice guys. The reason why I thought the framerate target wasn't doing what I wanted it to do was because I did it during a 1080p benchmark test. I guess on the benchmarks maybe it just uses a lot more GPU power.

Anyways, I went into some games and set the FPS target to 85 and it does exactly what I want it do, just keeps the gpus for the most part not running 100%.

I've done literally everything I can to get these cards cool and I just cannot seem to keep the under 80 efficiently at full load over an extended period of time. I have tried more fans, different orientated fans, back plates, no back-plates, separators, suspending them by fishing line, lol. The only thing I haven't sprung for yet is to put on custom water cooling, but I just do not have the know-how right now to be able to do it. And I am at a cross-road because 2 cards gets me right under the fps i want, where 3 cards gets me over it by quite a bit, but at the expense of heat and then them downclocking at 80C. However now that I put the frame-rate target to 85, it looks like we are doing ok now.

 

[ZeroGravity780]

Just curious what kind of case do you have?

 

[xxxlun4icexxx]

My case is a corsair 500r. My last ditch effort is this week I am going to try replacing the cases stock 200mm side panel fan wit 2 140mm corsair quiet edition fans. 2 140mm fans may end up hitting the gpu more.

 

[ZeroGravity780]

I dont know if this would help but do you think a full tower would be a better option with having tri sli i mean i feel like a mid tower is a tiny area with alot of heat.

 

[xxxlun4icexxx]

I dont know if this would help but do you think a full tower would be a better option with having tri sli i mean i feel like a mid tower is a tiny area with alot of heat.

Albeit with my lack of cable management skills there are spots in the case that are a bit cramped, but for the most part the case is quite roomy. Unless just having more area in there would make a huge difference. What would be the absolute best case for GPU cooling, cost aside? Below is a pic of current case/setup. I think the problem is more just how close the GPUs are to each other.

 

[ZeroGravity780]

I think if you buy a full tower, and did better cable management that you would see a difference. I had a mid tower and loved it but after having bought the Cooler master HAF X full tower ill never go back. You wont have to worry about not having enough space and cooler master if known for great airflow.