[Issue] Month old Gainward Phantom Geforce GTX 770 (4gb) not functioning correctly

[Amarnra]

Not so long ago I purchased a Gainward Phantom Geforce GTX 770 in the 4gb model which was working perfectly until recently. Upon playing most games, the frames will drop to around 5fps and then oscillate between 0 and 20.

Games tested:
Archeage Beta
Smite
Company of Heroes 2

All with similar results. Non-graphics intensive games such as Wolf Among Us have no issue.

This is a custom built PC which I put together myself (first build ever!). After the initial construction I have not opened the case. Using the Gainward utility I've ascertained that the GPU temperature does not rise above 40-50 degrees Celsius when playing each of those games on high settings, but the temperature does rise from its base 22 (average) therefore I am lead to conclude the graphics card is functioning.

• 
  ■ The PC hasn't been moved, but perhaps somehow when I wasn't looking the graphics card could have been bumped?
  ■ Or perhaps the couple of screws holding the card into place were not enough and it is not connected properly?
  ■ If it wasn't 100% connected, is it possible for it to still function as it does?

As my computer still detects my graphics card is there, I am confused as to whether I should open the box, take out the graphics card and plug it back in initially or whether there's a software issue which is the case. This is my first PC so I am kinda afraid that if I do take it out I might make the situation worse... or break it. Live you learn I suppose, but it was rather expensive so I am apprehensive as to whether I should touch it or just bring it back to where I purchased it from (MSY in Australia).

Dx Diag detects my system settings as follows (Information I thought useless omitted, though if I'm missing something important please do tell me):
------------------
System Information
------------------

Operating System: Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit (6.3, Build 9600) (9600.winblue_gdr.140330-1035)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: H97M-HD3
BIOS: BIOS Date: 04/24/14 16:23:39 Ver: 04.06.05
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz (8 CPUs), ~3.6GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8080MB RAM
Page File: 2325MB used, 7033MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.03.9600.16384 64bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTX 770
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Type: Full Device
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1184&SUBSYS_118410B0&REV_A1
Display Memory: 8051 MB
Dedicated Memory: 4011 MB
Shared Memory: 4039 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: BenQ RL2450H
Monitor Model: BenQ RL2450H
Monitor Id: BNQ7F0E
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
Output Type: HDMI
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 9.18.0013.4052 (English)
Driver Version: 9.18.13.4052
DDI Version: 11
Feature Levels: 11.0,10.1,10.0,9.3,9.2,9.1
Driver Model: WDDM 1.3
Graphics Preemption: DMA
Compute Preemption: DMA
Miracast: Not Supported
Hybrid Graphics GPU: Not Supported
Power P-states: Not Supported
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 7/3/2014 06:48:32, 17555104 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-52C4-11CF-D47C-89311CC2C435}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x1184
SubSys ID: 0x118410B0
Revision ID: 0x00A1
Driver Strong Name: oem2.inf:0f066de34a958ed1:Section095:9.18.13.4052😛ci\ven_10de&dev_1184
Rank Of Driver: 00DA2001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C
DXVA2 Modes: DXVA2_ModeMPEG2_IDCT DXVA2_ModeMPEG2_VLD DXVA2_ModeVC1_VLD DXVA2_ModeVC1_IDCT DXVA2_ModeWMV9_IDCT DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_NoFGT


I do apologise for the wall of text! I tried to be as descriptive as possible!

 

[badgerfodder]

Hello Amarna,

It could be the fact that it's using the onboard Intel HD CPU grapchis as opposed to your actual GPU.
I also have this issue and you can check by looking at the Archeage profile in your NVidia Control Panel. If it's not there, add it and you may find that the option to change it from Integrated Graphics is greyed out. If it is, this is your issue, which I'm still searching for a fix for.

 

[Gameduck]

Go to your BIOS and then select Advanced Mode, then go to the Onboard Device Configuration or something like that and disable the iGPU.

 

[Amarnra]

I brought the graphics card in for testing and no problems were found. Later I tested the temperatures of the CPU, Lo and Behold they were way above what they should have been. 80 degrees Celsius average for a video!