Strix GTX 980Ti "blinking"

[jdlech2]

System description: Self built.
Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 Home 10.0.16299.309

Motherboard:
CPU Type QuadCore Intel Core i7-6700, 3815 MHz (38 x 100)
Motherboard Name Asus Maximus VIII Hero (3 PCI-E x1, 3 PCI-E x16, 1 M.2, 4 DDR4 DIMM, Audio, Video, Gigabit LAN)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Sunrise Point Z170, Intel Skylake-S
System Memory 32706 MB (DDR4 SDRAM)
DIMM1: G Skill TridentZ F4-3466C16-8GTZ 8 GB DDR4-2133 DDR4 SDRAM (16-15-15-36 @ 1066 MHz) (15-15-15-36 @ 1066 MHz) (14-14-14-34 @ 1018 MHz) (13-13-13-32 @ 945 MHz) (12-12-12-29 @ 872 MHz) (11-11-11-27 @ 800 MHz) (10-10-10-24 @ 727 MHz)
DIMM2: G Skill TridentZ F4-3466C16-8GTZ 8 GB DDR4-2133 DDR4 SDRAM (16-15-15-36 @ 1066 MHz) (15-15-15-36 @ 1066 MHz) (14-14-14-34 @ 1018 MHz) (13-13-13-32 @ 945 MHz) (12-12-12-29 @ 872 MHz) (11-11-11-27 @ 800 MHz) (10-10-10-24 @ 727 MHz)
DIMM3: G Skill TridentZ F4-3466C16-8GTZ 8 GB DDR4-2133 DDR4 SDRAM (16-15-15-36 @ 1066 MHz) (15-15-15-36 @ 1066 MHz) (14-14-14-34 @ 1018 MHz) (13-13-13-32 @ 945 MHz) (12-12-12-29 @ 872 MHz) (11-11-11-27 @ 800 MHz) (10-10-10-24 @ 727 MHz)
DIMM4: G Skill TridentZ F4-3466C16-8GTZ 8 GB DDR4-2133 DDR4 SDRAM (16-15-15-36 @ 1066 MHz) (15-15-15-36 @ 1066 MHz) (14-14-14-34 @ 1018 MHz) (13-13-13-32 @ 945 MHz) (12-12-12-29 @ 872 MHz) (11-11-11-27 @ 800 MHz) (10-10-10-24 @ 727 MHz)
BIOS Type AMI (12/16/2016)
Communication PortBrother MFC-9330CDW Remote Setup Port (COM3)
Communication PortUSB Serial Device (COM4)

Display:
Video Adapter GeForce GTX 980 Ti (6 GB)
Monitor HP 27es (HDMI1) [27" IPS LCD] (3CM61002XD)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter nVIDIA HDMI/DP @ nVIDIA GM200 - High Definition Audio Controller (disabled)
Audio Adapter Realtek ALC1150 @ Intel Sunrise Point PCH - High Definition Audio Controller [D-1]

Storage:
Storage ControllerAsmedia 106x SATA Controller
Storage ControllerIntel Chipset SATA RAID Controller
Storage ControllerMicrosoft Storage Spaces Controller
Disk DriveIntel Raid 0 Volume (894 GB)
Disk DriveST5000DM000-1FK178 (5 TB, 5900 RPM, SATA-III)
Disk DriveWDC WD20EZRZ-00Z5HB0 (1863 GB)
Optical Drive CyberLink Virtual CdRom v01001
Optical Drive PLEXTOR BD-R PX-LB950SA (12x/2x/8x BD-RE)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK
Printer Brother MFC-9330CDW Printer
USB1 Controller ASMedia ASM1142 USB 3.1 xHCI Controller
USB3 Controller Intel Sunrise Point PCH - USB 3.0 xHCI Controller [D-1]
USB DeviceBrother MFC-9330CDW Remote Setup Port (COM3)
USB DeviceBrother MFC-9330CDW
Battery CyberPower Battery Backup 1500PFCLCD UPS with computer, monitor, and small stereo plugged into it.

DMI:
DMI BIOS Vendor American Megatrends Inc.
DMI BIOS Version 3101
DMI Motherboard Manufacturer ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
DMI Motherboard Product MAXIMUS VIII HERO
DMI Motherboard Version Rev 1.xx
DMI Chassis Type Desktop Case

Symptoms: the screen goes blank for about 1 second, once or twice under two conditions.... When there is a sudden large jump in power draw, and when there is a sudden large drop in power draw. This happens regardless of what I'm doing. But continuous power draw does not cause it. I'm using a 550W PSU but my UPS reports that I've never drawn more than 224W including my monitor and small stereo. My system draws only 74W quiescent and jumps between 80 and 150 during normal operation.
I have updated all drivers, disabled and uninstalled duplicate audio drivers, replaced the HDMI cable with a 4K rated cable, and played with all the NVIDIA settings... and it still "blinks".
It's really bad when I'm watching streaming video, like youtube and various news sites.
I've checked all temperatures, the GPU has never been over 60c, and nothing else has been over 53c.
I'm at wits end. I have no idea what else to try.

 

[spacejunk]

Does it still blink while using the integrated gpu ?

Might seem silly, but have plugged in both auxiliary power cables to the card ?

Might also be that the PSU is not giving enough power through the PCIE connectors.

Apart from that, have you tried switching to another HDMI port or Displayport ?

Also, have you tried setting a different, more aggressive power management profile and set global power preferences to max performance in NVCP ?

 

[jdlech2]

Finally had the chance to remove the card and test with the on board graphics. No blinking at all. I checked the plugs, and they're both plugged in and I have voltage at each. I can't test for current at the plug level, but my UPS says I'm nowhere near taxing my psu.
My power management is usually set to performance, and I usually keep one of my drives and sata ports on at all times.
When I put the card back in, I tried a different HDMI port, and it still blinks.

 

[spacejunk]

Finally had the chance to remove the card and test with the on board graphics. No blinking at all. I checked the plugs, and they're both plugged in and I have voltage at each. I can't test for current at the plug level, but my UPS says I'm nowhere near taxing my psu.
My power management is usually set to performance, and I usually keep one of my drives and sata ports on at all times.
When I put the card back in, I tried a different HDMI port, and it still blinks.

Damn, I was hoping we would get somewhere with that. I guess we can rule out re-seating your graphics card too.

So it's either your graphics card or a problem with the PCIE on the mobo. The only other things that come to mind are to try a different PCIE slot, make sure all your drivers are in order, or consider rolling back your Nvidia drivers.

Ideally, if you could test that card in another rig it would save a lot of time and heartache. Sorry I don't have any better, more practical suggestions for you.

 

[jdlech2]

Unfortunately, I have no other computer to try it in. I did put it back in the same slot. Next chance I get, I'll move it. There is a bit of something I didn't mention and I suppose I should have... It blinked when I first built it. But an NVidia driver update solved the problem. It started blinking again after the last Win10 update. I would sure hate to roll back a W10 update and try to stop it from re-updating every day. But I might have to.

 

[spacejunk]

Unfortunately, I have no other computer to try it in. I did put it back in the same slot. Next chance I get, I'll move it. There is a bit of something I didn't mention and I suppose I should have... It blinked when I first built it. But an NVidia driver update solved the problem. It started blinking again after the last Win10 update. I would sure hate to roll back a W10 update and try to stop it from re-updating every day. But I might have to.

Hmm, so the plot thickens!

Useful, yet perplexing information that. I guess that points us in the direction of a software issue. If it is as you say, a windows update that is somehow conflicting with your drivers, I'd be inclined to think there is a problem with your driver installation. I'm just struggling to think how a windows update would cause such an issue for a main-stream graphics card.

You eluded to rolling back your windows update, but might I suggest a total clean re-install of your Nvidia drivers before you do. Perhaps sticking with whatever driver revision worked for you before the windows update presumably fouled it.

Also if you do roll-back windows update and/or format the computer, you can at least choose selective updates scheme that will still search and notify you of updates, but you choose which to install. Hopefully you can recognize which particular file caused the issue.

I'm just really surprised it wasn't a cable/port issue. But you've tested with multiple cables and separate ports, so I guess we should move on.

Edit: Actually, have you got a Displayport on your monitor ? If so could you quickly test using Displayport connection. I'd just like to rule that out once and for all.