ASUS STRIX GTX 970 fan speed problems + loud noises

[endymyon58]

Hey guys,

I'm experiencing annoying weird fan speed spikes, randomly sometimes in idle, but especially when booting or awaking my PC.
The fan speed suddenly goes to 100% and its loud as hell.
Is it a problem I can fix on my own?
Thanks

 

[micropage7]

normal spinning or weird noise?
it may normal

 

[endymyon58]

Well, it suddenly starts spinning at 100% power which is really loud..

 

[AsRock]

It's typical for a system just turned on for mobo (depends how they set in bios ) \ video fans to rev up at system boot until software \ drivers are loaded.

 

[endymyon58]

Okay, so, I should be able to disable it in the bios, right? cuz it at 100% fan speed it really goes loud as a bloody plane turbine, which is annoying as hell..
EDIT: I mentioned it does it also in idle, so Im assuming its definetly not normal..

 

[P4-630]

what are your gpu temps

 

[endymyon58]

Idle: 35
In-game: around 65 (fan around 50% = silent)

so its should be ok

EDIT: heres a recording of the noise it makes (first it is on 0% then it goes to 60% and 100%)

 

[AsRock]

Time to fill out those system specs with that card your using. On boot i can understand that however if it's doing it while the pc is sitting idle some thing going on.

Is that the case ?, while the pc is sitting idle and suddenly it does that ?, use GPU-Z and not that you can click the numbers were the temps are to show min\avg\max.

Have you checked the web if other people having the issue with that card and made sure it's the card and not some thing else.

 

[endymyon58]

cpu: i5 2500K
mobo: ASUS p8p67-m pro v3


The speed boosts to 100% when booting or waking up the pc. It suddenly boosts also sometimes on idle. The temps dont change at all, thats the weird part.
I didnt find anybody with the same issue..

EDIT: I got an intel that maybe the ASUS GPU Tweak sw (which is full of bug) is responsible for the issue. So I got rid of it and set everything up with the MSI Afterburner, and it seems that......................
EDIT2: ............................ Okay, it did it again. No temp change, nothing. The fan speed bursted to 100% for like 3s and then it slowly and jerkily** dropped down to 0%

There's definetly smth wrong with the sound of the fans (check the recording above)

** EDIT3: Like a car revving its engine, but backwards.


EDIT4: Here's a screenshot of the graphs from afterburner:

 

[DayKnight]

It's typical for a system just turned on for mobo (depends how they set in bios ) \ video fans to rev up at system boot until software \ drivers are loaded.

Doesn't happen here. Only for CPU AFAIK.

 

[Kursah]

Doesn't happen here. Only for CPU AFAIK.

Happens on both my main rig with its GTX770, and the kids' rig with a GTX570. Both run full bore until drivers are loaded and then both go down to predefined settings (either drivers or software like EVGA Precision). My HD5870 was the same way as well. Some cards though (none that I own) do run lower RPMS though, but that is usually attributed to how the card handles itself out of driver/software control or the fans used for cooling for actual noise output.

@OP

Also depending on the fan speed profile, it might not be a smooth RPM drop and more-so an incremental speed drop...for example going from 100% to 85% to 75% to 50%...etc..etc..

Your image shows GPU clock speeds, jumping up to full 3D clocks and also shows 0RPM for the fan speed (the graph just above the GPU clocks). That shouldn't be the case. Also I see your GPU temps are being reported pretty steady at 32C, which doesn't seem to change much with full clocks.

Makes me wonder if the fan speed profile is based on GPU load and not temps?

Have you tried a clean reloading of drivers? What driver version are you running or have tried?

Something is definitely odd here, and I have partial suspect to an issue with the card itself...but at the same time a bugged driver...bugged BIOS. I would contact ASUS support on this issue after reloading drivers, software, even removing and reseating the card just for kicks to narrow everything an end-user can try to resolve an issue with before requesting RMA.

Edit: I misread the GPU clock for the Fan Speed RPM entry...with nothing else showing any reason for this.

I would wonder again if there is a driver issue, configuration issue with another piece of software, or a firmware issue with the card...my inquiries for drivers uses, etc. still remain.

 

[endymyon58]

The fan speed is definetly not 0RPM, trust me, when it happens, its running at maximum speed.
The speed should be based on the temps, though, which are completely steady. Thats what is weird.

Im actually running on the GeForce GRD 344.65 WHQL released 10th october. Thats not the latest one, but I'm currently downloading it (344.75). I'll see if it helps, otherwise I'm completely out of ideas... I might also try to reseat the card.

Considering the point that the card might max the fans up before loading any driver brings me to the question why is it so loud at full fan speed. I dont want to believe that a new "next-gen" mid-high end gpu is that loud.

EDIT: You confused me I was wondering if the graph is broken or not. Well, It should be legit.

 

[Kursah]

Because it's a small fan...small fans spin fast and make a lot of noise. With all of that noise is a lot of airflow. That airflow and noise guarantee (to a big extent) that your GPU will not fail from overheating. It's a safety and design thing.

Sure the card could've costed another $20-50+ for some better fans or quieter fans.

Small fans that spin at high RPMs = Noisy in situations like cooling GPU's. That cooler is much quieter than the leaf blower design my GTX570 uses. I can hear that thing across the house.

Keep us posted with your drivers and I hope that resolves it... with the card models being so new, using an older driver might have caused some issues. I'm still kind of leery to that...and hoping it's the case. I also have a slight feeling this might be a firmware or hardware related issue...hoping not for your sake because RMA sucks even when the service is good when you're eager to enjoy your new PC parts for gaming or the purpose you purchased them for.

 

[endymyon58]

Well, so far the fans are running steady. I really hope the new driver solved the problem!! I dont want to have anything with local RMA service centers (Czech Republic)

It indeed bursted to 100% speed while booting --> loud as f***. Is there a way to turn that "feature" off? The sound is really annoying, I havent experienced something like that with my old 560.. I dont want to wake anybody up while booting up my PC.

 

[Kursah]

Good to hear! Hope that solves the issue at hand for you!

On the fan speed @ POST issue though...

Nope, not unless you know how to code within their firmware. It's a default...really you shouldn't hear or deal with it for more than seconds in a modern system, especially if you have an SSD. Maybe 20-30 seconds if you have a modern system with HDD.

You could try and contact Asus and see if they have an updated firmware for your card for that complaint. You surely are not the only one that experiences it.

Not sure what to tell you on the noise...I have an old lady that hates white noise and a super loud leaf blow GTX570 in the PC she uses for browsing and the kids use for gaming...it is uber noisy during POST, and then once the OS starts loading it backs off as the drivers get loaded.

You can look at aftermarket cooling solutions out there, modify the stock cooler or return the card and replace it with a quieter unit from a different model or brand, or maaayyybe Asus will have a revised firmware (probably not...but doesn't hurt to ask!). Really those are your options.

 

[DayKnight]

^

Please stop going ON and ON about your leaf blower 570. This is STRIX, not some vanilla crap which requires 'aftermarket cooling solution'.

Why pay uber money for STRIX edition if you, in the end, will go after market?.

@ OP

Join Asus's forum and ask them about this. If there is an upcoming firmware, no one here will know about it. They will. If it is an issue, they will solve it, no one here. Two users here have already said that it is 'normal' for the GPU to do that at BOOT.

As for your other problem, hopefully it is solved.

 

[endymyon58]

haha chill out dude the 570 was a beast back in the days even with the stock cooler, but yeah the STRIX ed. of 970 is waaaaay up level and im definetly not going for an alternative solution

about the loudness of the fans at full speed, IMO it shouldnt be THAT loud, check the video I posted above, it was recorded about 15cm from the case which was closed.. Its a hell of a sound, Ill ask ASUS

EDIT: Ive checked some videos on youtube about fan control of the strix 970 and yeah... at 100% brutal noise.. so I guess its "normal". Still, its not really a problem, since the fan never goes above 60%, but when its booting up, it does.. I need to dig up a solution how to disable that boot spinning.

 

[Kursah]

^

Please stop going ON and ON about your leaf blower 570.

This is STRIX, not some vanilla crap which requires 'aftermarket cooling solution'. Why pay uber money for STRIX edition if you, in the end, will go after market?.

STRIX to me means more about overclocking and effective cooling that is able to be quiet when not under heavy loads or powering on and testing. Maybe we have a different understanding about that and what Asus feels that means as well. And hopefully Asus will be willing to provide a firmware upgrade that will resolve that.

Honestly I'd return the card if POST fan speed is such an issue and get something else...most likely an OEM card that the cooler would be replaced on using a quiet 120mm fan or two for cooling duties compared to the tiny fans on the STRIX, my GB Windforce, and the 570 leaf blower.

Really to resolve the user's issue of a loud fan at POST (it appears the random fan issues have gone away with driver updates judging from his previous post), different cooling with larger fans would be a viable solution or water cooling. Where the chosen larger fans that can be controlled differently and are quieter by design can be implemented.

 

[AsRock]

Get on to ASUS and see what they say, hopefully they know about it and have a beta bios for it or some thing. Maybe you can get a RMA ( payed ) and get your issue solved.

Be-aware ASUS have been known to send the same item back and claim it was a replacement as it happened to me twice hence why i don't buy from them any more.

STRIX to me means more about overclocking and effective cooling that is able to be quiet when not under heavy loads or powering on and testing. Maybe we have a different understanding about that and what Asus feels that means as well. And hopefully Asus will be willing to provide a firmware upgrade that will resolve that.

Honestly I'd return the card if POST fan speed is such an issue and get something else...most likely an OEM card that the cooler would be replaced on using a quiet 120mm fan or two for cooling duties compared to the tiny fans on the STRIX, my GB Windforce, and the 570 leaf blower.

Really to resolve the user's issue of a loud fan at POST (it appears the random fan issues have gone away with driver updates judging from his previous post), different cooling with larger fans would be a viable solution or water cooling. Where the chosen larger fans that can be controlled differently and are quieter by design can be implemented.

But for the fan to randomly max out when temps are only 32c is unacceptable.

 

[Pastechi]

Check http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2531921/posible-fix-fan-noise-gtx-970-asus-strix.html

 

[BUCK NASTY]

Check http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2531921/posible-fix-fan-noise-gtx-970-asus-strix.html

The minimal airflow resistance from the cable would not induce this behavior in the card. Has to be a driver issue.

 

[Slion]

Same problem on an Asus GTX 750 Ti STRIX OC.

Started happening since my recent move to Windows 10 though apparently not directly related.

No amount of driver re-install, bios reflash or hardware re-plug seems to fix the problem for good. It always comes back.

Card is reporting fan RPM, fan % and temp correctly and sometimes fan management starts working again. However these days it mostly fails and always keeps the fan spinning at full power even though fan % and temp are consistent. RPM does report the correct values though so it is clearly a driver/bios issue.

I was considering upgrading to the 4GB variant of that same card but now I'm about to switch to the MSI hardware.

I did try MSI Afterburner and it is of much better quality than Asus GpuTweak II so I'm hoping MSI hardware and other software are of matching quality.

Disappointed by Asus, will seriously consider other vendors for my next build.
I still have to try and contact Asus.

LATER:
I did contact ASUS and they recommend to "claim the graphics card at your vendor".
Doing some investigation at the hardware level I tracked down the issue to the fan cable connection with the card. Adjusting the cable position fixes the problem temporarily until it kicks in again. It seems this is a hardware problem rather than a driver/bios issue. It looks like a bad connection between card and fans is responsible. I can't tell yet if the cable itself is to blame or somehow the socket housing on the board.

I went ahead and got myself the 4GB version of that same ASUS card which is now setup and running fine and silent in my HTPC replacing the defect graphics card.
I also got that MSI GeForce GTX 750 Ti, TWIN FROZR 2GD5/OC Gaming to replace an aging ASUS GTX 460 from another PC. That one is also running cool and silent. One thing I noticed though about the MSI card is that it features one of those heat-sink which blades are so thin that they vibrate relatively loudly when the fans attached to them are spinning too fast. Thankfully fans on that board should not need to spin fast enough to trigger that problem.