Strange different results in 3dmark 11 on gtx 680

[litwicki24]

Hi guys. I have a strange problem in 3dmark 11 and my card Evga Gtx 680. If of course this is a problem. Listen very careful.

I have a pc:
3770k 3.5
8 gb ram
Be Quiet Dark Power Pro 1000W

Windows 7 Ultimate x64
301 WHQL drivers



On my Evga Gtx 680 i have always between 9244 to 9388 points ( sometimes 0,5 fps to 1,5 fps different on the same tests ).
I close all background programs. I dont know why my card making from 9244 points to 9388 points in for example 10 loops.
Something wrong with my Evga Gtx 680 ? HELP ME , thx. I want to decide to RMA or not.
This is my second after RMA Evga Gtx 680: ( For me its too much 100 + points difference in loops.

Why my GRAPHIC SCORE IS VERY DIFFERENT? Look down on my screens.

On first loop i have always near 9380 points, then on next tests i have always from 9240 to 9300 points. Why such low? Thx i am waiting for reply. Why first loop have always better score on my card? Thx i am waiting for reply.
High temperatures?

Especially after long playing in Battlefield 3 i have low score in 3dmark 11...like 9200. But after reboot computer i have again near 9380 points.
Boost clocks are going down , because of overheating?

I upload my loops on my Evga gtx 680 and look at this differences in points.


First loop after turning on computer:



Second loop after long playing Battlefield 3 :



then third loop:



and four:

[Mussels]

because the cards have an automatic overclocking feature, based on temperature. its hotter in the later runs, so its slower.


i'm surprised you bought such a high end card without researching it.

[litwicki24]

So my card is overheating? If after long time of running, i have lower scores in 3dmark 11 than normal.

I am only worried about 3dmark11. All games runs perfectly smooth, without crashes, artifacts.

Unigine 2.5 is running fine. Crysis 1, Crysis 2, BF 3, Alan Wake, SKyrim, Batman Arkham. All games just runs like butter. Only i am worried about that differences in scores in 3dmark 11.

[Mussels]

Originally Posted by litwicki24

yes but this is not normal, that lowering scores? IF card is good, no matter how long they is running , card cant lower scores.

try reading my post again. i explained it quite clearly. as the card gets hotter, it gets slower, to a certain extent. please read some of techpowerups reviews of GTX 680 cards, they explain the performance profiles in more detail.

[puma99dk|]

litwicki24 as Mussels is saying all GTX 680 got dynamic overclocking features so it automatically overclocks ur card depending on the temperature of it, this feature is for squishing a little more out of ur games and benchmarks but if ur card already runs hot temperatures it won't overclock it self.

so check ur case airflow if it bugs u and the temp of ur GTX 680.

[litwicki24]

Ok but i am worried that my card maybe is downclocking? Because of this different scores from 9388 to 9200.

[puma99dk|]

nope, it's the dynamic overclocking that makes ur score go up and down.

so nuth to worry about actually but again if ur check ur airflow and the temps of ur gtx 680 that will explain if it overclocks or not.

i get this with my system in system specs running Windows 7 Ultimate x86 SP1:

[litwicki24]

But your graphic score is 9781. I have from 9300 to 9500 . Why?

[puma99dk|]

Originally Posted by litwicki24

But your graphic score is 9781. I have from 9300 to 9500 . Why?

my i5-2500k runs 4,5ghz, my A-Data memory runs 2133mhz and a SSD i guess that also goes into the mix throwing out the score even my card can max run PCI-E x16 2.0 ^^;

but fill out ur System Specs it will help others too when u make more threads...

Edit System Specs

[litwicki24]

Its very strange. After when i boot up computer and then run 3dmark 11 i have always high score.
Like 9388 points. Next loops are more lower. Then i have 9250, 9300, 9310, and 9200.

I have observed that after playing some heavy games like BF3 i have much more low scores .

And question..RMA Card because of bad boosting clocks, or high temperature?

[puma99dk|]

high temperatures usually comes from a not good airflow, i even noticed that if i take out my 120mm fan in the side of my Cooler-Master CM690II Advanced case the blows fresh air into my GTX 680 temps goes up and the fan on my KFA2 GTX680 needs to work more to get the same air to hold the temps down.

so clean ur pc for dust, check ur airflow, and make sure it's a decent airflow and u ain't putting it in a small place where there ain't no air to take in.

i do like this 1 intake @ front, 1 intake @ top, 1 intake @ side (for gfx) and than i only got 1 exhaust fan in the back and it actually works really good for me even i need one more fan @ top but the stock one is starting to be noise even connected to a fan controller so not using it atm.

even if EVGA expect ur RMA i don't think they will find anything wrong with the card bcs it does was it should do, and since it's not overclocking somethings i don't think is a bad bios on the card but just that it can't cool itself properly in ur case.

[litwicki24]

I was tested on my pc , my friends card MSI GTX 680. And we test 3dmark 11 too. This card no matter how many loops we make , always got score from 9320 - 9340 points!! Of course on my pc.


But my EVGA 680 is making from 9200 to 9388 points. I think this is not a good sing.

[puma99dk|]

is ur friend's MSI GTX 680 got stock cooling or their Twin Frozr IV? if it's the last u can't compare a custom pcb and cooler vs. ref ^^

[litwicki24]

stock msi 680 reference

[Mussels]

let me explain this to you as clear as i can.


your card automatically overclocks, when it is running cool enough to do so. This means it is COMPLETELY NORMAL for your card to change its speed.

There is nothing wrong. there is no problem. you cannot fix this, nor return it for warranty. Should you make the card run cooler, these variations will smooth out and happen less often - but thats it. thats all you can do.

[puma99dk|]

Originally Posted by Mussels

let me explain this to you as clear as i can.


your card automatically overclocks, when it is running cool enough to do so. This means it is COMPLETELY NORMAL for your card to change its speed.

There is nothing wrong. there is no problem. you cannot fix this, nor return it for warranty. Should you make the card run cooler, these variations will smooth out and happen less often - but thats it. thats all you can do.

+1 for that Mussels u can even get it to run cooler by a good airflow

[litwicki24]

Ok but i have almost 200 points differences on loops. WHile Msi gtx 680 on my pc is making only 20+ points differences.

Hey Puma bro, can you make for me 5 loops with performance mode? And we see yours scores and differences ,ok? I will be greatful


One loop is 3:40 minutes lenght

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

Originally Posted by litwicki24

Ok but i am worried that my card maybe is downclocking? Because of this different scores from 9388 to 9200.

Its not downclocking. Its just not overclocking as high as the first run.

[mypg0306]

Originally Posted by Mussels

let me explain this to you as clear as i can.


your card automatically overclocks, when it is running cool enough to do so. This means it is COMPLETELY NORMAL for your card to change its speed.

There is nothing wrong. there is no problem. you cannot fix this, nor return it for warranty. Should you make the card run cooler, these variations will smooth out and happen less often - but thats it. thats all you can do.

+1 litwicki24, you worry too much already...

[v12dock]

heat soaked its just like a car

[680sli]

I used this case for my 680 SLI build (Asus CU Top) and the temps are awesome. The GPU is a roll of the dice, some overclock better than others (mine go to 1278 & 1330) and my temps in game play Battlefield BC2 are 72c and 58c (1920x1080 full detail).

Rosewill THOR V2 Gaming ATX Full Tower Computer Ca...

Oh and on the case, you can also switch out the 230mm side fan and replace with 4x120mm fans.

Hope this helps.

[Bjorn_Of_Iceland]

offtopic: That rosewill thor look so cheap with the plastic front and all, reminiscent of circa 2000 fancy 'gaming' case. I'd rather get a sleeker more modern professional looking case with good airflow like a Fractal Define R3, Antec P280 or a Corsair 550D

[Huddo93]

Originally Posted by litwicki24

Its very strange. After when i boot up computer and then run 3dmark 11 i have always high score.
Like 9388 points. Next loops are more lower. Then i have 9250, 9300, 9310, and 9200.

I have observed that after playing some heavy games like BF3 i have much more low scores .

And question..RMA Card because of bad boosting clocks, or high temperature?

RMA'ing the card wont solve the problem (in saying that, it isn't a problem). The reason you are getting the difference is due to the Dynamic Overclocking feature of the GTX680 and the GTX670 as many people above you have said.

Depending on the temperature of the card it will decide to boost the clocks slightly. For example on the first run, your card is cold (no stress yet). So it bumps up the clock slightly for that run. Giving you a higher score.

Since you have now done a run, your card is pretty hot. So for the next run your card does not overclock itself, hence giving a lower score.

This is the reason for the difference in score, not because you have a broken or damaged card.

Stop stressing mate and enjoy the GTX680's raw power in games and quit worrying about benchmarks!

[MxPhenom 216]

If tyou want to get more constant scores up your Power Target % and make a custom fan profile to keep the temperatures low. my card runs at a constant 1188mhz.

[yogurt_21]

not sure why this hasn't been said, but even without the dynamic overclocking feature the variations between most of those scores is less than 1% (2% for the 9388 to 9200 drop) well within 3dmark's normal range for variation between runs.

IE there is nothing wrong with your card, benchmarks are not an exact measurement and seriously stop wasting your time on this.