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GPU usage and core clock fluctuating

Sir B. Fannybottom

Sir B. Fannybottom

Joined
Jun 4, 2011
Messages
3,051 (0.60/day)
System Specs
System Name The SwagMachine / The Sister
Processor Core i5 3570K @5.2ghz 1.3V/ 1100T
Motherboard ASUS P8Z77-V / ASUS M5A99X EVO
Cooling Phanteks PH TC14PE / Corsair H40
Memory M379B5273DH0-YK0 2X4GB + PVI316G213C1QK 2X4GB / 2x4GB Patriot 2133
Video Card(s) PNY 780Ti /Windforce 7950
Storage 2xSamsung 840 EVO 250gb+WD10EZEX + WD30EZRX/ 1x WD1500 Black
Display(s) AOC Q2963PM+Acer S200HL / Acer S200L+ LG 22LD350
Case Fractal Define R4 / NZXT Trinity
Audio Device(s) Asus Xonar DG / Asus Xonar DG
Power Supply Seasonic 750X / ROSEWILL RG630-S12 630W R
Mouse Razer Deathadder Chroma / Roccat Kone+
Keyboard Razer Blackwidow 2013 Stealth / Roccat Isku
Software Windows 8.1 Pro / Windows 7 Ultimate
Benchmark Scores one time I scored a 3 on 3dmark 11
I recently got my second 7950 in and the performance I've been getting is sometimes worse than it was with one card! My second videocard's usage will fluctuate from ~10% up to 100% and the core clock will go from ~500mhz to 1GHZ. In some tests this will also cause my primary videocard to perform poorly as well.
5Z0QLRP.png

F64Bmvf.png

left is my primary, right is secondary

These are on 14.9 WHQL drivers on Windows 8.1 x64
 
Just noticed that the VVDC current is jumping around from ~60 amps up to 125 amps with single card too, could it possibly be my PSU?
 
Did you try both cards with at least 1.1v?
 
Just put both cards at 1.25v and its still doing it
 
If you have ULPS disabled, your card shouldn't be at 0.

F64Bmvf.png


Also, every time the load on the 2nd card drops, there seems to be a slight drop on the VDDC. You may want to try a different PSU.
 
Considering it's a Seasonic, I'm reluctant to say that it's the PSU. However if it is voltages but not the PSU, PCI-E power extension cords can sometimes let voltage drop outside of ATX spec. Just a thought.
erocker said:
Also, every time the load on the 2nd card drops, there seems to be a slight drop on the VDDC. You may want to try a different PSU.
Click to expand...
The empty parts of the graph might represent the graphic driver resetting or the game losing and gaining focus again. CFX gets disabled the moment you minimize or leave full screen mode and it supposed to kick back in once you bring it back up and those kinds of blips is the kind of thing I see when I do that.

All in all, if the game is stuttering than maybe you have an old or bad CFX profile for the game. What GPU driver version are you running right now?

The top picture on the left with the 500Mhz core on the first card sounds weird. It wouldn't be unrealistic that the 2nd card has little to do if the first was running at 500Mhz. All in all, re-installing GPU drivers might be in order.

Side note: That 5.2Ghz overclock might not be as stable as you think. I would rule that out too if all else fails.
 
Have you adjusted the power limit on your cards at all? No idea if it has any effect on CFX setups, but I always change my power limit to maximum whenever possible to avoid any throttling due to perceived power constraints.
 
I'm currently on 14.9 beta drivers, but I've also tried 14.9 WHQL with the same problem. I've been downclocked to 4.5GHZ for the summer and it feels rock solid, but I will try with it at stock speeds.


Aquinus said:
Considering it's a Seasonic, I'm reluctant to say that it's the PSU. However if it is voltages but not the PSU, PCI-E power extension cords can sometimes let voltage drop outside of ATX spec. Just a thought.

The empty parts of the graph might represent the graphic driver resetting or the game losing and gaining focus again. CFX gets disabled the moment you minimize or leave full screen mode and it supposed to kick back in once you bring it back up and those kinds of blips is the kind of thing I see when I do that.

All in all, if the game is stuttering than maybe you have an old or bad CFX profile for the game. What GPU driver version are you running right now?

The top picture on the left with the 500Mhz core on the first card sounds weird. It wouldn't be unrealistic that the 2nd card has little to do if the first was running at 500Mhz. All in all, re-installing GPU drivers might be in order.

Side note: That 5.2Ghz overclock might not be as stable as you think. I would rule that out too if all else fails.
Click to expand...


Sapphire trixx was saying my first card was at 0.993v stock, and the second was 1.25v. I attempted to set both at 1.25v and was met with issues, however when setting both cards at 1.15v the issue seems to have gone away!
Jstn7477 said:
Have you adjusted the power limit on your cards at all? No idea if it has any effect on CFX setups, but I always change my power limit to maximum whenever possible to avoid any throttling due to perceived power constraints.
Click to expand...
 
Does your mobo have the latest bios and drivers?
 
Is it just with GPU-Z or is it with other programs like this? GPU-Z always glitches for me and maxes my CPU usage when it randomly spikes.
 
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