Nvidia GTX 980ti fan changes speed constantly

[Deleted member 197361]

Hi everyone,



I hope I can find a solution for my problem - normally I‘m just a silent reader in a forum



my problem:

The fans of my new but used GTX 980ti Poseidon (Asus) keep changing their speed from 100 rpm to 1500 rpm and above and down to 100 rpm again -> I think that can‘t be good for the fans, it‘s quiet annoying and the cooling is not that good, too.



What I can say:

- It happens only when the driver is initialized. Without VGA driver the fans are quiet and slow.

- I have tested the graphics card ok another computer and the same problem appears. The other computer were newer than mine and had a fresh windows 10 installation.

- if I change the fan curve with msi afterburner or Asus GPU Tweak 2, the speed range changes but it‘s still going up and down.

- it doesn‘t matter if the graphics card is idle or working (when I play a game for example)

- if I check the sensors with GPU-Z, the fan speed percentage and the temperature (39 degree) is constant and fits to the fan curve. But you can see the fan speed in rpm going up and down.



What I have already tried:

• installing the card on another computer -> same problem
• Tried 5 different Nvidia driver versions (from quiet old to the newest one)
• Updating other drivers (BIOS from Asus, Chipset from AMD)
• Tried to flash the BIOS of the graphics card with nvflash -> this didn‘t work, because nvflash says it‘s done and the fans are quiet, too. But when I look into the device manager, windows disabled the graphics card -> if I activate it, windows is installing the drivers and the same problem appears again. Additionally, GPU-Z says there is still the old BIOS version installed.

My system:

• 8 GB DDR3 RAM
• ASUS Nvidia GTX 980ti Poseidon graphics card
• AMD FX6300 processor

I hope the information is enough and anyone has an idea, what I can do.

Even if something is broken, does it help to renew the fans/cooling system?



Thank you very much!



Daniel

 

[Regeneration]

English is the language in this forum.

From what I understand, your graphics card fans keep changing speed from slow to fast.

Try to setup a custom curve in MSI Afterburner.

Make sure the card is using the latest original BIOS. See this thread for how to find it.

If it still happens, consider upgrading to Arctic Accelero Xtreme III, it works great with a modded BIOS with enhanced voltage and power limits.

 

[Deleted member 197361]

English is the language in this forum.

From what I understand, your graphics card fans keep changing speed from slow to fast.

Try to setup a custom curve in MSI Afterburner.

Make sure the card is using the latest original BIOS. See this thread for how to find it.

If it still happens, consider upgrading to Arctic Accelero Xtreme III, it works great with a modded BIOS with enhanced voltage and power limits.

Sorry for that mistake, I‘ve translated it to english.

As you can read now ;-), I‘ve already edited the fan curve and it didn‘t help -> it‘s only changing the speed range but not the behaviour.

i have seen there is a newer BIOS version, but as described, I‘m not able to flash it. Maybe you can help me with this. (Btw: I also tried to flash it the same way on the second computer -> same result)

To change the cooling system I want to ask if you think if that really helps? Maybe the problem is not the fans itself...?

thanks for your answer!

 

[sneekypeet]

I also assumed the GPU temperature was hovering at a shifting point of the default fan curve.

 

[Regeneration]

Clean the fans with something that blows like hair dryer with the cold settings or compressed air.

Clean the GPU area with alcohol and cotton swabs then reapply thermal paste.

 

[Deleted member 197361]

I also assumed the GPU temperature was hovering at a shifting point of the default fan curve.

That was also my first thought. But it‘s not the problem, because the fan keeps changing its speed even if the temperature is the same.

Clean the fans with something that blows like hair dryer with the cold settings or compressed air.

Clean the GPU area with alcohol and cotton swabs then reapply thermal paste.

Do you think it‘s worth it to uninstall the original cooler and fan? The temperature is at 39 degree on idle...I think that should be fine. Also the fans itselfs are clean and they spin easily.

 

[Regeneration]

If temps are normal, its probably not the source of the problem, but thermal paste on the GPU drys up after a year or two and needs to be reapplied.

If BIOS update doesn't fix it, its probably the fan cable or controller.

 

[Vayra86]

If temps are normal, its probably not the source of the problem, but thermal paste on the GPU drys up after a year or two and needs to be reapplied.

If BIOS update doesn't fix it, its probably the fan cable or controller.

Dry paste is just fine, as long as the bond is not broken. A repaste will never. NEVER. make or break your GPU temps. Well maybe if you pulled one out of dustbin from 2010 or so. This fairy tale really should die...

Have we considered the fan is just dying? Fan might spin easily, visibly, but maybe the motor or bearings are struggling. Another one can indeed be BIOS, but if this appeared overnight that seems unlikely...

 

[Deleted member 197361]

If temps are normal, its probably not the source of the problem, but thermal paste on the GPU drys up after a year or two and needs to be reapplied.

If BIOS update doesn't fix it, its probably the fan cable or controller.

Do you mean the BIOS of the graphics card?
As I said I‘ve tried to update it but it didn‘t work. Do you have an idea what I did wrong?

I have downloaded the new .rom from techpowerup, also downloaded the nvflash.exe and used cmd as administrator to remove the write protection and finally flashed the BIOS. After that the fans are silent but the graphics card is disabled in device manager. If I enable it, the driver will be installed and the fans start to change its speed again :/

Also, have you an idea how to check the fan cable or controller?

Dry paste is just fine, as long as the bond is not broken. A repaste will never. NEVER. make or break your GPU temps. Well maybe if you pulled one out of dustbin from 2010 or so. This fairy tale really should die...

Have we considered the fan is just dying? Fan might spin easily, visibly, but maybe the motor or bearings are struggling. Another one can indeed be BIOS, but if this appeared overnight that seems unlikely...

Since the fans are working fine without a graphics driver installed, I assume, that the motor etc. is not broken or dying. It also doesn‘t make any strange sound.

I want to add, that I have this problem since I bought the card. I‘ve talked to the seller before I bought it and he told me, that he was using the graphics card with his water cooling system. Unfortunately he didn‘t answer my question if he knows the problem with the fans - because I think even if you connect a water cooling system, the fans will start spinning when the graphics card is hot enough. (Reminder: this is a Asus Poseidon card with both: water cooling connectors and fans)

 

[Vayra86]

Do you mean the BIOS of the graphics card?
As I said I‘ve tried to update it but it didn‘t work. Do you have an idea what I did wrong?

I have downloaded the new .rom from techpowerup, also downloaded the nvflash.exe and used cmd as administrator to remove the write protection and finally flashed the BIOS. After that the fans are silent but the graphics card is disabled in device manager. If I enable it, the driver will be installed and the fans start to change its speed again :/

Also, have you an idea how to check the fan cable or controller?


Since the fans are working fine without a graphics driver installed, I assume, that the motor etc. is not broken or dying. It also doesn‘t make any strange sound.

I want to add, that I have this problem since I bought the card. I‘ve talked to the seller before I bought it and he told me, that he was using the graphics card with his water cooling system. Unfortunately he didn‘t answer my question if he knows the problem with the fans - because I think even if you connect a water cooling system, the fans will start spinning when the graphics card is hot enough. (Reminder: this is a Asus Poseidon card with both: water cooling connectors and fans)

Contact Asus perhaps or find specifics wrt idle fan stop issues. Maybe they will repair under warranty if you compensate a little bit. That is what extended warranty usually entails.

If you cant get a proper custom fan curve set up, something is amiss.

 

[Regeneration]

Here is the latest BIOS for your card. Use flash instructions from this thread.

That's how the fan cable looks like:

Its suppose to be plugged to the video card. Make sure its inserted correctly and there is no damage to any of the small cables.

If all good, its the fan controller on the card that is broken. The solution is to buy a cable like this:



Or even better, to buy Arctic Accelero Xtreme VGA cooler.

 

[Deleted member 197361]

Here is the latest BIOS for your card. Use flash instructions from this thread.

I can see the cable and it looks fine.
I‘ve also already tried to flash the bios like you wrote in your thread - but as I said the update is not working and I don‘t know why. You can see the result of „nvflash64.exe —index=0 -6 -- debug bios.rom“ attached. I can do that again and again but the version number of „current“ doesn‘t change. I have also tried to remove the VGA driver first and disable the graphics card in the device manager.

Do you have an idea why it doesn‘t work?

 

[Upgrayedd]

To keep Windows from auto updating the driver unplug your ethernet.

Use DDU and NVCleanInstall.
Have the driver downloaded and ready then unplug ethernet, use DDU, restart, then use NVCleanInstall. After driver installs plug ethernet back in.

This is how I install drivers now since Win10 still wants to download some basic driver right after using DDU after I've told it not to with ethernet plugged in.

 

[Caring1]

I can see the cable and it looks fine.
I‘ve also already tried to flash the bios like you wrote in your thread - but as I said the update is not working and I don‘t know why. You can see the result of „nvflash64.exe —index=0 -6 -- debug bios.rom“ attached. I can do that again and again but the version number of „current“ doesn‘t change. I have also tried to remove the VGA driver first and disable the graphics card in the device manager.

Do you have an idea why it doesn‘t work?

Because it is already installed!

 

[Regeneration]

I can see the cable and it looks fine.
I‘ve also already tried to flash the bios like you wrote in your thread - but as I said the update is not working and I don‘t know why. You can see the result of „nvflash64.exe —index=0 -6 -- debug bios.rom“ attached. I can do that again and again but the version number of „current“ doesn‘t change. I have also tried to remove the VGA driver first and disable the graphics card in the device manager.

Do you have an idea why it doesn‘t work?

You're running PowerShell instead of CMD.exe and wrong command-line switch.

"nvflash64 filename.rom" should be enough.

You might want to use older version of Nvflash. Work better on Maxwell.

 

[Deleted member 197361]

Because it is already installed!

Sorry, but no I can view the versions with GPU-Z and the installed version doesn‘t match with the newest one.
And if you have a look at the screenshot, nvflash tells you the installed version and the version of the .rom file

To keep Windows from auto updating the driver unplug your ethernet.

Use DDU and NVCleanInstall.
Have the driver downloaded and ready then unplug ethernet, use DDU, restart, then use NVCleanInstall. After driver installs plug ethernet back in.

This is how I install drivers now since Win10 still wants to download some basic driver right after using DDU after I've told it not to with ethernet plugged in.

I think Windows won‘t update the driver when I have disabled the graphics card in the device manager.

sorry, but what is DDU?

You're running PowerShell instead of CMD.exe and wrong command-line switch.

"nvflash64 filename.rom" should be enough.

You might want to use older version of Nvflash. Work better on Maxwell.

Thanks for the reply but I have also tried the „old“ command line, and also several parameters. (Including the one you mentioned).

and I have the same behaviour even on another computer! So I will try to use the older nvflash version today evening and get back to you

 

[Regeneration]

sorry, but what is DDU?

DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) is a free 3rd party utility that cleans the system from any driver leftovers (files, registry, etc).

 

[Deleted member 197361]

So here we are again.
I have done the steps above and we have good and bad news.
The good one: I was finally able to update the graphics card BIOS to the newest version. At this point: thanks everyone for their hints!!

The bad news: the problem is still there

Any ideas what I should do next? My idea is to open the card and have a deeper look into the fans and its cabling. If that doesn‘t help, I will decide if I buy the cable mentioned above or a whole new cooler.

 

[Regeneration]

Either the fans' cable damaged or the fan controller.

Cable won't be good if the fans are too loud. Also, you'll have to control from the motherboard.

3rd party VGA cooler is a better solution.

 

[Basard]

I had the same problem with a 780 Poseidon. Flashed and reflashed BIOS to a bunch of different versions, did the DDU and got new drivers... My conclusion was the fans were just bad--and yes they did feel fine when I flicked them with my finger. So I wired the fans directly to my fan controller, only to find out that the fans were actually dead--a couple weeks later one stopped spinning completely. I just got some 92mm Arctic fans and controlled them manually with a fan controller. Sorry. Good luck.

 

[looniam]

adjust the fan speeds yourself:

 

[Deleted member 197361]

I had the same problem with a 780 Poseidon. Flashed and reflashed BIOS to a bunch of different versions, did the DDU and got new drivers... My conclusion was the fans were just bad--and yes they did feel fine when I flicked them with my finger. So I wired the fans directly to my fan controller, only to find out that the fans were actually dead--a couple weeks later one stopped spinning completely. I just got some 92mm Arctic fans and controlled them manually with a fan controller. Sorry. Good luck.

At least I‘m not the only one with that kind of problem.

if i understood you correctly, noting of the above mentioned tricks helped. So even if i have to buy a new cooler or fan, how can I control it? Because I think I can‘t get the GPU Temp from anywhere to set up a new fan curve, right? Is that different with a seperate fan controller?

adjust the fan speeds yourself:
View attachment 154809

Yes, I have seen these settings. But do you know, what value should be changed (to what) in my case?

 

[Regeneration]

If MSI Afterburner doesn't work, modding the BIOS won't help neither.

 

[looniam]

Yes, I have seen these settings. But do you know, what value should be changed (to what) in my case?

If MSI Afterburner doesn't work, modding the BIOS won't help neither.

oops, shame on me. sorry i missed that. however it might be worth a shot. all i did was change the min from 0 to ~1.2Krpms and the temps - it is an aggressive fan profile.

btw, no need to disable anything in the device manager; just drag the ROM file over nvflash.exe and watch the magic happen.

 

[Basard]

At least I‘m not the only one with that kind of problem.

if i understood you correctly, noting of the above mentioned tricks helped. So even if i have to buy a new cooler or fan, how can I control it? Because I think I can‘t get the GPU Temp from anywhere to set up a new fan curve, right? Is that different with a seperate fan controller?

I used a 5.25" bay fan controller that I had at the time. But I did have motherboard-based control at a later date.

I couldn't link directly to the GPU temp when I had them hooked up to the motherboard. So I told them to follow the "PCIEX16" temerature--which only varied between 45 and 56C.... SOO... I would tell it to start ramping up speed when PCIEX16 temp increased.

Depending on your motherboard, you may be able to link one of your fan headers to the GPU temp, I believe 3 of the fan headers on my current board will follow GPU temp if I tell them to.

What are you specs?