Understanding GPU boost. Why it doesn't boost as expected.

[sblantipodi]

Hi all,
my last GTX980 reference was limited by temperature, using an aggressive fan profile helped maintaining the maximum GPU boost all the time.

I thought the same would happen on my gtx980 ti sc acx2, but not.
If I use an aggressive fan profile my card doesn't surpass the 73c but my frequency throttle as well as the temperature reached 83c.

Why?
Can you explain me it please?

Thanks.

 

[Araxie]

This has been already explained to you in the past, so I will make it this time short. The card isn't only limited by temperature but also by the power. So not matter if the card it's at 40C under water, still the main limiting factor will be the TDP....

In the other hand most reference 980TI as the TITAN X, start to drop clocks and stabilize at 67C in 13mhz increments. So if possible to see maybe 13 - 26mhz drop before reach the temperature target and power target. If you want more steady clocks you have always to increase the power target slider at max

 

[limitedaccess]

If you use a program such as GPU-Z it will be able to read what flag is being triggered capping boost speeds.

Boost speed frequency is capped based upon hitting on these limits -
- utilization (gpu utilization level)
- temperature (temperature cap)
- power (power usage cap)
- voltage (there is table in bios that has various clockspeeds with corresponding voltages)
- over voltage (max voltage limit)

 

[sblantipodi]

I will check gpuz to see what is the limiting factor.
Thanks.

 

[LGabrielPhoto]

I hate that my Asus has only 110% as my card is running 60C at most with fans running slow yet I cant get too high because of that limitation :/

 

[naticus]

I hate that my Asus has only 110% as my card is running 60C at most with fans running slow yet I cant get too high because of that limitation :/

Take 2 mins out of your day and mod the bios and increase your power limit. Or just download a modded bios from OCN.

 

[Araxie]

Take 2 mins out of your day and mod the bios and increase your power limit. Or just download a modded bios from OCN.

^This.

BIOS Flash it's a must generally speaking to extract the max juice possible from those cards.

 

[LGabrielPhoto]

Take 2 mins out of your day and mod the bios and increase your power limit. Or just download a modded bios from OCN.

I have done it before with previous GTX 660tis but at 1440p with a $600 card I dont feel as comfortable. Maybe when I really need the power..right now is just one of those things were I just like to push it even if I dont need it.

 

[Armenius]

I have done it before with previous GTX 660tis but at 1440p with a $600 card I dont feel as comfortable. Maybe when I really need the power..right now is just one of those things were I just like to push it even if I dont need it.

The reference GM200 cards can easily go up to 425W on air without a problem. They have a lot of headroom to work with.

 

[LGabrielPhoto]

Oh yeah not worried about that part more about modding it. Doing it on a 660ti was fine but on a $600 card I guess that is where I draw the line specially without really having a need for it right now.

 

[Araxie]

Oh yeah not worried about that part more about modding it. Doing it on a 660ti was fine but on a $600 card I guess that is where I draw the line specially without really having a need for it right now.

don't you card have Dual BIOS? so you can flash and toy with it safely without troubles?

 

[LGabrielPhoto]

Sadly it does not.

 

[Araxie]

Sadly it does not.

well if you decide some day to do some experimentation feel free to PM me and I can help you to build your own custom BIOS, but as you said you already did with old cards I think it shouldn't be a problem, however maxwell behave a bit different than kepler, so for any question im here.

 

[LGabrielPhoto]

well if you decide some day to do some experimentation feel free to PM me and I can help you to build your own custom BIOS, but as you said you already did with old cards I think it shouldn't be a problem, however maxwell behave a bit different than kepler, so for any question im here.

That's really cool of you, thanks!
I know myself and eventually I will give up and mod it I'm sure 😂

 

[Armenius]

Oh yeah not worried about that part more about modding it. Doing it on a 660ti was fine but on a $600 card I guess that is where I draw the line specially without really having a need for it right now.

I did it on my $1050 Titan X. Took it right up to that 425W in the BIOS. It was the only way I could fix the issues I was having with earlier drivers. I went back to the stock EVGA Superclocked BIOS after the 358 drivers fixed my issues and due to the extra heat, but I ran it that way at full tilt for 4-5 months. It still runs as good as new, like it's just been burned in.

 

[Millerboy3]

I would certainly flash a bios from OCN, my 970's and my 980 are all flashed for water bios. Many of the bios modders have air bios to work with as well!

 

[5150Joker]

VBIOS modding is very easy and safe. Just grab the files from places like overclock.net and follow the many guides available in their sticky threads. I use a custom vbios on my Titan X's developed by a friend at Tech|Inferno and got rid of boost + increased my power limits the very day I got my cards.

 

[LGabrielPhoto]

Considering that I am at 1475 max boost (at least that I have noticed) and 8000 Ram right now...am I really going to get a lot from modding it you guys think?

 

[Araxie]

Considering that I am at 1475 max boost (at least that I have noticed) and 8000 Ram right now...am I really going to get a lot from modding it you guys think?

A lot not so much.. but hey any number above 1500mhz really feel good xD. and anything above 1550mhz feel even better in the mind, the reward isn't the max you can do, it's the work involved to achieve it.. =D

 

[5150Joker]

Considering that I am at 1475 max boost (at least that I have noticed) and 8000 Ram right now...am I really going to get a lot from modding it you guys think?

Does your 1475 mhz boost hold in every title? If it does, then no you won't get anything with a vbios mod. However, if it tends to drop below your max boost often, then you will see some gains. I keep my Titan X's locked at 1408 MHz for every single game with 1.193v.

 

[LGabrielPhoto]

I see it stuck at 1475 pretty much in every game but I will pay more attention now. That is why I love my old G15 keyboard as I can keep that on the LCD to monitor it.