980m VRAM throttle

[Sh3rlock]

Guys,

Wondering if I have a defective unit here.

Cards a 980m 8GB version. CPU is 4710HQ.

Been playing dying light a fair bit and am noticing at random moments the FPS will drop through the floor. Installed MSI afterburner to monitor this and noticed my VRM clock drops 1000MHZ causing the FPS to drop also.

What could be causing this? Tried a fresh windows install but that didn't help.

Happens on BF4 once and a while also.

 

[ALXAndy]

http://tech4gamers.com/nvidia-geforce-gtx-980m-also-memory-problem/

 

[JediFragger]

http://tech4gamers.com/nvidia-geforce-gtx-980m-also-memory-problem/

 

[Paracelsus]

Let's not jump to conclusions...what VRAM usage is Afterburner showing? I can't see a game needing > 3.5GB VRAM on a laptop unless maybe a 2560x1440 panel..though BF4 does over-use it for cache IIRC

I've read nothing about this 3.5GB issue that's said it causes VRAM clock speed to drop, it sounds like something else to me. Does any other clock other than VRAM drop at the same time? What do temps look like when this happens?

 

[thebennyboy]

It's a pretty badly optimised game tbh. What does the VRAM usage show as when the clock drops?

 

[Sh3rlock]

VRAM usuage is usually between 1.5GB and 2.5GB.

GPU usage is about 60-77% because I always have vsync on to shave temp.

Temps are OK for laptop gaming, usually 66-70 degrees.

 

[Avenged7Fold]

I'm thinking that article is clickbait rather than fact, though Dying light definitely hogs RAM. MSI AB is reporting 3.8/3.9 on max settings at 1080p on my 290x.

The article has a comment which shows all is well on the commenter's 980m.

 

[MrMD]

Driver issue?
In low usage situations cards down clock themselves,when usage increaces again the voltage and clock speed increaces.Been an issue on 970's were sometimes the clocks dont increases properly in these situations and obviously the framerate takes a massive hit.

If your capping your fps at only seeing 70% load on the GPU,its pretty likely there are parts of the game where your usage drops a lot and puts you in one of the lower power states and the driver just doesnt kick it back up as needed.

Its happened to me a few times(CS:GO and other less demanding games). Go to NVCP>Power management switch from adapative to prefer maxmium performance.When gaming this will stop your cards going below the 3d clocks power state.

Edit: As your on a laptop,you may want to apply on a game by game basis rather than in the global profiles.As it it will generate a little more heat ect

 

[Sh3rlock]

Already changed power management settings. Will fire up a game now and monitor again.

Really annoying issue considering the money spent on this laptop.

 

[Sh3rlock]

some screen shots of MSI AB during FPS drops;