EVGA GTX 670 FTW faulity? low 3DMARK 11 score

[Rusty0611]

Only downclocks by 10 MHz when you hit the soft thermal limit of 70c so you'll barely notice the drop down even in benchmarks.

Just set a custom fan profile to keep it under 70c if you want to but personally I wouldn't be too bothered.

 

[setter]

Welcomed input setter certainly worth a shot will try a aggressive custom fan profile.
I've noticed you have a Benq FP241w 24" lcd how do you find it for gaming?

Yep, ive had the fp241w since release, it's a fantastic screen for gaming despite being only a 60Hz lcd. Ive considered replacing it a few times now, but theres very few good comparable lcd's that offer such good image quality, black levels and viewing angles, (i use the monitor for movies sometimes). 1920x1200 is pretty rare theese days, i think asus offer one model, but i cant remember the name. Im loathed to buy a 1080 tn panel as they produce a hideous image, but i could be tempted by a 120 Hz screen such as the benq xl2420t. But it would be used for games only, definitely not for tv or blu ray playback

 

[crestfa11en]

Gregster What are your temps at idle? and also what do they get to when under stress? Could be one of the following problems...
Bad cooler contact on the GPU possibly - poor case air flow - poor TIM.

My cooler is a Dark rock pro 2 the thermal paste is Arctic-silver 5, I wouldn't rule out a badly done CPU install as this is my first and only build, I recon my next step is to try a re-apply the thermal paste & re-install the CPU cooler.

Used CUPID Hardware Monitor for the above but it only seem to show case temps not CPU?

The above is as you'll all know well is CPU-Z, if there's any monitoring software you'd recommend above the above then please do so, will be happy to give them a try.

(EDIT) Just had a look at my CPU temps in BIOS at idle it goes from 26-27c are these bad temps?

Side note to (setter) the benq xl2420t your a mind reader, I've been eyeing that one for a while for the sake of the ultra low lag, thought it may best left for another thread, given I may have done a sloppy on my CPU cooler install

 

[crestfa11en]

I did have one error message when installing Core Temp 1.0 but it seems to be working now

Core Temp has encountered an error and needs to close

At idle.

Running Prime95 Small TFF's for a few minutes.

Just for a complete picture running Civilization V.

My thanks to chuckskull at h***s Forum for helping me out with Core Temp 1.0, I hope you'll all forgive me for using two forums but I feel it's necessary in order to fast track the problem assuming there is one, and I'm not just freaking out a bit?

Note: I've no anti-Virus software besides Window 8 native Windows Defender+Firewall, but I take great care not to visit any dodgy websites and have Java script and flash player disabled as default in Chrome.

 

[setter]

Temps seem a little on the high side running p95 small fft for a stock 3570k. Just tried intel burn test on mine to compare, (also at stock speed currently). Max of 56c on the hottest core, in a case with woeful air intake. Id load up cpuz to see what sort of cpu voltage is being used when running p95, 1.136 was the most i seen for reference.

 

[crestfa11en]

As suggested running Prime 95 with CPU-Z also Core Temp for reference taken 3 minutes in.
Would the bad temps reflect on my choice of case Silverstone SST-FT02B-W?

 

[setter]

Id suggest a remount of the cpu cooler with just a small rice grain sized amount of paste. Also, can your cooler take another fan on the front? Regarding the ft02 case, this is a great case for air cooling, due to it's design, and the excellent air penetrator fans it uses for intake. Theese are the only fans ill use when it comes to getting airflow into the case.

 

[crestfa11en]

For peace of mind I think I will remount it, I used these instructions from the following link:
http://www.arcticsilver.com/intel_application_method.html#
Using the Vertical Line method as indicated here, assuming I understood it correctly?

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appmeth/int/vl/intel_app_method_vertical_line_v1.1.pdf

grasp the heatsink and very gently twist it slightly clockwise
and counterclockwise one time each if possible (Just one or two degrees or so if possible). Please note that some heatsinks cannot be twisted once mounted.

As it was with my install I was unable to twist my CPU cooler which may have contributed to the problem?

I have heard that the grain of rice method is good, but I whent what I thought was the safe route at the time.

Also, can your cooler take another fan on the front?

Unfortunately no, it's already a two fan with the BeQuiet.

Note:I even used ArctiClean 1 & 2 as instructed by the above website, before mounting it, besides the fact it was already a clean CPU. when I cleaned the CPU cooler contact plate with a coffee filter and ArctiClean a corner became slightly discolored and remained so despite many attempts to remove it.

 

[setter]

Rice grain or line are both ok tbh, i just tend to use the grain method as i always forget the orientation of the cores. Your temps seem a little high in comparison to others, not dangerously high by any chance though. But if you decide to overclock, youll have less headroom. A slight discoloration can happen, but as the cores are in the centre it wont affect them.

 

[Ian Evey]

The cpu is not to blame for your poor performance in CIV 5, It could be drivers ( mobo / Graphics card / Or any drivers your pc uses ).

I would Enable V synch both in the Nvidia control panel and in game as this can help reduce the apearance of lag / Stutter and also makes the GPU work less when you do not need 100fps.

Make sure MSAA / or SSAA is not enabled in the Nvidia control panel. Uninstall Precision X and download MSI after burner to monitor temps and GPU usage when playing CIV 5.

I personally think its the game itself and might need a reinstall or driver related or Nvidia control panel settings.

What do other games play like?

 

[crestfa11en]

I believe this marks the end of this thread, as of this point it's a matter of fine tuning Nvidia control panel+MSI after burner with the possible remount of the CPU cooler, I'm more than happy to continue pestering you all for information, but I would urge you to leave should you tire, as my babbling will only get less constructive from here on

I'd like to thank you all, for the time you've taken reply to this narcotic newbie in order of appearance:
Gregster
MOOGLEYS
setter
Rusty0611
Ian Evey

Last but not leas my friends at He*us forum:
najiro
Terbinator
chuckskull
Jasp

(setter) Rice grain or line are both ok tbh, i just tend to use the grain method as i always forget the orientation of the cores. Your temps seem a little high in comparison to others, not dangerously high by any chance though....

I think I may have been a tad to delicate with my first instal, and wonder if a second install with all bolts tightened just right might do the trick.

(Ian Evey)Make sure MSAA / or SSAA is not enabled in the Nvidia control panel. Uninstall Precision X and download MSI after burner to monitor temps and GPU usage when playing CIV 5.

I've often heard MSI after burner touted above all others, would you enable it from start up or just when needed?

 

[Ian Evey]

Its easier to have it enabled on startup and set 2 or 3 profiles. 1 for benching / gaming and one at defualt clocks, then one for your preference... Its a case of a few clicks and whatever suits you. With the cards clocking down to 324mhz when less stressed i just leave my 670 overclocked, temps get to 70 degrees when gaming heavily or during heaven runs... and idle around 35.