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gtx970 running @ x8 (1.1) not x16 (2.0)

slim01

slim01

slim01

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So I've popped in my new gtx970, not too impressed with the results and am trying to figure out why I still get big FPS drops in 3year old games like Tomb Raider (as with my old gtx670).

i5 2500k @ stock.
p67a-ud4-b3
8gb ddr3
Evga 970 SSC @ 1390mhz

-I have noticed on GPU-Z that my bus interface is x8 and 1.1, pretty annoying as no idea how to change this? Its deffo plugged in the x16 slot, and the only other slot populated is an x1 above it (sound card).

-I have stock clocks on CPU, is overclocking likely to make any difference?? CPU reaches around 70% usage in Tomb Raider.
I have tried and failed MANY times to get my i5 2500k to auto downclock whenever I overclock it does not idle.

http://i.imgur.com/BPK0VgX.jpg[/img

[B][COLOR="Cyan"]Oversized image, 1280X is the maximum allowed width or use spoiler tags -stulid.[/COLOR][/B]

Thanks in advance for help guys,
 
According to the mobo specs you've done it correctly and it should be working at 2.0 x16.

1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x16 (PCIEX16)
* For optimum performance, if only one PCI Express graphics card is to be installed, be sure to install it in the PCIEX16 slot.
1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x8 (PCIEX8) * The PCIEX8 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX16 slot. When the PCIEX8 slot is populated, the PCIEX16 slot will operate at up to x8 mode.
3 x PCI Express x1 slots
(All PCI Express slots conform to PCI Express 2.0 standard.)
2 x PCI slots
Click to expand...

Got the latest BIOS? CPU shouldn't matter.
 
joeyjojo said:
According to the mobo specs you've done it correctly and it should be working at 2.0 x16.



Got the latest BIOS? CPU shouldn't matter.
Click to expand...

Not sure... I've never updated BIOS before.. Isn't that risky? And would that affect the card running at x8 or 2.0? You'd of thought they would have made that available from the first revision lol.

Any way I can check which BIOS revision I have?
 
It can drop down speeds and modes to save power. For example my work PC here has a 2600K in with a GeForce Quadro 4000. When the card isn't doing anything it will drop to PCI-E 1.1 x16 but when under load it hops up to PCI-E 2.0 x16.

If you get the latest GPU-Z, version 0.8.6 you'll see that unlike your ancient version it has a ? icon next to the interface section which allows you to launch a mini render test to see if the link speed hops up. Give that a try.
 
I can see in CPU-Z mainboard tab...

BIOS
Brand =Award software international
Date = 02/14/2011
Version - F1

Graphic Interface
Version = PCI Express
link width = x8 max supported = x16
 
Yes but latest GPU-Z (not CPU-Z) will have the render test in it so confirm that first.

There is a much newer BIOS available, F8 I believe. It may be an idea to get this upgraded too. It wouldn't be the first time I've seen a P67 chipset board acting funny with modern cards. It's easy to upgrade it usually, Gigabyte may offer a Windows utility, otherwise you can quite likely do it from within the BIOS itself with the file copied to a USB stick.
 
Last edited:
Phemo said:
It can drop down speeds and modes to save power. For example my work PC here has a 2600K in with a GeForce Quadro 4000. When the card isn't doing anything it will drop to PCI-E 1.1 x16 but when under load it hops up to PCI-E 2.0 x16.

If you get the latest GPU-Z, version 0.8.6 you'll see that unlike your ancient version it has a ? icon next to the interface section which allows you to launch a mini render test to see if the link speed hops up. Give that a try.
Click to expand...

Will try this now, didn't think to update it. Trying to get readings of gpu clock was tricky as 1380mhz does not even fit In the box! Hopefully they've fixed that too...

Will post back soon with results.
 
Phemo said:
Yes but latest GPU-Z (not CPU-Z) will have the render test in it so confirm that first.

There is a much newer BIOS available, F8 I believe. It may be an idea to get this upgraded too. It wouldn't be the first time I've seen a P67 chipset board acting funny with modern cards. It's easy to upgrade it usually, Gigabyte may offer a Windows utility, otherwise you can quite likely do it from within the BIOS itself with the file copied to a USB stick.
Click to expand...

Is there a risk I may **** up the PC?

Are there many benefits to updating the BIOS by like 5 years?
 
There's always a risk that something could go wrong, but it's unlikely. Gigabyte have the dual BIOS thing too so theoretically if it did go wrong you'd have the other BIOS to fall back on. I've updated many over the years and never had an issue so I wouldn't be too worried about it especially with a backup option available.

Here's the list of BIOS updates for your board:

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3759#bios

There have been quite a few and sometimes there are undocumented fixes. However if GPU-Z confirms your GPU appears to be working as expected then you may as well leave it, but otherwise I'd go for the upgrade.
 
Yeah the new gpu z should confirm it goes to the right speed. As I noticed this when I had a gtx 970 funny enough and the test confirmed it was ok.

As for fps drops. Well games even from a few year ago can still be demanding. Also your cpu isn't exactly the most modern and remember the 970 is really only a mid tier card in my view. My gtx Overclocked to 1530 on the core and 8400 memory this made a huge difference well another 6 or so min fps which did make a difference most gtx 970 cards should clock well to 1500 core and around 8000 mem. It's fans set to max I don't think I was going over 75 degrees but I run my case open which helped.
 
Ill put my gpu-z here for comparison in case it helps, your driver dosent look right either unless its being displayed wrong.

1442yr7.jpg
 
slim01 said:
Is there a risk I may **** up the PC?

Are there many benefits to updating the BIOS by like 5 years?
Click to expand...

It's a little risky - if you have a power cut during the minute or two it takes to flash then you could have trouble getting the motherboard working again. That's why the right way to go about it is "if it aint broke". In this case though it might be broke as it's not using the full PCIe speed.

But as Phemo says have a look first at the numbers while the GPU has something to work on, e.g. using Furmark.
 
Twincam said:
Yeah the new gpu z should confirm it goes to the right speed. As I noticed this when I had a gtx 970 funny enough and the test confirmed it was ok.

As for fps drops. Well games even from a few year ago can still be demanding. Also your cpu isn't exactly the most modern and remember the 970 is really only a mid tier card in my view. My gtx Overclocked to 1530 on the core and 8400 memory this made a huge difference well another 6 or so min fps which did make a difference most gtx 970 cards should clock well to 1500 core and around 8000 mem. It's fans set to max I don't think I was going over 75 degrees but I run my case open which helped.
Click to expand...

I know old games can be demanding but no noticeable difference from a 670 to 970? seems odd...

I have ran the new gpu, ran the render test by clicking the "?" and it changes to 2.0 but bandwidth stays the same at x8...
Annoying.

Will maybe try this bios update thing. Does my usb stick have to be empty and I simply copy and paste the file to it, restart and then somewhere there will be an option to "update bios"?

I wonder if it will cure my cpu not idling with an overclock...
 
just got this when coming back into windows from tomb raider.... odd...

YYBkBVn.jpg
Images over 1,280 pixels wide should be placed in spoiler tags as I've done for you.

Cheers

Surveyor
 
Open in paint > resize image then upload.

I had this with a 7970 a while back, card wasn't fully pushed into the pci slot.

Click the the sensors in gpuz to show maximum, we'll then know if it's running full speed or not.
 
pgi947 said:
Open in paint > resize image then upload.

I had this with a 7970 a while back, card wasn't fully pushed into the pci slot.

Click the the sensors in gpuz to show maximum, we'll then know if it's running full speed or not.
Click to expand...

When resizing with paint my words are not readable :(

Anyway, screen shot below of card running with furmark on;

JFBGkAd.jpg
 
Does it still use 8x 1.1 when it's under load, or peak up to 16x 2.0?

Core clock etc.. seems to be boosting to 3d clocks correctly.

Tip: click the window you specifically want to screen cap, hold alt+print screen and it will only screen cap that window.
 
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