MSI R9 290 / 290x gaming edition - powertune throttling the core clock discussion...

djay · 26 Jan 2014 at 10:42

Just installed a second MSI R290x for Crossfire setup and when playing BF4 i can see the GPU Useage of both cards going up and down sometimes as low as 40%. I have also noticed the same when running Heaven benchmark. The GPU Core clocks never change. I have tried with Frame Pacing both on and off but it makes no difference. Any ideas?

cyclone 101 · 26 Jan 2014 at 19:50

I know it's a bit off the subject to what everyone is talking about but I have the msi r9 290 gaming edition but will my set up be Ok with 4gb of ram pc3 - 10666 1333mhz speed and how much would does it effect game play with games like bf4 and such titles

Thank you

wazza300 · 26 Jan 2014 at 19:52

cyclone 101 said:
I know it's a bit off the subject to what everyone is talking about but I have the msi r9 290 gaming edition but will my set up be Ok with 4gb of ram pc3 - 10666 1333mhz speed and how much would does it effect game play with games like bf4 and such titles

Thank you

whats the rest of your pc?

4gb would affect things imo,8gb and a 64bit version of windows would be better

LtMatt · 26 Jan 2014 at 19:53

cyclone 101 said:
I know it's a bit off the subject to what everyone is talking about but I have the msi r9 290 gaming edition but will my set up be Ok with 4gb of ram pc3 - 10666 1333mhz speed and how much would does it effect game play with games like bf4 and such titles

Thank you

It would help to have 1600mhz ddr3 minimum to be honest. I believe bf3 does get slightly better fps with faster ram as its a 64bit application. 8GB DDR3 1600mhz is your ideal minimum. That said it will still run with your current ram, but not optimally.

cyclone 101 · 26 Jan 2014 at 19:58

Ok thank you for your advice

elJarmen · 27 Jan 2014 at 14:54

Already got mine, installing this evening. Could someone kindly direct me towards a post that tidily explains what I need to do to get rid of this throttling with as less adverse secondary effects as possible?

LtMatt · 27 Jan 2014 at 15:05

elJarmen said:
Already got mine, installing this evening. Could someone kindly direct me towards a post that tidily explains what I need to do to get rid of this throttling with as less adverse secondary effects as possible?

Lt posted the fix already in this thread, however i pulled the quotes up for you along with two confirmations of it working.

LtMatt said:
Try this for a fix for the clock dropping. No need to use unofficial overclocking method either so clocks will drop to 2d levels as normal.

1. Download RadeoPro - http://www.radeonpro.info/2013/11/new-build-with-support-for-amd-radeon-r-series/

2. Create a profile using the game exe.

3. Click the profile tab, then the overdrive tab. Click the padlock to unlock overdrive, click enable graphics overdrive, the click 'always use highest performance clocks while gaming'. Don't forget to set +50% power tune in RP. Apply clocks and voltage settings through afterburner first. Now right click the game profile shortcut on the left and select apply then launch the game.

toprock said:
Ok thanks for this, fantastic programme, doesn't look as polished as afterburner, but far more tweakable it seems. Set the core to 1075 (wouldnt go to 1077 lol) and "always use the highest performance clocks" and its stuck like that and never budged in game.

northun_munky said:
Your fix does work Matt locked solid at 1100 throughout.

elJarmen · 27 Jan 2014 at 15:22

Thanks man you are great help as always. Am I guaranteed I'll have this issue though since I'm buying MSI Gaming edition? I'll hold off before I apply the fix and see how it goes first.

Btw when I OC it's the same as your 7990 OC thread? Raise core, test, raise voltage and repeat? I'll be gaming at 1080 so I'm assuming there's no point OCing the memory, is there?

LtMatt · 27 Jan 2014 at 15:26

elJarmen said:
Thanks man you are great help as always. Am I guaranteed I'll have this issue though since I'm buying MSI Gaming edition? I'll hold off before I apply the fix and see how it goes first.

Btw when I OC it's the same as your 7990 OC thread? Raise core, test, raise voltage and repeat? I'll be gaming at 1080 so I'm assuming there's no point OCing the memory, is there?

Yeah i think its an issue with the drivers, at least the current 13.12 WHQL ones. Its a single card issue only as crossfire is unaffected for me. No clock changing issue on crossfire at all.

Bradmax57 · 27 Jan 2014 at 21:12

just got my Gaming R9 290 today, asic score of 87.4 which seems very high? Off for a bit of BF4 see how it gets on

_Jimlad_ · 27 Jan 2014 at 21:39

Just got mine

That sticker needs to come off lol

LtMatt · 28 Jan 2014 at 17:09

_Jimlad_ said:
Just got mine

That sticker needs to come off lol

Nice one biglad. Hows BF4?

LtMatt · 28 Jan 2014 at 17:33

Bradmax57 said:
just got my Gaming R9 290 today, asic score of 87.4 which seems very high? Off for a bit of BF4 see how it gets on

Blimey that is high. High Asic ftw tbh, especially on air. :cool:

Mtom · 28 Jan 2014 at 17:50

Guys i know it sounds really dull, but i searched the topic and can't find it mentioned, the ones got problem with the gpu clocks in games. Do you use vsync?
I just tried Mafia2, and with vsync, the gpu speed is fluctuating, it uses just what it needs to maintain 60fps.. Vsync off, its fixed on 1099mhz (and fps goes to 120-220 range)

LtMatt · 28 Jan 2014 at 17:59

Mtom said:
Guys i know it sounds really dull, but i searched the topic and can't find it mentioned, the ones got problem with the gpu clocks in games. Do you use vsync?
I just tried Mafia2, and with vsync, the gpu speed is fluctuating, it uses just what it needs to maintain 60fps.. Vsync off, its fixed on 1099mhz (and fps goes to 120-220 range)

Here you go Broseidon.

LtMatt said:
Try this for a fix for the clock dropping. No need to use unofficial overclocking method either so clocks will drop to 2d levels as normal.

1. Download RadeoPro - http://www.radeonpro.info/2013/11/new-build-with-support-for-amd-radeon-r-series/

2. Create a profile using the game exe.

3. Click the profile tab, then the overdrive tab. Click the padlock to unlock overdrive, click enable graphics overdrive, the click 'always use highest performance clocks while gaming'. Don't forget to set +50% power tune in RP. Apply clocks and voltage settings through afterburner first. Now right click the game profile shortcut on the left and select apply then launch the game.

Mtom · 28 Jan 2014 at 20:37

LtMatt said:
Here you go Broseidon.

Thanks, but im fairly comfortable with this feature (at least i think its a feature, not a problem). If the game just need a fraction of the cards power why run it on full throttle?
Maybe i wasn't clear with my first question, i really wanted say that i think this powertune "throttling" is intentional, and only occurs with vsync on, and the card just runs as fast as it needs to.
Thats why i asked that the guys asking for help with it tried switching off vsync or not?

OvEr_KiLL · 28 Jan 2014 at 22:19

nop it happens with vsync off too

toprock · 29 Jan 2014 at 19:36

concur turning off vsync still gives core throttle.

Interestingly when benching the core is locked without any afterburner fixes.

Can't wait for new drivers!

Djxinator · 31 Jan 2014 at 22:36

I had the fix, it was rock solid stable with MSI Afterburner on Windows 7 playing any game.

Since installing 8.1, using the same settings I cant get the results to replicate; its throttling again.

OvEr_KiLL · 2 Feb 2014 at 15:43

have the throttling issues been fixed with the new mantle drivers mat?