Curse

cebalrai · Jun 18, 2008, 03:53 AM // 03:53

I have a GeForce 8800GTX w/SLI rig... When I first got it, the graphics cards would throttle down when the system was idle, dropping temps down to around 50-55 degrees.

Now for some reason though the GPUs are staying at full memory and core speed and the system idles at 70 degrees and the fan stays at 100%...

Do any of you guys know why this is? Any suggestions about how to fix it?

Specs:
Dell XPS 1730 laptop
Core 2 Duo Extreme @ 2.8GHz
Dual GeForce 8800GTX w/SLi
4 GB RAM
Ageia physics chip
17" monitor

Lord Sojar · Jun 18, 2008, 03:59 AM // 03:59

Hmm... that is odd. That means the cards are staying in high power 3D mode.

First advice would be the least invasive.

Uninstall your nVidia Display Drivers, download the newest release from the nVidia website (found here: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us) and install those.

Make sure you completely clean out the driver files after you uninstall. Restart the PC, and when you boot back into Windows, run this little program called Driver Sweeper. You can download the installer here:
http://downloads.guru3d.com/Guru3D--...up)_d1655.html

Run that, and then go ahead and install the new set of drivers. If that doesn't fix the issue, get back with us, and we can be a little more invasive.

cebalrai · Jun 18, 2008, 04:17 AM // 04:17

I'm using the 175.80 driver. When installing it I used the usual driver sweeper routine. It was working just fine until recently...

Also, when I disable SLI, the gpu core clock drops to 200 mhz and the memory clock to 100 mhz. The temp goes down to 55-ish degrees.

I'm using GPU-Z 0.2.4 to monitor temps and harware speed btw.

Lord Sojar · Jun 18, 2008, 06:00 AM // 06:00

That is really odd. Have you tried another monitoring software? And this only happens when SLi is engaged after launching a 3D application?

cebalrai · Jun 18, 2008, 06:24 AM // 06:24

I tried two more drivers including the one you mentioned and I got the same results.

It happens at boot, not just after launching a 3-D app.

I haven't tried any other monitoring software... But NV Monitor shows the cards running at full power and I can hear the GPU fans blowing nonstop... so I don't think it's a temperature reporting problem...

Lord Sojar · Jun 18, 2008, 06:43 AM // 06:43

Hmm, have you tried removing the Aegia PhysX processor from the PC and the drivers associated? give that a try. Also, what operating system are you using?

(I need to go to bed, as my body still hasn't gotten to 100% from surgery, so I will check up on this issue tomorrow, after some web meetings, for you.)

EDIT: I am an idiot, it is a laptop. Disable the PhysX chip via the drivers. Reboot and see what happens. The OS bit still stands.

cebalrai · Jun 18, 2008, 01:26 PM // 13:26

I'm using Vista-32. Disabled the Aegia driver and no change. Thanks so far though

cebalrai · Jun 18, 2008, 10:01 PM // 22:01

I'm still really stumped... Can't figure it out.... ugh...

Lord Sojar · Jun 19, 2008, 01:10 AM // 01:10

I am discussing this with my little tech team. Umm, try to mess the Vista's power regulation settings for battery conservation. See if Vista can override it. Also check the nvidia control panel under power management (i believe it has that option on the mobile versions)

cebalrai · Jun 19, 2008, 05:02 AM // 05:02

Tried all the battery power settings to no avail...

Also I have no power management function in the Nvidia control panel that I can see.

Unplugging the laptop and using battery power throttles it down like normal btw. Plug the power cable back in and it's back to hi-power mode...

Lord Sojar · Jun 19, 2008, 05:10 AM // 05:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by cebalrai

Tried all the battery power settings to no avail...

Also I have no power management function in the Nvidia control panel that I can see.

Unplugging the laptop and using battery power throttles it down like normal btw. Plug the power cable back in and it's back to hi-power mode...

Hmmm, Scooby needs a scooby snack to solve this caper! lol. I could just go punch Avarre and steal one of his, but I fear backlash.

Hmm... well... I... look a bird! I promise, we will figure this out. I wish my other flying monkeys would chime in, my brain hurts and I am loopy on pain pills and beer. lol? Ok, but really... I just don't get it. The GPU's shouldn't be staying in 3D power mode once they are into the 2D environment. Try reinstalling the motherboard drivers as well as the graphics card drivers at the sametime. Reinstall the motherboard drivers first, then the graphics drivers. Try using the older release of the graphics drivers as well. (175 something something)

You can get them here:
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us

cebalrai · Jun 19, 2008, 05:34 AM // 05:34

I installed an older mommy board driver and the problem is still there. I'm going to switch back to the new one again...

I've tried three graphics drivers. One is the default Dell one that works poorly in UT3, one is the newer "partially tested" Dell performance driver 174.31 (which I'm currently using), and 175.80 which is a generic Nvidia driver I got from www.laptop2go.com.

Lord Sojar · Jun 19, 2008, 05:58 AM // 05:58

No no, get the official graphics drivers (not motherboard drivers) from nVidia. That link I gave you is for all driver types. Select graphics, not mainboards.

You have to install the previous version of the graphics drivers for your laptops cards.

cebalrai · Jun 19, 2008, 06:12 AM // 06:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rahja the Thief

No no, get the official graphics drivers (not motherboard drivers) from nVidia. That link I gave you is for all driver types. Select graphics, not mainboards.

You have to install the previous version of the graphics drivers for your laptops cards.

I tried two mainboard drivers.

And I've tried three graphics drivers.

*baffled still*

Lord Sojar · Jun 19, 2008, 06:25 AM // 06:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by cebalrai

I tried two mainboard drivers.

And I've tried three graphics drivers.

*baffled still*

Ok, well I neeeeed sleep now. I will ponder this in the AM, and we can work through some other stuff. Without being able to run some of my diagnostic tools on your laptop myself, it is a game of poke and hope. Let's not bash it quite yet.

BTW, how long after exiting the game have these cards stayed at full power? If it is 20-30 mins, it might just be them cooling down. If it is over that, well, then we are still at the /baffled stage.

cebalrai · Jun 19, 2008, 06:34 AM // 06:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rahja the Thief

Ok, well I neeeeed sleep now. I will ponder this in the AM, and we can work through some other stuff. Without being able to run some of my diagnostic tools on your laptop myself, it is a game of poke and hope. Let's not bash it quite yet.

BTW, how long after exiting the game have these cards stayed at full power? If it is 20-30 mins, it might just be them cooling down. If it is over that, well, then we are still at the /baffled stage.

Thanks again for taking a shot at this.

The cards seem to stay at full power permanently. I've had them running at full for about 90 minutes right now and I don't think anything is going to change.

Also, it's not an issue of exiting a game. The cards are at full power/fan speed upon booting.

The only thing that fixes this is turning off SLI or unplugging the power cord.

Snograt · Jun 19, 2008, 11:53 AM // 11:53

Hi, flying monkey here.

In your nVidia control panel, do you have access to this?

zamial · Jun 19, 2008, 01:10 PM // 13:10

Well after doing some digging. There are a few things that need to be discussed. This was an older issue for older graphics cards and is "to be fixed in a future driver update" Wheither or not you are affected by this is still to be seen. From what I have gathered you are using a dx10 os with a dx9 graphics card, could this be the issue? Do you use the areo desktop or a 3D version?

Viable work around:
While we all like things that are automatic it may be time to look into rivatuner. It is a free program that you can set up profiles with. These profiles can be set to activate under circumstances. There are also online tutorials to teach you the basics.

cebalrai · Jun 19, 2008, 01:51 PM // 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snograt

Hi, flying monkey here.

In your nVidia control panel, do you have access to this?

I have access to that in the Nvidia control panel but the layout is somewhat different.

Zamial - the 8800GTX is a DX10 card so that's not the issue. Also, it's not an old graphics card by most standards. In fact, it's the very newest one for laptops.

zamial · Jun 19, 2008, 03:51 PM // 15:51

Thanks for info. your portable desktop...err...laptop, is not my area of expertise. I would only use all whql certifide drivers, but that is me. Also the rivatuner may actually give you a work around but it will be just that. I will keep digging for info tho.