Crossfire 7950 Core Clock Fluctuates While Gaming

rlg5150 · Aug 11, 2013

I have 2x 7950s that are factory overclocked to 950Mhz. Sometimes while gaming, one or both cards will fluctuate. Most of the time, one card stays at 950Mhz and the other bounces around from 850Mhz to 950Mhz. Sometimes, both cards do this. Sometimes, one card will bounce way down to ~500Mhz.

There isn't any lag when this happens and frames seem to be fine. I just want to get to the bottom of the issue since I don't think it's normal.

I'm using MSI Afterburner to monitor the temps and clocks in game.

Temps aren't the issue. Both cards are in the high 50s or low 60s.

I've tried monitoring with other programs so it isn't MSI that's the problem.

PSU is Thermaltake 850W SMART Series 80+.

CPU isn't overclocked.

I'm currently using 13.4 but I've tried everything in between including 13.8. Using the latest CAP, too.

I've disabled ULPS and it doesn't make a difference (with my issue, I mean. Disabling ULPS works, it just doesn't help with the issue. I used TRIXX to disable it successfully.)

Here's the strange part. I've figured out how to solve it, but it's a hassle. I can launch the game, Alt-Tab out, close MSI Afterburner, reopen MSI Afterburner, Reapply +20 to the power slider, Alt-Tab back to the game, and the problem goes away.

The problem doesn't always happen. But it's really annoying when it does. I've tried just toggling the OSD off so that I don't see it fluctuating, but I still KNOW it is and it drives me nuts.

Novuake · Aug 11, 2013

Its called Boost, it dynamically clocks up and down the more power it needs or if the game that you are playing is not well optimized for XFIRE..
If you are not experiencing drops in FPS then why are you worried?

fatboytyler · Aug 11, 2013

What brands are the cards?

I know I have issues with my Sapphire 7950 of the core voltage fluctuating between stock voltage and boost voltage while in game. Usually restarting the game or my Precisions-X (Or whatever software you use). System reboots will almost always fix it.

rlg5150 · Aug 12, 2013

I don't think it's the boost feature causing it, since I can circumvent the issue like I described above.

One card is an MSI Twin Frozr III, the other is a Sapphire Vapor-X. Neither card fluctuates when used alone. It only happens with Crossfire.

rlg5150 · Aug 12, 2013

Okay, I downclocked both cards to 850Mhz and it's still fluctuating. It seems random which card will fluctuate. Sometimes it's GPU1 and sometimes GPU2.

This is very frustrating. I wish someone could help me get to the bottom of this.

Edit: 750Mhz and the same thing...

Novuake · Aug 12, 2013

Still, totally normal. You are getting no FPS drops, stop bloody worrying over nothing. Its a common problem for system builders to be paranoid.

rlg5150 · Aug 12, 2013

Novuake :

It's normal to drop down to ~500Mhz? Seriously, just asking. I have a friend with 2x 7950s and I've had him watch his clocks with MSI Afterburner. We can be playing the exact same game and his clocks hold constant every single time.

Novuake · Aug 12, 2013

rlg5150 :

IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING FPS DROPS, it is perfectly normal... Mine do the same thing!

OK but to be TOTALLY thorough.
What motherboard and CPU do you have?

rlg5150 · Aug 12, 2013

Novuake :

rlg5150 :

IF YOU ARE NOT GETTING FPS DROPS, it is perfectly normal... Mine do the same thing!

No need to be hostile, just asking a question.

cmi86 · Aug 12, 2013

If it really bugs you that much increase the power limit by like 5-10% and see what that does for you.

rlg5150 · Aug 12, 2013

cmi86 :

It's already +20.

Novuake · Aug 12, 2013

rlg5150 :

Not being hostile, you are not answering OUR questions and when we try to help you, you don't bother "listening".

rlg5150 · Aug 13, 2013

Novuake :

You can't ninja edit your post with a question and accuse me of not answering it. Other than that, I've answered every single question asked.

Motherboard is MSI Z77 MPower. CPU Intel Core i7 2600.

rlg5150 · Aug 13, 2013

Presler :

I understand that it would be normal for the card to dynamically fluctuate between the stock clock and the boost clock. It can't be normal to fluctuate all the way down to ~500Mhz, though. Also given the fact that neither card does it when used alone, I can circumvent the issue with a workaround, and that it's random which card will fluctuate, I don't see how anyone can say this is normal.

Novuake · Aug 13, 2013

For heavens sake, LISTEN and stop arguing.

That is mine. CLEARLY 500MHz. PERFECTLY normal.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5abZri6s13ObGpZLVZCN0J0WFU/edit?usp=sharing

rlg5150 · Aug 13, 2013

Novuake :

That is a completely different situation. Of course one card is downclocked while not gaming. My issue is random core clock fluctuations while in game. Perhaps I didn't explain my situation well enough but what I seen in your picture definitely IS normal, but unrelated to my problem.

Novuake · Aug 13, 2013

rlg5150 :

Novuake :

That is a completely different situation. Of course one card is downclocked while not gaming. My issue is random core clock fluctuations while in game. Perhaps I didn't explain my situation well enough but what I seen in your picture definitely IS normal, but unrelated to my problem.

I give up. Cheers. If you want to be paranoid, so be it.

rlg5150 · Aug 13, 2013

Novuake :

It's not about being paranoid. There is definitely a driver or BIOS issue going on here.

I've been tinkering a little bit.. I can run a benchmark and then check my usage and clock graphs.. Both cards wildly fluctuate up and down. I don't mean a few fluctuations, I mean it's literally constantly up and down. If I close the benchmark, open CCC, disable Overdrive, then re-enable overdrive and reset my power slider, I can run the benchmark again and the graph is smooth across both cards.

The same thing happens with MSI Afterburner.. Disable it, re-enable and then my usage and clock speeds even out. I've tried both MSI and CCC and the results are the same, so that rules out it being a monitoring issue.

I just thought I'd come here and try and nail down a solution. But it seems there's nothing but a bunch of hateful people around here with no interest in helping or having discussion.

rlg5150 · Aug 14, 2013

Presler :

You must be right. It's got to be faulty sensors and CCC, Afterburner, Trixx and GPU-Z must all be faulty.

What the hell kind of "real data" do you want? You think I'm making it up? Or that I can't interpret the damn graph? Am in the wrong section of the forum? Is there a graphics card section where there are people who know anything about graphics cards? This place is a joke.

rlg5150 · Aug 14, 2013

Presler :

What other kind of information do you want?

Crossfire 7950 Core Clock Fluctuates While Gaming

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