Second GPU stuck at core clock speeds with Crossfire

hungryornstein

Reputable
Jun 29, 2015
8
0
4,510
Hi, I installed a second GPU in my system a few days ago for some extra horsepower, and I wanted to make sure it works. So I had GPU-Z log about 15 minutes of the second GPU while I was playing Dying Light in fullscreen. I was sad to see that it had straight 0's for GPU load, and a single 12 in the middle of them.

I have Crossfire enabled in Catalyst Control Center. I also have a Crossfire band which registers both GPU's. GPU-Z is displaying both cards, and they both are monitored with correct temperatures and core speeds. It just seems the second card can't use its power, being stuck at its core clock speeds at all time. So tell me, what is it I'm doing wrong here?

I love any helping feedback, this is my first time with Crossfire, so I'm probably just making some stupid mistake that I didn't catch. But I need to figure out what it is.
(x2 AMD R9 280s)
 
Solution
Please note that Crossfire and Sli support only Full Screen programs. If you use borderless window - you are not using the crossfire. Also, try to create a crossfire profile in the Radeon Settings -> Gaming -> Add -> And then select the profile -> Amd Crossfire mode -> Amd pre-defined , and then search for the program. Otherwise "Amd Crossfire mode" -> Optimize 1:1

hunter86_bg

Honorable
Nov 25, 2012
93
0
10,640
By default all windows systems enable ULPS which shuts off the second gpu when the load is low.
You can see this in the GPU-Z -> "AMD Crossfire". It should show "Enabled (2 GPUs). If it shows "ULPS" -then this feature is on.
You can disable it either through "Sapphire TriXX" program or manually by using "regedit.exe" -> Find "EnableUlps" and setting it from "1" to "0" (no quotes!).
Don't forget to reboot the machine after modifying it!
For manual change :Disable Ulps

This will help to better debug this issue.
 

hungryornstein

Reputable
Jun 29, 2015
8
0
4,510


Thanks for the advice, I disabled ULPS, but sadly it didn't have an affect on the GPU load. Still stuck at idle speeds on everything.
 

hunter86_bg

Honorable
Nov 25, 2012
93
0
10,640
Please note that Crossfire and Sli support only Full Screen programs. If you use borderless window - you are not using the crossfire. Also, try to create a crossfire profile in the Radeon Settings -> Gaming -> Add -> And then select the profile -> Amd Crossfire mode -> Amd pre-defined , and then search for the program. Otherwise "Amd Crossfire mode" -> Optimize 1:1
 
Solution