GTX 1080 SLI low gpu usage when GSYNC enabled

maksibon12 · Mar 20, 2017

Today, I received my second GTX 1080. After installing the card and trying out some games I have found the following issue. The game where the problem seems the most consistent was Witcher 3 so I'll use that as an example.

PC Specs:
Intel 6700K 4.5Ghz
GIGABYTE GTX 1080 SLI (single SLI bridge)
ROG MAXIMUS VIII HERO
Acer XB280HK 4K GSYNC

FPS issues in Witcher 3:
V-sync on/off, GSYNC off: 60 fps locked, GPU1 usage ~ 98%, GPU2 usage ~98%, CPU usage ~30%

V-sync on/off, GSYNC on: 35 fps, GPU1 usage ~55%, GPU2 usage ~70%, CPU usage ~30%.

GSYNC works flawlessly when SLI is disabled, stable fps and high gpu usage.

Also, when loading the game the first 3-4 seconds I get 60 fps and ~99% GPU utilisation with gsync on, after a few seconds these numbers drop. I found this pattern to be consistent across a range of games and benchmarks. I was wondering if anyone has encountered a similar problem?

weberdarren97 · Mar 20, 2017

Let's redo your drivers just to make sure it's not a driver issue.

https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/2ha3q9/howto_fresh_driver_install_for_new_gpu_or_any/

maksibon12 · Mar 20, 2017

weberdarren97 :

I performed a clean driver install when i fitted the second GPU, I'll do another clean install and get back to you, thank you for the quick reply!

weberdarren97 · Mar 20, 2017

maksibon12 :

Did you use DDU with Windows in Safe Mode? If not, I don't consider it to be a clean reinstallation.

weberdarren97 · Mar 20, 2017

I just noticed it wants you to use msconfig to enter Safe Mode. Here's an easier way: Open the Start menu, open the Power menu, hold Shift while you click Restart. Troubleshoot>Advanced>Startup Options>Restart. Safe Mode should be the fourth option. If 4 on the num pad is not working for you, try the 4 above the R key.

maksibon12 · Mar 20, 2017

weberdarren97 :

Performed a clean driver install using DDU through safemade, issue persists. 60fps, ~98% usage for the first few seconds then right down.

Jim90 · Mar 20, 2017

Nice set-up! For interest/comparison/baseline, what do the review sites say about 4K 1080 SLI benchmarks - with Witcher 3 if possible? You do have V-Sync turned off?

weberdarren97 · Mar 20, 2017

How do you have PhysX set up? Set the second card to run PhysX, not the CPU.

Make sure SLI is enabled.

Download Unigine Valley Benchmark and keep an eye on what your FPS is. Try Gsync on/off, Vsync on/off and all combinations of the two. If the issue persists in Valley, it's an issue with your system and not with the game.

maksibon12 · Mar 20, 2017

Jim90 :

Thanks!

1080 SLI benchmarks are averaging above 60fps.

Tried V-Sync on and off both through control panel and in game. 60fps locked and stable for all set ups. As soon as I enable GSYNC, fps and GPU usage goes down.

weberdarren97 · Mar 20, 2017

maksibon12 :

Do you have GeForece Experience? If so, open it and make sure no whacky settings are applied in there that may affect your games. It often creates and "auto optimizes" profiles for games without asking.

maksibon12 · Mar 20, 2017

weberdarren97 :

I did find a thread earlier blaming GeForce experience so i disabled the overlay with no results

Tried running heaven, same results. Vsync on - 60 fps locked, 98% usage, Vsync off - 100+ fps and 98% usage. As soon as i turn gsync on, fps drops to 30 and GPU usage to 55%-65%. Tried with both borderless windowed and fullscreen GSYNC options.

When setting the PhysX processor to the second card, should the "Dedicate to PhysX" box be ticked?

Also found that both cards are running at slightly different core clock speeds in Heaven. Card 1 @ 1999Mhz, Card 2 @ 1936Mhz. Memory clocks both at 5005Mhz, not sure if this is relevant or not.

weberdarren97 · Mar 20, 2017

maksibon12 :

weberdarren97 :

I did find a thread earlier blaming GeForce experience so i disabled the overlay with no results

Tried running heaven, same results. Vsync on - 60 fps locked, 98% usage, Vsync off - 100+ fps and 98% usage. As soon as i turn gsync on, fps drops to 30 and GPU usage to 55%-65%. Tried with both borderless windowed and fullscreen GSYNC options.

When setting the PhysX processor to the second card, should the "Dedicate to PhysX" box be ticked?

Also found that both cards are running at slightly different core clock speeds in Heaven. Card 1 @ 1999Mhz, Card 2 @ 1936Mhz. Memory clocks both at 5005Mhz, not sure if this is relevant or not.

Dedicate to PhysX should not be ticked. Checking this will make the second card ignore all work except for PhysX. In your case, you want it doing PhysX (which isn't really much of a load) and helping the first card chug out those frames.

The different clocks could introduce a small amount of stutter, but shouldn't affect FPS unless one drops really low (like below 1700MHz).

maksibon12 · Mar 20, 2017

weberdarren97 :

maksibon12 :

Dedicate to PhysX should not be ticked. Checking this will make the second card ignore all work except for PhysX. In your case, you want it doing PhysX (which isn't really much of a load) and helping the first card chug out those frames.

The different clocks could introduce a small amount of stutter, but shouldn't affect FPS unless one drops really low (like below 1700MHz).

Appreciate all the help and quick replies, other threads are reporting a driver issue that NVIDIA are trying to iron out? I'm going to disable gsync for the time being I guess and wait for a new driver. Thanks for your help!

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