Need help throttling my GPU
Need help throttling my GPU
I made an error by installing a GTX 970 into my Alienware x51 R2 which lacks a proper power supply. Now I have to limit performance using MSI Afterburner, but it updates every tenth of a second. I set it to 70% power, but it often jumps to 72% or higher and sometimes crashes the system.
I’m considering relocating the components to a new motherboard in a new case with a proper PSU. For now, I need a more reliable method to throttle the GPU. Is there a better program that prevents it from exceeding 70% power usage? Could I use BIOS settings to restrict the GPU’s power consumption to no more than 70%?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated as I haven’t found much through my own research.
I shared this in "Overclocking" since it’s similar but in reverse, and I’m struggling to find a better fit.
Besides lowering the power target, you might also consider underclocking and undervolting. If I clocked it down using MSI afterburner, would that cause an immediate decrease in power consumption? And would it ensure your PC no longer trips over power limits?
Yes, reducing the clock speed will immediately decrease power usage a bit. Lowering the voltage also helps cut power consumption more noticeably. Ideally, adjusting the power target should have triggered the card to underclock automatically to maintain power constraints, but manually doing it may help bypass the slower reaction time when hitting power limits.
TJ Hooker confirms that reducing clock speed will slightly decrease power usage. Lowering the voltage through underclocking will further cut power consumption. While the card might normally adjust to maintain power limits, manually underclocking should help overcome the slower response to those limits. He plans to test it soon and expects results in a few weeks once he has a proper PSU.