SLI system malfunctions following CPU overclocking (980 TIs, i7 4770K, Gene VI Mobo)
SLI system malfunctions following CPU overclocking (980 TIs, i7 4770K, Gene VI Mobo)
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Hi friends, the main point is that my computer frequently black screens or freezes when SLI is enabled after I overclocked my CPU. Sometimes I can switch back to Windows using alt-tab, but most of the time I have to perform a hard reset. The GPUs haven’t been overclocked before. My system specs are outdated except for the 980 TIs and PSU, which are brand new. I’ve already tried some troubleshooting steps, so this article will be quite detailed.
Recently, I switched to the 980 TIs and everything functioned properly for two weeks with SLI active. The components and cooling system remained stable. I opted to overclock my CPU using ASUS AI Suite III 4-Way optimization, which is a fully automated tool (I’m just lazy). Prior to this, I updated the BIOS and Chipset drivers to their latest versions. The AI Suite process ran smoothly, pushing my CPU up to 4.6 GHz, and all tests showed stable system performance and temperatures.
Next, I attempted to overclock the GPUs, but first I ran a 3D Mark benchmark. This is when the problems began. The 3DMark application would crash, causing the screen to black and the computer to freeze. I suspected it was because I hadn’t selected the SLI-optimized version (the more expensive one). I tried Unigine Valley as well, but it also failed. Then I attempted UV in windowed mode at 1080p, which worked and gave me a score in the 5000s. Still, some odd behavior persisted.
I eventually reinstalled the NVIDIA drivers, which resolved the issue with BF4 (even in fullscreen), but not with CS:GO, Tomb Raider, 3DMark, or Unigine Valley in fullscreen. Interestingly, the freezing only occurs when loading a match in CS:GO, and sometimes the computer would recover briefly before stuttering again—sometimes allowing normal high FPS gameplay with the Shadowplay icon hidden. I checked CS:GO files on Steam and found it had to reinstall three files, some of which appeared to be related to DirectX after a reinstall. Still, everything else remained problematic except BF4.
So I reverted the CPU overclock and reset the CMOS (using the battery). The computer returned to its previous state before any overclocking attempts. However, all the issues still persisted. One odd fact is that CS:GO only starts freezing when loading a match, and sometimes it recovers temporarily with high FPS but with the Shadowplay icon disabled. I verified the CS:GO files on Steam and noticed some DirectX-related files were reinstalled during the reinstallation process. But the core problems remained, except for BF4.
I decided to roll back the CPU overclock and reset the CMOS again. After doing so, the computer returned to normal operation, but all previous issues still lingered. I’m uncertain if the NVIDIA drivers were installed correctly, as this option isn’t available in GeForce Experience, and there’s no straightforward way to uninstall it. Reinstalling DirectX seems tricky too. Another concern is that my CPU temperature didn’t change significantly even when running Prime95 for ten minutes—this is strange.
I suspect the problem might be related to power delivery. My computer has crashed before due to drawing more power than my old 860W PSU could handle, and the BIOS would warn me during boot-up. Also, it seems CS:GO doesn’t consume more power than BF4 does. Unigine Valley works in windowed mode, but I’m not sure how to verify the power settings of the PCIe slots on the motherboard. How can I confirm everything was reset properly after clearing the CMOS? What’s the best way to completely reinstall or uninstall display drivers, GeForce Experience, and DirectX? Is there a chance the issue is a refresh rate error? Could overclocking the CPU be affecting the video drivers? Maybe ASUS AI Suite didn’t account for the SLI cards when making changes during overclocking.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I really want to be able to use both GPUs, even if none of them can be overclocked, once the ASUS PG348Q is released. Thanks.
Use DDU to reinstall the drivers for a fresh setup, which is better than a regular reinstall. I’d still overclock manually since Auto OC often provides too much voltage and causes issues.
Use DDU to reinstall the drivers for a fresh setup, which is better than a regular reinstall. I’d still overclock manually since Auto OC often provides too much voltage and causes issues.