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GPU not fully utilized folding, (again)

3K views 26 replies 9 participants last post by  tonywonlost 
#1 ·
Hey Fellow Folders!

I just grabbed a new GTX970 to put in place of a 960, did a fresh driver install, but I can't get past 75% gpu utilization. Anyone run into this on Win10?
 
#3 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by spinFX View Post

960 > 970 upgrade. Are you finding it worth the upgrade besides the 75% util?
I'd say so, for folding anyways. I gained about 100k ppd over the 960, however for some reason I'm about 100k ppd behind my other 970 at the same frequency. It helped that I got this one for $119.99 brand new at a pawn shop though haha.
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by notyettoday View Post

I'd say so, for folding anyways. I gained about 100k ppd over the 960, however for some reason I'm about 100k ppd behind my other 970 at the same frequency. It helped that I got this one for $119.99 brand new at a pawn shop though haha.
Are you running your new 970 using the same OS/Drivers as your other 970? Could it just be the variation in Work units - not to uncommon, even on my 980 I have seen 350K to 650K PPD.
 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by lanofsong View Post

Are you running your new 970 using the same OS/Drivers as your other 970? Could it just be the variation in Work units - not to uncommon, even on my 980 I have seen 350K to 650K PPD.[/qu

I sure am! Win 10, latest drivers. I'll give it some time to settle in, I won't be home again til tomorrow so I'll check again then.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigblock990 View Post

Different work units will produce different PPD, but if you are only seeing 75% gpu usage then something is wrong.

What mobo and cpu? Is it just the 970 or you using multiple gpu's in this rig?
Just the 970, i5 4670k on a gigabyte z97 board. Im not folding on the chip
 
#9 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigblock990 View Post

Doesn't look like hardware should be an issue then. I don't fold on windows so I'm just shooting in the dark. You have windows set to "high performance" under power options, and have FAH set to full power right?
I did set power to high performance, seems like i have this issue everytime i upgrade within the same gen i have to jump through a different hoop everytime
 
#10 ·
I have the same problem with win7. When I set it to high performance it goes back to balanced. Maybe I should try the Ultra setting.

 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by hertz9753 View Post

I have the same problem with win7. When I set it to high performance it goes back to balanced. Maybe I should try the Ultra setting.

That's weird, I've never had it switch back on it's own for me.
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by lanofsong View Post

Did it help?
No difference, hovering around 75% usage, ~200k ppd. something isn't right.
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by notyettoday View Post

I'd say so, for folding anyways. I gained about 100k ppd over the 960, however for some reason I'm about 100k ppd behind my other 970 at the same frequency. It helped that I got this one for $119.99 brand new at a pawn shop though haha.
Yeah cool sounds good.
Whats CPU usage like during the 75% gpu utilization?
 
#16 ·
Are you also folding with the CPU? I'm asking because the other 970 has an i7 and this rig has an i5.
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by hertz9753 View Post

Are you also folding with the CPU? I'm asking because the other 970 has an i7 and this rig has an i5.
Cpu is not folding in this rig. Cpu usage is low <25%
 
#19 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by lanofsong View Post

When you get a chance, can you switch around your 970's to see if the problem still exist - this should tell you whether the problem is your GPU.
That's a good idea, I'll give it a shot when I get home.
 
#20 ·
#21 ·
Any clue on this topic? I just managed to face same issue, one of the nvidia perform average 78% core load only.

I bought 2 nvidia cards, 1050ti and 1070. I have tested both separately in my i7 7700 @ 3.60GHz, with good estimated PPD: 1050ti = 150k, 1070 = 600k without any OC yet, both cards > 95% core load.

Then I manage to put both cards into my mining rig (old computer: gigabyte EP43-UD3L with Core2Quad Q9550 @ 2.83GHz) with PCIe riser. Running Windows 10 as well, 1050ti = 120k (slightly lower but still acceptable) at > 95% core load, but the problem is 1070 = 400k with only ~78% core load. But the weird issue is I have full 100% core load for both cards by using ccminer or other miners.

I have tried some of the suggested solutions such as swapping PCIe slot position, power option to High Performance, but still no improvement
frown.gif
 
#22 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonywonlost View Post

Any clue on this topic? I just managed to face same issue, one of the nvidia perform average 78% core load only.

I bought 2 nvidia cards, 1050ti and 1070. I have tested both separately in my i7 7700 @ 3.60GHz, with good estimated PPD: 1050ti = 150k, 1070 = 600k without any OC yet, both cards > 95% core load.

Then I manage to put both cards into my mining rig (old computer: gigabyte EP43-UD3L with Core2Quad Q9550 @ 2.83GHz) with PCIe riser. Running Windows 10 as well, 1050ti = 120k (slightly lower but still acceptable) at > 95% core load, but the problem is 1070 = 400k with only ~78% core load. But the weird issue is I have full 100% core load for both cards by using ccminer or other miners.

I have tried some of the suggested solutions such as swapping PCIe slot position, power option to High Performance, but still no improvement
frown.gif
I don't know about mining, but for F@H on Nvidia cards, a CPU thread runs at 100% for each GPU. On newer CPUs the CPU thread is mostly waiting for the GPU to complete its tasks, so the folding performance depends solely on the GPU. For an older, lower-clocked CPU I suspect that the CPU thread ends up being the bottleneck if the GPU is fast enough. IOW your Q9550 is able to keep up with the 1050ti, but it is bottlenecking the 1070.
 
#23 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by valvehead View Post

I don't know about mining, but for F@H on Nvidia cards, a CPU thread runs at 100% for each GPU. On newer CPUs the CPU thread is mostly waiting for the GPU to complete its tasks, so the folding performance depends solely on the GPU. For an older, lower-clocked CPU I suspect that the CPU thread ends up being the bottleneck if the GPU is fast enough. IOW your Q9550 is able to keep up with the 1050ti, but it is bottlenecking the 1070.
Thanks, I was suspecting CPU issue too, if this is the problem, then maybe let me OC the CPU abit and see if any improvement. I will update my status later.

PS: I also tried to install Ubuntu and run F@H on it, same problem but just slightly better...
 
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonywonlost View Post

Thanks, I was suspecting CPU issue too, if this is the problem, then maybe let me OC the CPU abit and see if any improvement. I will update my status later.

PS: I also tried to install Ubuntu and run F@H on it, same problem but just slightly better...
That motherboard only has a 2.0 16x slot so you'll lose a bit of performance from that. Plus probably some more by using a riser. I see the motherboard only has one 16x slot so the other card is def going to lose some from the 1x slot. Some WUs never loaded up my 1070 that well, esp Core18 tasks. Core21 was better.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by mmonnin View Post

That motherboard only has a 2.0 16x slot so you'll lose a bit of performance from that. Plus probably some more by using a riser. I see the motherboard only has one 16x slot so the other card is def going to lose some from the 1x slot. Some WUs never loaded up my 1070 that well, esp Core18 tasks. Core21 was better.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380
I don't think this is the reason because the GPU core load is not fully utilized during folding, but it perform 100% on mining ETH or ZEC. Anyway, I might be free tomorrow to overclock my CPU clock and we will see if any improvement.
 
#26 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by tonywonlost View Post

I don't think this is the reason because the GPU core load is not fully utilized during folding, but it perform 100% on mining ETH or ZEC. Anyway, I might be free tomorrow to overclock my CPU clock and we will see if any improvement.
Mining uses very little bandwidth and thats why it can be run with a 1x slot.
 
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