GPU Clocks and Voltages jumping to max when Browsing Internet

[Arkadrel]

Weird... I just downloaded TechpowerUPs GPU-Z, went to the sensor tab and browsed around on anandtech abit. Its staying downclocked (idle) for me (with a 5870 and catalyst 11.12) and firefox 10.0.

Maybe its some sort of setting issue? or java?

When I play youtube videos, they jump up, not to max speed settings, but higher than idle clocks
(they stay that way until I close the tab with the youtube video).

I right clicked and turned off "enable hardware acceleration" in the adobe flash player thingy for youtube videos, clocks stay the same (ei. slightly higher than idle clocks for gpu).

I even have "use hardware acceleration where possible" when web browseing clicked on in firefox.

 

[Deanodarlo]

It's done it on different PC's and installs for me - Windows 7, 6 series cards - sometimes it doesn't rear its ugly head then bam! Clocks spike to max for several seconds, several times in a row.

Usually simple scrolling can set it off. Again, flash can be disabled (or even uninstalled). Hardware acceleration can be disabled - still can happen, but nowhere near as often. It could be because I'm using a PS2 mouse and not a USB one or something daft like that, which is causing it to kick off. All I know is your not alone Arkdrel, it doesn't always appear for everyone. Another reason why it probably won't get fixed!

EDIT: It's also dependant on screen size - 1080p "window maximized" scrolling can set it off the most.

Just seems to be a sensitivity issue in Firefox. IE9 and, going by reports Chrome, have a better balance (as seen by the opening post pics) with the Catalyst drivers. Tiny spikes are fine and to be expected (as seen in IE9), prolonged spikes that increase temps like in Firefox are not essential for current basic web browsing.

 

[fffblackmage]

I just updated to Cat 12.1 and FX 10.0, and I'm still experiencing this issue on my Asus 5870. I'm really just hoping my 5870 doesn't die on me because of this.

 

[Arkadrel]

why would it die because its running normal speed?

Its just costing you more electrisity and makeing more noise because of it, which is bad in itself. However saying it ll die because of it sounds like FUD. Anyways... still sucks, glad I dont have this issue.

Try IE or google chrome.

 

[Eos]

I found this thread via a google search for gpu clock spiking. This started tonight for me on version 17.0.1. Absolutely ridiculous.

I already adjusted the advanced tab in Firefox options. Scrolling is smoother, but I can still see spikes according to my GPU meter widget.

 

[Typhoon859]

Sorry to revive a relatively old thread, but I've never liked Firefox for this reason... It doesn't even seem like a hard fix. The latest version, 22.0 now, and it's still an issue. Firefox has all the functionality I want and I prefer to use it, but in terms of how it is written, just horrible. It's free, so I have no reason to be mad or anything really, but man, it's kind of inexcusable. How apathetic must you be to put something of yours out knowing the number of people that use it who this affects, potentially quite significantly. Either way, such a waste of energy.

Has anyone found a way to manually limit the refresh rate to 60 Hz or anything past infinity really?.. It seems like such a basic parameter that's easily modifiable, or at least perhaps "hackable"? Lol, but if otherwise, any non-ideal way to get rid of the problem?

Thanks.

 

[bononos]

The gpu clocks don't jump to max in version 22 or the previous version I was using before I updated.

 

[tincmulc]

For nvidia you can use a program called NVIDIA Inspector - Multi Display Power Saver. It will force the gpu to the lowest performance state (there is still some room for clock changing, for example my gtx 770 clocks to about 400 MHz (stock max is 1100+, idle clock 135 MHz) in this limited power state, but does not increase memory clocks) This completely eliminated the browser high clock issues for me. Don't forget to add your games to the list, so you don't have games running at low clocks too.
There is also a mid performance state available by adding an app to the "video" side of the program.
Link to article:
http://pcgamesbeat.blogspot.com/2012/08/enable-power-saving-mode-on-nvidia-gpus.html

 

[Ketchup]

... How apathetic must you be to put something of yours out knowing the number of people that use it who this affects, potentially quite significantly. Either way, such a waste of energy....

I don't think I understand this argument. It is pulling loads off the CPU, so what makes you think it is wasting energy?

 

[blackened23]

For nvidia you can use a program called NVIDIA Inspector - Multi Display Power Saver. It will force the gpu to the lowest performance state (there is still some room for clock changing, for example my gtx 770 clocks to about 400 MHz (stock max is 1100+, idle clock 135 MHz) in this limited power state, but does not increase memory clocks) This completely eliminated the browser high clock issues for me. Don't forget to add your games to the list, so you don't have games running at low clocks too.
There is also a mid performance state available by adding an app to the "video" side of the program.
Link to article:
http://pcgamesbeat.blogspot.com/2012/08/enable-power-saving-mode-on-nvidia-gpus.html

This is pretty much a waste of time. All you have to do is add the programs in question to the NV control panel as profiles, and set the power management to adaptive. If you have power management set to "maximize" in the global settings, some programs will put you at 3d clocks while adaptive will prevent this. The best workaround is setting global to "maximize" and making program profiles for all of your background programs (all of them, including mouse software and what not) and browsers and set those to "adaptive".

This program you link saves about 1 minute of effort, it isn't needed whatsoever, at least not with Kepler GPUs. With the Fermi generation of GPUs this program can be worthwhile, because Fermi actually doesn't have the power saving features of Kepler in multi monitor configs, so this program can be of use with GTX 500/400 series. But it isn't needed with Kepler - you just need to create program profiles for your various browsers and background programs. Or set global to adaptive power management in NVCP.

 

[Typhoon859]

The gpu clocks don't jump to max in version 22 or the previous version I was using before I updated.

Well, it's not 100%. But scrolling through Amazon, there are still anywhere from 13% to 65% GPU load spikes. That's pretty insane for a GeForce 660 Ti for which such a load shouldn't be much of anything.

I don't think I understand this argument. It is pulling loads off the CPU, so what makes you think it is wasting energy?

All I said was that random voltage spikes is a waste of energy and it's the fault of how Firefox operates. It's not even an argument. What's so confusing about that? Please let's no waste people's time with any further posts on this. If you want, I'll end a pointless potential argument here and say that there's absolutely nothing wrong with this and it isn't a consideration to have for how your software functions as it isn't a problem at all. If that's not what you're getting at, that's great too. Please let it end here. This isn't a conversation worth having. Thank you.

For nvidia you can use a program called NVIDIA Inspector - Multi Display Power Saver. It will force the gpu to the lowest performance state (there is still some room for clock changing, for example my gtx 770 clocks to about 400 MHz (stock max is 1100+, idle clock 135 MHz) in this limited power state, but does not increase memory clocks) This completely eliminated the browser high clock issues for me. Don't forget to add your games to the list, so you don't have games running at low clocks too.
There is also a mid performance state available by adding an app to the "video" side of the program.
Link to article:
http://pcgamesbeat.blogspot.com/2012/08/enable-power-saving-mode-on-nvidia-gpus.html

Thanks for the idea!

This is pretty much a waste of time. All you have to do is add the programs in question to the NV control panel as profiles, and set the power management to adaptive. If you have power management set to "maximize" in the global settings, some programs will put you at 3d clocks while adaptive will prevent this. The best workaround is setting global to "maximize" and making program profiles for all of your background programs (all of them, including mouse software and what not) and browsers and set those to "adaptive".

This program you link saves about 1 minute of effort, it isn't needed whatsoever, at least not with Kepler GPUs. With the Fermi generation of GPUs this program can be worthwhile, because Fermi actually doesn't have the power saving features of Kepler in multi monitor configs, so this program can be of use with GTX 500/400 series. But it isn't needed with Kepler - you just need to create program profiles for your various browsers and background programs. Or set global to adaptive power management in NVCP.

Ah, I see. Thanks; I'll check it out. However, I'm not exactly sure how to do this and I see no such settings/options in the NVIDIA Control Panel. I have the 660 Ti. Where do I set this? Thanks again.

 

[Ketchup]

... Please let's no waste people's time with any further posts on this...

So you join a forum so that you can say what you want and tell people who don't agree to, basically, shut up?

I don't think you understand how forums work. Or you just want to pretend you don't.

Well, it's not 100%. But scrolling through Amazon, there are still anywhere from 13% to 65% GPU load spikes. That's pretty insane for a GeForce 660 Ti for which such a load shouldn't be much of anything.

Unless you know what type of data was on every single page you visited, I again don't see that this is something bad. To me it is utilizing the GPU while I am surfing the internet, allowing the CPU to run cooler and consume less energy.

TBH, I have never experienced my 660's fans spin up while browsing the Internet. Are the spikes so short that they don't affect temps, or is it just the efficiency of the card at work?

 

[f1sherman]

FF is so 2003

Using Opera for some time, but tried recently

• Sleipnir
• SRWare Iron
• Avant

In the end settled with Comodo Dragon
(basically Chrome with privacy preconfigured).

Oh, and I don't mind apps using my GPU one bit :awe:

sorry for off-topic

 

[Ketchup]

FF is so 2003

Using Opera for some time, but tried recently

• Sleipnir
• SRWare Iron
• Avant

In the end settled with Comodo Dragon
(basically Chrome with privacy preconfigured).

Oh, and I don't mind apps using my GPU one bit :awe:

sorry for off-topic

Not too OT since the OP was talking about a specific browser causing the issue. The Comodo sounds interesting, as the lack of security is one of the main things that has kept my from using chrome more than a couple days at a time. That, and the high memory usage when using a lot of tabs.

 

[tincmulc]

This is pretty much a waste of time. All you have to do is add the programs in question to the NV control panel as profiles, and set the power management to adaptive. If you have power management set to "maximize" in the global settings, some programs will put you at 3d clocks while adaptive will prevent this. The best workaround is setting global to "maximize" and making program profiles for all of your background programs (all of them, including mouse software and what not) and browsers and set those to "adaptive".

This program you link saves about 1 minute of effort, it isn't needed whatsoever, at least not with Kepler GPUs. With the Fermi generation of GPUs this program can be worthwhile, because Fermi actually doesn't have the power saving features of Kepler in multi monitor configs, so this program can be of use with GTX 500/400 series. But it isn't needed with Kepler - you just need to create program profiles for your various browsers and background programs. Or set global to adaptive power management in NVCP.

AFAIK the default already is "adaptive" but that just doesn't FORCE the gpu to a lower performance state, it still can clock up if thinks it needs to just less aggressively than "prefer maximum performance". Games set to adaptive still work well. Even the name (adaptive) suggest that this is not a cap to prevent maximum performance states.

The main problem seems to be that Firefox actually loads the gpu. The tool I mentioned forces the gpu to the lowest performance state, which forces low clocks, even at 100% gpu load. No matter what you set in NVCP will you be able to force the gpu to essentially underclock under load (except on mobile chips - but even then the "battery saving" limit or whatever it's called is still higher than the lowest P state).

I didn't notice any slowdowns in Firefox and my browsing temps now match idle temps. Before they were 3-5 degrees higher than idle.

I still think this is a major problem Firefox needs to fix, but this is a good enough workaround.

 

[bononos]

Well, it's not 100%. But scrolling through Amazon, there are still anywhere from 13% to 65% GPU load spikes. That's pretty insane for a GeForce 660 Ti for which such a load shouldn't be much of anything.

Maybe its something to do with Nvidia/660Ti, I don't see any spikes (browsing and scrolling through Amazon or other websites) in gpu-z with more current Radeon cards from the 5 series onwards after unticking the hardware acceleration option.

 

[Ketchup]

I am trying to understand anyone with a 660 or newer would be seeing this issue. I am running on the 320.18's, browsing the internet, watching GPU-Z on the side. Played a few Facebook games, went to several sites (news sites, AT home page) and I didn't see a spike until I launched a YouTube video. I saw a spike to max speed for all of 2 seconds (and that is being generous). Running Firefox 22.0.

So at this stage of things, I am not sure what to say to people who are still saying they see this.

Do an update every once in a while maybe? Heck, my desktop is an update behind on Firefox and the Nvidia drivers, still not an issue.