Terrible performance with new GTX 260

[MBrown]

I loaded up the Far Cry 2 benchmark and I was averaging 12 FPS!!! I have 181.20 drivers.
System specs are as follows:

C2D E4500 @ 2.93GHz (266x11)
Gigabyte P35-DS3L Rev 2.0
4GB Corsair XMS2 @ 800MHz
500GB WD Cavalier Black
EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 superclocked (EVGA stock settings)
Memorex DVD Burner
Antec P182 With 500W Antec NeoHE
AC7 HS/F

I going to update my forceware but still, should I have been getting those marks?

Update: Got it running good @ stock, but it will not overclock without crashing. With only a 50MHz OC on the core I got a crash while playing FC2. Other people are easily OC theirs to at least 700MHz. Could my PSU be the problem now? Or could it be my motherboard with only a PCI-E 1.0.

Also I can't get GPU-Z to display my VDDC. Pic of what I am seeing on GPU-Z.

 

[OCGuy]

What settings on the benchmark tool?

Can you open up Precision Tuner and make sure the core is ramping up for the 3D app?

 

[Painman]

Indeed... Enable the OSD server applet that comes with Precision, and make sure the card is running @ its proper 626/1350/1053 clocks in 3D mode.

Also register your card and see if eVGA is still giving out the free 3DMark Vantage keys. Run the Performance benchmark and see what you get -- not 100% sure what kind of score to expect from your C2D, but I'd guess that it ought to be around or above 10K with default driver settings.

 

[MBrown]

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
What settings on the benchmark tool?

Can you open up Precision Tuner and make sure the core is ramping up for the 3D app?

It runs at full speed when I run the benchmark. I also updated my forceware to the latest.

Just tried Crysis and it runs like crap! Much worse than my 8800gts 640. Also I am hearing loud noises from my video card whenever I run a game.

 

[videogames101]

*Insert snide Anti-Nvidia comment*

Anwyays, RMA it, if it's doing worse than an 8800gts.

 

[OCGuy]

Does your PSU have the correct amperage?

(sorry im at work too busy to use google)

 

[AzN]

uninstall drivers and try again.

 

[chizow]

I wouldn't register your card just yet, as that will lock you into RMA through EVGA instead of a potential cross-ship, replacement or refund through your vendor.

Download GPU-Z and make sure you're running PCIE x16 and not x1 or x4. Check your BIOS and perhaps update it. As others said, check your clocks with the OSD and make sure they're running at the proper speed in-game.

What kind of noise is it making? If its a whistling type of sound that's actually pretty normal. There's later drivers available also, 181.22 WHQL and 182.10 Betas.

 

[Painman]

Originally posted by: MBrown

Originally posted by: Ocguy31
What settings on the benchmark tool?

Can you open up Precision Tuner and make sure the core is ramping up for the 3D app?

It runs at full speed when I run the benchmark. I also updated my forceware to the latest.

Just tried Crysis and it runs like crap! Much worse than my 8800gts 640. Also I am hearing loud noises from my video card whenever I run a game.

Possibly coil squeal? Reason enough to RMA the card right there.

 

[MBrown]

Originally posted by: videogames101
*Insert snide Anti-Nvidia comment*

Anwyays, RMA it, if it's doing worse than an 8800gts.

I have 17A on both +12V rails and the -12V rail. EVGA Tech support actually said that my power supply isn't enough to run this card, even though the guys over in the power supply section said my power supply could run it just fine. Looks like it doesn't...

 

[MBrown]

Originally posted by: chizow
I wouldn't register your card just yet, as that will lock you into RMA through EVGA instead of a potential cross-ship, replacement or refund through your vendor.

Download GPU-Z and make sure you're running PCIE x16 and not x1 or x4. Check your BIOS and perhaps update it. As others said, check your clocks with the OSD and make sure they're running at the proper speed in-game.

What kind of noise is it making? If its a whistling type of sound that's actually pretty normal. There's later drivers available also, 181.22 WHQL and 182.10 Betas.

It sounds more like a hard drive crunching. I think its coil squeal like Painman said.
And I have the latest drivers. Uninstalled old ones, ran driver cleaner and reinstalled.

 

[dguy6789]

How is the temperature of the card?

 

[MBrown]

Originally posted by: dguy6789
How is the temperature of the card?

currently 40C at idle. I will check under load in a sec. BTW these temps are with the case open.

Edit: ok under load (with case open) temps are around 50C to 52C Core running at 626, shaders at 1350, memory at 1053 and still getting a whooping average frame rate of 9.89 with the Far Cry 2 benchmark. HORRENDOUS!!!

 

[Cookie Monster]

I dont think coil squealing is enough to RMA the card since this doesn't influence on the cards performance. Its because too much load is put on the cards PWM, causing the inductor windings to vibrate causing such noise. I recently found out that nVIDIA cards still use analogue PWM, where as ATi cards uses digital PWM hence the no strange high pitch noises from the latter. Hopefully we will see nVIDIA jump on the digital bandwagon with their next gen cards.

Back to the OP, I think its the PSU. Try grabbing yourself something like the corsair VX550 for example, and see if it solves your problem. 17A on the 12V rail seems abit on the low side.

 

[Painman]

That PSU is a triple rail... 17A on each. It meets the minimum spec for a 260.

Since it's more of a rattle than a squeal, coupled with awful performance, I'm starting to wonder if some component has partially detached itself from the board, perhaps during transit.

Yeah... I'd now also say to hold off on registering the card, and talk to the vendor. This card sounds like it's got serious issues.

 

[nOOky]

It may not matter, but what resolution and quality settings? The card should be much better than that as you know.

 

[techmanc]

You can look at NVIDIA Control Panel settings and see if anything looks amiss there a lot of info there.

 

[MBrown]

Originally posted by: nOOky
It may not matter, but what resolution and quality settings? The card should be much better than that as you know.

I was running the far cry benchmark at 1680x1050 with very high settings. that should be cake for my rig.

 

[MBrown]

bahh. I am really starting to think that my supply can't handle my system. My sound is crackling while I listen to music and I scroll down the page with my mouse wheel. This wasn't happening with my 8800gts.

 

[techmanc]

I ran the Far Cry 2 benchmark while had 2 firefox sessions open a movie I was watching minimized.

Settings: Demo(Ranch Small), 1920x1200 (60Hz), D3D10, Fixed Time Step(No), Disable Artificial Intelligence(No), Full Screen, Anti-Aliasing(8x), VSync(Yes), Overall Quality(Optimal), Vegetation(High), Shading(High), Terrain(High), Geometry(High), Post FX(High), Texture(High), Shadow(High), Ambient(High), Hdr(Yes), Bloom(Yes), Fire(Very High), Physics(Very High), RealTrees(Very High)


Loop 1
* Total Frames: 1807, Total Time: 51.00s
* Average Framerate: 35.43
* Max. Framerate: 47.79 (Frame:449, 11.32s)
* Min. Framerate: 27.46 (Frame:1199, 34.04s)

Loop 2
* Total Frames: 1805, Total Time: 51.00s
* Average Framerate: 35.39
* Max. Framerate: 47.44 (Frame:149, 3.65s)
* Min. Framerate: 27.39 (Frame:1200, 34.24s)

Loop 3
* Total Frames: 1792, Total Time: 51.00s
* Average Framerate: 35.14
* Max. Framerate: 46.85 (Frame:133, 3.33s)
* Min. Framerate: 25.72 (Frame:548, 14.37s)

Average Results
* Average Framerate: 35.32
* Max. Framerate: 46.92
* Min. Framerate: 27.22

You can see my rig following link. I think my GTX 260 is a 192 one.

 

[alcoholbob]

Originally posted by: Cookie Monster
I dont think coil squealing is enough to RMA the card since this doesn't influence on the cards performance. Its because too much load is put on the cards PWM, causing the inductor windings to vibrate causing such noise. I recently found out that nVIDIA cards still use analogue PWM, where as ATi cards uses digital PWM hence the no strange high pitch noises from the latter. Hopefully we will see nVIDIA jump on the digital bandwagon with their next gen cards.

Back to the OP, I think its the PSU. Try grabbing yourself something like the corsair VX550 for example, and see if it solves your problem. 17A on the 12V rail seems abit on the low side.

I don't think its a digital vs analog problem, pwm is just a cheap way to generate power compared to standard class a/b and the side effect is lots of unwanted noise. Now if by digital pwm you mean noise filtering techniques like Class-D chipsets do in audio, they aren't cheap. Another method to dampen the sound is use higher quality (ceramic) capacitors but this increases the cost per unit quite a bit (Microsoft wouldn't even spend $.04/xbox360 to put a rubber washer to prevent the discs from scratching at vertical orientation).

I've heard stories of ATI cards with the noise too, so this sounds to me more like a manufacturer-specific issue, where they choose to source cheaper parts than their competition.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Yes I mean noise filtering techniques (well basically thats one of the main reason why we use PWM, to reduce noise effects basically). I should have clarified this but nVIDIA still have its power supply section controlled through analogue circuitry.

Of course digital PWM isnt cheap but if ATi can do it, why not nVIDIA? ATi used digital PWM with its R600, then went back to analogue on RV670 (this is probably where you heard those stories) and now back to digital with the HD4800 series. I think the days of analogue circuitry for these high end boards numbered. Loads have been increasing quite abit throughout the years, and to have those inductor windings break loose from its glue and vibrate to cause high pitch noise is unacceptable from highend cards in this time and age.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: MBrown
I have 17A on both +12V rails and the -12V rail. EVGA Tech support actually said that my power supply isn't enough to run this card, even though the guys over in the power supply section said my power supply could run it just fine. Looks like it doesn't...

The 500W Antec NeoHE should be able to run it, but that's no guarantee. I've got an old one that has gone through many systems, and I think mine is weakening because I had problems with it on my own GTX 260, which runs fine on a brand new Seasonic 350W SFX power supply. FWIW newer NeoHE are made by Seasonic too.

Anyways, if you've had that NeoHE for a few years, then maybe try a different unit (borrow from friend if you have to).

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: MBrown
bahh. I am really starting to think that my supply can't handle my system. My sound is crackling while I listen to music and I scroll down the page with my mouse wheel. This wasn't happening with my 8800gts.

Again, I'd check to see if your BIOS is up-to-date and see if there's any conflicts there. I do remember there were quite a few issues with PCIE 1.1 boards and 2.0 cards at launch. Sound crackling and/or noise on the PCI bus is certainly consistent with past issues solved by BIOS updates.

Also, download GPU-Z, go to the sensors tab and monitor the readings while gaming (there's a save to file option if you don't have a 2nd monitor). Most importantly, check the VDDC reading while gaming, if its staying at 10-20A then its probably a PSU issue as you and Zap suspect.

Lastly, the coil whine is pretty normal and isn't limited to Nvidia parts as some would have you believe. It shoud only occur at artificially high FPS (high hundreds or even thousands) that won't occur in normal gameplay. If it bothers you that much its certainly grounds for RMA but there's a good chance your replacement card will have similar symptoms.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Originally posted by: chizow
Also, download GPU-Z, go to the sensors tab and monitor the readings while gaming (there's a save to file option if you don't have a 2nd monitor). Most importantly, check the VDDC reading while gaming, if its staying at 10-20A then its probably a PSU issue as you and Zap suspect.

+1.

On a side note

Here is a documentation on that subject by theovalich