Nvidia Web Driver Glitches - Maybe, Maybe not. FYI Post.

[Dr. Stealth]

Thought I'd post this as a separate thread just to inform members of something I just learned. I thought the Nvidia Web drivers have been coming along pretty nicely but I was starting to see lots of artifacts and GUI glitches in High Sierra. I kept updating my drivers at every release hoping things would get better. Some releases seemed to actually get worse. I was still able to work (CUDA Renders) and just hoped things would get better eventually.

But then I started getting shut-downs of my system during heavy renders. I found my Auxiliary PSU that was helping to power my 1080 TI's was near death. So I swapped out the PSU for a higher quality and higher powered unit and to my suprize all my glitches are GONE.

I would have sworn the glitches were driver related but they were not. They were caused by the cards not getting enough power.

It made me wonder how many people who have had "Nvidia Web Driver Issues" were actually having "Power Issues".

I guess it can't be over-stated how important it is to supply these monster cards with monster power to satisfy their needs. Close is not sufficient. The TDP of my (2) 1080 TI's is 560W.

So, all I did was add more power to the (4) 8-Pin connectors and all my glitches are gone. Hope this helps someone.

Post of my PSU Swap...

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...pply-for-my-gpus-failed-heres-my-fix.2089578/

 

[wonderspark]

Thanks, that's interesting! I'm using a 980 Ti from MVC, just internal power, and no glitches seen yet in rendering. I'm also using Yosemite, though.

 

[h9826790]

Thanks for your sharing.

When I looked for a 1080Ti, I tried to get a lowest TDP one because I have no plan to perform the Pixlas mod. At the end what I got is basically a reference card with a 3 fans cooler (link in my signature). The card is just dual slots width, even the system ambient is 34C, the card still never run into thermal throttling. Able to stay above 1900MHz boost clock, and zero glitch so far. I am very happy with it.

However, this power issue cannot explain why the 1060 is so seriously affected.

Unless, the driver is really only good for 1070 and upward (all 1070, 1080, 1080Ti, TitanX has “flawless” report here).

But since someone running dual 1070, so, may be improper powered. Therefore, glitches report.

All 1080Ti and above may be improperly powered. So, glitches report.

That’s why the 1080 seems like the sweet spot (least glitch report). It’s impossible to run 2x 1080 without any mod. And the cMP’s power is always enough for a single 1080. As long as the driver is OK, this will be practically flawless.

In fact, even though any Pascal card can work with web driver. I am wondering how many “glitchy card” are reference card with proper power supply.

Unlike the Windows side, the web driver should only be tested with reference card. I don’t think MSI or EVGA will test their customised PCB GPU in MacOS at all.

Enough power of course is important. However, choosing reference card may be equally important to avoid glitches. I don’t mean non reference PCB won’t work, they may even able to work better, but just no guarantee. A bit like lucky draw.

 

[Dr. Stealth]

Thanks for your sharing.

When I looked for a 1080Ti, I tried to get a lowest TDP one because I have no plan to perform the Pixlas mod. At the end what I got is basically a reference card with a 3 fans cooler (link in my signature). The card is just dual slots width, even the system ambient is 34C, the card still never run into thermal throttling. Able to stay above 1900MHz boost clock, and zero glitch so far. I am very happy with it.

However, this power issue cannot explain why the 1060 is so seriously affected.

Unless, the driver is really only good for 1070 and upward (all 1070, 1080, 1080Ti, TitanX has “flawless” report here).

But since someone running dual 1070, so, may be improper powered. Therefore, glitches report.

All 1080Ti and above may be improperly powered. So, glitches report.

That’s why the 1080 seems like the sweet spot (least glitch report). It’s impossible to run 2x 1080 without any mod. And the cMP’s power is always enough for a single 1080. As long as the driver is OK, this will be practically flawless.

In fact, even though any Pascal card can work with web driver. I am wondering how many “glitchy card” are reference card with proper power supply.

Unlike the Windows side, the web driver should only be tested with reference card. I don’t think MSI or EVGA will test their customised PCB GPU in MacOS at all.

Enough power of course is important. However, choosing reference card may be equally important to avoid glitches. I don’t mean non reference PCB won’t work, they may even able to work better, but just no guarantee. A bit like lucky draw.

Yes h9826790, Everyone has different priorities. My main priority was to to use the highest performance cards available. I was willing to do anything power-wise to make the highest performance cards work without issues. Adding a $100.00 PSU to make it all work was no problem. In fact it was kind of fun. I wouldn't have dropped down to lower performance cards if there was any way I could get the dual 1080 TI's working without issues. And I accomplished my goal. My cMP is now a Super cMP. It is now performing better than ever in the 7 years I have owned it. I'm VERY happy with the new performance. The only problem now is I have to get back to work and make some money with it.... =)

Cheers....

 

[flowrider]

That’s why the 1080 seems like the sweet spot. And the cMP’s power is always enough for a single 1080. As long as the driver is OK, this will be practically flawless.

Yup, My MVC flashed Gigabyte GTX 1080 is running flawlessly in HS

Lou

 

[Bigjohncfl]

Thanks for your sharing.

When I looked for a 1080Ti, I tried to get a lowest TDP one because I have no plan to perform the Pixlas mod.

Can anyone point me to what the "Pixlas Mod" is and how to perform it?

 

[howiest]

Can anyone point me to what the "Pixlas Mod" is and how to perform it?

It's here.