VRAM issue on 3090

[grbesicb]

No PCI-E power extension cables?

I'm asking all these questions because i've literally burned, i mean BURNED, PCI-E extension cables and risers with my 3090 - they can move a LOT of power.

No extension cable, it's on mobo.

Are you able to run GPU-Z and log the memory junction temperatures right until the point it crashes? If your card is running the VRAM at 108-110 range, expect it to be quite moody indeed. I've read reports of some Gigabyte cards having their factory thermal pads dry out because of the extreme heat stress. Any undervolting applied to it? Sometimes the GPU voltage you used cannot sustain the memory, even though otherwise it would be stable, i.e. I can do 1755 core +800 memory at 793 mV and 1890 core +1000 memory at 837 mV, but with 793 mV, it crashes almost instantly at 1755 core +1000 memory. You may also have a bad VBIOS installed on it, the Gigabyte Gaming OC's latest ReBAR 390W BIOS works great on my TUF OC, and should work great on your actual Gaming OC as well. Try a clean flash, downloading the right file from TPU.

FurMark is not useful for testing, not because it can kill cards (hardware power limiter and thermal throttling will kick in long before any real damage occurs), but because the graphics driver will detect it and further throttle the clocks. I've seen mine do low 1100s running it, it's not useful at all. Running Port Royal and Time Spy Extreme stability tests, as well as Unigine Superposition and the Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker/XV Windows Edition benchmarks work great for stability testing.

Like Mussels said, the RTX 3090 is an exceptionally hungry video card. Don't run risers, cheap custom cables, cable extenders and the sort and make absolutely sure your power supply can handle a strong current in its 12V rails with generous overprovisioning, another very common oversight - don't daisy chain and run one cable for both of your 8-pin connectors! Just don't.

And for the love of God, don't chuck your $2000 video card in the oven. That can and most definitely will place great stress on the entire PCB, and might cause damage where otherwise was fine.

I've ran GPU-Z and logged everything without issues. Temps are looking good. I can do anything because it does not crash the whole system, just the game itself. There is no undervolt applied. Thermal pads were in terrible condition when I opened the card (pics attached). I've tried all 3 BIOS listed on Gigabyte's website, not sure if they differ from the ones on TPU. Cables are not daisy chained and power supply is one of the best in the market. I don't think baking would help with this anyways (maybe I'm wrong but I won't do it).

I'll try and run the other benchmarks you said.

Normally with the 3090, Tjunction reports the hottest memory chip - its also possible here that the sensor is not in the location that's overheating and a teardown with new thermal pads is the logical next step


Oh yeah, i totally missed using the daisy chain or pigtail power cables: you need two seperate cables from the PSU, not one shared one.

I've changed the pads, you can see attached pics of what it looked like after opening the card and seeing Gigabyte's pads...

With the issue of Games crashing on launch.
I would like you try down-clocking your GPU core clocks and maybe VRAM clocks has well.
See if the games launch with these lower clock settings.

Try reference 3090 clocks or even lower

I've tried underclocking both core and memory - does not help. Tried lowering power limit as well and it doesn't help.

What's interesting is that I've never seen consumption of this card go above 240W (readings from GPU-Z) no matter what stress test I run.

Just confirmed that I'm already running ReBar 390W VBIOS - 94.02.42.40.A2

 

[Mussels]

Is the card on the stock BIOS?

If you arent sure, try flashing it to stock. previous owner could have used one of the less reliable methods to flash for better mining performance.

 

[grbesicb]

Is the card on the stock BIOS?

If you arent sure, try flashing it to stock. previous owner could have used one of the less reliable methods to flash for better mining performance.

Yeah it's on stock bios. I already flashed it as soon as I bought it.

 

[neatfeatguy]

Almost sounds like a GTX 285 I had years ago. Got it back from BFG for a RMA just before they closed doors and the card worked in the computer, but when I played games I would get constant crashes to desktop. Tried all sorts of different drivers, dropping/upping voltage, dropping clock/memory speeds, but nothing changed the outcome. I was stuck with a faulty GTX 285 that I couldn't return to BFG because they stopped accepting RMAs since the company was closing. I'm not sure what the actually issue was on the 285, but I did get it working (see spoiler) in a non-conventional way....and not a method I would suggest trying with your card.

Too bad trying the different BIOS from Gigabyte didn't resolve your issue.

Spoiler

In my particular situation I was able to resolve the crashing issue, but it was a last ditch effort. If my actions worked, great! If not, I didn't really lose anything because the card wasn't functional for gaming. Originally I was running two GTX 280s in SLI - fan failed on one so I sent it for RMA and got the 285 in return. 285 wasn't working, so I copied the BIOS off the 280, backed up the BIOS on the 285 and flashed the 280 BIOS on the 285. The 285 ran with the 280 BIOS without a hitch. I even ran the flashed 285 and the 280 in SLI for the next couple years. The flashed 285 card is still out there - member of TPU has it, it was going to go into a retro XP gaming build, but it never came to fruition.

 

[eidairaman1]

Almost sounds like a GTX 285 I had years ago. Got it back from BFG for a RMA just before they closed doors and the card worked in the computer, but when I played games I would get constant crashes to desktop. Tried all sorts of different drivers, dropping/upping voltage, dropping clock/memory speeds, but nothing changed the outcome. I was stuck with a faulty GTX 285 that I couldn't return to BFG because they stopped accepting RMAs since the company was closing. I'm not sure what the actually issue was on the 285, but I did get it working (see spoiler) in a non-conventional way....and not a method I would suggest trying with your card.

Too bad trying the different BIOS from Gigabyte didn't resolve your issue.

Spoiler

In my particular situation I was able to resolve the crashing issue, but it was a last ditch effort. If my actions worked, great! If not, I didn't really lose anything because the card wasn't functional for gaming. Originally I was running two GTX 280s in SLI - fan failed on one so I sent it for RMA and got the 285 in return. 285 wasn't working, so I copied the BIOS off the 280, backed up the BIOS on the 285 and flashed the 280 BIOS on the 285. The 285 ran with the 280 BIOS without a hitch. I even ran the flashed 285 and the 280 in SLI for the next couple years. The flashed 285 card is still out there - member of TPU has it, it was going to go into a retro XP gaming build, but it never came to fruition.

I say he got suckerd

 

[grbesicb]

Well I'm parting my ways with it anyways. I've sold it and sent it out just now.

Thank you guys for suggestions anyways

 

[Dr. Dro]

Well I'm parting my ways with it anyways. I've sold it and sent it out just now.

Thank you guys for suggestions anyways

Well, happy outcome in any manner. I was going to mention though, that the memory chips seem to be quite greasy - definitely heat damage to the thermal pads, which might not be transferring heat correctly anymore as they lost their original properties. You see, the thermal pads leak the silicone oil out of them because of the strong heat, and eventually, turn into nothing but dust. Nasty business.

I fear this will happen with my 3090 sooner or later, it probably already began, but temps are still fine and i'm not too keen on dropping a huge amount of cash on Thermalright pads right now

 

[eidairaman1]

Well I'm parting my ways with it anyways. I've sold it and sent it out just now.

Thank you guys for suggestions anyways

I hope you are honest about the card because i wouldnt want to get a pos.

 

[grbesicb]

I hope you are honest about the card because i wouldnt want to get a pos.

Of course, the buyer got all the details about the card and he was still interested