Fix for GTX970/980 Fans Randomly Turning On issue

[flobelix]

The much discussed issue with fans of GTX 970 GAMING 4G randomly starting to run in idle (https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=184333.50) seems to be fixed with a vbios update. To point this out: These are official MSI files and no vbios mods

A very big thanks goes out to the German MSI forum and their moderator wiesel201 who pointed me to >>his thread<< and the files on the German forum.

To get started you first need to identify the correct vbios for your card. Therefor you need to check the card's S/N.

Example of a GTX 970 GAMING 4G's S/N: 602-V316-03SB1409025XXX

The number code marked red representing the card's batch is relevant for identifying the correct vbios. The table below shows which vbios applies to which batch number.

If you are unsure which one to use always ask one of the moderators or admins instead of hoping for the best!

09S / 03S / 010 NV316MH.182 -> to download NV316MH_182.rar

10S / 04S / 020 NV316MH.191 -> to download NV316MH_191.rar

11S / 05S / 030 NV316MH.1A1 -> to download NV316MH_1A1.rar

For our example card with the S/N 602-V316-03SB1409025XXX NV316MH.182 is the correct vbios so NV316MH_182.rar needs to be downloaded.

After downloading the matching archive first uninstall the Nvidia driver (!) then simply decompress the archive and then execute the included batch file (182.bat in case of NV316MH.182's archive) in Windows by double clicking or via command prompt (must be run as administrator)

Same like above now also applies to the GTX980 Gaming series:

03s / 13s  NV317MH.112 -> to download NV317MH_112.rar
06s / 14s  NV317MH.131 -> to download NV317MH_131.rar
11s / 15s  NV317MH.143 -> to download NV317MH_143.rar
12s / 16s  NV317MH.153 -> to download NV317MH_153.rar

Thanks again wiesel201!




*Please note that this just covers the issue with the fans randomly starting and not the problem of one fan not starting at all on earlier cards which is a defect that requires rma.*





 

 

[NiHaLus]

For those flashing sli, its very straight forward.  NVflash will simply flash one card, then tell you it has found another and just repeat without exiting NVflash.  Once it has no further cards to flash it will tell you.  There is no need to be uninstalling cards etc.

Hope that helps.

Thank's KingDazza, and here i was thinking i had to flash the cards one at a time.  :lol_anim:

 

[matt3o]

what worked for me

- uninstall drivers from control panel
- do not reboot when prompted
- double click on .bat file
- confirm flash
- reboot
- reinstall nvidia drivers (version .65)

mine was the 182 firmware for S/N 03SB

GPU-Z shows fan speed 0% and so far I haven't experienced any random fan spin

 

[Boogie37]

i flash the bios and all but i see its still doing it on mine down to 0 every few sec 

 

[pjuppi]

hello.

i have a quick question...
i have the "03S" S/N according to my box... but in my live update 6, it says i have vbios NV316MH.125? or is your "NV316MH.182" just the new vbios code?

 

[Boogie37]

hello.

i have a quick question...
i have the "03S" S/N according to my box... but in my live update 6, it says i have vbios NV316MH.125? or is your "NV316MH.182" just the new vbios code?

Mine was the same as you before flashing. The nv316mh.182 is the new version of bios for the card that should fix the spinning down of fans every few sec.

 

[boogeyman]

hello.

i have a quick question...
i have the "03S" S/N according to my box... but in my live update 6, it says i have vbios NV316MH.125? or is your "NV316MH.182" just the new vbios code?

Go to System info tab in Liveupdate and click scan so it refreshes. What Vbios version does it say then?

 

[Sinthuras]

Hi all!

I followed the comments here for the last few days, because i have the same problems with the fans. I hoped, that i can get the VBIOS Update without to register and download it. I want it more comfortable by using Live Update 6 (click and go!). Therefore i started Live Update 6 and i saw the new VBIOS version there (NV316MH.182 for S/N:09S). So i deinstalled the driver, downloaded and installed the new VBIOS version (using Live Update), reboot, reinstalled the actual driver 344.65 and THE FANS DONT SPIN IN IDLE NOW!!! It worked with Live Update 6!

So the problem with spinning fans is solved. But there is another problem, that i have. When i play a game, after a while the fans are spinning and stopping the whole time! Spin,stop,spin,stop...every 2 secs. Does anybody have the same problem?

 

[Boogie37]

So the problem with spinning fans is solved. But there is another problem, that i have. When i play a game, after a while the fans are spinning and stopping the whole time! Spin,stop,spin,stop...every 2 secs. Does anybody have the same problem?

Mine stays on 0 while under 50C..but when its over 50C it spin up and down like you say even idle in windows.

 

[delfinus]

So new bios is causing a new issue?  If so I'm staying on my personal modified bios that works without any sporadic spin ups and downs. Bios version is a child of a bios that officially came with a card and that is until they clear out the thing.

EDIT: or maybe that spin up and down while gaming is happening natural as it is targeted by the lower margin of temperature and then it stops. When it hits 60C it spins again? Or? What is the correlation with the temperature when it does that? Please check in afterburner.
I'm not so enthusiastic to try half working bios .

 

[Sinthuras]

So new bios is causing a new issue?

EDIT: or maybe that spin up and down while gaming is happening natural as it is targeted by the lower margin of temperature and then it stops. When it hits 60C it spins again? Or? What is the correlation with the temperature when it does that? Please check in afterburner.
I'm not so enthusiastic to try half working bios .

It has nothing to do with the new BIOS Update. Because of the new version, i have no spinning fans in idle anymore.  

I checked Afterburner and youre right. It has to do with the 60?C temperature. The fans go on and off, because the temperature pass and then directly fall below the 60?C. It holds on the whole time, like i said, every 2 seconds (what makes sense).

I dont want to complain about MSI, but my opinion is, that the fans should only stop, when you are in idle mode (its a very nice feature. I dont want to miss it).But while gaming, they should work. Otherwise its a high level of stress for the fans.

 

[pjuppi]

Mine was the same as you before flashing. The nv316mh.182 is the new version of bios for the card that should fix the spinning down of fans every few sec.

oh well okey, i just dont wanna mess things up, but thx for answering

Go to System info tab in Liveupdate and click scan so it refreshes. What Vbios version does it say then?

doesn't matter, still .125. that's why i asked here

Hi all!

I followed the comments here for the last few days, because i have the same problems with the fans. I hoped, that i can get the VBIOS Update without to register and download it. I want it more comfortable by using Live Update 6 (click and go!). Therefore i started Live Update 6 and i saw the new VBIOS version there (NV316MH.182 for S/N:09S). So i deinstalled the driver, downloaded and installed the new VBIOS version (using Live Update), reboot, reinstalled the actual driver 344.65 and THE FANS DONT SPIN IN IDLE NOW!!! It worked with Live Update 6!

So the problem with spinning fans is solved. But there is another problem, that i have. When i play a game, after a while the fans are spinning and stopping the whole time! Spin,stop,spin,stop...every 2 secs. Does anybody have the same problem?

whaaaat, my live update doesn't show any new vbios update!

and also, with the "new fan problem", it read my answer below ^^

...EDIT: or maybe that spin up and down while gaming is happening natural as it is targeted by the lower margin of temperature and then it stops. When it hits 60C it spins again? Or? What is the correlation with the temperature when it does that? Please check in afterburner.
I'm not so enthusiastic to try half working bios .

yea that should be right, it happens for me too when i play a game that doesn't stress the gpu very much. for example in guild wars 2, my gpu can't show its muscle because my cpu (i5 2500k) is too weak. that means my gpu stays at around 58-60c and keeps juggling between the temps. i just have msi afterburner on autostart, and whenever i start a game, i start the custom fan profile^^

 

[delfinus]

Thanks for confirming that Sinthuras and pjuppi! I think that rwcordell's optimized recommendation is better for my taste so I will stay with my custom bios as it keeps MSI card cooler and also fans kick in at 50C. So it will be less probability to flow between the limits. Games usually are just there in high 50 and low 60C while gaming.

his post here is #28: click

best, d.

 

[Sinthuras]

yea that should be right, it happens for me too when i play a game that doesn't stress the gpu very much. for example in guild wars 2, my gpu can't show its muscle because my cpu (i5 2500k) is too weak. that means my gpu stays at around 58-60c and keeps juggling between the temps. i just have msi afterburner on autostart, and whenever i start a game, i start the custom fan profile^^

Ah, i understand. Its a good idea to use the custom fan profile then, until MSI creates a better temperature profile for these cases (i hope so).

Thanks for confirming that Sinthuras and pjuppi! I think that rwcordell's optimized recommendation is better for my taste so I will stay with my custom bios as it keeps MSI card cooler and also fans kick in at 50C. So it will be less probability to flow between the limits. Games usually are just there in high 50 and low 60C while gaming.

his post here is #28: click

best, d.

Thanks for the Fan Control Options. Because i have no idea how to create a temperature-profile, this is very helpful for me.

 

[CalinTM]

Lol i dont have any of these problems. My GPU fan starts to spin on 60+ degrees, and stops while below 60 degrees. the VRM fan spins a little longer after exiting a game.

 

[Zorder]

Is this normal? I just noticed the fans have been acting like this, I assume it's because they only start when the temp reaches 60C so when it is at 59C it keeps turning the fans on and off. Should I be worried or is this how it is supposed to work?

Thanks in advance!

 

[CalinTM]

No its not normal, flash ur bios.

 

[Zorder]

No its not normal, flash ur bios.

What do you mean by that? I only flashed my VGA Bios once, and it was with the new fix from MSI related to the idle fan problem, you're telling me to do it again?

 

[pjuppi]

What do you mean by that? I only flashed my VGA Bios once, and it was with the new fix from MSI related to the idle fan problem, you're telling me to do it again?

dunno what he meant by that, but you're good unless your fan is like that when your graphic card is IDLE . you are on the edge @ 60c temp on the card, the fan kicks in when it hit 60, and shuts off @ 59. but yea, if you're worried about the fans lifespan when it does like that, just use msi afterburner and use a userconfigured fanspeed when you game, i do it as i said a few posts above and i think it works ok.


also, my card is fine now! i got the vbios from live update and flashed it without any problem, kicking with nv driver 344.65 and no random fan spin-up when idle

edit: oh, also. i wanted to try adaptive vsync, but with .16 the settings didn't saved, but with .65 the setting saves nicely!
but dunno if it works, i cant tell if i get tearing in gw2 at all xD

 

[Zorder]

dunno what he meant by that, but you're good unless your fan is like that when your graphic card is IDLE . you are on the edge @ 60c temp on the card, the fan kicks in when it hit 60, and shuts off @ 59. but yea, if you're worried about the fans lifespan when it does like that, just use msi afterburner and use a userconfigured fanspeed when you game, i do it as i said a few posts above and i think it works ok.


also, my card is fine now! i got the vbios from live update and flashed it without any problem, kicking with nv driver 344.65 and no random fan spin-up when idle

Actually the fan was like that while I was browsing but I figured somethings was wrong because on MSI Gaming App and Afterburner the Core Clock and Memory Clock were "stuck" as you can see on the screenshot I posted above. I then used the Cool Down function from the MSI Gaming App and after the temperature dropped to around 50-55 the fans stopped.

The thing I'm worried about is that I'm getting these spikes on the Core Clock and Memory Clock on Afterburner and they go up to 1114Mhz according to MSI Gaming App. (check pic below)

 

[CalinTM]

What do you mean by that? I only flashed my VGA Bios once, and it was with the new fix from MSI related to the idle fan problem, you're telling me to do it again?

If u flashed already the new bios and still have the problem, hmmmm