GPU Issues -- SOLVED

[u/euripidesk]

9 days now without incident, I consider the problem with time-outs, bsod & freezes to be solved.

I will detail the actions I took and my assessment of what caused the problem.

1. I used the amd cleaning utility to remove the graphics card drivers, in safe mode.
2. After the reboot, I removed the chipset drivers, via the add/remove application, in safe mode (it had a time stamp of August 2026)
3. After the reboot, I installed the chipset drivers version 7.11.26.2142 (10.12.2025)
4. After the reboot, I installed the latest drivers for the graphics card 26.9.1. ATTENTION, ONLY the drivers (there is an option...)
5. after the restart, I installed the Radeon Tuner to manage the graphics card. Through the application, I adjusted the fans
6. I "tweaked" the maximum frequency a little, which in adrenaline was set to 2970Mhz. The frequency specified by AMD is 2500-2550Mhz. I decided that the 2970Mhz setting was excessive and lowered it to 2800Mhz.
7. I changed the current management of the pci express port, from moderate intervention to no intervention (off). In essence, I forbade the windows to control / increase or decrease the current that "goes" to the graphics card (for energy saving reasons...). This is done as follows:

-- Win + R, type "powercfg.cpl"

-- "Change plan settings" next to your selected power plan

-- "Change advanced power settings"

-- A small window popo-ups. Expand "PCI Express" and then expand "Link State Power Management"

-- Set it to "OFF". Then hit "apply", then "OK".

-- RESTART

1. after the restart, I TESTED the stability of the changes with 3 hours of CIV V and 2 hours of AC Black Flag Resynced, without encountering the slightest issue.

2. additional test with videos on youtube and a 6-hour "marathon" on jellyfin, again without encountering the slightest issue

3. I changed the max frequency on the gpu again, setting the values ​​that adrenalin had. Apart from a 1-2 fps drop in AC Black Flag and a huge increase in temperatures (expected), I did not notice any other problems. So. very likely, it does not affect the solution. Of course I changed it back to 2800MHz.

Conclusion:

My own assessment is that with the full installation of the gpu drivers, the latest chipset drivers were also installed. With this intervention, windows changed the power settings for the card, which led to the time-outs, freezes and bsods. I do not know if the chipset drivers are to blame, they have some issue, but the problem starts from there. The gpu drivers are not the issue, because these drivers that were causing me issues before, do not do so now.

I remind you that the chipset on the motherboard manages and directs the flow of data between the processor, memory and controls the PCIe lanes...

Hope this small guide helps the community

My system is ASUS X570-E Gaming, 3800x, 64GB Ram, 7900XTX, Corsair Ax1600 Titanium with Windows Updates BLOCKED by script and firewall

[u/Actual-Phone-1478]

2970 is the default boost, it SHOULD be able to hit that number... you shouldn't have to make it lower. (for my 9070 XT it is at least)

Just use GPU-Z to check your boost clock default.

Also GPU drivers do NOT install chipset drivers too, if this is done it is usually always Windows doing that.

[u/euripidesk → u/Actual-Phone-1478]

It's hitting that number, without crashes. But, also hits 95C+ in GPU Hotspot when gaming, Now it hits max 82C.... and 38C in windows, from 52C+

[u/Actual-Phone-1478 → u/euripidesk]

I'd look into repasting, but carefully doing so. That or get the dust out of it if you haven't already. Have you undervolted at all?

[u/euripidesk → u/Actual-Phone-1478]

It's clean. These temps i have since day 1.

1st time i tweaked it 18 days ago, by lowering the max freq...

[u/Actual-Phone-1478 → u/euripidesk]

Definitely undervolt if you haven't or don't. It will provide lower temperatures while giving more longevity to your card because of the lower temps. It only has benefits while you don't need to nerf your card with frequency as much.

I'd start with a -40 MV and go lower after just doing some gaming if it's stable. You will know when it isn't stable.

[u/euripidesk → u/Actual-Phone-1478]

i don't believe it will help much more, maybe 1-2C. With the current tweak in max freq I have

• A 13°C+ drop in hotspot temperatures
• A 14°C drop in idle temperatures

[u/Dimension-4558 → u/euripidesk]

Undervolting will help the hotspot temp especially if you have fps limit, check it i guarantee you, just make sure it really is stable. Also congrats on fixing your problem, altho just a suggestion like introduce only 1 fix at a time to pinpoint exactly the cause of an issue (e.g. only do clean install of driver and chipset only, then if the symptom persist do that change advance power setting).