It's not at all uncommon for third party software to tame EVGA hardware better than their in-house software, primarily due to their in-house software. Unfortunately, the EVGA software is written to write and read fan and LED firmware configurations, with minimal synchronization between what is required and what is present, and in the context of their own software wakes. There are instances when production versions are removed for breaking against the hardware configs they are hot-fixing.   
With that said, common reconciliation techniques include DDUing, manual EVGA X1 installation remnant purging, and the coveted RMA experience which no OEM makes more facile, due to seasoned practice this gen.

If the card's fans are on when the computer is sleeping or shut down, it means that either the PSU isn't turning off properly (possibly a motherboard firmware issue or a power supply issue) or the card is getting power backfed to it from your monitor via the HDMI or DP cable. While the computer is shut down or sleeping, try unplugging the cables(s) to the monitor(s) and see if the fans stop spinning, and if they do, troubleshoot that.

I could be mis-remembering, but I think there is a Gigabyte motherboard model where not turning off the video card properly during sleep and shutdown is a known motherboard problem. It's worth pursuing on the motherboard front.

The fans staying on is absolutely not a video card problem. During sleep and shutdown, the video card should not be receiving power. The source of the power is the cause of the problem.

Regarding the high idle clocks, first make sure that you don't have boost lock selected in Precision. It is also normal for you to have high idle clocks if you are using multiple monitors and/or high refresh rates. In such a case, there are some things you can try to do to stop it, but in general it is normal. The easiest solution is to lower the monitor(s) refresh rate back down to 60 Hz when you aren't playing games. Once the driver determines that a higher clock was needed, it tends to not want to drop back down.

thanks for all the help, you all have saved me from the embarrassment of RMAing a good card.
 

brenswald

grondzik
make sure that the "power management mode" is not set to "prefer maximum performance". My card stays at full clock with it set to "prefer maximum performance". M
 

in the meanwhile looking for this
 

Make sure it is set to Optimal Power or Adaptive (not Maximum Performance).
But, by default, that is not your problem. So, unless you changed it at some point, the problem is likely the monitor thing you didn't respond to.