triceraclops
Hey guys,
Recently got the gtx970 SC and almost straight out of the box having problems with artifacts/polygon spikes across several games. Downloaded OC scanner to try to diagnose and noticed heavy visual artifacting (of similar nature to artifacts previously mentioned) on all Physx tests, but artifact counter stays at zero. This is an indicator of a problem right?

Set full screen and make sure the settings are all the way up. Make sure that it is fully loading VRAM and runs with power and gpu usage at 100. My guess is that you will start to see that number climb. I had a crashing card once and when I ran this program normal, it did not show and artifacts. I cranked up the settings and set it to full screen and right away it started showing artifacts. If you are not overclocking the card, the card is defective and you should send it for RMA, or take it back to the store you bought it from. 

You are RMAing your card because of scanner isn't working or is there other things going on?

What else is artifacting and how are your temperatures? I highly suggest hanging your thermal paste on the gpu, which won't void the warranty of an EVGA card, before you RMA. It could be an issue, as the thermal paste application looks to be done by blind children sometimes.... Nothing against blind children, mind you.

The reason I said to check the thermal material is because a lot of times evga will miss a good portion of a corner of the gpu core itself. I actually have a thread strictly about this, and my temps were actually wonderful, minus the fact that the core wasn't covered.

The temp sensor is in the center of the gpu core, so if the center has good thermal paste but nothing else is covered, you can fit issues even at great temps. It never hurts to look under the hood before hand. You just need thermal paste and a something to clean the core with, Maine rubbing alcohol and coffee filters.

If nothing else, you will send evga fresh thermal paste on their core.