Hello,
 
Currently using a 980ti ACX 2.0 with Precision X 5.3.10 and hoping someone familiar with EVGA cards / software could answer two questions for me.
 
I have tried both Precision X and Afterburner, and wondered if the spikes in core usage while idle for Precision X are normal:
 
 
 
This leads to my second question - I started using MSI Afterburner since I was not sure if the spikes shown up top were the norm even with SpeedStep turned on. I noticed there were times when the fan speed seemed to dip ~100 RPM for a second before resuming current fan curve speed. This was happening within the 5c hysteresis I had set, so the RPM fluctuation wasn't because the temperature lowered past the threshold.
 
Example:     Fan speed dropping from 2180 RPM to 2051 RPM even though the temperature at the time was a steady 51c (max temp).  This seems to happen at around 2150-2200 RPM fan speeds. It's generally uncommon, but when it does happen the sudden drop in the fan speed sounds similar to shifting gears, if only for a second. I initially thought this was software related, but this also happens with Precision X.
 
Fan Curve (Same as Afterburner):  
 
Again, I have to ask if this is normal. Other than the sudden drop in fan speed, it follows the set fan curve and remains steady without any dips afterwards unless it's hovering at that particular point.
 
Any input / assistance would be much appreciated.
 
Thank you in advance.
 
 ** Edited in order to clarify that RPM dips happened with both Precision X and Afterburner.
 
 ** Updated with better visuals of GPU fan speed dip:
 

 
Graph with stepping instead of curve: