Shelledfade
My overclocked reference evga gtx 980, not a FTW edition, also has this issue with newer nvidia drivers. Got frequent TDR crashes in games and black-screen freezes occasionally.

My screen would go black in the witcher 3, sometimes white(rare), and I would have to manually restart the computer as is being described in this thread with the newer drivers 352.86 or 353.06. I was forced to roll back to 350.12 to get some stability back. Older drivers still cause TDR crashes now and then. I literally can't use these newer nvidia drivers though due to how unstable they are with TDR crashes and blackscreen locks.

Not just the FTW edition is affected by this problem. The specific model I got is EVGA 04G-P4-2980-KR on newegg, so basically just the evga 980 basic reference model. It is pretty stable in older drivers, but on newer drivers you literally can't play anything due to either TDR crashes or sometimes blackscreens that lock the system where it needs to be restarted manually. I will keep my eyes glued to this thread as I have the exact same issues as described from people with the FTW cards.

The issues I'm getting seem almost identical to what people are getting with these FTW edition cards. Overclocked reference 980 needs help as well. My card is stable at 1495/3950 on older drivers. Can run 10 passes of heaven benchmark and 10 passes of valley benchmark without a problem consecutively, in a row, no issues. On these newer drivers though forget it, I tried lowering clocks by 100mhz on core and memory and STILL got TDR's and blackscreen locks with these newer nvidia drivers.

I don't know what causes this issue, maybe a power management issue is my guess, but I've tried literally everything other than messing with the bios itself and nothing works. People are having similar issues on the nvidia forums with these newer drivers as well. The same issues that are being reported here and pretty much all over the nvidia forums and the guru forums as well with these newer nvidia drivers.
 
Monitor: ASUS VS248 1920x1080 
Windows 7 64bit sp1 
MOBO: ASUS P8P67 DELUXE rev3.0 / bios 3602 
Intel i7-2600k @ 4.4ghz 
G.skill 8GB DDR3 2133 
EVGA Gtx 980 Bios: 84.04.1F.00.80 (samsung vram)
Samsung 830 250GB SSD Firmware: CXM03B1Q 
PSU: Antec 850w gold certified 
Keyboard: Logitech G110 
Audio/sound: Logitech G35 7.1 headset 
Mouse: Razer Deathadder 2013 edition
------Essential background programs-----
MSI afterburner 4.1.1
Rivatuner Statistics server v6.3.0.7688
Samsung magician
Razer synapse 2.0 v1.18
Logitech gaming software v8.58.183

finalflash88

stalinx20

finalflash88
I didn’t read the whole thread, but I got my GTX 980 FTW since 2 months now and it’s working like a charm. No Blue screens, no freezes, no game crashes, no nothing *knocks on wood* Just my 2 cents. To all the others, good luck, hopefully there will be a working solution for you guys.

You should take a screenshot via GPUZ under the sensor information to provide any information possible to EVGA tech/Dave. Obviously something was made different with your GPU compared to most people's FTW.

Ok, I'll do so as soon as I'm home. Additionally I should inform you, that I didn't overclock anything, the card is running on default settings, I just made some slight changes to the fan-curve, that’s it about it.
 
Is there anything else I should check?
 
 

Shelledfade
As far as I know the overclock I'm using is stable. I ran 10 passes of valley benchmark without a problem, and then 10 passes of heaven benchmark without a problem, all in a row. On these newer drivers though games just crash crash crash. Even underclocking a lot, 100mhz off core and memory, still crashes horribly with these newer drivers. The witcher 3 is just an unstable nightmare.

There's seriously something wrong with these newer drivers.

Shelledfade

stalinx20

Shelledfade
As far as I know the overclock I'm using is stable. I ran 10 passes of valley benchmark without a problem, and then 10 passes of heaven benchmark without a problem, all in a row. On these newer drivers though games just crash crash crash. Even underclocking a lot, 100mhz off core and memory, still crashes horribly with these newer drivers. The witcher 3 is just an unstable nightmare.

There's seriously something wrong with these newer drivers.

I have done the same thing. Passed all the benchmarks with a breeze, but as soon as i ran any program/game the drivers crash. WHen i lowered the clocks, the drivers ran stable. Give it a shot, set the clocks back to reference clocks. You haven't even tried it yet.

I have tried stock with newer drivers... it the same deal. Same exact prob as you guys.

Stephenk291
https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/467215/geforce-driver-installation-guide-a-guide-to-ensure-your-drivers-are-installed-properly-/
 
helpful post for driver installs/uninstalls.

Shelledfade
yes I use DDU in safe mode to clear driver-remains out before installing newer driver. Tried without it as well. Also I only ever install the driver and physx with nothing else.

I'm telling you, you guys aren't the only ones with problems. I sent a support ticket to evga asking them if they could send me a newer bios for my card if one is available. Couldn't find a newer one on the site so meh... its either that or wait for nvidias next driver and hope everything isn't still screwed up with these newer driver releases.



---------------
Monitor: ASUS VS248 1920x1080 
Windows 7 64bit sp1 
MOBO: ASUS P8P67 DELUXE rev3.0 / bios 3602 
Intel i7-2600k @ 4.4ghz 
G.skill 8GB DDR3 2133 
EVGA Gtx 980 Bios: 84.04.1F.00.80 (samsung vram)
Samsung 830 250GB SSD Firmware: CXM03B1Q 
PSU: Antec 850w gold certified 
Keyboard: Logitech G110 
Audio/sound: Logitech G35 7.1 headset 
Mouse: Razer Deathadder 2013 edition
------Essential background programs-----
MSI afterburner 4.1.1
Rivatuner Statistics server v6.3.0.7688
Samsung magician
Razer synapse 2.0 v1.18
Logitech gaming software v8.58.183

stalinx20
I'm willing to believe that Nvidia has made these drivers so people are not overclocking as much, just a speculation though.
 
It makes no sense on why they would do...It's just a theory. Maybe a bad one though.

djmorgan
Stable runs 24/7
 

 
David

Red46

stalinx20
True that.
However, if my speculation is right, then there is no actual resolution for the FTW other than to lower the actual clocks. Here is a perfect analogy... When you're running and you reach your target heart rate for about 20 minutes, then you stop to "catch your breath", but wait, now you have to breathe through a straw, but you're trying to get more air, because you "need more air!"...This is what is happening with the FTW. It's so overclocked that it's trying to get more power than what it actually can, but with the locked voltage (from Nvidia) it can't so the drivers time out, bringing you back to the desktop, BSOD, and/or black screen, maybe even including you to hard reset. These GPUs have to be underclocked by a massive amount to get the voltage (the voltage that the FTW is "trying" to get) under the regulated voltage to get the GPUs stabalized. There is no other way around it. (Unless EVGA were to "compensate" (coughbribe) Nvidia...? politics ugh!) Even if they decided to put gold plated transisters and capacitors in the GPU, it would make no difference. Locked voltage...
 
(this problem has already been mentioned too many times, I don't know why I'm explaining it again. I think I'm just beating a dead horse over it.)
 
Nvidia is so "over focused" over the TDP that they don't want people to go over a certain voltage, which makes sense, because they want to keep that reputation that they have a better and more sufficient GPU. Enthusiasts may argue with the fact that's not all they want in their GPU, they want the highest overclock. THat's why some prefer AMD (?), but that's why AMD runs hotter.
 
So, Nvidia is regulating you to run at a certain pace to keep your heart at a specific speed without trying to get more O2. lol
 
As I think more and more, i come up with other ideas as to "maybe the reason why" ... Would the hardware acceleration with Chrome or Firefox have anything to do with this? Do you guys have this turned off in the web settings? I'm not sure about IE. Many users have stated this is a major problem with Nvidia drivers, and by shutting that hardware acceleration off on their web settings, the nvidia drivers haven't crashed "as much". I cannot confirm if this is a 100% fix. I don't have this problem with nvidia drivers.
 
Even if you're not "using the web", the program still uses your hardware in the background, if these settings are turned on, and assuming you're using Chrome or Firefox. Then again, this issue would not explain the black screen or the BSOD, and it definately wouldn't explain the 116 error code from windows.
You can try and see if this fixes it, but if it doesn't, you're back to square 1.

Interesting analogy but if that was the case, the card should crash even when you force the amount of load on it. To say it in your own words its as if after a 20 minutes full speed run, you needed to catch your breath but, instead of just resting you get it back by going for a 40 minutes full sprint run this time carrying  80 lbs on your back. The problem with the card is not the voltage it gets, but its how it copes with sudden variation of said voltage.

Still to use your running analogy, imagine if you could somehow run 3 hours at full speed without a single problem but, if you had to be constantly switching from a fast walk to full run speed, you would last but 10 minutes. The voltage is the card get is enough, as proved by the people who are running the card successfully. Actually, I wonder if ASIC quality is somehow related to this, it's well known that higher asics does better with lower voltage, could it be that is just certain GPUs that have an ASIC quality over a certain treshold (my defective 980 has 70%) can successfully cope with sudden voltage switching whereas lower ASIC ones can't and thus crash? I don't think it's the case but just throwing even this option out there.

EVGATech_DaveB
Hello all, I am still working with engineering on this issue.  For anyone who has tested DSR and found that helped (I know it kills framerates, but it didn't crash) would you be able to PM me with the serial number of the card, this was a specific request from the engineers and I am still working with them on a fix.
 
I know this is taking a while, but I am trying to get you guys up and running as intended.

Dukman

ShelledfadeNot just 980ftw, my reference 980 oc with boost 1495/3950 has the exact same issue as you guys on these newer 352.86 and 353.06 nvidia drivers. If I roll back to 347.88 or 350.12 I can run 10 passes of heaven benchmark and 10 passes of valley benchmark without an issue all in a row. 
Forget it on these newer drivers though. Even lowering the core and memory clocks by 100mhz doesn't even have an affect on it. TDR and blackscreen crashes everywhere in numerous games or benchmarks with nvidias newer drivers.
My card: EVGA Gtx 980 Bios: 84.04.1F.00.80 (samsung vram)

 
It's not just 900's having these issues.  Im running 780Ti SC's in SLI and everything past 347.88 has been unstable for me.  Currently Im only playing Skyrim and XCOM: Enemy Within, but I get random TDR's and crashes.  352.86 would give me BSOD after BSOD. Didn't matter if I was in game or not.  IE11 would blue screen. as well.  353.06 was completely unstable.  System would constantly blackscreen with the occasional white screen thrown in for variety.

I've rolled back to 350.12 and I still get random black and white screen lock ups.  Still need to test this with other games to see what happens.  Prior to downloading the newer drivers (350+) I had almost no issues.
 
 

stalinx20
the drivers are not the issue.

 
Im not so sure about that.   Not with what has happened since the last few driver updates.  But I won't discount other issues.