I have an interesting observation (maybe).
 
 
 
Firestrike Ultimate Graphics test 1 hits the power limit easily so I tested this:
 
Test 1.)
+37MHz core
-502MHz VRAM
127% PWR
 
GPU never dipped below 2000MHz and stayed at 2012MHz-2025MHz most of the time with occasional spikes to 2037MHz.
GPU-Z showed the card hitting the PWR limit and vREL at the same time.
 
Test 2.)
+37MHz core
+0MHz VRAM
127% PWR
 
GPU was most of the time on 1987MHz-2000MHz with occasional dips to 1974MHz and spikes to 2012MHz.
GPU-Z showed the card hitting only the PWR limit
 
 
Test 3.)
+37MHz core
+700MHz VRAM
127% PWR
 
GPU pretty much never goes above 1987MHz and usually stays at 1962MHz with dips even below that.
GPU-Z showed PWR limit.
 
In each of these tests, the GPU-Z showed 117.9% TDP max.
_____________________
 
Then I tried each test with 118% PWR and the core clocks went actually down in each test by 12-25MHz and now even the Test1 was entirely PWR limited.
 
GPU-Z showed max PWR to be 115.8%.
 
______________________
 
Now with 100% PWR (only the test 3). The clocks were significantly lower. Most of the time in the low to mid 19xxMHz range with some dips below 1900MHz.
But GPU-Z showed the max PWR to be 106.1% TDP hmm...
 
_______________________
 
My conclusion
The PWR slider in the MSI Afterburner/Precision X definitely works. I am quite sure the PWR limit is 127% working as intended and I think that GPU-Z is spewing out incorrect PWR read outs.

Problem is throttling. As it hits the limit it throttles quite harsh. So you can't really see the maximum power value.
 
Max. power on the screenshot was 345W, which is 123% TDP, but GPU-Z reports only max. 121%TDP for the entire run.
 

herr_barus
Problem is throttling. As it hits the limit it throttles quite harsh. So you can't really see the maximum power value.
 
Max. power on the screenshot was 345W, which is 123% TDP, but GPU-Z reports only max. 121%TDP for the entire run.
 

I had no idea about the NVIDIA-SMI.
 
There is mine:
 
+50MHz Core
-502MHz VRAM
PWR Limit 127%
 
under the red line
 
Firestrike Ultimate loop:
+50MHz Core
+700MHz VRAM
PWR Limit 127%
 
 
 
 
And then I let the loop run again and checked the power limit and max spikes.
 
 
 
I don't know. The power limit is 358W but the card power throttles before it can reach it at around 315-330W... I don't understand why though :/
I also want to make it clear that the card was under 60*C with fans at 100% so it definitely doesn't downclock because of temperature.
 
I guess the card is power limited to spikes never exceed 127% power limit, not to deliver continuously 27% more power. Of course, we also have to take in mind that this is software measurement, actually checking with the multimeter may give us very different results.
 
 
@AdamInk I cannot reply to your PM because I don't have 10 posts on this forum yet, sorry :(

My cards had no problem hitting their max limits. Looks to be a card/vbios issue at this point.
 

 

 
 
 

1070 SC user hitting power limit at only 96%... https://forums.evga.com/G...96-Power-m2708875.aspx

@herr_barus & TheWereCat
 
You guys should try running the superposition benchmark on the 8k preset to see if you guys can hit your max limits or not. That is what I did to hit the limits on my cards.

I hit the power limit in GTA V in 4K (chilling in the bunker). 
I don't care what the card do in benchmarks. ;)

Sajin
@herr_barus & TheWereCat
 
You guys should try running the superposition benchmark on the 8k preset to see if you guys can hit your max limits or not. That is what I did to hit the limits on my cards.

I tried the superposition. I guess it kinda did hit the limit finally but that doesn't change the fact that most of the time the card is hitting the limit before the max target (at least based on software measurements).
 

346 isn't the limit. 355 is the limit.

Sajin
346 isn't the limit. 355 is the limit.

Yeah, but it is the highest spike I have seen so far.