NVIDIA has released the GeForce Usuários of cards like the RTX 5090 have reported that the new driver imposes restrictions on the GPU core voltage, limiting behavior in manual overclocking scenarios. The change mainly affects enthusiasts who adjust clocks and voltages via tools like MSI Afterburner, reducing the maximum frequencies achieved.
Independent testing with the RTX 5090 showed that with previous drivers like the 591.86, the card achieved voltages between 1020V and 1030V and clocks above 3015MHz under manual overclocking of +200MHz on the core and +2000MHz on the memory during heavy loads like FurMark. With the 595.71 driver, in the same configurations, the voltages drop to 1,005 V to 1,010 V, with occasional drops to 1,000 V, and the clocks do not exceed 3,000 MHz. In stock configurations, without overclocking, the voltages are also slightly lower compared to previous versions.
NVIDIA has not officially commented on the voltage limitation, but has stated that the 595.71 driver restored expected performance after the 595.59 bug fixes. Relatos indicate that the impact is minimal for users playing on default settings, without manual adjustments. Entusiastas of overclocking faces a reduction in the performance gain margin.
Restrictions observed in tests with RTX 5090
Tests performed on cards such as the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 SUPRIM X confirmed the change in voltage behavior. With overclocking applied, the previous driver allowed stable operation at higher voltage and frequency ranges. Agora, the GPU operates with an effective ceiling below 1010V in most high load scenarios.
Users on NVIDIA forums and specialized communities described similar situations in models like the RTX 5080, with limited clocks and lower-than-expected power consumption. Alguns peaked at 3,230 MHz in games with older drivers, but is now restricted to around 3,000 MHz even with aggressive tuning.
The limitation seems to occur regardless of high power limit settings, such as +11% or values close to the maximum allowed by the board. Ferramentas monitoring tests show that the voltage curve does not scale as before when trying to exceed certain frequency thresholds.
Impact on overclocking and overall performance
Manual overclocking remains possible, but with reduced gains. Ajustes that previously raised clocks significantly now result in automatic undervolting of the GPU, maintaining lower frequencies. Isso affects synthetic benchmarks and scenarios that demand maximum sustained performance.
In games optimized for the RTX 50 series, such as recent titles with advanced ray tracing, stock performance remains close to expected. The difference appears mainly when overclocking is forced to extract extra FPS gains.
Reports indicate that the card’s power consumption drops under heavy loads with the new driver, which could benefit systems with borderline power supplies or thermal concerns. However, this comes at the expense of untapped performance potential.
Possible reasons for the change
It is speculated that NVIDIA implemented the restriction to mitigate risks associated with the 16-pin power connector (12V-2×6), common in the RTX 50 series, avoiding excessive peaks that could cause overheating or instability in the long term. The absence of an official statement leaves the exact reason unconfirmed.
Affected users suggest reverting to drivers like 591.86 WHQL to recover previous overclocking behavior. NVIDIA recommends keeping drivers updated for bug fixes and game optimizations, but has not directly addressed this specific voltage change.
User experiences with different models
Custom boards from AIB partners, such as MSI, ASUS and others, have the same limitation pattern. In configurations with high power limits, the GPU does not reach the expected consumption, remaining below the configured ceiling.
Communities report that models like the RTX 5080 Vanguard and similar ones lose overclocking gains that have been consistent for months. The voltage curve seems to force reductions when trying to exceed 3,000 MHz, even with overvolt applied.
The 595.71 driver maintains WHQL certification, ensuring broad compatibility, but introduces this feature that divides opinions between casual users and overclockers.
Recent NVIDIA Updates
The driver sequence for the RTX 50 series included optimizations for specific games, such as Resident Evil Requiem, but brought initial instabilities. The quick replacement of 595.59 with 595.71 demonstrates the company’s agile response to initial feedback.
Continuous monitoring by the community indicates that new versions may adjust or remove this limitation, depending on more reports accumulated. For now, enthusiasts opt for earlier versions to maximize the cards’ potential.
