NVIDIA Driver Update Restricts Power Limit Control on GeForce RTX 5000-Series GPUs
Recent developments in the PC hardware community have highlighted a significant change for enthusiasts using NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5000-series graphics cards. The open-source overclocking utility, mVolt+, previously enabled users to unlock power limit controls on these GPUs, including the flagship RTX 5090. This capability allowed certain models to draw up to 125 watts of additional power, resulting in notably higher core clock speeds and improved performance for advanced users.
However, with the release of NVIDIA’s latest driver update, version 615.56, this functionality appears to have been restricted. According to discussions on the Overclock.net forums and reports shared by Uniko's Hardware on X, attempts to increase the power limit using mVolt+ now result in a black screen, which is typically indicative of a driver crash. This suggests that the new driver may be actively blocking the core power control features previously accessible through mVolt+.
Compatibility Issues and Workarounds
Despite these restrictions, some users have reported that a beta version of Hydra 2.3, another overclocking tool, still retains the ability to override core power limits on NVIDIA GPUs, even after the 615.56 driver update. This has led to speculation within the community about whether NVIDIA has specifically targeted mVolt+ with this change, or if the issue is the result of an untested interaction between mVolt+ and the new driver.
At this stage, it remains unclear whether NVIDIA’s latest driver update was intentionally designed to block mVolt+ or if the incompatibility is an unintended side effect. As the situation develops, users interested in advanced overclocking and power management on GeForce RTX 5000-series GPUs are advised to monitor community forums and official channels for further updates and potential solutions.
