S4 MINI Classic (S4M-C)

[blubblob]

Rather than voltage, temperature and rpm readings - did you check how much power the components draw?
The Dynamo Mini 200 is rated for 160W (200W Peak).
Depending on which EVGA 1060 you have and the clocks it runs at the card alone can pull ~120W, add 50W for the CPU during normal gaming loads (more on CPU intensive applications) and another 50W for mainboard, memory, fans, ssd and BAM! you've just triggered the OCP of the Dynamo Mini.
Try limiting the GPU to something like 60% TDP and see if the problem persists.

 

[GuilleAcoustic]

I was going to give the same answer than @blubblob, but (s)he ninja'ed me while I was checking power consumption.

Even if you use a 100000W AC-DC, the Dynamic still can't deliver more than 160W (200W peak).

With lower graphic settings, you aren't stressing the GPU and it doesn't consume that much. As suggested, try lowering the GPU target TDP or power usage.

 

[hyperborea]

I was going to give the same answer than @blubblob, but (s)he ninja'ed me while I was checking power consumption.

Even if you use a 100000W AC-DC, the Dynamic still can't deliver more than 160W (200W peak).

With lower graphic settings, you aren't stressing the GPU and it doesn't consume that much. As suggested, try lowering the GPU target TDP or power usage.

What's the best way to lower the GPU TDP? Do I need software for this? I couldn't find these settings in the ASUS bios...

 

[blubblob]

The GPU usually can't be controlled via bios. I would suggest downloading MSI Afterburner.
There is also a tool from EVGA if you prefer that, called EVGA Precision XOC. Afterburner is generally considered to be the go-to tool for Nvidia GPUs regardless of brand though. In both applications you should find a slider marked "Power Limit" or "Power Target".

 

[dotch]

@hyperborea
In combination with the GPU power limit you can also try undervolting your CPU (assuming you have a Z-Board) to save a few watts there.
I'm pretty curious if you can get it to run stable, because I also plan to run a EVGA 1060 SC off a dynamo mini.

 

[Josh | NFC]

I've had two Dynamo Minis and four HDPLEX 160 builds (long term) with 1060s and 65w CPUs and I've never had to tweak voltages.

Has something changed in their design where they shut off at a hard cap of 160w? The ones I have had in my office I have combined with Dell 330w bricks and they pull about 178w on average, 200 peak, and no issues.

If you have this setup and you have resets let me know so I can replicate and adjust my recommendations. Up until a few posts ago I would have ranked the HDPLEX 160/Dynamo mini as a solid option for 1060 builds.

Peace

 

[hyperborea]

I actually ordered an HDPlex but they sent me a Dynamo Mini. They should be the exact same PSU with a different heatsink.

I guess I'll try MSI Afterburner and report back.

 

[blubblob]

I've had two Dynamo Minis and four HDPLEX 160 builds (long term) with 1060s and 65w CPUs and I've never had to tweak voltages.

Has something changed in their design where they shut off at a hard cap of 160w? The ones I have had in my office I have combined with Dell 330w bricks and they pull about 178w on average, 200 peak, and no issues.

If you have this setup and you have resets let me know so I can replicate and adjust my recommendations. Up until a few posts ago I would have ranked the HDPLEX 160/Dynamo mini as a solid option for 1060 builds.

Peace

I believe the hard cap is still somewhere slightly above 200W. It's just that at least in my experience both the EVGA 1060 SC and the 7700 hit their respective wattage limit hard, and constantly.

With GPU Boost 3 all current generation NVidia cards overclock automatically until they hit the power / voltage limit unless a thermal breakpoint is hit or the card is reigned in with something like vsync.
The 7700 with an aggressive fan curve will probably be consistently running at boost clocks too. Especially considering the very lax voltage presets ASUS is known to strap onto their intel boards (I've seen 7700ks at boost clock with 1.4v ) i wouldn't be surprised to see the CPU work near or at TDP in cpu intensive tasks.

 

[Wasim]

https://hothardware.com/news/intel-cpu-bug-kernel-memory-isolation-linux-windows-macos
Not cool Intel. I just got Intel cpu, haven't even used it yet.

On a slight positive note, gaming performance may not affect that much. But workstation performance will get a hit . Lest hope they find some workaround. AMD CPUs are not affected but may well be a victim.

 

[hyperborea]

I believe the hard cap is still somewhere slightly above 200W. It's just that at least in my experience both the EVGA 1060 SC and the 7700 hit their respective wattage limit hard, and constantly.

With GPU Boost 3 all current generation NVidia cards overclock automatically until they hit the power / voltage limit unless a thermal breakpoint is hit or the card is reigned in with something like vsync.
The 7700 with an aggressive fan curve will probably be consistently running at boost clocks too. Especially considering the very lax voltage presets ASUS is known to strap onto their intel boards (I've seen 7700ks at boost clock with 1.4v ) i wouldn't be surprised to see the CPU work near or at TDP in cpu intensive tasks.

This is really helpful info, and I'm still a noob when it comes to the fine tuning, so thank you!

I installed the EVGA Precision XOC app, reduced the "Power Target" to 60% and have been having zero issues since. Seems like I can run all my games at Max settings now and it won't reset. I wonder if 60% is even too conservative, but for now I'm happy.

 

[brt02]

I believe the hard cap is still somewhere slightly above 200W. It's just that at least in my experience both the EVGA 1060 SC and the 7700 hit their respective wattage limit hard, and constantly.

With GPU Boost 3 all current generation NVidia cards overclock automatically until they hit the power / voltage limit unless a thermal breakpoint is hit or the card is reigned in with something like vsync.
The 7700 with an aggressive fan curve will probably be consistently running at boost clocks too. Especially considering the very lax voltage presets ASUS is known to strap onto their intel boards (I've seen 7700ks at boost clock with 1.4v ) i wouldn't be surprised to see the CPU work near or at TDP in cpu intensive tasks.

If you have a K CPU and an Asus motherboard, make sure you turn multi core enhancement off in the bios. I think it is on by default and this will increase your power draw by forcing all 4 cores to run at the maximum single core turbo frequency.

I would turn that off and increase the power target in your GPU if you game as this will likely improve performance in games.

 

[hyperborea]

I have the non-K version.

 

[blubblob]

I installed the EVGA Precision XOC app, reduced the "Power Target" to 60% and have been having zero issues since. Seems like I can run all my games at Max settings now and it won't reset. I wonder if 60% is even too conservative, but for now I'm happy.

60% was just a setting I was very confident would in no way hit the OCP of the Dynamo Mini - so if the restarts were still occuring at that point it would be clear that the issue is somewhere else.

Increase the power target in steps of 10% and see if the restarts return. If not, increase by another step, ... until they are back, then go down a step.

 

[brt02]

I have the non-K version.

Fair enough. I've just gone back and read your original post on this. I expect you've tried undervolting your CPU already too, although I haven't seen you mention this explicitly.

 

[CubanLegend]

WOW that S4M video where you were orienting the S4M in reverse with the CPU facing UP has me convinced....

@Josh | NFC Okay now I REALLY want to send my wrap-around S4M-C side panel to you Josh you you can cut an aperture big enough on the short/solid "bottom" side, and then put a dinoc cover over it with skyslots (for the CPU) like you did for my S4M-C's GPU vent. I'll email you later about the logistics of this and price.

Maybe I can flip my S4M-C's orientation as well after the skyslots, and see considerable CPU temp drops too!? MY DREAM COME TRUE! The coolest running S4M-C with unique skyslots on ALL 4 sides?! Almost like an S4M-C and S4M hybrid.!

 

[Nasp]

WOW that S4M video where you were orienting the S4M in reverse with the CPU facing UP has me convinced....

@Josh | NFC Okay now I REALLY want to send my wrap-around S4M-C side panel to you Josh you you can cut an aperture big enough on the short/solid "bottom" side, and then put a dinoc cover over it with skyslots (for the CPU) like you did for my S4M-C's GPU vent. I'll email you later about the logistics of this and price.

Maybe I can flip my S4M-C's orientation as well after the skyslots, and see considerable CPU temp drops too!? MY DREAM COME TRUE! The coolest running S4M-C with unique skyslots on ALL 4 sides?! Almost like an S4M-C and S4M hybrid.!

Can you link 'said' video please?

 

[Josh | NFC]

Can you link 'said' video please?

You can subscribe to my channel and advance the cause!

 

[Josh | NFC]

WOW that S4M video where you were orienting the S4M in reverse with the CPU facing UP has me convinced....

@Josh | NFC Okay now I REALLY want to send my wrap-around S4M-C side panel to you Josh you you can cut an aperture big enough on the short/solid "bottom" side, and then put a dinoc cover over it with skyslots (for the CPU) like you did for my S4M-C's GPU vent. I'll email you later about the logistics of this and price.

Maybe I can flip my S4M-C's orientation as well after the skyslots, and see considerable CPU temp drops too!? MY DREAM COME TRUE! The coolest running S4M-C with unique skyslots on ALL 4 sides?! Almost like an S4M-C and S4M hybrid.!

I can't guarantee this will work, but it might. The S4M has more room in different areas and more venting on the GPU side. Maybe those make all the difference?

 

[hyperborea]

Maybe I can flip my S4M-C's orientation as well after the skyslots, and see considerable CPU temp drops too!? MY DREAM COME TRUE! The coolest running S4M-C with unique skyslots on ALL 4 sides?! Almost like an S4M-C and S4M hybrid.!

You are crazy! Your Mini is going to look like swiss cheese. I would never cut into the bezel, it's what gives the chassis such a unique and elegant look.

 

[McTeags]

You are crazy! Your Mini is going to look like swiss cheese. I would never cut into the bezel, it's what gives the chassis such a unique and elegant look.

But if you cut skyslots into the front bezel you can start vesa mounting S4Ms vertically instead of just horizontally. Just think of the possibilities

Or you can get a black S4M, attach the feet to the front and stand it facing down with green wires coming out the back. Then you can refer to when you game as “watering the plants.”