What is nvidia scanner and how it works

One of the biggest innovations that Nvidia has presented along with the GeForce RTX 20 is Nvidia Scanner, a powerful tool that uses algorithms to fully overclock the graphics card, and in a very simple way.

How the turbo on current Nvidia GPUs works and how Nvidia Scanner helps

Modern Nvidia GPUs take advantage of an extra margin in power or temperature to dynamically boost its clock frequency, increasing speeds until the graphics card reaches its predetermined power or temperature limit. This tuning is controlled by an algorithm called GPU Boost, which monitors a large amount of data and makes real-time changes in frequency speeds and voltages multiple times per second, maximizing the performance of the GPU.

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GPU Boost 4 is the fourth iteration of this technology, which adds the ability for users to manually fine-tune the algorithms that GPU Boost uses to modify the clock frequency. The algorithms used with GPU Boost 3.0 were completely within the controller and were not exposed to users. However, GPU Boost 4.0 exposes the algorithms to users so that they can manually modify the various curves to further enhance the performance of the GPU.

The greatest benefit is found in the temperature domain where new inflection points have been added. Where once there was a straight line descending directly to the base clock, it now contains the Boost clock, where it can be set to run longer at higher temperatures before a second time target (T2) is reached, where the clock will fall. This new plateau is where you get the most performance and is an area where many applications tend to move.

Nvidia Scanner ends the difficulty of overclocking

If users can reduce the heat in the system or add more cooling to the chip, they can take advantage of the low temperatures by adjusting the curve to achieve higher levels of performance. Enthusiasts have always loved overclocking, but not everyone has the time or technical know-how to take advantage of it. Nvidia has worked to build a new set of APIs that allow all users to overclock with a click of the button.

This new technology is Nvidia Scanner, which launches a separate thread to test the GPU. The thread runs a mathematical algorithm that looks for single and multi-bit failures to determine stability across different possible clocks. It can be started and then canceled, at which point a status is provided and then it resumes. With this technology it should not take more than 20 minutes to run the full test.

Power and temperature sliders as well as the GPU Boost Temperature Tuner can affect the way the Nvidia Scanner works, depending on how inflection points are set. The tool operates within the power and temperature limits that have been established, therefore, configure the Temp Tuner before running the VF Curve Tuner. The scanner works by testing various voltage points and then interpolating between them.

This Nvidia Scanner technology will help less expert users get the full potential out of their graphics card.