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NVIDIA Tesla GPU - Power Brake

nvidia-smi -q | grep HW
        HW Slowdown                       : Active
            HW Thermal Slowdown           : Not Active
            HW Power Brake Slowdown       : Active

The server vendor may block GPUs not on a HCL. HW Power Brake Slowdown on NVIDIA Tesla GPUs is documented with a fixed slowdown of 50% in performance and power limit (see Data Sheet).

You can prevent the system from activating the "HW Power Brake" by blocking PCIe Pin B30. Pin B30 has been a reserved pin for long time. This has changed to Pin B30 a PWRBRK Pin for emergency power reduction.

image.png

Source: https://pcisig.com/specifications/pciexpress/

Tape or use a waterproof marker to block Pin B30. B30 is on the cooler side 30th Pin.

nvidia-smi -q | grep HW
       HW Slowdown                       : Not Active
            HW Thermal Slowdown           : Not Active
            HW Power Brake Slowdown       : Not Active

 

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