AB350Pro4 - Bad PCIEx16 slot

I've compared our setups as we use the same board+cpu, almost same ram. https://pcpartpicker.com/list/yvY9zM

If I remove my fans and CPU cooler from the equation, pcpartpicker lists both our builds as using 359 watts. Granted, I have doubts of how accurate that is, but we're still similar. I use a 520w PSU and a GTX 1070 (08G-P4-6173-KR) that EVGA claims uses 170W max. While looking at the most demanding EVGA 1080 I could find, the 08G-P4-6386-KR draws 245W max. I'm not sure what yours uses, but I chose the most demanding one.

I've notice no issues with my system, even with CPU overclocked to 3.8@1.35v and the 1070 overclocked (60%,112,+100core,+400mem). But I do believe I'm cutting it close. For what it's worth, I agree with those above, the 550w PSU may not be meeting the requirements.

I wonder if underclocking your 1080, as a test, would smooth things out? I've not tried it, but I think MSI Afterburner can underclock. Regardless, I think a SeaSonic 650W FOCUS Plus Gold would be perfect.

I didnt try underclocking.. but i can try it. I'll give it a shot tonight!

PCPartPicker lists my build as 359W too, I have also checked EVGA power meter tool which also recommended 550W G2/G3, also nvidia gtx1080 official page has recommended power as 500W (they assume i7 3.2 Ghz as processor). SO based on all this, my 550W should be good enough for normal use.

and as I said, my stutters/lags happen even when Idle or even when i drag the mouse pointer on the desktop or opening an applicaiton (gpuz or cpuz etc). Due to this, its hard for me to believe that my power supply is the root cause for these nightmares.

But I just ordered a 850W Evga G3 80+ gold just to make it future proof and reliable if I OC.

Check the physical slot for any debris that may have fallen in there, it can happen sometimes. Make sure the GPU is seating fully into the slot and that nothing on the GPU or the board is preventing it slotting all the way in to the slot.

If all that checks out and you still have an issue see if you can try your GPU on another PC and see if the issue persists there. If so RMA the GPU, if not RMA the board. You could just keep using it in the x4 slot but you will be losing out on a little performance as well as running the risk something more serious could go wrong further down the line, after warranty is up which would suck. This is why warranty exists.