NCP-AII Question 9
Select 3An AI research lab reports that their GPU server is experiencing intermittent crashes during training workloads. Upon investigation, you observe elevated GPU temperatures and irregular fan speeds. What steps should you take to troubleshoot and resolve the issue?
- A
Check the GPU fan functionality and ensure proper airflow in the server chassis.
- B
Replace the GPU immediately, as it is likely faulty.
- C
Inspect the thermal paste application on the GPU and reapply if necessary.
- D
Update the GPU driver and firmware to the latest versions.
- E
Run a diagnostic tool to check for memory errors on the GPU.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, C, D
Explanation
Intermittent crashes and elevated GPU temperatures are indicative of thermal management issues. Troubleshooting should begin by assessing the fan functionality, airflow, and thermal paste, as these directly impact GPU cooling. Updating drivers and firmware ensures that the system is running optimally and addresses any known software-related instability. Replacing the GPU or diagnosing memory errors should only be considered after ruling out these common causes.
- A. Correct.
Ensuring proper airflow and verifying GPU fan functionality is crucial for maintaining optimal operating temperatures. Faulty fans or restricted airflow can lead to overheating and crashes.
- B. Incorrect.
Replacing the GPU immediately without thorough troubleshooting is unnecessary and costly. The issue may not be caused by a hardware fault requiring replacement.
- C. Correct.
Thermal paste can degrade over time, leading to poor heat transfer from the GPU chip to the cooler. Reapplying thermal paste can often resolve overheating issues.
- D. Correct.
Outdated drivers or firmware can cause performance instability or hardware mismanagement. Updating these components can resolve compatibility issues and improve performance.
- E. Incorrect.
While memory errors can cause instability, the symptoms described (elevated GPU temperatures and irregular fan speeds) point to thermal or airflow issues rather than memory faults.