NVIDIA blocks RTX 5000 power limit tweaks in driver 616.56

NVIDIA driver 616.56 blocks power limit control on RTX 5000-series GPUs, according to reports on Overclock.net. The change killed the mVolt+ tool, which let users push extra watts to cards like the RTX 5090—up to 125W beyond stock limits in some cases. Attempts to raise power now trigger black screens and driver crashes.

The tool worked by bypassing locked power limits. That extra headroom meant higher sustained clocks under load. Now it's gone. Users on previous drivers can still use it, but updating to 616.56 closes the door.

This is a reversal of the usual driver cadence. Most updates unlock performance or fix bugs. This one takes something away—something enthusiasts were using to squeeze more frames out of expensive hardware. If you're already running a custom power profile, skip this driver. If you updated and want it back, you'll need to roll back to 616.55 or earlier.

Check your RTX 5000 settings to see if this affects your OC profile—some tools may need a workaround or you'll be stuck at stock power limits.