High CPU and Low GPU Usage while gaming, can lead to shutdowns.

[FrozenFire777]

So I recently upgraded my computer, and I have been noticing long periods where my frame rate plummets, and this happens in multiple games too. I did some investigating, and when my frame rate drops, my GPU utilization drops too, whereas my CPU utilization rises. I have screenshots of this happening in Hitman 3 and Diablo 4. So far, I have not noticed a cause of the frame rate drops. For example, it doesn't seem to matter how crowded an area is in Hitman, there can be 30 NPCs on screen or none, and the frame drops still occur (or don't).

 

In the worst case, I have experienced a complete system shutdown in both games after extended periods of this lag. It's a complete shutdown, like if the power in my house went out suddenly. I was thinking that these were from the transient power spikes I've read troubles the Geforce 30 series, but given that the lag is coming from high cpu usage and low gpu usage, I don't know what to think anymore.

 

I would appreciate some advice on next steps to help fix this.

 

Current Specs

 

CPU: Ryzen 5800X3D

GPU: RTX 3080 (EVGA FTW3)

Motherboard: ROG Crosshair VII Hero Wi-Fi

RAM: 32GB 3200 Mhz DDR4 (2 kits of this)

PSU: EVGA Supernova 1000 T2

 

I don't know if it helps, but I upgraded from a Ryzen 2700X, a 2080 Super, and just one of the kits of RAM. I did update my motherboard bios and do a fresh install of video drivers during the upgrade.

 

I attached screenshots of GPU/CPU utilization from Hitman and Diablo, obtained with Geforce Experience.

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

 

[DANK_AS_gay]

What are your CPU temps?

[FrozenFire777]

I don't have the temps off hand, but the CPU has been able an Aida64 stress test at around 90°C. I'll find a way to record the CPU temps during gameplay and get back on that.

[-rascal-]

What CPU Cooler are you using?

If the CPU Die is getting up to 90*C, then the 3D V-Cache on top of the CPU die is getting hotter than 90*C...

Monitor CPU temperatures and frequency.

 

GPU temperature seems good, so case / chassis airflow seems okay.

 

 

[FrozenFire777]

Just went and double checked the CPU temps. That's probably the issue. I wasn't worried when Aida64 brought the temps to 90° since that's what it is supposed to do in my mind. But in hitman, the temps held steady at 90° even when at only 30--40% usage, and peaked at 100°. I killed the game once I saw that.

 

I am currently running a 3ish year old coolermaster 360 AIO cooler. Hopefully it's just a bad mount, but I'll be on the lookout for a new cooler it seems.