PC spec performance - BF4

[GenesisBit]

Hey guys! Firstly hello to all of you! I decided to join here as it seems like an excellent place for some tech advice.

 

Onto my problem!

 

These are my current PC specs:

 

- AMD Phenom II x4 20 (3.4ghz)

- AmD R9 290 4GB 

- 8 GB DDR3 RAM

- Windows 7 64 bit

 

I've ordered an AMD FX8350 + ASUS 990FX 2.0.

 

Currently in BF4 I can get from around 30 - 60 FPS in multiplayer using Mantle. It usually stays around 50ish with nothing happening and can drop to 30-40 during fights but it's constantly dropping and going higher during fights.

This is a bit disappointing as I spent a lot of money on my graphics card but I think my CPU may be "bottlenecking" my GPU.

 

Would this be possible and if so should I see a performance boost with the FX8350? Would it be a big boost or am I expecting too much?

[Ivyk]

Your CPU is not bottlenecking your GPU, maybe just a tiny bit but not by like 20 FPS.

[Paralectic]

Mantle is trash.

[lachyman]

Yeah the CPU is dfinitely the problem you should be getting over 100FPS all the time with the 290. What's weird to me though is the fact you have a really big CPU limit there despite the fact you use Mantle.

Also welcome to the forum!

[GenesisBit]

Your CPU is not bottlenecking your GPU, maybe just a tiny bit but not by like 20 FPS.

 

Damn! I'm wondering why I'm getting such low fps and can't figure it out.

 

 

Yeah the CPU is dfinitely the problem you should be getting over 100FPS all the time with the 290. What's weird to me though is the fact you have a really big CPU limit there despite the fact you use Mantle.

 

I've gotten nowhere near 100FPS anyway, that's for sure!

 

Hmm the only new components in my PC are the 290 and my PSU. Everything else is pretty old to be honest. 

My AMD CPU is the one that came as a tri core that you could unlock to quad core. Would that have an impact?

 

Also, I think my RAM may be pretty slow ram. Could that have such an effect?

 

I don't think I have my 290 on uber mode (I was just reading about it) so when I get home I may try enable that to see if it does anything. 

[Cryptonite]

 

Hey guys! Firstly hello to all of you! I decided to join here as it seems like an excellent place for some tech advice.

 

Onto my problem!

 

These are my current PC specs:

 

- AMD Phenom II x4 20 (3.4ghz)

- AmD R9 290 4GB 

- 8 GB DDR3 RAM

- Windows 7 64 bit

 

I've ordered an AMD FX8350 + ASUS 990FX 2.0.

 

Currently in BF4 I can get from around 30 - 60 FPS in multiplayer using Mantle. It usually stays around 50ish with nothing happening and can drop to 30-40 during fights but it's constantly dropping and going higher during fights.

This is a bit disappointing as I spent a lot of money on my graphics card but I think my CPU may be "bottlenecking" my GPU.

 

Would this be possible and if so should I see a performance boost with the FX8350? Would it be a big boost or am I expecting too much?

 

the more players around taking action the more stress the game puts on the CPU. a phenom 4 core at 3.4 GHz isn't that fast and BF 4 is known to be a resource hog. it is definitely the CPU causing these crazy dips in performance.

 

 

Your CPU is not bottlenecking your GPU, maybe just a tiny bit but not by like 20 FPS.

It can cause this if the CPU loads up and basically "queues" commands to be processed it will definitely cause a major drop in framerates.

[lachyman]

Damn! I'm wondering why I'm getting such low fps and can't figure it out.

 

 

 

I've gotten nowhere near 100FPS anyway, that's for sure!

 

Hmm the only new components in my PC are the 290 and my PSU. Everything else is pretty old to be honest. 

My AMD CPU is the one that came as a tri core that you could unlock to quad core. Would that have an impact?

 

Also, I think my RAM may be pretty slow ram. Could that have such an effect?

 

I don't think I have my 290 on uber mode (I was just reading about it) so when I get home I may try enable that to see if it does anything. 

How many players are online on servers you play on? If this is caused by the CPU, you will get really low FPS on 64p servers and a lot higher on small DOM/TDM 8-10p servers. Try it. Also get MSI Afterburner and check your GPU usage when you play. Turn off V-Sync and if it sits far below 100% while playing it's being bottlenecked.

[GenesisBit]

the more players around taking action the more stress the game puts on the CPU. a phenom 4 core at 3.4 GHz isn't that fast and BF 4 is known to be a resource hog. it is definitely the CPU causing these crazy dips in performance.

 

 

It can cause this if the CPU loads up and basically "queues" commands to be processed it will definitely cause a major drop in framerates.

 

If it is my CPU then I will definitely be looking forward to trying out my FX8350 when it arrives (and I get my head around overclocking it).

 

 

How many players are online on servers you play on? If this is caused by the CPU, you will get really low FPS on 64p servers and a lot higher on small DOM/TDM 8-10p servers. Try it.  Also get MSI Afterburner and check your GPU usage when you play. Turn off V-Sync and if it sits far below 100% while playing it's being bottlenecked.

I don't think I have ever played on a server that had less than 64 players to be honest. I should point out that in the test range I can stay a pretty consistent 57-60FPS.

 

Yeah I use MSI Afterburner a lot. I'm pretty sure GPU usage can hit 100% but it doesn't stay at a consistent 100%. It tends to drop frequently.

I'll have to do some more frequent tests when I get home. 

[Cryptonite]

If it is my CPU then I will definitely be looking forward to trying out my FX8350 when it arrives (and I get my head around overclocking it).

 

 

I don't think I have ever played on a server that had less than 64 players to be honest. I should point out that in the test range I can stay a pretty consistent 57-60FPS.

 

Yeah I use MSI Afterburner a lot. I'm pretty sure GPU usage can hit 100% but it doesn't stay at a consistent 100%. It tends to drop frequently.

I'll have to do some more frequent tests when I get home. 

just turn the monitoring program in MSI afterburner on so you can see your usage etc. ingame, that'll help a lot. if the GPU tends to fall from 100% usage Vsync is disabled and you get low FPS that usually indicates a bottleneck.

[Recon-UK]

If you cannot match or beat my old GTX 480 in FPS:

 

http://youtu.be/tsyPnpQxGrE

 

Then you sir are bottlenecking like a choked chicken.

[GenesisBit]

just turn the monitoring program in MSI afterburner on so you can see your usage etc. ingame, that'll help a lot. if the GPU tends to fall from 100% usage Vsync is disabled and you get low FPS that usually indicates a bottleneck.

 

I do hope it's the CPU. I really don't want to have to buy different RAM or replace the card as I am on a low budget after my CPU+Motherboard purchase. 

[i_build_nanosuits]

this CPU you have is very sluggish and not up to the task of feeding a 290 properly in BF4 multiplayer that's for sure, no doubt...

you will be able to use full ultra preset and get over 60FPS+ all the time with an FX-8350 at 1080p on full servers.

[GenesisBit]

this CPU you have is very sluggish and not up to the task of feeding a 290 properly in BF4 multiplayer that's for sure, no doubt...

you will be able to use full ultra preset and get over 60FPS+ all the time with an FX-8350 at 1080p on full servers.

 

That's definitely a relief to hear! I was hoping my new CPU would give me a performance boost as my Phenom II seems quite old now (such a fantastic processor for years though!).

 

I will report back tomorrow guys when my parts are expected to have arrived. Hopefully I will see a nice boost! 

[GenesisBit]

Hey guys!

Spent most of my entire day after work yesterday putting everything together. I'm awful at it so it took hours. PC wouldn't give me a display then and an hour later I found out it was the ram and sorted it.

 

My FX8350 didn't come with a thermal paste tube (it was pre-applied) so I had to use the stock cooler for now as I had 0 thermal paste for my EVO 212. I ordered some today.

 

Had to reinstall windows because my sysprep was a disaster. It was a long day 

 

It's up an running anyway and I've been getting my programs and files back (thanks windows.old!). 

 

My question, is it safe running the FX8350 with stock cooler without an overclock? I should be alright shouldn't I?

[Vrbas]

Hey guys!

Spent most of my entire day after work yesterday putting everything together. I'm awful at it so it took hours. PC wouldn't give me a display then and an hour later I found out it was the ram and sorted it.

My FX8350 didn't come with a thermal paste tube (it was pre-applied) so I had to use the stock cooler for now as I had 0 thermal paste for my EVO 212. I ordered some today.

Had to reinstall windows because my sysprep was a disaster. It was a long day

It's up an running anyway and I've been getting my programs and files back (thanks windows.old!).

My question, is it safe running the FX8350 with stock cooler without an overclock? I should be alright shouldn't I?

Yes perfectly safe. It will just be very loud. Perfectly fine to use it until you get your 212 installed. It cools very well actually did for me anyway until I installed my 212. Never went above 55c socket temp playing bf4 just was very annoying.

[GenesisBit]

Yes perfectly safe. It will just be very loud. Perfectly fine to use it until you get your 212 installed. It cools very well actually did for me anyway until I installed my 212. Never went above 55c socket temp playing bf4 just was very annoying.

 

Thanks! That's definitely good to know.

 

I'd imagine the stock version of the CPU is still a massive upgrade over my old processor anyway.

[i_build_nanosuits]

Thanks! That's definitely good to know.

 

I'd imagine the stock version of the CPU is still a massive upgrade over my old processor anyway.

it should...give it a try and tell us!

[EricPont]

Yes the cpu is bottle necking but will be fine when you get 8350

[GenesisBit]

Hey guys, I suppose while I am here I may as well ask it. 

 

I was always curious as to why my MSI R9 290 looks the exact same as the AMD R9 290? Is there any difference to this "msi" version of the card?

 

Shortly after it arrived I spent ages googling it and it doesn't seem that common.

 

This version:

http://eu.msi.com/product/vga/R9_290_4GD5_BF4.html

[i_build_nanosuits]

Hey guys, I suppose while I am here I may as well ask it. 

 

I was always curious as to why my MSI R9 290 looks the exact same as the AMD R9 290? Is there any difference to this "msi" version of the card?

 

Shortly after it arrived I spent ages googling it and it doesn't seem that common.

 

This version:

http://eu.msi.com/product/vga/R9_290_4GD5_BF4.html

nope, this is a reference version of the card from MSI, there is no difference between this and a genuine AMD R9 290 the only difference is the box and the MSI sticker on the fan.

[GenesisBit]

nope, this is a reference version of the card from MSI, there is no difference between this and a genuine AMD R9 290 the only difference is the box and the MSI sticker on the fan.

 

Ah ok. Thanks for clearing that up for me! 

[GenesisBit]

Well..... this isn't really encouraging.

 

I can't understand it. Unless Unigine is just a GPU heavy application?

 

Also, the score seems really low in comparison to others...

 

Before Part Change:

 

After Part Change:

 

 

I can only think of either my RAM or Hard Drive at this stage...

My ASUS motherboard CD read my system specs and said my ram was 1333mhz speed. Is that bad?

[i_build_nanosuits]

unigine is a gpu test...the most powerfull cpu in the world wouldnt change anything...this thing use like 12% cpu power and 100% gpu...

[GenesisBit]

unigine is a gpu test...the most powerfull cpu in the world wouldnt change anything...this thing use like 12% cpu power and 100% gpu...

 

Phew! I was worried there. Thanks for your help through all this mate, I appreciate it!

 

I did a very very quick test in Arkham Origins, a game I normally get 60fps in.

 

With my old CPU I found this one room with enemies where I was dropping to ~25fps (although it was jumping around a lot and was hitting 45fps too) but it seemed much more stable now and it was going up to 60fps and droppig to 45fps rather than in the 20s. It just seems to be this one room though.

 

I need some sleep now but once I return from work tomorrow I'll run some BF4 tests after I reinstall it.

[i_build_nanosuits]

Phew! I was worried there. Thanks for your help through all this mate, I appreciate it!

 

I did a very very quick test in Arkham Origins, a game I normally get 60fps in.

 

With my old CPU I found this one room with enemies where I was dropping to ~25fps (although it was jumping around a lot and was hitting 45fps too) but it seemed much more stable now and it was going up to 60fps and droppig to 45fps rather than in the 20s. It just seems to be this one room though.

 

I need some sleep now but once I return from work tomorrow I'll run some BF4 tests after I reinstall it.

Batman...again not a very CPU intensive game...hehe...basically about games anything that happens mostly indoors or small environments with not many characters interacting and lots of stuff going on will not be very CPU intensive...when games gets outside in big open environments with lots of actors on the screen and a lot of action going on (people shooting, moving...wide open outside areas) and far rendering distances...lost of shadow casting, lighting effects etc...this is usually when things gets interesting on the CPU side...modern games that are somewhat or very CPU intensive are mostly multiplayers, battlefield 3 and 4, crysis 3 (solo and mutli), watch dogs (this is the worst), tomb raider in some parts of the game...some other games as well.

 

Now, some of these modern game engines are good at spreading the loads across more CPU cores (cry engine, frostbyte...) while some other recent games still uses old game engines (unreal, source..) and those when they get CPU intensive can be a problem because they still use only a couple CPU cores to process all those instructions required for the game to run properly...so in some games your AMD CPU will give you very good results and in some others it will have a harder time filling up your R9 290...this is normal and it will only get better over time as the new AAA titltes that will hit the PC market will most likely be more and more multi-threaded...but all the games should run better with the piledriver FX 8 core as opposed to your old phenom quad core that's for sure.