Choppy/low fps on powerful new gaming rig

[Vladsky]

I am having serious fps issues with a new computer I assembled. Aside from a new exceptions, the majority of games I run struggle to get above 15 fps, regardless of the graphics effects settings or resolution I change. Here are the specs:

 

1. Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
2. ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
3. Intel Core i5-4690 CPU @ 3.50Ghz (4 CPUS)
4. A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
5. AMD Radeon R9 200 Series w/ 4Gb dedicated memory
6. Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
7. EVGA SuperNOVA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
8. Display Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (144Hz)
9. Monitor: ASUS VG248 series
10. Standard cooling that came with case/processor

 

I've tried a couple of things such as disabling vsync, turning off AMD catalyst override settings, changing refresh rate on the monitor. Nothing seems to solve my issue, although one time I minimized a game, change the refresh rate to 60 Mhz, tabbed back in, and the game was smooth for about 6-7 seconds, and then returned back to sub-optimal fps. It might just have been the tabbing that did it but I should mention what I did regardless.

 

For reference, games I've tried and have had low fps in are: Dota 2, DayZ Standalone, Infinite Crisis, Wildstar. I ran Murdered: Soul Suspect and it seemed to work fine, but it seems to be an anomaly in this case. 

 

I'd appreciate any and all help I can get, I'm just starting to get a bit frazzled after spending all this money on this computer.

[Guest Kloaked]

Exactly what Radeon model did you get?

 

And it sounds like a possible thermal issue. Download a temperature application such as HWMonitor and look at your temperatures - take a screenie and post it.

[aricleather]

 

I am having serious fps issues with a new computer I assembled. Aside from a new exceptions, the majority of games I run struggle to get above 15 fps, regardless of the graphics effects settings or resolution I change. Here are the specs:

 

1. Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
2. ASRock H97 PRO4 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
3. Intel Core i5-4690 CPU @ 3.50Ghz (4 CPUS)
4. A-Data XPG V1.0 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
5. AMD Radeon R9 200 Series w/ 4Gb dedicated memory
6. Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
7. EVGA SuperNOVA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
8. Display Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (144Hz)
9. Monitor: ASUS VG248 series
10. Standard cooling that came with case/processor

 

I've tried a couple of things such as disabling vsync, turning off AMD catalyst override settings, changing refresh rate on the monitor. Nothing seems to solve my issue, although one time I minimized a game, change the refresh rate to 60 Mhz, tabbed back in, and the game was smooth for about 6-7 seconds, and then returned back to sub-optimal fps. It might just have been the tabbing that did it but I should mention what I did regardless.

 

For reference, games I've tried and have had low fps in are: Dota 2, DayZ Standalone, Infinite Crisis, Wildstar. I ran Murdered: Soul Suspect and it seemed to work fine, but it seems to be an anomaly in this case. 

 

I'd appreciate any and all help I can get, I'm just starting to get a bit frazzled after spending all this money on this computer.

 

 

Run a couple benchmarks like Valley or 3DMark and see if they're up to standard for your GPU (find some reference points online). Most likely they will be, and you will need to tune settings for the game.

 

Also, check temperatures. 

[ROK]

Check all the connectors in your PC. Twice.

 

I suspect it's either a PSU issue or thermal issue.

[Vladsky]

XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card is the exact model of video card I use. Here are my temp readings that I gathered:

 

At rest: 

 

During Dota 2: 

 

Do these look normal?

[kaneandtaker]

"R9 200 series" doesn't tell much on your GPU.

[Guest Kloaked]

@Vladsky

 

Holy shit, your CPU is overheating, and it's throttling your performance.

 

You need to either get a new heatsink or reapply your thermal paste. 

[Owen]

Holy shit balls 100c...that can't be right you wouldve crashed before that

[Luc401]

Its a problem with the cooling for your CPU but you should know what GPU you have also , should be something like 250,260,270,280,270 or something

[Kamina]

Your cpu is overheating. 

[TEDWARDS]

XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card is the exact model of video card I use. Here are my temp readings that I gathered:

 

At rest: 

 

During Dota 2: 

 

Do these look normal?

That cpu temperature is causing your issues..

[Owen]

Its a problem with the cooling for your CPU but you should know what GPU you have also , should be something like 250,260,270,280,270 or something

 

XFX Radeon R9 290 4GB Double Dissipation Video Card is the exact model of video card I use

 

[ForsakenLive]

That i5 is running hot, even for a stock cooler, which is causing the bad performance.

Try taking the cooler out, cleaning it (and the CPU), reapply thermal paste, and put the CPU cooler again properly.

[Vladsky]

Ok so I feel like an idiot. I opened it up and my heatsink hasn't even touched my processor, as in the thermal paste wasn't even smeared a little. Turns out those intel snap-in heatsinks aren't as idiot-proof as one might hope. Everything works like a dream now, and I cant thank you guys enough. Seriously, I'll mail you guys beers if you want haha.