Dragon Age 2 - GPU performance issues

[jerm1027]

Intro

I did some quick searching around and couldn't find a solution to my problem, so I turn to the forums. In my search, most people complained that have complained about GPU utilization, which is my issue, complained specifically about SLI, which doesn't apply to me, and the solution was to wait for driver updates, which also doesn't apply as I'm running the latest drivers (344.11), and NVidia will likely be optimizing for DA2 anymore.

 

My hardware & Settings

I'm running a 2500k which may or may not be overclocked anywhere between 4.2 - 4.6 GHz (I change my OC profiles a lot due to fluctuating ambient temp) but running at stock at this very moment, 8GB, and a EVGA GTX 760 ACX Superclocked. I also did some mild OCing on the GPU with the power slider adjustment (no offsets), so it stays in a near constant boost state of 1202MHz on the core. I have the game rendering at 1440p (downscaled to 1080p), with very high details, hi-res texture pack, 2x MSAA, 8x AF, with most other effects enabled; basically 1440p maxed sans the filters.

 

My Issue

My issue is that my GPU doesn't run at proper clock speeds in this game at all. When the game is in the background, or I'm in a dialogue scene, the GPU will run at a full 1202MHz,and easily gets 90FPS+ (I have it capped at 90) and immediately after a dialogue scene, the game will seemingly run fine. Even when running at 1071MHz, I get about 50-55FPS. But if I just start the game, or after a change in area the GPU hovers around 600-700MHz or so, and when loading a new area, I've seen drops as low as 200MHz. Needless to say, this causes massive frame drops, and the game is barely playable. Running around ~700MHz, the game is runs at about 30 +/-5 FPS. I have RT monitoring the usage, and apparently the reason why my GPU isn't running at full speed is due to utilization (or lack there of). The GPU usage seems to hover around 80% at any given time, despite clock speed changes.

 

Can anyone clue me in on the problem, or potential fixes/workarounds?

[TDP_Equinox]

Intro

I did some quick searching around and couldn't find a solution to my problem, so I turn to the forums. In my search, most people complained that have complained about GPU utilization, which is my issue, complained specifically about SLI, which doesn't apply to me, and the solution was to wait for driver updates, which also doesn't apply as I'm running the latest drivers (344.11), and NVidia will likely be optimizing for DA2 anymore.

 

My hardware & Settings

I'm running a 2500k which may or may not be overclocked anywhere between 4.2 - 4.6 GHz (I change my OC profiles a lot due to fluctuating ambient temp) but running at stock at this very moment, 8GB, and a EVGA GTX 760 ACX Superclocked. I also did some mild OCing on the GPU with the power slider adjustment (no offsets), so it stays in a near constant boost state of 1202MHz on the core. I have the game rendering at 1440p (downscaled to 1080p), with very high details, hi-res texture pack, 2x MSAA, 8x AF, with most other effects enabled; basically 1440p maxed sans the filters.

 

My Issue

My issue is that my GPU doesn't run at proper clock speeds in this game at all. When the game is in the background, or I'm in a dialogue scene, the GPU will run at a full 1202MHz,and easily gets 90FPS+ (I have it capped at 90) and immediately after a dialogue scene, the game will seemingly run fine. Even when running at 1071MHz, I get about 50-55FPS. But if I just start the game, or after a change in area the GPU hovers around 600-700MHz or so, and when loading a new area, I've seen drops as low as 200MHz. Needless to say, this causes massive frame drops, and the game is barely playable. Running around ~700MHz, the game is runs at about 30 +/-5 FPS. I have RT monitoring the usage, and apparently the reason why my GPU isn't running at full speed is due to utilization (or lack there of). The GPU usage seems to hover around 80% at any given time, despite clock speed changes.

 

Can anyone clue me in on the problem, or potential fixes/workarounds?

remove the GPU OC.

I know BF4 doesnt launch for me at all if i push the OC too far,

[jerm1027]

remove the GPU OC.

I know BF4 doesnt launch for me at all if i push the OC too far,

 

Well, I fired up the game with default settings and I still have the same issue: clock speeds don't ramp up with demand and RivaTuner is telling me utilization is the issue. I figured it wasn't the OC since it was only the power slider - no manual voltage adjustments or offsets on the clocks; all within NV's/EVGA's specs, and the slider really only affects boost states as base clocks are the same. I also set the priority to temp target at 75c, so when it is under exceptionally heavy load, it will go back down to base clocks and still be pretty cool and cruise along. I don't think I've ever seen this GPU get warmer than 78c.

 

What I have noticed, which is even stranger, is that when the GPU clocks are low my CPU is pegged at 100% across all 4 cores. But after a dialogue, GPU clocks are up, and CPU usage is down to around 40-60% overall.

[TDP_Equinox]

Well, I fired up the game with default settings and I still have the same issue: clock speeds don't ramp up with demand and RivaTuner is telling me utilization is the issue. I figured it wasn't the OC since it was only the power slider - no manual voltage adjustments or offsets on the clocks; all within NV's/EVGA's specs, and the slider really only affects boost states as base clocks are the same. I also set the priority to temp target at 75c, so when it is under exceptionally heavy load, it will go back down to base clocks and still be pretty cool and cruise along. I don't think I've ever seen this GPU get warmer than 78c.

 

What I have noticed, which is even stranger, is that when the GPU clocks are low my CPU is pegged at 100% across all 4 cores. But after a dialogue, GPU clocks are up, and CPU usage is down to around 40-60% overall.

Hmm. Try removing the temp target all together.

There could be a faulty sensor on the chip, constantly thermal throttling it for no reason.

[jerm1027]

Hmm. Try removing the temp target all together.

There could be a faulty sensor on the chip, constantly thermal throttling it for no reason.

I'm unaware of any way of removing the temp target as it is required for boost. When I removed the OC, I reset everything to default, which includes the temp target, which got reverted to 80c stock, and boost prioritized power > temp. Again still happened. It's also worth mentioning that DA2 is the only game I've experienced this issue with. I also doubt it's thermal throttling because when the GPU isn't running full clocks, its hovers around 40-50c (clocks fluctuate a bit), the clocks will kick back up during gameplay, again after a dialogue scene. I think the issue is obviously a bug within the game, but I'm wondering if there was a setting on my end that triggered it. The card is fine. 

[TDP_Equinox]

I'm unaware of any way of removing the temp target as it is required for boost. When I removed the OC, I reset everything to default, which includes the temp target, which got reverted to 80c stock, and boost prioritized power > temp. Again still happened. It's also worth mentioning that DA2 is the only game I've experienced this issue with. I also doubt it's thermal throttling because when the GPU isn't running full clocks, its hovers around 40-50c (clocks fluctuate a bit), the clocks will kick back up during gameplay, again after a dialogue scene. I think the issue is obviously a bug within the game, but I'm wondering if there was a setting on my end that triggered it. The card is fine. 

have you re installed it yet?