GPU constant spiking in games

[Darkr]

Hi,

I own a Radeon R9290x Reference from AMD (amd sticker on fan).

The GPU usage started spazzing out recently:

This happens in every game, and in this case I was playing Cities: Skylines...

I don't think this should happen, especially not in non-demanding games like this.

I'd like if somebody helped me solve this problem.

Thanks.

[AresKrieger]

Hi,

I own a Radeon R9290x Reference from AMD (amd sticker on fan).

The GPU usage started spazzing out recently:

This happens in every game, and in this case I was playing Cities: Skylines...

I don't think this should happen, especially not in non-demanding games like this.

I'd like if somebody helped me solve this problem.

Thanks.

 

What's your cpu, because that looks like something is holding you GPU back (and city skylines is cpu intensive as hell)

[Darkr]

What's your cpu, because that looks like something is holding you GPU back

Intel i5 2500k @ stock (3.3ghz)

While playing, the cpu usage stays at 50-40%

[AresKrieger]

Intel i5 2500k @ stock (3.3ghz)

While playing, the cpu usage stays at 50-40%

 

Well the gpu temp is 70 so it's not throttle, cpu should be fine for that, the only issues I can think of are the possibility of a pcie bottle neck (which I doubt) or the card dying/ having a major issue with a driver, I'm kinda a a loss here on what to tell you.

[DXMember]

that's exactly how it's supposed to work in non-demanding games

especially if your framerate is adequate in the meantime

[AresKrieger]

that's exactly how it's supposed to work in non-demanding games

especially if your framerate is adequate in the meantime

Wait it spikes rather than being a steady lower % use? Is that specific for 290 (or similar design) cards?

[Naijin]

I got this exact same thing when playing Far Cry 4 on my old 290x and my r9 380 crossfire. It loads the game at 100% and then when it's just staring for example, it dips back to 0-5% usage. Even when I move it sometimes stays at 0%. I'm guessing it's something normal, as it never impacted my performace.

[Darkr]

Well the gpu temp is 70 so it's not throttle, cpu should be fine for that, the only issues I can think of are the possibility of a pcie bottle neck (which I doubt) or the card dying/ having a major issue with a driver, I'm kinda a a loss here on what to tell you.

Would reinstalling windows/drivers help?

 

that's exactly how it's supposed to work in non-demanding games

especially if your framerate is adequate in the meantime

Well it does the exact same thing in diablo 3, sc2, lol and other games....

 

Wait it spikes rather than being a steady lower % use? Is that specific for 290 (or similar design) cards?

It used to have a steady lower % usage... idk what happened.

[AresKrieger]

Would reinstalling windows/drivers help?

 

Well it does the exact same thing in diablo 3, sc2, lol and other games....

 

It used to have a steady lower % usage... idk what happened.

It may but I'm just wondering what DXMember was getting at, as I don't really know what is "normal" for a 290, as I don't have an amd card, if it is I wouldn't worry.

[DXMember]

Wait it spikes rather than being a steady lower % use? Is that specific for 290 (or similar design) cards?

....

the usage just shows the % of total time the chip is doing something

when you get 50% usage on the graph and the chip does 940 MHz then it means that out of 940 million clocks per second the chip is doing something for 470 million clocks and the rest of the 470 million clocks it's idling during that one second period of time

on the other hand it might show 100% usage with periodic spikes from 0 to 100% meaning that the the chip Works for the entire 940 million clocks in the first second and in the next second it idles for 940 million clocks

in both examples in a timespan of two seconds the chip worked for 940 million clocks and idled for 940 million clocks and in the end produced the same result

 

it's just a matter of how you count and plot the graph all microchips with a clocking system work like that it's nothing 290 or amd specific

[DXMember]

Would reinstalling windows/drivers help?

No

 

Well it does the exact same thing in diablo 3, sc2, lol and other games....

Try Tomb Raider 2013

 

It used to have a steady lower % usage... idk what happened.

look at the post above

[App4that]

DX is right, as long as you're getting the fps you need that's normal.

[Darkr]

DX is right, as long as you're getting the fps you need that's normal.

No

 

Try Tomb Raider 2013

 

look at the post above

My gpu crashes - "amd display driver has stopped responding, but succesfully recovered"

I talked to amd about it on the 15th friday, still havn't responded....

[App4that]

My gpu crashes - "amd display driver has stopped responding, but succesfully recovered"

Probably a separate issue. AMD graphics cards are awesome, AMD drivers and software fucking sucks. I went Nvidia because I got tired of spending more time chasing software issues than gaming.

[DXMember]

My gpu crashes - "amd display driver has stopped responding, but succesfully recovered"

I talked to amd about it on the 15th friday, still havn't responded....

make sure you have the latest drivers installed

[Morgan Everett]

Probably a separate issue. AMD graphics cards are awesome, AMD drivers and software fucking sucks. I went Nvidia because I got tired of spending more time chasing software issues than gaming.

 

Yeah, you're not the only one. 

[Darkr]

make sure you have the latest drivers installed

I do - Is there anything I can do to fix this?

[Darkr]

make sure you have the latest drivers installed

Probably a separate issue. AMD graphics cards are awesome, AMD drivers and software fucking sucks. I went Nvidia because I got tired of spending more time chasing software issues than gaming.

Forgot to mention - It spikes even at idle:(

[DXMember]

I do - Is there anything I can do to fix this?

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/Library/Windows/Hardware/ff570087(v=vs.85).aspx

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/Library/Windows/Hardware/ff569918(v=vs.85).aspx

[App4that]

Forgot to mention - It spikes even at idle:(

 

Happens anytime you open a program. Like explorer.

[DXMember]

Forgot to mention - It spikes even at idle:(

 

THAT IS COMPLETELY NORMAL

[Lawliet93]

It´s your CPU, I had that problem in the witcher 3, overclocking my cpu to 4,2GHz solved the problem. You should also try adding like 15-20% to the power limit of your gpu in the MSI AB app.