Weird CPU usage drop and fps drops.

[zedlam]

Nobody has been able to figure this out, and I am starting to lose my marbles.

My current PC (on Windows 10)

Also, my CPU is OC'd to 3.9 Ghz with 1.2V.

 

Basically, I upgraded from an R9 280 to a GTX 980. Ever since this replacement, ive been having weird issues playing games. It happens only on games that really push my system to its limits , which in this case is PUBG and Shadow of War.

I play the game for about 10-15 minutes perfectly fine, then all of a sudden my CPU usage drops from around 90% to all the way to 20-30% ish. When this happens, my FPS goes down to around 5, making everything unplayable.

Here is a picture of my perfomance via TM when it happens.

 

I cannot figure out what this is. Here is what I have tried/tinkered with already -

- It is not temps. GPU temps are great with my hybrid card, and my CPU temps are good even with the overclock. According to HWinfo, my VRMs aren't overheating either. They sit at around 46-49c.

- It is not my graphics drivers. I have tried latest drivers, and older drivers. No dice.

- It is not integrated graphics. My friend suggested disabling it. Nothing.

- I thought it could be my HDD, because it does not happen with Dota 2 which is on my SSD, but according to crystaldiskinfo, my drives are nice and healthy. I assumed Dota 2 did not give me issues because it does not push my system.

- I also used an uninstaller tool to remove previous AMD drivers BEFORE utilizing my 980, so it is not that either.

 

I am at a loss. I really want to play PUBG with friends this upcoming week. Please help!

BIOS version is F8. Also I think my PCpartpicker build says my mobo is a z97-hd3p, but it is a z97-hd3.

[johnukguy]

What utility did you use to uninstall the older drivers? If not DDU, then I'd suggest DDU instead. Also, is your GPU overclocked and, if so, have you tried backing down a step or two and see if that makes a difference? You may also want to check that you have high performance set in Windows power plans and that your BIOS hasn't reset to defaults since you changed the GPU.

[bellabichon]

I would suggest re-downloading a fairly demanding game to your SSD, and see if that makes a difference. If it works, then you definitely need a new HDD.

[zedlam]

Just now, bellabichon said:

I would suggest re-downloading a fairly demanding game to your SSD, and see if that makes a difference. If it works, then you definitely need a new HDD.

Oh yes I tried that. Forgot to mention. Did not help.

 

1 minute ago, johnukguy said:

What utility did you use to uninstall the older drivers? If not DDU, then I'd suggest DDU instead. Also, is your GPU overclocked and, if so, have you tried backing down a step or two and see if that makes a difference?

 I used DDU. My GPU is not overclocked. By stepping down, do you mean in clockrate? like underclocking?

[bellabichon]

1 hour ago, zedlam said:

By stepping down, do you mean in clockrate? like underclocking?

I think that he means to say you should turn down the graphics settings. If you're on high, for example, try turning it down to medium. 

[zedlam]

1 minute ago, bellabichon said:

I think that he means to say you should turn down the graphics settings. If you're on high, for example, try turning it down to medium. 

Oh, gotcha. I could try that I guess but it is not optimal.

5 minutes ago, johnukguy said:

You may also want to check that you have high performance set in Windows power plans and that your BIOS hasn't reset to defaults since you changed the GPU.

Did you edit this in? I may be blind and did not see it the first time haha.

My power plan options are balanced, power saver, and high performance. I am on balanced. Should I try High performance?

[bellabichon]

1 hour ago, zedlam said:

My power plan options are balanced, power saver, and high performance. I am on balanced. Should I try High performance?

It's worth a shot. Might as well try it.

[johnukguy]

5 minutes ago, bellabichon said:

I think that he means to say you should turn down the graphics settings. If you're on high, for example, try turning it down to medium. 

That might help but I meant more taking any overclock down a step or two, but that doesn't apply here since the GPU isn't overclocked. I suspect that BIOS settings may be a possible factor, such as core boost settings/turbo ratio settings.

[bellabichon]

1 hour ago, johnukguy said:

That might help but I meant more taking any overclock down a step or two, but that doesn't apply here since the GPU isn't overclocked. I suspect that BIOS settings may be at play here, such as core boost settings/turbo ratio settings.

Definitely a possibility. OP should take a look at which BIOS settings they have enabled or disabled.

[RyzenDoctor]

Try this... reset your Bios/CMOS and reapply the overclock.

[zedlam]

2 minutes ago, bellabichon said:

OP should take a look at which BIOS settings they have enabled or disabled.

 

4 minutes ago, johnukguy said:

I suspect that BIOS settings may be a possible factor, such as core boost settings/turbo ratio settings.

Hmm alright I will check that out. So what exactly am I looking for? core boost / turbo something something?

 

2 minutes ago, RyzenDoctor said:

Try this... reset your Bios/CMOS and reapply the overclock.

The overclock was done after I was having issues. It was an unrelated thing. I only decided to overclock because my friend convinced me to.

However, I can try it yea.

[johnukguy]

3 minutes ago, zedlam said:

 

Hmm alright I will check that out. So what exactly am I looking for? core boost / turbo something something?

 

The overclock was done after I was having issues. It was an unrelated thing. I only decided to overclock because my friend convinced me to.

However, I can try it yea.

It may not be unrelated entirely as there is inbuilt, one click overclocking and manual overclocking, which may give different results, or it might simply be that the BIOS has core boosting/turbo boosting enabled and that that is affecting your CPU's performance. Try disabling all such settings, apply a small overclock on all cores and see if the performance remains consistent with the new settings. Also, disable HPET, if that's an option in your BIOS.

[zedlam]

2 minutes ago, johnukguy said:

It may not be unrelated, or it might simply be that the BIOS has core boosting/turbo boosting enabled and that that is affecting your CPU's performance. Try disabling all such settings, apply a small overclock on all cores and see if the performance remains consistent with the new settings. Also, disable HPET, if that's an option in your BIOS.

Alright. I am in a game of Dota 2 (a game that doesnt have issues rn for some reason lol) and will get back to you when I am done.

[zedlam]

47 minutes ago, zedlam said:

[...]

 

57 minutes ago, bellabichon said:

[...]

Alright I found this.

 

The turbo boost technology was set to auto. Should I turn it off?

[zedlam]

2 hours ago, johnukguy said:

It may not be unrelated entirely as there is inbuilt, one click overclocking and manual overclocking, which may give different results, or it might simply be that the BIOS has core boosting/turbo boosting enabled and that that is affecting your CPU's performance. Try disabling all such settings, apply a small overclock on all cores and see if the performance remains consistent with the new settings. Also, disable HPET, if that's an option in your BIOS.

So I turned off Turbo Boost as well as changed power settings.

 

Did the trick! Works perfectly!

 

Thanks so much guys! You all are awesome.

[johnukguy]

On 4/8/2018 at 9:48 PM, zedlam said:

So I turned off Turbo Boost as well as changed power settings.

 

Did the trick! Works perfectly!

 

Thanks so much guys! You all are awesome.

Long may that continue and happy gaming.

[zedlam]

On 4/10/2018 at 12:00 AM, johnukguy said:

Long may that continue and happy gaming.

Alright, it has been happening again. It worked for awhile (maybe I got lucky.)

Same issues, same low temps, same everything. I found out if I lower my settings in PUBG to medium instead of a mix of high/ultra, that it goes away. That however, is not what I want to be doing. Any other ideas as to what it could be?

[johnukguy]

Double check your BIOS and make sure that all boosting of any sort is turned off, that HPET is off and Gear Down Mode is disabled (if you have that option available). Also check that your power plan is set to high performance.