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Low GPU usage on games - not benchmarks

Tags:
  • Laptops
  • GPUs
  • Games
  • MSI
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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June 29, 2013 10:16:47 AM

I'm on an MSI GT70-0NE laptop. It has
Windows 8 Pro
i7-3630QM
GTX 680m
16 GB RAM

I recently downloaded MSI Afterburner so i could monitor my FPS and temperatures since i'm on a laptop, and I noticed that my GPU usage will jump all over the place on just about any game I play. For example:
Borderlands 2
Tomb Raider
Crysis 3

Like I can be ingame, and not move and stare somewhere, and the GPU % will go from 35 to 76 to 45 to 91.

The results of course are FPS that are all over the place. It's pretty frustrating trying to game with all the drops.

I've tried installing different drivers (WHQL 314.22/ 320.18 and the latest beta drivers 320.49). I've even tried installing the msi unlocked BIOS to over-clock it.

And the weird thing is, when i run a benchmark like 3dMark (2013) it will hit 99% and stay there through out the benchmark.

The card isn't heating up. It's generally in the 60's when gaming, probably mostly because it's not working hard. But i have the laptop on a cooler and it's getting good air flow.

I've only had 1 GPU intensive game that will work at 99%, and that's bioshock infinite.
I'll be getting a couple new SSD's in a couple weeks, so i'll be reformatting. But i would like to get this figured out before hand. In case the reformat doesn't work.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

More about : low gpu usage games benchmarks

June 29, 2013 10:24:11 AM

icewolf69 said:
I'm on an MSI GT70-0NE laptop. It has
Windows 8 Pro
i7-3630QM
GTX 680m
16 GB RAM

I recently downloaded MSI Afterburner so i could monitor my FPS and temperatures since i'm on a laptop, and I noticed that my GPU usage will jump all over the place on just about any game I play. For example:
Borderlands 2
Tomb Raider
Crysis 3

Like I can be ingame, and not move and stare somewhere, and the GPU % will go from 35 to 76 to 45 to 91.

The results of course are FPS that are all over the place. It's pretty frustrating trying to game with all the drops.

I've tried installing different drivers (WHQL 314.22/ 320.18 and the latest beta drivers 320.49). I've even tried installing the msi unlocked BIOS to over-clock it.

And the weird thing is, when i run a benchmark like 3dMark (2013) it will hit 99% and stay there through out the benchmark.

The card isn't heating up. It's generally in the 60's when gaming, probably mostly because it's not working hard. But i have the laptop on a cooler and it's getting good air flow.

I've only had 1 GPU intensive game that will work at 99%, and that's bioshock infinite.
I'll be getting a couple new SSD's in a couple weeks, so i'll be reformatting. But i would like to get this figured out before hand. In case the reformat doesn't work.

Does anyone have any suggestions?


Maybe the temps of your cpu are high. Your high cpu temps might be causing your cpu to throttle due to which you might be facing a cpu bottleneck which may result in your gpu not being fully utilized (yeah it is a long chain of reactions but could be a possibility)
Try to monitor your cpu temps and frequency.
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June 29, 2013 11:28:41 AM

CPU temps are fine, in the 60's.

There may be some correlation with the CPU turbo boost though. I'm noticing that the turbo will go on and off, and when it cuts off (going from 3.2 ghz to 1.2 ghz) the GPU % goes down.

Is there a way to force turbo mode to be on while gaming? This damn turbo botton on the laptop sure doesn't do much...
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June 29, 2013 11:40:53 AM

do you have the laptop plugged in while gaming?
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June 29, 2013 11:41:43 AM

yes
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June 29, 2013 1:01:06 PM

OK, after doing some more testing, this has to be because of turbo boost/ speed step (which is it now).

the CPU is constantly throttling down to 1.2 ghz. I have it on "performance" in power management settings. I don't know what would be causing it to down clock. CPU temps are only 55-65.

I'm guessing there's no way to manually keep it on, that would be too easy.

Anyone have any suggestions
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June 29, 2013 6:46:44 PM

icewolf69 said:
OK, after doing some more testing, this has to be because of turbo boost/ speed step (which is it now).

the CPU is constantly throttling down to 1.2 ghz. I have it on "performance" in power management settings. I don't know what would be causing it to down clock. CPU temps are only 55-65.

I'm guessing there's no way to manually keep it on, that would be too easy.

Anyone have any suggestions


You can disable speedstep but it will negatively impact your batterylife.
In order to disable speedstep just go to the bios menu and there you will see the option to disable speedstep.
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June 29, 2013 6:52:59 PM

Don't really care about battery life, it stays plugged in 99% of the time.

But, disabling speed step doesn't help. It will continue to downclock to 1200 MHz. I still can't figure it out. So really disabling it just prevents it from going to 3200 HMz. Symptoms are still there.

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June 29, 2013 7:19:58 PM

icewolf69 said:
Don't really care about battery life, it stays plugged in 99% of the time.

But, disabling speed step doesn't help. It will continue to downclock to 1200 MHz. I still can't figure it out. So really disabling it just prevents it from going to 3200 HMz. Symptoms are still there.



Try and check the maximum cpu utilization% in the advanced menu of your performance settings. If it is anywhere below 100% then set it to 100%.
If this doesn't work then download throttlestop. See the link below...
http://throttlestop.en.softonic.com/
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June 30, 2013 5:29:40 AM

ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
Don't really care about battery life, it stays plugged in 99% of the time.

But, disabling speed step doesn't help. It will continue to downclock to 1200 MHz. I still can't figure it out. So really disabling it just prevents it from going to 3200 HMz. Symptoms are still there.



Try and check the maximum cpu utilization% in the advanced menu of your performance settings. If it is anywhere below 100% then set it to 100%.
If this doesn't work then download throttlestop. See the link below...
http://throttlestop.en.softonic.com/


OK, so i'm still playing around with this. But here's what i've noticed so far. If I turn speedstep off in bios, the program seems to keep the processor at 2.4 GHz and won't down clock. If speed step is enabled, the processor will still down clock to 1.2 GHz.

I've never heard of this program before, and i'm still playing around with it. Thanks though, great suggestion.

EDIT: The GPU still doesn't stay at 90+ all the time though. it'll dip down to 40-50% pretty often
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June 30, 2013 5:38:37 AM

icewolf69 said:
ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
Don't really care about battery life, it stays plugged in 99% of the time.

But, disabling speed step doesn't help. It will continue to downclock to 1200 MHz. I still can't figure it out. So really disabling it just prevents it from going to 3200 HMz. Symptoms are still there.



Try and check the maximum cpu utilization% in the advanced menu of your performance settings. If it is anywhere below 100% then set it to 100%.
If this doesn't work then download throttlestop. See the link below...
http://throttlestop.en.softonic.com/


OK, so i'm still playing around with this. But here's what i've noticed so far. If I turn speedstep off in bios, the program seems to keep the processor at 2.4 GHz and won't down clock. If speed step is enabled, the processor will still down clock to 1.2 GHz.

I've never heard of this program before, and i'm still playing around with it. Thanks though, great suggestion.

EDIT: The GPU still doesn't stay at 90+ all the time though. it'll dip down to 40-50% pretty often


Can you please name the games in which it is happening....Also are you using vsync??
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June 30, 2013 5:48:46 AM

ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
Don't really care about battery life, it stays plugged in 99% of the time.

But, disabling speed step doesn't help. It will continue to downclock to 1200 MHz. I still can't figure it out. So really disabling it just prevents it from going to 3200 HMz. Symptoms are still there.



Try and check the maximum cpu utilization% in the advanced menu of your performance settings. If it is anywhere below 100% then set it to 100%.
If this doesn't work then download throttlestop. See the link below...
http://throttlestop.en.softonic.com/


OK, so i'm still playing around with this. But here's what i've noticed so far. If I turn speedstep off in bios, the program seems to keep the processor at 2.4 GHz and won't down clock. If speed step is enabled, the processor will still down clock to 1.2 GHz.

I've never heard of this program before, and i'm still playing around with it. Thanks though, great suggestion.

EDIT: The GPU still doesn't stay at 90+ all the time though. it'll dip down to 40-50% pretty often


Can you please name the games in which it is happening....Also are you using vsync??


Vsync is off.

It's happening on nearly every game I have. Some games just aren't graphically intense so you can't notice because when the FPS drops, it's still above 70-90 (like dead space 3).

The Games it's really noticeable on are Borderlands, Arkham City, tomb raider, and crysis 3. Which are really the only games I have on the laptop. These games are a mix of steam and local installs as well. Here's a pic of what my GPU usage looks like after playing Crysis 3 for a few minutes




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June 30, 2013 5:56:45 AM

icewolf69 said:
ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
Don't really care about battery life, it stays plugged in 99% of the time.

But, disabling speed step doesn't help. It will continue to downclock to 1200 MHz. I still can't figure it out. So really disabling it just prevents it from going to 3200 HMz. Symptoms are still there.



Try and check the maximum cpu utilization% in the advanced menu of your performance settings. If it is anywhere below 100% then set it to 100%.
If this doesn't work then download throttlestop. See the link below...
http://throttlestop.en.softonic.com/


OK, so i'm still playing around with this. But here's what i've noticed so far. If I turn speedstep off in bios, the program seems to keep the processor at 2.4 GHz and won't down clock. If speed step is enabled, the processor will still down clock to 1.2 GHz.

I've never heard of this program before, and i'm still playing around with it. Thanks though, great suggestion.

EDIT: The GPU still doesn't stay at 90+ all the time though. it'll dip down to 40-50% pretty often


Can you please name the games in which it is happening....Also are you using vsync??


Vsync is off.

It's happening on nearly every game I have. Some games just aren't graphically intense so you can't notice because when the FPS drops, it's still above 70-90 (like dead space 3).

The Games it's really noticeable on are Borderlands, Arkham City, tomb raider, and crysis 3. Which are really the only games I have on the laptop. These games are a mix of steam and local installs as well. Here's a pic of what my GPU usage looks like after playing Crysis 3 for a few minutes






This looks like a serious issue......Was this screenshot taken after you disabled speedstep???
If yes then try and install an even older driver and see if you can get any improvement..
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June 30, 2013 6:01:07 AM

ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
Don't really care about battery life, it stays plugged in 99% of the time.

But, disabling speed step doesn't help. It will continue to downclock to 1200 MHz. I still can't figure it out. So really disabling it just prevents it from going to 3200 HMz. Symptoms are still there.



Try and check the maximum cpu utilization% in the advanced menu of your performance settings. If it is anywhere below 100% then set it to 100%.
If this doesn't work then download throttlestop. See the link below...
http://throttlestop.en.softonic.com/


OK, so i'm still playing around with this. But here's what i've noticed so far. If I turn speedstep off in bios, the program seems to keep the processor at 2.4 GHz and won't down clock. If speed step is enabled, the processor will still down clock to 1.2 GHz.

I've never heard of this program before, and i'm still playing around with it. Thanks though, great suggestion.

EDIT: The GPU still doesn't stay at 90+ all the time though. it'll dip down to 40-50% pretty often


Can you please name the games in which it is happening....Also are you using vsync??


Vsync is off.

It's happening on nearly every game I have. Some games just aren't graphically intense so you can't notice because when the FPS drops, it's still above 70-90 (like dead space 3).

The Games it's really noticeable on are Borderlands, Arkham City, tomb raider, and crysis 3. Which are really the only games I have on the laptop. These games are a mix of steam and local installs as well. Here's a pic of what my GPU usage looks like after playing Crysis 3 for a few minutes






This looks like a serious issue......Was this screenshot taken after you disabled speedstep???
If yes then try and install an even older driver and see if you can get any improvement..


Yeah that's the GPU after speed step is disabled. Don't have a way to graphically represent the CPU usage. Maybe speed fan, but all these sensor programs makes some stuff not work right. I'll try it

I'll find some older drivers and see what happens
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June 30, 2013 6:09:28 AM

icewolf69 said:
ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
ayushde said:
icewolf69 said:
Don't really care about battery life, it stays plugged in 99% of the time.

But, disabling speed step doesn't help. It will continue to downclock to 1200 MHz. I still can't figure it out. So really disabling it just prevents it from going to 3200 HMz. Symptoms are still there.



Try and check the maximum cpu utilization% in the advanced menu of your performance settings. If it is anywhere below 100% then set it to 100%.
If this doesn't work then download throttlestop. See the link below...
http://throttlestop.en.softonic.com/


OK, so i'm still playing around with this. But here's what i've noticed so far. If I turn speedstep off in bios, the program seems to keep the processor at 2.4 GHz and won't down clock. If speed step is enabled, the processor will still down clock to 1.2 GHz.

I've never heard of this program before, and i'm still playing around with it. Thanks though, great suggestion.

EDIT: The GPU still doesn't stay at 90+ all the time though. it'll dip down to 40-50% pretty often


Can you please name the games in which it is happening....Also are you using vsync??


Vsync is off.

It's happening on nearly every game I have. Some games just aren't graphically intense so you can't notice because when the FPS drops, it's still above 70-90 (like dead space 3).

The Games it's really noticeable on are Borderlands, Arkham City, tomb raider, and crysis 3. Which are really the only games I have on the laptop. These games are a mix of steam and local installs as well. Here's a pic of what my GPU usage looks like after playing Crysis 3 for a few minutes






This looks like a serious issue......Was this screenshot taken after you disabled speedstep???
If yes then try and install an even older driver and see if you can get any improvement..


Yeah that's the GPU after speed step is disabled. Don't have a way to graphically represent the CPU usage. Maybe speed fan, but all these sensor programs makes some stuff not work right. I'll try it

I'll find some older drivers and see what happens


Well if this is after speedstep disabled then there is something seriously wrong with either your drivers or your gpu itself....
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June 30, 2013 6:22:57 AM

OK, using TMonitor to look at CPU clocks. This is what my CPU clocks look like while just sitting at my desktop (speedstep still disabled)



This is what my CPU looks like when i'm in game, and the CPU and GPU and FPS all craps out:
You'll notice it just flatlines...



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June 30, 2013 6:26:53 AM

icewolf69 said:
OK, using TMonitor to look at CPU clocks. This is what my CPU clocks look like while just sitting at my desktop (speedstep still disabled)



This is what my CPU looks like when i'm in game, and the CPU and GPU and FPS all craps out:
You'll notice it just flatlines...





Yes...its a clear case of cpu throttling.....Have you enabled throttlestop BTW??
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June 30, 2013 6:28:23 AM

Yeah those pics were taken with throttlestop running.
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June 30, 2013 6:35:09 AM

icewolf69 said:
Yeah those pics were taken with throttlestop running.


Strange....because throttlestop shouldn't let your cpu go below its base clocks....I think you ought to talk to the MSI authorities about this issue....Maybe there is a bios issue or something..
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June 30, 2013 7:06:36 PM

I reinstalled Windows 8, same issues. Going to try Windows 7. If that doesn't work i guess i'll chock this up to hardware error of some kind.
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July 1, 2013 7:07:20 PM

Many thanks to ayushde for trying to help!

OK, this has been solved. This problem is essentially "working as intended" for MSI. I know eventually someone will do a Google search for this problem and end up here, so here's the work around.

If you don't have a GT60/ GT70 this most likely own't help you. Check your manufacturer's website/ forums. If you do have one of these 2 series, and want to get rid of the throttling, you have to download a custom beta firmware. This firmware will never go live since MSI doesn't want anyone to toast their laptop. This will unlock the full potential, but be prepared for higher temps.

The firmware can be downloaded here (you need to register on the forum before you can download it):

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=162629.0

Make sure you read the thread (only 4 pages) and follow the directions. This firmware most likely won't work on barebone MSI laptops.

once you've downloaded it, you just extract it, and run the program. It'll patch and then you have to reset your EC (take out the battery and leave it unplugged from the wall outlet for ~5 min), then reset BIOS to default, and you're good to go.

Completely got rid of any problems i had. Good luck.
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July 1, 2013 8:06:08 PM

icewolf69 said:
Many thanks to ayushde for trying to help!

OK, this has been solved. This problem is essentially "working as intended" for MSI. I know eventually someone will do a Google search for this problem and end up here, so here's the work around.

If you don't have a GT60/ GT70 this most likely own't help you. Check your manufacturer's website/ forums. If you do have one of these 2 series, and want to get rid of the throttling, you have to download a custom beta firmware. This firmware will never go live since MSI doesn't want anyone to toast their laptop. This will unlock the full potential, but be prepared for higher temps.

The firmware can be downloaded here (you need to register on the forum before you can download it):

http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=162629.0

Make sure you read the thread (only 4 pages) and follow the directions. This firmware most likely won't work on barebone MSI laptops.

once you've downloaded it, you just extract it, and run the program. It'll patch and then you have to reset your EC (take out the battery and leave it unplugged from the wall outlet for ~5 min), then reset BIOS to default, and you're good to go.

Completely got rid of any problems i had. Good luck.


You are always welcome......Cheers and have fun!!!
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!