Low CPU/GPU usage, Low Framerate (GTX 780 SC ACX)

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midiout

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Aug 3, 2013
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I recently upgraded my 560TI to a 780 and I'm having performance problems. On some games (not all) my CPU and GPU will both be running at low usage, yet I'll have low frame rate.

This image is while running Guildwars 2; similar results in World of Warcraft (http://imgur.com/uCLDz6R). I find it odd that this is happening and I have no idea what the reason is. I have also been playing Crysis 2, and it's been having no problems at all. It runs at a decent 80+ frame rate most of the time, with 99% GPU load.

Here are my computer specs:
Intel i5 2500k 3.3GHz (stock fan/default clocks, I plan on overclocking it this week)
EVGA GTX 780 SC ACX
Asus P8Z68-V PRO Motherboard
Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600
Seagate Barracuda 750GB 3.5" 7200RPM
Corsair Enthusiast 650W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V / EPS12V
Microsoft Windows 7 Home
Asus VG248QE 144Hz 24.0" Monitor (1920x1080)
NVIDIA 320.49 Driver

I thought it was a CPU bottleneck, and I was advised to get an after market CPU cooler and overclock it (which I am doing and should have done ages ago), but I really think the problem goes deeper than that. For both the CPU and GPU to be running at low load, and yet my performance is less than ideal, something must be wrong. I initially thought maybe it was being under powered by my 650W PSU but I'm able to run other games like Crysis with ease. I'm really at a loss.

I've just talked to people with similar or weaker computers that can run the game (and other games) better than mine. My CPU load is still not THAT high if it was being bottle necked. Most of my performance problems do revolve around various MMOs, for the most part. I really have a hard time believing it's just my CPU being to weak for the job.
 
Solution
hardyboys209
I do not know if this will help but i recently had a problem similar to this with a i-5 2500k, it was overheating, but the thing with it is it was also underclocking itself somehow, which made the usage go down. The problem was really unnessacarily easy and it was due to the cpu fan connector being plugged into the sys_fan not cpu_fan. So, check all connections and try changing pci slots. Good Luck
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midiout

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My download is 15mb/s and my upload is 1mb/s. Even if my internet speed was really low, why would my CPU and GPU not be fully utilized?
 
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midiout

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Aug 3, 2013
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For GPU load I've been using MSI Afterburner, and for CPU I've just been using Real Temp and Task Manager, I'll get Coretemp and try again. I reformatted when I got my 780 and installed fresh NVIDIA drivers. There is in image in my original post showing the monitors.
 
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muzzpro

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Jun 7, 2013
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this is odd but this seems to be a bottleneck
an i5 2500k is a powerful processor only difference between this and haswell is pcie 3.0
if gpu load is at 99% then the gpu will give you max performance and with a card like that you should be fine, maybe your ram is running short on you (it can be a possibility)
 
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midiout

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Two Updated Images of a GW2 Run Here:

http://i.imgur.com/kBzENRr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/d05w8uF.jpg

It seems that the CPU usage is actually much higher than I thought. Probably from all of these monitors running at once lol! The first core was actually in the high 90s in the first image. It was mainly when loading in new NPCs and players around town. Once everything was loaded in, it stabilized and lowered itself. The second image I was actually playing a World vs World (many real players on screen at once), and my frames dropped to 30. At that time the CPU load was high, but it still had some headroom.
Maybe I'm underestimating the severity of 80% load?

It seems that my CPU is the culprit here, but now my concern is why. I have friends who have far less impressive computer specs, some even game on laptops (older ones at that) and they don't seem to have much trouble playing these MMOs. Is there a chance my CPU is unstable or under preforming?

Edit 2:

Here's a image of Crysis 2 running, as well as Unreal Heaven Benchmark. I only ran these for a few minutes, but the results are the same as me letting them run for 20 minutes or more in the past.

http://i.imgur.com/II7gL6b.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/oqJQjUm.jpg

I did this just to show that the video card itself can run at full 99% load comfortably. I've noticed now that when it is able to run at full load my CPU load is reasonably low.

So I guess that confirms CPU bottleneck in MMOs? If that is the case, what's my best plan of action? I plan on overclocking my 2500k this week, I actually have a Noctua NH-D14 in the mail. I can't imagine a 1ghz overclock completely fixing this problem.
 
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muzzpro

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unparking cpu cores?
i got 5fps increase in Planetside 2
 
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midiout

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I was looking into that actually. I've never dealt with it in the past to know the pros and cons, I'm also not 100% sure how to do it properly and safely.
 
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midiout

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That's exactly my concern. Other people using this CPU seem to have no problems at all, even at stock settings. That's what's lead me to believe it's something more problematic. I can't imagine what it would be, it's even running at a decent temperature.
 
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fnatic

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Jun 25, 2013
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I'd try overlocking your CPU nothing major, just to 4ghz. You really don't need to change any settings for going up to 4ghz. Leave it all stock and give it a go and see if that helps. If not revert and we'll see what else.
 
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midiout

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Say this CPU overclock doesn't fix the problem, what CPU can I upgrade to (even if getting a new motherboard is necessary) that will fix this problem 100%?

Edit/Update:

http://i.imgur.com/c4AOfbr.jpg - Highest Graphics / 55% CPU Load / 45% GPU Load / 27 Frame rate
http://i.imgur.com/RJ5ekSw.jpg - Lowest Graphics / 55% CPU Load / 45% GPU Load / 59 Frame rate

While running WoW in a major city with many people, I'm getting horrible performance (while on high graphics) yet my CPU is only at 50% load and my GPU is around 45%. I lower the graphics and my CPU/GPU load are the same, yet my framerate went up from 27 to 59. Even then 59 Framerate with 50% GPU load and 50% CPU load is messed up. Basically when I lowered my settings, my CPU usage stayed the same (or even went a bit higher), yet my GPU was still at half load ... but my frame rate doubled.
 
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hardyboys209

hardyboys209

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Oct 10, 2012
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I do not know if this will help but i recently had a problem similar to this with a i-5 2500k, it was overheating, but the thing with it is it was also underclocking itself somehow, which made the usage go down. The problem was really unnessacarily easy and it was due to the cpu fan connector being plugged into the sys_fan not cpu_fan. So, check all connections and try changing pci slots. Good Luck
 
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edgedsword

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Dec 29, 2013
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I am having a similar problem with dual gtx 760s and AMD FX-6300 - can't figure out what the problem is
 
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Marley217

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Nov 29, 2013
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You say that this thread is solved, but nowhere did I read a solution.
I did have the exact same problem, what probably is happening is that your cpu is being throttled.

Step 1: install cpu-z
Step 2: run a benchmark or play a game and whatch the core speed of your cpu. I have the if 2500k, and had it clocked at 4.2 Ghz yet the core speed would jump to 1.6 ghz even during gaming. If you don't have two monitors, run the game windowed.
Step 3: If there is throttling going on, go into your BIOS, probably go to advanced settings and turn off cpu throttling.

I think what happens with a lot of people that bought sandy bridge a while back, is that they always had throttling. They just never noticed anything, since they probably ran their games on 50% of the graphics. I know that's what I did, since I used the HD6870, and am now using the GTX 780.

EDIT: Do not dissable cpu throttling! After testing some further maps on BF4 I have come to the conclusion that the problem persists. Looks like some other maps have been optimized. But dissabling cpu throttling did not help one bit.
 
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Demon Breadbasket

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Mar 13, 2014
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Did you ever find out what is wrong here? I have the same card with an amd fx 8350 and am having the same problem. RMA'd my GPU, got a new one and the problem still persists.

Like the OP I can play crysis 2, 3 at over 100 FPS consistently but in games like SWTOR my FPS is horrible. I have a 2 year old M14x that plays it better.
 
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