A medal to anyone who can solve my CPU spiking woes

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
T

TommyGuner

Honorable
Nov 3, 2013
9
0
10,510
Let me first say that I am no PC desktop expert, and I am completely baffled by what is wrong with my PC. Secondly, this problem has persisted for around a year (or even more) but until now I haven't had the time nor energy to try tinker around and see what's the matter.

Basically, I have horrific cpu spike problems when playing games. These aren't "lag spikes" (whereby for a second or two everything lags for a bit but you can still move around etc.), these are actually freeze spikes where EVERYTHING stops for around 1-2 seconds. Now this may seem ok if only it doesn't happen every 5-15 seconds, which it does. The problem persists to graphic intensive games including the recently released Battlefield 4. But, it also kills the experience in some other not-so-graphic intensive games like Bioshock Infinite.
In any game where there are pre-rendered cutscenes (or even in-game ones), the problem does a good job to un-sync the audio from what I'm watching, making it painful to sit through.

This all started when I attempted to upgrade my BIOS for my motherboard (ASUS M4N75TD) due to the fact I was having some equally horrible issues with my then graphics card; a GTX 590, which seemed to break down all the time. Not only did the BIOS update not help, I remember (but not entirely certain) that's when the freeze spikes started.

Since then, I've tried re-booting my system, going back to the previous BIOS state, reinstalling windows, virus scan, defrag, bought a new graphics card (currently a GTX 660ti) and cleaned the cpu fan. And still the pain continues.


I've come to the conclusion that I want to buy a new piece of replacement hardware to see if this kills the problem. HOWEVER, I do not want to waste money buying, for instance, a new motherboard and finding out it has done nothing to help.
Therefore, I am asking you fine ladies and gentlemen for advice on what on earth could possible be doing to make my PC behave like a complete dog.

I have uploaded several pictures of my task manager/resource monitor during the event of a freeze spike (using BF4 as the test). I also have the MSI Afterburner application to see what my GPU is doing as well. And as you can see, something unusual is going on...

http://i44.tinypic.com/2qiuusi.png

http://tinypic.com/r/30d9ysh/5

http://i44.tinypic.com/29ux4e9.png

http://i41.tinypic.com/spu05g.png

http://tinypic.com/r/apcodd/5

One final thing to mention, when I am normally playing intensive games, I hear a little buzzing going on somehwere in my computer and I THINK it may be from my hard disk - on that note, please take a look at the "Disk Queue length" graphic of my resource monitor... is this the root of the problem? Or is it just something else which is causing my hard disk and my GPU to spike like that?

Thanks in advance!
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
S

Spencer1

Honorable
Mar 17, 2013
43
0
10,560
What are your CPU temps?

The way your GPU usage is spiking around makes me think that your CPU may be throttling, causing your GPU to be sitting around while your CPU throttles to cool down. Just a guess and there could be so many more problems that are interacting to cause this.

Also, what CPU do you have and do you have aftermarket cooling on it?

I'm not trying to scare you (sorry if I am) but we don't know enough to answer this.

That buzzing could likely be just a fan or a hard drive vibrating in the cage. You'll have to crack open your PC and see what's causing that buzzing. Just try putting a finger on the HDD or the cage and see if you feel vibrations or if that stops them.

To check your CPU temps, get something like HWMonitor or another piece of software. Play a game that causes this spiking and see what the temps say.

If your temps are high in the software reading, feel the heatsink on the CPU in the case. If temps are high (60*+ for AMD, 75*+ for Intel) but the heatsink isn't hot, you'll need to reseat the heatsink with some new thermal compound. If temps are high and the heatsink is hot, get some better ventilation or get an aftermarket heatsink. If that's the case, a hyper 212 will keep you nice and cool for about $30, much cheaper than new hardware :D

Good luck!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TommyGuner

Honorable
Nov 3, 2013
9
0
10,510


Thanks for the length post, I will download the application and let everyone know what the temps are, though i only cleaned my heatsink/fan (didn't reapply new thermal paste though) so one would assume it'd make a difference.

Also, the power unit is a 1000w Silverstone (model number OP1000)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TommyGuner

Honorable
Nov 3, 2013
9
0
10,510


I've ordered a new cooling thingy, including some thermal paste and cleaner etc.

However, I reinstalled Bioshock Infinite to check temps.
Unfortunately, the audio becomes unsynced (same as most of my other games) as per usual - this happens in most dialogue-y games, the NPCs take a little while longer to speak (as if there's a delay for it to load their speech file)

I checked back at CPU temps, and they were all at 32-38 degrees, so it's definitely not a heating issue.

I am intending to purchase a new motherboard and CPU, hopefully this might fix it?
But before I do so, anymore ideas/questions?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
JOOK-D

JOOK-D

Dignified
Aug 28, 2013
3,910
0
15,960


Other than wiping and reinstalling drivers, I'm stumped.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TommyGuner

Honorable
Nov 3, 2013
9
0
10,510


I have two HDs, both WD. My C: is 500gb and my E: drive is 1TB.

I have tried playing games from both the C and E: drives and the same thing happens.
The clicking started when I installed my GTX660ti, and the clicking/spinning sound stops whenever a freeze spike occurs (then after the spike, it continues).
However, most of the time I hear this sound in intensive games, other games (where I still might get audio unsyncing and spikes) that aren't so intensive, I don't hear it but the problem still occurs.

I think that it might still be the motherboard acting up, causing everything on the board to stop (thus including my HD)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Spencer1

Honorable
Mar 17, 2013
43
0
10,560
I am really stumped with this one. If it only started when you put in the 660 Ti, then it could definitely be that.

Perhaps the power delivery on the 660 Ti is acting up? Perhaps the VRMs or whatever else is acting up and your GPU is freaking out at the varying voltages (?). Just a random guess. If you could borrow another GPU to test this it would help a lot. I would say that the clicking is a fan hitting a wire but you said the noise varies based on utilization. It still could be a fan hitting a wire, as the fans ramp up when the GPU heats up. The higher speed could in fact be the fan hitting the wire if the higher speed is displacing the fan slightly. You never know.

Are you using the sound over HDMI from the 660 Ti? If so, that could be the issue with the sound, if your GPU is indeed the culprit.

And please do a fresh install of the drivers. It could be as simple as that. It's a lot easier than swapping GPUs and testing all that stuff.

EDIT: Don't get new hardware until you know what's the issue. If you borrow another GPU and the issue still persists after a driver reinstall, then it might make sense. Until then, just narrow down the issue. Easier on the wallet.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TommyGuner

Honorable
Nov 3, 2013
9
0
10,510


Well the thing is, the stuttering occurred BEFORE I changed from my GTX 590 to my 660ti, I thought changing cards would fix it but it didn't.
The spikes and freezes definitely started when I updated my BIOS.
So that's why I'm sort of convinced it's a CPU/Motherboard issue as I have already changed GPUs a while back.

Also, the audio issue is definitely a result from this problem.

And just to note again, as I mentioned earlier, after I updated my BIOS - my device was had an error on a device called "Coprocessor". When I tried installing drivers, they couldn't find any drivers - so when I ask the computer to look into local files, it installed to some nForce network controller or something (but doesn't fix it)
Everytime I've reverted (and updated) the BIOS, the coprocessor thing pops up again.


EDIT: Just to add on my voltages for my GPU: min and max is always 0.987v (probably due to Afterburner)
ANd i've already tried changing around the stuff on Afterburner, still doesn't do anything to alleviate the problem.

EDIT 2: Also, I've always had the computer case open in case I need to check the motherboard and components. There are no wires hitting against a fan, the clicking sound seems more "internal" than a fan. So I was convinced it might be one of my hard disks, I remember putting my ear up against one during a game, and it doesn't seem to come from it. But, then again, this clicking sound only occured after I switched to my GTX660ti (but the stuttering occurred before that, just no clicking sound on my 590)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Spencer1

Honorable
Mar 17, 2013
43
0
10,560
Oops, it's been a while since I read this I guess. I forgot how to remember things I guess. :(

It could very well be a motherboard issue then. See if you can borrow a motherboard or test the GPU in another system, I guess. This is a bizarre issue. Try re-flashing the BIOS to the old version if you haven't already tried that. It could be that your motherboard doesn't like something in the new BIOS because of a slightly messed up install, or whatever else it may be.

I'm about out of ideas on this one. A new motherboard might have to be the solution. Try a fresh install of the drivers first, as a bad file might have carried over if you didn't do a fresh install upon the upgrade. I honestly don't know what else to say on this.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TommyGuner

Honorable
Nov 3, 2013
9
0
10,510


No worries, thanks for everything so far, though, I really appreciate it :)

Yes I've tried reflashing and updating BIOS and all that jazz, still nothing.
And you may be right, it might be some permanent corrupt install that occurred during the BIOS update. Or that my 590 (which was broken) may have also done some damage to the motherboard (if it works that way?)
I'll probably end up buying a new CPU and motherboard (I may even get it bought for me by my girlfriend as it is my birthday coming up), as the motherboard I'm looking at (ASUS Gryphon Z87) only works with intel processors (looking at an i5 4670k). Because I am convinced it is a problem with both components and there is literally no way of telling what is the specific cause.

Also, 3.4 Ghz is a step up from my current CPU I suppose :p
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TommyGuner

Honorable
Nov 3, 2013
9
0
10,510


I have for GPU, but not for motherboard.

I can't seem to find the disk for MB, is there a way around it (online install?).

I am not too sure about uninstalling MB drivers, how would I go about doing that (or is it the same as going on devices list and just uninstalling it? If so please advise)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TommyGuner

Honorable
Nov 3, 2013
9
0
10,510


So should I uninstall the mobo drivers first, or just download and install and it will remove/replace for me?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

TommyGuner

Honorable
Nov 3, 2013
9
0
10,510


Ok, I shall try it out later today, will give you an update!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom