Does my CPU bottleneck my system?

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TheCrisis

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Hello again community :)

I just upgraded my system and I am pretty happy with it - in general.
What confuses me is the following:

I am still experiencing comparably low FPS in some games...
E.g.: "SplinterCell: Blacklist" (average 30-35FPS), "Batman:Arkham Origins" (average 60fps [locked though v-synch], but fps drops to 35-40fps sometimes ), TheWitcher 2 (runs beautifully, except for fps drops in some areas. like batman), AC:BlackFlag (just tested MP, which runs pretty well - apart from low fps [40-45] when action begins)
I know that these aren't "low fps", like one would expect if he hears this sentence...but - I don't know - I think I should get more fps with this card/setup.
Settings in these games are (ofc) set to the "higher end".
Adjusting them (at least in SplinterCell) doesn't help that much (a few fps, up to 5).
Crysis2 runs on max. settings (1080p) + v-sync und 60 fps, stock - without drops.

My system-specs:
Windows 7 64-bit
8GB DDR3 G-skill Ripjaws
Amd Phenom II 965 BE (OC'ed to 4.0ghz at 60°C peak)
Gainward gtx780 phantom GLH (oc'ed by gainward)
660w psu (should handle my system, I think)

Now, my question is:
Does my CPU bottleneck my system? Since I own a gtx 780, I do not think that my GPU is the problem.
But (if my CPU is the problem) why shouldn't my CPU offer enough power?
Aren't 4ghz enough, or is it just too slow in general?
Btw: Do I need a better psu? I am thinking about to get a better one as well.

Thanks in advance guys :)

 
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jay2577

jay2577

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Strange. I tjhink you should be able to get a little higher in splinter cell blacklist.
CPU_001.png
 
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TheCrisis

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Thanks for the replies so far :)

I have the Asus M5A99X EVO, so yes - an Am3+ mobo.
So what would be the best choice?
Buying an amd-bulldozer?
Which one of them (an FX-8xxx may be a good one)...
And, if I am going to get a bulldozer:
Does my MoBo eintirely support it?
Is my psu (660W) capable to handle it?
I also have an aftermarket cooler on my CPU (of course) and a whole lot of fans hugged up to it, to keep my case cool.

I am just confused that my cpu is..kinda bad ^^ - But, since I know intel-cpu's a re usually better, that might be the case.

Thanks in advance :)
 
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jay2577

jay2577

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Yay:) Your motherboard supports the FX. You should get the piledriver FXx3xx and not bulldozer FXx1xx as they are better. I suggest the AMD 8320 and overclock it to the AMD 8350 speeds.
It would be the same as mine and I played splinter cell blacklist just fine with a weaker graphics card.

P.s. Your cpu is not BAD just a little old. Some games rely on the cpu more and that is what will cause problems. On the other hand some games are really light on the cpu so your cpu will be fine in those circumstances
 
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TheCrisis

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Thanks m8 :)
Still I dont know if my psu is good enough ^^
according to a psu-calculator i tried, I need a 630-640W psu under 100% load - and i heard the FX series drains power as hell (might be wrong, i don't know :p).
Do I need an upgrade?

Thanks in advance again - and thanks so far :)
 
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bitspirit3

bitspirit3

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Theres gotta be some other problem here for him to average 30fps on splinter cell with that hardware, the 965 at 4Ghz should still be getting 50-55 so I don't think just upgrading the cpu is going to do it.
 
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TheCrisis

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Nothing special - And I dont remember the brand..bought it a year ago (or sth.)
What should I get?
Are 700w enough for an upgrade ?
http://

@bitspirit3
Any guess, what might cause this issue?

Thanks in advance :)
 
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bitspirit3

bitspirit3

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I honestly dont know it'd be nice if someone more experienced could look into it. What I do now is that you should be getting better perfomance then you are with that processor and it would be a waste of time and money if you upgrade it and end up getting the same bad performance.
 
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jay2577

jay2577

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I agree that you should be getting higher fps. Your psu if it's nothing special as you put it might be the problem. The FX shouldn't need any more juice than your overclocked Phenom really. If you could open your case and read the sticker on the side of the psu it would be helpful.
If it is a psu problem it might be throttling down the graphics card/cpu from lack of power.
PSU's vary greatly in quality
 
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TheCrisis

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If you talk about these "3D vision drivers" (stereoscopic ****) then...yes, I never installed these, since they destroyed The Witcher 2 :)
But thanks for the tip :)
 
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TheCrisis

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It is an ms-tech with ~660w.
I can't find it on the internet atm :/

And if it was the psu - is it like:
"too weak to handle components = giving them less power => less performance" ?

But still what I don't get - what is wrong with my system? :D

 
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jay2577

jay2577

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And if it was the psu - is it like:
"too weak to handle components = giving them less power => less performance" ?

Yes possibly but you'll have to give me the make/model of your psu first so i can check. If it's okay we'll have to look at other possibilities
 
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TheCrisis

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Aah. ok - I now got what u meant:
http://
Actually I missunderstood what was written on the psu.
It seems to have 650W :)
 
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TheCrisis

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How do I check this?
Through "msi afterburner" ?

EDIT
I figured out how to check my GPU usage while playing AC4: BlackFlag (through msi afterburner)
aaaaand it's like the following:
The average usage was about 60% while the game hat (stock) 60 fps.
Each time the fps dropped to ~35, the usage of my GPU followed these numbers.
And since adjusting AA (and comperably hich gpu burning settings) didn't affect my FPS...well, I guess that tells that the problem is actually my CPU.
If I am wrong, correct me pls :)
I still don't get "why" my CPU should cause these drops - I mean, yeah, it's old compared to the FX-x3xx cpus, but 4ghz is still a decent amount of power :/

So: In fact, I need a new psu (the one I posted before) and an FX-8320 (I guess).

Right?
Thanks for the help so far
 
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TheCrisis

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To be honest:
I didn't manage to see my CPU usage.
About the heat - after 9 hours prime95 stress-test, 60-62°C was the maximum.

Could you tell me, how I am able to see my CPU usage ingame?

EDIT
I just played a bit (still AC4) and my max. temp is 55°C.
I, again, noticed that the average gpu usage is 57% while setting all to max doesn't affect this percentage (it just goes up to 60%).
This makes it kind of obvious, right? ^^
 
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TheCrisis

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According to the taskmanager, the cpu usage is, like the gpu usage, about 60%...

EDIT
While thinking about that simply:
BOTH run at about 60% (differs from ingame situation to another) - does this indicate that both are just able to use a certain amount of power (through the psu) to a maximum of 70% hardware-usage?
 
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