New GTX 660 causing lag when old GTS250 didnt?

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v1ctorious

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Dec 7, 2013
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Hey i have an issue and im looking for advice/tips.

My setup is as follows:

Intel E8400 3.15GHZ (yes, big +150mhz overclock! ha)
6GB Kingston hyperx ddr2-800 2x2 and 2x1 (same model)
MSI GTX 660 OC - Previously ASUS GTS 250
Coolermaster RealPower M520

I have a 23' 120HZ monitor. So i always put the resolution on 1920x1080 because of this i have to put most settings on low/off on the newer games. For example the new Batman games. I felt it run on the edge of the minimum FPS u would want it to run. For me a game has to run smooth first then comes the graphics.

Now, 2 days ago i bought a MSI GTX 660 OC to replace my GTS250. Hoping for FPS increase so i could play the newer games, play with higher graphics with the games i already play etc. But the games feel laggy, abit stuttering. It really isnt running smooth.

For example in DotA2. Not a heavy game at all. Previously i had every setting on off/low with rendering on 100% and textures on high. On 1920x1080 resolution. I would get on avg 60+ fps. The game was smooth, it didnt lag, jitter etc. Now with the 660 i put everything on high/max. The game feels abit laggy at times, like its struggling. So i decided to put every single setting on low/off, even the 2 settings i had on/max with my previous card. The change in FPS was only a little; which is weird.

So i have no idea what is going on. Surely the GTX660OC should be good enough to handle DotA2 and other games. Yes my processor is 'old' but its running at 3.15 GHZ that should be enough, right?

Perhaps i forgot to install something, or i need to do X and Y. I have no idea so i am hoping others could give me some pointers. How can i know its the CPU causing it? Or how can i find out that the GPU is working properly?

Thanks for any help, tips and tricks.
 
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v1ctorious

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Dec 7, 2013
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Before i put the 660 in i removed all the drivers (through Your Uninstaller). After booting up for the first time i installed the newest from nvidia site. Incase it hadnt didnt uninstalled the first driver properly i cleaned it all once again with DDU - Display Driver Uninstaller and installed the same drivers. Yesterday i thought well maybe the drivers are no good so i did run DDU once again and installed drivers from Guru3D ( this one http://www.guru3d.com/files_details/geforce_331_93_beta_driver_download.html )
 
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v1ctorious

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Dec 7, 2013
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Added to the main post. My PSU is a CoolerMaster Real Power M520.

The temps:
CPU min: 37 - max: 45
GPU min: 26 - max: 50

The GPU fan only runs at 33% atm. Its on auto.
 
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v1ctorious

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Dec 7, 2013
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GPU max usage in game 70%
CPU i dont know, the CPU isnt the issue i think.

I understand what u are saying Optimus_Toaster if i was trying to play a new game with maxed out settings. DotA2 isnt a heavy graphics game. My CPU beats the recommended requirements. And i explained how changing settings from maxed out to low/off had little increase which seems weird.

Surely the 660 should ATLEAST perform the same as my 250GTS in this setup with more stability/smoothless. I didnt change anything else in my setup.

I am more looking for little tips/reminders, incase i missed something. A few tests i could run to determine the problem. So i can figure out what i should do. A check list if u will.

Yes i know the CPU is outdated, im not denying that. I just think its something else considering the lag/jittering. Its weird, even in windows i feel abit of 'lag'. Which wasnt like that with my 250GTS and shouldnt happen at all cuz my monitor is a 120HZ one.

- Is my PSU?
- Is my CPU holding my system back? Hell yes but i dont think its the CPU causing the lag. Unless i need a better CPU to make the GPU run 'smoothly' (i am no noob but im also no expert so i honestly have no idea). Could that actually be it? GTX660 not being able to work with an older CPU even tho the CPU is good enough for a game? It sounds stupid and right at the same time.
- Could it be my windows? Should i do a fresh install? I dont want to resort to this only if its the last option.

And so forth. I just want to rule out problems 1 by 1 and that narrow it down to what it could be.

I am just gonna take my whole PC apart and put it together again at the same time clean out the dust and what not.

Thanks for the replies
 
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Optimus_Toaster

Optimus_Toaster

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Jul 22, 2012
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I honestly do believe that it is the CPU. Changing you graphics settings without a change in the FPS is a classic sign that your CPU cannot cope with the game. Also stuttering is another sign as the GPU is waiting on the CPU to do some calculations before it can render certain frames.

In a normal gaming environment (non capped frame rate/not a horribly optimised game) GPU usage should be at 99% most of the time. The fact it isn't is a sign that your CPU is the bottleneck.

You can measure both CPU and GPU usage in game with the on screen display of MSI afterburner.
 
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v1ctorious

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Dec 7, 2013
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But if my CPU cant cope with the game, how come with 250GTS i didnt experiance it? I mean like i asked before ( i know u kinda answered it, i just wanne be sure and clear); could it actually be that my system 'lags' because my CPU isnt powerfull enough to handle my GPU? But if i were to take the 660 out and put in a less powerfull 250GTS in that it would be lagg free. I mean, i just thought/expected; ya okay my CPU isnt new but i guess i could just play it to the maximum possible before my CPU kicks it and stops it from going further. I didnt actually expect my system to lag because of this. Alright, the GPU doesnt run at 100% but at 50% or whatever, nothing wrong with that. I am just trying to explain how i thought/think about the issue.

And im also trying to make sure that this is it. Budget is tight and i dont want to get a new mobo/ram/cpu and have the same issue.

I tried looking at the usage of CPU and GPU while in DotA2. I dont have a second screen so i lowered the resolution to 1600x900 and put it in window mode so i could have the 2 windows on the side.

CPU usage was around 90-95%. Checked it with RealTemp
GPU usage was around 30% with 2 peaks to 64% and 70% (the peaks were just for a few seconds i guess). Checked it with Afterburner

I only ran it for about 5 mins. Should i run it for an longer amount or is this enough?

Thanks for your replies Optimus_Toaster, i appreciate it greatly!
 
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Optimus_Toaster

Optimus_Toaster

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As hypergon said, your GTS 250 was the bottleneck so you didn't notice that your CPU was holding you back. The gtx 660 no longer bottlenecks your system so the CPU holds you back.

If your budget is tight, I think that there are some core 2 quads available for the same socket as your E8400. My knowledge on pre-sandy bridge CPU compatability isn't great so I might be wrong. But I do know that the Q6600 is still a capable gaming CPU.
 
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v1ctorious

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Dec 7, 2013
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Ok, i guess the mystery has been solved :).

Well if i have to upgrade i want to do it properly and not get something for the same old socket. Any advice regarding this? I honestly havent followed the processors lately so i have no idea. I did looked abit and i see its socket 1150 and 1155, are these the 'best' ones atm? Is it still Intel > amd? Which one should i go for at this moment? And which socket?

Thanks
 
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v1ctorious

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Dec 7, 2013
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Well dont all sockets have cheaper options among them? Obviously want as cheap as possible. But if i know the AMD / Intel + Socket i can take a look myself at the options.

300 euro for a processor, mobo and ram should be enough right?
 
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v1ctorious

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Dec 7, 2013
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Well i am just looking around. The decent models can be bought from different stores, no need to worry about the options.

I have been looking at the AMD FX-8320 Black Edition and AMD FX-6300 Black Edition (the difference is 35 euro). With 8320 having 8 cores and the 6300 having 6. Are these actually cores or is it some bs selling point? Because i checked out i3-4130 which is in the same price range as the 6300 but the i3-4130 only has 2 cores. So whats the deal with that?

If i could get a good processor for 100 euro that would be great.
 
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v1ctorious

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Dec 7, 2013
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I have come across a upgrade kit;


ASRock 970 Extreme3 R2.0, socket AM3+
AMD FX-8350
Corsair 8 GB DDR3-1600 Kit (CML8GX3M2A1600C9)

For 310 euro. Is this worth it? Or should i just go for the FX-6300 and buy everything seperately or it is actually worth it to go for the FX-8350. Which can handle 660GTX and 520watt coolermaster real power m520 PSU?
 
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v1ctorious

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Dec 7, 2013
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Well on that specific site offering the bundle buying them seperately will add another 20 euro. The site is abit known for being 'expensive' but i will check the lowest possible prices of each component.

I am just looking for more general advice;

AMD or Intel?
AMD FX-8320 Black Edition, AMD FX-6300 Black or AMD FX-8350? Which is better value for money? I am not the kind to spent extra just for 50 extra MHZ if u catch my drift. I am looking for quality but also reasonable price. But i am not someone who upgrades every year. I prefer to wear the hardware out for years. So i dont want to get someone that is outdated tomorrow.

My setup atm incase people dont want to read all the replies:

CoolerMaster RealPower M520
GTX 660 OC
 
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