Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question
Solved

R9 290 GPU Usage Spike/Low FPS

Tags:
  • GPUs
  • Low FPS
  • Graphics
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
Share
May 28, 2014 1:01:05 PM

Sapphire Tri-X R9 290 OC
Intel Core i5 3570k
ASUS P8 Z77-V LK
8GB RAM
Seasonic M12II 620 Bronze

Hello, my R9 290 downclocks while playing certain games. In Crysis, at the start, I get 100% gpu usage and high fps. But when I reach daylight, It seems to throttle alot. Heat is not a problem as the most it ever went is 80c.

When I run Unigene Heaven at extreme, I get 100% gpu usage, so power and cpu bottleneck is not a problem. Ran with both stable and beta drivers. I used MSI afterburner beta without powerplay and locked the core clock to 1000MHz but the gpu usage still drops in games like nfs mw 2012.

Also, isn't your fps supposed to get a huge boost when you lower your graphics settings? Instead the card just downclocks. Vsync is off.

More about : 290 gpu usage spike low fps

May 28, 2014 1:09:56 PM

gyking94 said:
Sapphire Tri-X R9 290 OC
Intel Core i5 3570k
ASUS P8 Z77-V LK
8GB RAM
Seasonic M12II 620 Bronze

Hello, my R9 290 downclocks while playing certain games. In Crysis, at the start, I get 100% gpu usage and high fps. But when I reach daylight, It seems to throttle alot. Heat is not a problem as the most it ever went is 80c.

When I run Unigene Heaven at extreme, I get 100% gpu usage, so power and cpu bottleneck is not a problem. Ran with both stable and beta drivers. I used MSI afterburner beta without powerplay and locked the core clock to 1000MHz but the gpu usage still drops in games like nfs mw 2012.

Also, isn't your fps supposed to get a huge boost when you lower your graphics settings? Instead the card just downclocks. Vsync is off.


If you have a reference 290, they run hot, "Vsync is off." I would suggest enabling it so your card does not start to burn up. My 780 can get to 70C without Vsync, and with it in I get about 54C. Down clocking is common, those chips just run to hot......I dont see how AMD was o with this...
m
0
l
May 28, 2014 1:17:10 PM

Its a Sapphire Tri-X (Non Reference) that runs at less than 80c. It downclocks even if I run at 100% fan speed when playing Crysis.
m
0
l
Related resources
June 3, 2014 6:17:10 PM

gyking94 said:
Its a Sapphire Tri-X (Non Reference) that runs at less than 80c. It downclocks even if I run at 100% fan speed when playing Crysis.


My Tri-X doesn't downclock, its GPU usage/load drops in games. Is that your issue too? I have an 8350 and r9 290, and get basically the same fps on every setting in games because of it.
m
0
l
June 3, 2014 10:55:50 PM

jkteddy77 said:
gyking94 said:
Its a Sapphire Tri-X (Non Reference) that runs at less than 80c. It downclocks even if I run at 100% fan speed when playing Crysis.


My Tri-X doesn't downclock, its GPU usage/load drops in games. Is that your issue too? I have an 8350 and r9 290, and get basically the same fps on every setting in games because of it.


Okay, nevermind Crysis. I checked youtube videos of GPUs running it and their cards are not at 100% usage and they downclock too. In Far Cry 3 through, I think I'm having low fps compared to other 290s. In some parts of the map, I get as low as 32fps at ultra 8x msaa with 100% gpu usage. Also in Sleeping Dogs, ONLY in the daytime I get 45-50 fps average at ultra also. Are these normal? It would be nice if you could test these games and tell me your fps.
m
0
l

Best solution

June 3, 2014 11:15:19 PM

gyking94 said:
jkteddy77 said:
gyking94 said:
Its a Sapphire Tri-X (Non Reference) that runs at less than 80c. It downclocks even if I run at 100% fan speed when playing Crysis.


My Tri-X doesn't downclock, its GPU usage/load drops in games. Is that your issue too? I have an 8350 and r9 290, and get basically the same fps on every setting in games because of it.


Okay, nevermind Crysis. I checked youtube videos of GPUs running it and their cards are not at 100% usage and they downclock too. In Far Cry 3 through, I think I'm having low fps compared to other 290s. In some parts of the map, I get as low as 32fps at ultra 8x msaa with 100% gpu usage. Also in Sleeping Dogs, ONLY in the daytime I get 45-50 fps average at ultra also. Are these normal? It would be nice if you could test these games and tell me your fps.


Those are perfectly normal, I get those too, so does my friend with his 290. Sleeping dogs for whatever reason... do you get like a large increase in fps if you turn settings down? for me, even on low, I will drop down to the 50's... I get like 50-90 on low, and 45-50 on ultra... of course, of course 10fps more at night, but it must be a bug with r9 290.

Tip: Run Far Cry 3 all ultra, but Geometry set to very high, FOV 70 (kills fps this game), 4x msaa, standard, and HBAO. Best for r9 290. stays like 55-90

How's your fps in BF3/BF4 though? I have the issue where I am getting really low fps drops, and I think its my 8350 :/  yet plenty claim to run it on slow low end CPU's all day...
Share
June 4, 2014 9:16:06 PM

jkteddy77 said:
gyking94 said:
jkteddy77 said:
gyking94 said:
Its a Sapphire Tri-X (Non Reference) that runs at less than 80c. It downclocks even if I run at 100% fan speed when playing Crysis.


My Tri-X doesn't downclock, its GPU usage/load drops in games. Is that your issue too? I have an 8350 and r9 290, and get basically the same fps on every setting in games because of it.


Okay, nevermind Crysis. I checked youtube videos of GPUs running it and their cards are not at 100% usage and they downclock too. In Far Cry 3 through, I think I'm having low fps compared to other 290s. In some parts of the map, I get as low as 32fps at ultra 8x msaa with 100% gpu usage. Also in Sleeping Dogs, ONLY in the daytime I get 45-50 fps average at ultra also. Are these normal? It would be nice if you could test these games and tell me your fps.


Those are perfectly normal, I get those too, so does my friend with his 290. Sleeping dogs for whatever reason... do you get like a large increase in fps if you turn settings down? for me, even on low, I will drop down to the 50's... I get like 50-90 on low, and 45-50 on ultra... of course, of course 10fps more at night, but it must be a bug with r9 290.

Tip: Run Far Cry 3 all ultra, but Geometry set to very high, FOV 70 (kills fps this game), 4x msaa, standard, and HBAO. Best for r9 290. stays like 55-90

How's your fps in BF3/BF4 though? I have the issue where I am getting really low fps drops, and I think its my 8350 :/  yet plenty claim to run it on slow low end CPU's all day...


Thank you for posting all of these numbers. I can now be at peace. I have no problem running bf3 64 player. fx 8350 has mixed reviews with battlefield. I have read someone unpark their cores in windows 7 and that fixed their problem. Try doing that. I also get the same fps in sleeping dogs. One thing though to settle my mind, what's the lowest fps you get when looking at a DENSELY forested area in far cry 3 with ultra 8x msaa enhanced hdao?
m
0
l
June 4, 2014 11:15:04 PM

gyking94 said:
jkteddy77 said:
gyking94 said:
jkteddy77 said:
gyking94 said:
Its a Sapphire Tri-X (Non Reference) that runs at less than 80c. It downclocks even if I run at 100% fan speed when playing Crysis.


My Tri-X doesn't downclock, its GPU usage/load drops in games. Is that your issue too? I have an 8350 and r9 290, and get basically the same fps on every setting in games because of it.


Okay, nevermind Crysis. I checked youtube videos of GPUs running it and their cards are not at 100% usage and they downclock too. In Far Cry 3 through, I think I'm having low fps compared to other 290s. In some parts of the map, I get as low as 32fps at ultra 8x msaa with 100% gpu usage. Also in Sleeping Dogs, ONLY in the daytime I get 45-50 fps average at ultra also. Are these normal? It would be nice if you could test these games and tell me your fps.


Those are perfectly normal, I get those too, so does my friend with his 290. Sleeping dogs for whatever reason... do you get like a large increase in fps if you turn settings down? for me, even on low, I will drop down to the 50's... I get like 50-90 on low, and 45-50 on ultra... of course, of course 10fps more at night, but it must be a bug with r9 290.

Tip: Run Far Cry 3 all ultra, but Geometry set to very high, FOV 70 (kills fps this game), 4x msaa, standard, and HBAO. Best for r9 290. stays like 55-90

How's your fps in BF3/BF4 though? I have the issue where I am getting really low fps drops, and I think its my 8350 :/  yet plenty claim to run it on slow low end CPU's all day...


Thank you for posting all of these numbers. I can now be at peace. I have no problem running bf3 64 player. fx 8350 has mixed reviews with battlefield. I have read someone unpark their cores in windows 7 and that fixed their problem. Try doing that. I also get the same fps in sleeping dogs. One thing though to settle my mind, what's the lowest fps you get when looking at a DENSELY forested area in far cry 3 with ultra 8x msaa enhanced hdao?


Man don't use Far cry 3 as a benchmark... I was once like you man, and I still am, but now its my processor I'm schizophrenic about. I can dro under 30 in parts of that game on maxed out settings. Remember, theres a lot of variables here. If that's un satisfying for you, OC a bit, but It sounds like you're running fine.

Use organized benchmarks if you want to be sure. I get 53-55.5 on Unigine Vallet Extreme HD setting with my 8350, and you'll pry get more than me thanks to that Intel. I also get 48-50 in Unigine Heaven.

Sounds like you're having less issues than me... gotta get an intel so I'm compatible in ALL games, :/  Eyeing that 4790k...
m
0
l
August 28, 2014 6:46:39 AM

I got an XFX 290 DD last week and I'm getting the same GPU usage spikes. I'm OC'd at 1150/1440. Far Cry is pretty much unplayable for me due to the stuttering. As mentioned above, when fully maxed on FC3 it cripples the FPS down to the mid 40's. I'm currently running Mantle on BF4 with renderaheadlimit set at 3 and see a very consistent 60 fps with Vsync On but there are occasional stutters. Sleeping Dogs (which came free with my card) runs maxed out except for AA at 4 instead of 8 with the high texture pack at pretty much 60 fps all the time. It was weird, I froze once in game (Sleeping Dogs, wasn't due to GPU, something was wonky with my system) and the next couple times I booted the game up it had 60 fps but was stuttering way more than it used to. After a couple restarts it seems to be back to normal.

Back to the GPU usage spikes, when running Unigine Valley or other benchmarks, I don't see those type of spikes (up down up down). It will be for example, 100, 100, 100, 75, 88, 95, 98, 100, 65, 86, 100, 55, 100. So it's not as drastic as 100, 0, 100, 5.
Also, my score on Unigine Valley ExtremeHD is just over 2700. I think I got 2739 once and 2709 another time with my current OC. I've heard conflicting perceptions of these scores. Are those good scores?
m
0
l
August 28, 2014 10:42:55 PM

deeselcyde1 said:
I got an XFX 290 DD last week and I'm getting the same GPU usage spikes. I'm OC'd at 1150/1440. Far Cry is pretty much unplayable for me due to the stuttering. As mentioned above, when fully maxed on FC3 it cripples the FPS down to the mid 40's. I'm currently running Mantle on BF4 with renderaheadlimit set at 3 and see a very consistent 60 fps with Vsync On but there are occasional stutters. Sleeping Dogs (which came free with my card) runs maxed out except for AA at 4 instead of 8 with the high texture pack at pretty much 60 fps all the time. It was weird, I froze once in game (Sleeping Dogs, wasn't due to GPU, something was wonky with my system) and the next couple times I booted the game up it had 60 fps but was stuttering way more than it used to. After a couple restarts it seems to be back to normal.

Back to the GPU usage spikes, when running Unigine Valley or other benchmarks, I don't see those type of spikes (up down up down). It will be for example, 100, 100, 100, 75, 88, 95, 98, 100, 65, 86, 100, 55, 100. So it's not as drastic as 100, 0, 100, 5.
Also, my score on Unigine Valley ExtremeHD is just over 2700. I think I got 2739 once and 2709 another time with my current OC. I've heard conflicting perceptions of these scores. Are those good scores?


Don't worry about it. I realized that Far Cry 3 frame drop is caused by CPU bottleneck, a CPU overclock can fix that. I also get microstuttering which is mostly fixed by turning off MSAA in game and forcing AA in CCC. Your Unigene Heaven tests prove nothing is wrong with your card. Far Cry 3 is just a badly ported game. For Sleeping Dogs, if you say you are getting dropped frames with everything on max, it may be normal only if it happens daytime. At night in game, I stay at 60 constant, but at daytime, it drops to 45-ish. If the stuttering you are talking about in sleeping dogs happens every 3/4 of a second with a constant fps, that's microstutter, not low fps. Sleeping Dogs has that problem, I had it with my GTX 660. It was fixed by playing in windowed mode. It stopped with my 290 though, gladly. If GPU usage drops when changing scenes in Unigene Heaven, then that's normal since there's nothing to render. The occasional stutters in BF4 is because of vsync. When in a scene where your GPU isn't able to render a constant 60 fps with vsync, it will instantly dip to 30 fps, that's how it works. Vsync is the worst thing you can have in online FPS. It causes input lag which is the last thing you need in a fast paced game (trust me) and since BF4 if very intensive in some areas, you will get 30 fps dips. I cap the frame to 60 fps with an fps limiter, so my gpu doesn't have to work so hard, no input lag and no 30 fps dips. Also make sure your CPU isn't bottle necking.
m
0
l
August 28, 2014 11:44:22 PM

deeselcyde1 said:
I got an XFX 290 DD last week and I'm getting the same GPU usage spikes. I'm OC'd at 1150/1440. Far Cry is pretty much unplayable for me due to the stuttering. As mentioned above, when fully maxed on FC3 it cripples the FPS down to the mid 40's. I'm currently running Mantle on BF4 with renderaheadlimit set at 3 and see a very consistent 60 fps with Vsync On but there are occasional stutters. Sleeping Dogs (which came free with my card) runs maxed out except for AA at 4 instead of 8 with the high texture pack at pretty much 60 fps all the time. It was weird, I froze once in game (Sleeping Dogs, wasn't due to GPU, something was wonky with my system) and the next couple times I booted the game up it had 60 fps but was stuttering way more than it used to. After a couple restarts it seems to be back to normal.

Back to the GPU usage spikes, when running Unigine Valley or other benchmarks, I don't see those type of spikes (up down up down). It will be for example, 100, 100, 100, 75, 88, 95, 98, 100, 65, 86, 100, 55, 100. So it's not as drastic as 100, 0, 100, 5.
Also, my score on Unigine Valley ExtremeHD is just over 2700. I think I got 2739 once and 2709 another time with my current OC. I've heard conflicting perceptions of these scores. Are those good scores?


Hate to say, but f you have an 8350, you are most likely bottlenecked... I had your same issues in BF4 (most other games seem to run the same, sleeping dogs and far cry 3 ran the same with the 8350) but I had to get a 4790k and intel Z97 to fix the BF4 lag. :/  no matter hwo high I oc'd my 8350, just not good enough
m
0
l
!