GPU limits GPU usage to 40% when gaming

Chickenator · Jun 12, 2014

Got a GTX 780ti and i7 4770k, so bottleneck isn't the problem. Got 750W silver PSU, shouldn't be the problem either.

I'm playing warframe, and the FPS is fluctating between 40-50 on any setting (low-medium-high etc) lower gets worse FPS for some reason.

Pic of MSI Afterburner monitor here: http://imgur.com/IrRzyqa

How can i enable the GPU to actually use its full potetial without being limited?

All tips, advices and explantions are very appreciated, as i'm in a time of need, so to say.

cklaubur · Jun 12, 2014

What is your GPU temp?

Casey

Chickenator · Jun 12, 2014

cklaubur :

Temp isn't the problem here. it's stable at 50C Max temp is supposed to be 82

bob hays · Jun 12, 2014

Try updating to the latest drivers (go to nvidia or the manufactures website). I played tried LoL which is a very easy game to run and it was unplayable with an r7 260x cause I didn't update the drivers.

Chickenator · Jun 12, 2014

Drivers are not a problem. I have tried every basic thing. Please, how can i set it to a constant value?

bystander · Jun 12, 2014

Chickenator :

Don't kid yourself, no CPU is immune to bottlenecking. Some games are worse than others, but there are tons of games which that CPU will experience some bottlenecking. Even if it isn't all the time, which other games may experience it a lot.

Your resolution may also play a part in how often you bottleneck.

I was looking for benchmarks, which there are not a lot of, but what I saw was clear, there are a few areas with some extremely low minimums. You'll get these too, while others will allow for high FPS.

Do you have v-sync on? The most likely explanation is that you have v-sync on, and much of the time the GPU is held back by v-sync, and when your FPS drops below 60, it is due to the games CPU bound issues, or loading issues.

The best thing you can do is run something like 3Dmark11 and compare it to other systems. Some games just have issues. It is hard to see if it is a problem with your system or not without comparing it to something easily compared too.

bob hays · Jun 12, 2014

what resolution are you playing at?

Chickenator · Jun 13, 2014

bystander :

Chickenator :

Don't kid yourself, no CPU is immune to bottlenecking. Some games are worse than others, but there are tons of games which that CPU will experience some bottlenecking. Even if it isn't all the time, which other games may experience it a lot.

Your resolution may also play a part in how often you bottleneck.

I was looking for benchmarks, which there are not a lot of, but what I saw was clear, there are a few areas with some extremely low minimums. You'll get these too, while others will allow for high FPS.

Do you have v-sync on? The most likely explanation is that you have v-sync on, and much of the time the GPU is held back by v-sync, and when your FPS drops below 60, it is due to the games CPU bound issues, or loading issues.

The best thing you can do is run something like 3Dmark11 and compare it to other systems. Some games just have issues. It is hard to see if it is a problem with your system or not without comparing it to something easily compared too.

It's not held back by V-sync, and in addition, my friend who has an i5 2500 and an fairly new radeonHD or something card is getting the same FPS as me.

Currently playing at the standard gaming resolution: 1080p

Also, i noticed that sometimes the GPU power which is seen in the image of MSI afterburner, is incresed from 35 or so to 60 and the FPS is noticably better.

Chickenator · Jun 13, 2014

Update: The CPU is far from max load, and as i was watching the MSI data, i saw that the power usage gradually was lowering itself until it hit 30% then stayed.

bystander · Jun 13, 2014

Chickenator :

You can have a bottleneck with 40% CPU usage. The CPU usage adds up all the cores and gives you the usage, but games will bottleneck from a single core, even if other cores are not. If the game does not split its draw calling thread into multiple parts (almost all games do not do this), it only takes a single thread to hold back performance and even that single thread may not show 100% usage, because it only gets hit hard when loading up the draw calls for each frame, with a break between. Though look ahead buffers can help increase FPS and CPU usage a bit but hurts latency.

And i5 2500k, if OC'ed, is just as fast as a stock i7 4770k. There hasn't been a lot of increases in CPU speed over the last several years, and in most games, an i5 is just as fast as an i7, because hyperthreading and having more threads to use does not help most games after 4.

I'd suggest running 3dmark11 or 3D Mark. It'll be able to compare your system to others like yours to see if it is performing correctly. But having low GPU usage almost always means the CPU is bottlenecking you or v-sync is on.

Kari · Jun 13, 2014

Chickenator :

this sort of behaviour points to overheating and throttling, the cpu/gpu/whatever lowers its clocks and power usage until it stops overheating... what sort of temps are you getting when this happens? both cpu and gpu. ...might be cpu vrms as well, if that happens the mobo will throttle down the cpu to save itself.

edit also monitor the cpu clocks with TMonitor
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/tmonitor.html

Chickenator · Jun 14, 2014

Kari :

While gaming i was getting around 45C up to no more than 49C on the CPU and around 50C on the GPU, so no overheating. Also, the processor didn't use over 60% of it's power/potential, same with the GPU.

What could it be?

Chickenator · Jun 14, 2014

Used a program which monnitored GPU and CPU usage, and the CPU itself used 35% on average during this 30 minute high-intensity gamin period and 50% at absolute max. Same with GPU.

Chickenator · Jun 14, 2014

To me it looks like the CPU or GPU is limiting themselves, or not getting enough power, though i'm not really sure about the power thing.

Is there a way to set the usage to a fixed value or something similar?
I found this, but i don't know if it will be safe to use: http://www.coderbag.com/Programming-C/Disable-CPU-Core-Parking-Utility

bystander · Jun 14, 2014

Chickenator :

It would be useful to check the temps, but you can see a bottleneck on the CPU usage in the graph you showed, though it is only for short periods of time. Do you notice CPU0 and how it spikes to 100% usage? That is a bottleneck when that happens.

Chickenator · Jun 15, 2014

bystander :

Chickenator :

It would be useful to check the temps, but you can see a bottleneck on the CPU usage in the graph you showed, though it is only for short periods of time. Do you notice CPU0 and how it spikes to 100% usage? That is a bottleneck when that happens.

If you have read every reply, then you will find that the temps are not the problem in this case

Chickenator · Jun 15, 2014

Presler :

8GB RAM. For some rease, the settings does nothing for the performance. None

bystander · Jun 15, 2014

Chickenator :

That is another indicator of a CPU bottleneck.

Keep in mind, it may be just a poorly coded game. I'd suggest running a benchmark program, like 3Dmark11 or Firestrike to see how it compares to other systems to rule out a problem with your system.

Chickenator · Jun 15, 2014

bystander :

Chickenator :

That is another indicator of a CPU bottleneck.

Keep in mind, it may be just a poorly coded game. I'd suggest running a benchmark program, like 3Dmark11 or Firestrike to see how it compares to other systems to rule out a problem with your system.

So what can i do? Also, i have 8GB ram, but it says i have 1,9gb viritual memory available

mr91 · Jun 15, 2014

Chickenator :

Got a GTX 780ti and i7 4770k, so bottleneck isn't the problem. Got 750W silver PSU, shouldn't be the problem either.

I'm playing warframe, and the FPS is fluctating between 40-50 on any setting (low-medium-high etc) lower gets worse FPS for some reason.

Pic of MSI Afterburner monitor here: http://imgur.com/IrRzyqa

How can i enable the GPU to actually use its full potetial without being limited?

Have you tried any other games?

All tips, advices and explantions are very appreciated, as i'm in a time of need, so to say.

bystander · Jun 15, 2014

Chickenator :

bystander :

So what can i do? Also, i have 8GB ram, but it says i have 1,9gb viritual memory available

I've told you want to do, benchmark using futuremark. 3Dmark11 or 3dmark Firestrike. Compare your system to others to see if you have a system issue, or a game one.

Chickenator · Jun 15, 2014

bystander :

Chickenator :

I've told you want to do, benchmark using futuremark. 3Dmark11 or 3dmark Firestrike. Compare your system to others to see if you have a system issue, or a game one.

I don't have the money to pay for a benchmark, but the basic edition is enough right?

mr91 · Jun 15, 2014

bystander :

Chickenator :

I've told you want to do, benchmark using futuremark. 3Dmark11 or 3dmark Firestrike. Compare your system to others to see if you have a system issue, or a game one.

Good idea!

bystander · Jun 15, 2014

Yes, just use the basic version. Most results are done with the free, basic version which gives plenty of results to compare to. It will even tell you if your system is underperforming.

British_and_Proud · Jun 15, 2014

Try other games on the same genre or saga if possible, see if that's got anything to do with it; If it has, it could be a case of a poorly coded game.

GPU limits GPU usage to 40% when gaming

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