FarCry 3 30-50% GPU usage and drops to 15-30 fps

GhostGamer · Oct 17, 2014

Hey everyone,

I have an FX-8120 and R9 280X. I am getting very low FPS in FarCry 3. I an running it at 1080p and Ultra quality. I get about 30% gpu usage and 15-30 fps. Sometimes the GPU usage shoots up to 80% and i get a smooth 60-80 fps. It doesnt really matter what is going on on the screen, its pretty random. What could be causing this? I have the latest version of AMD catalyst, so i dont think its a driver problem.

damric · Oct 17, 2014

Could be CPU bottleneck. Either overclock your CPU, upgrade, or turn down your settings.

burdenbound · Oct 17, 2014

Monitor your CPU usage and core clock, you can use a number of programs for this. What you want to do is verify that your CPU is not being throttled back. Or this can confirm if your CPU is not strong enough to play this game and it's holding your GPU back.

ahnilated · Oct 17, 2014

Also monitor your temperatures.

bignastyid · Oct 17, 2014

Most likey a cpu bottleneck. The Fx x1xx series are notoriously poor gaming cpus due to to their abysmally slow cores. The previous generation of phenom IIs are faster when at the same clock speed.

damric · Oct 17, 2014

Also try turning the AA down. I can max that game with ~55-60FPS with an Athlon 760K and HD 7850 as long as the AA is turned down. Granted my CPU and GPU are overclocked to the moon.

bignastyid · Oct 17, 2014

damric :

The 760k has faster single core performance than the 8120.

GhostGamer · Oct 17, 2014

Thanks guys i am going to look up my CPU usage and Temps. I do have a watercooler, but i have been told that overclocking will void my warranty instantly. Is this true?

damric · Oct 17, 2014

GhostGamer :

Overclocking doesn't void your warranty. Damage caused by overclocking voids your warranty. Typically motherboards burn up before the CPU, so be sure that you have a descent one if you are going to try and set world records.

GhostGamer · Oct 17, 2014

Ok so i have checked my CPU usage and temps and they hover around 50-70%, the CPU's max temp is 47 c. Oddly enough the CPU usage drops along with the GPU usage too. I get drops to 15 fps, then it skyrockets to 60-80 fps, and then it hovers around 45 and drops back to 15. Rinse and repeat basically. I am pretty puzzled about what is going on. I can run Metro Last Light at a relatively steady 60 fps, so i dont know why FarCry 3 is a problem.

GhostGamer · Oct 19, 2014

Ok so i increased my power usage limit to 20% in Afterburner. I am getting less drops in usage and FPS but they are still there and enough to ruin my gaming experience. I am now pretty convinced that something is limiting my GPU from going full throttle by not allowing to draw the power it needs. Can anyone help me to find out what it is and how i can fix it?

coozie7 · Oct 19, 2014

Check the game is patched up to date.
If it's on Steam it should automatically be updated but you should also verify the game files: Open Steam>Library>Right click on the game>Properties>Local Files>Verify Integrity of Game Cache.
Run Dxdiag: Start>in the Search Programs and Files box type DXdiag then click on the icon that appears to run the diagnostic.
Try setting a framerate limit with RadeonPro, create a Far Cry 3 profile then go to the tweaks tab and set 45FPS in the, I think, adaptive framerate box. The game may seem to crash out with RadeonPro running, just close the 'top' Uplay window and run the game through the 'bottom' one.
And turn the AA down, or even off, my 7950 hated running FC3 with AA enabled.

GhostGamer · Oct 19, 2014

coozie7 :

I dont have the steam version. I have downloaded RadeonPro but im not really sure what to do there.

coozie7 · Oct 19, 2014

Install Radeonpro.
Start it.
In the main window that opens click on the icon at the top with the green cross on it to open a new profile. In the window that opens navigate to the Far Cry 3 .EXE file it'll be in: Computer (left hand pane)>Double click on the 'C' drive then it'll be in either Program Files or Program Files (x86) depending on where the game is installed.
The executable is in the BIN folder and there is two: one for DX9 and one for DX11 click on the one you're using and it will be copied into the 'file name' box, then just click the 'open' button.
Close the search windows/s to get to the main Radeonpro window, there SINGLE click on the Far Cry 3 profile, it should highlight blue, (if you double click it'll run the game) then open the 'tweaks' tab and check the 'dynamic frame rate control' box, then set the frame rate to 45. Note I found FC3 tended to 'stutter' when moving quickly, which sounds similar to your problem, hence the suggestion, you can set the frame rate higher but it should be set to the MINIMUM you've seen any higher and the stutter comes back.
Double click on the profile to run the game.
Like I said, with Radeonpro running you may get some odd behaviour from Uplay.
BTW Radeonpro is also a handy little monitoring app as well.

GhostGamer · Oct 19, 2014

coozie7 :

Thanks man, and i do know all the basic stuff i am not an idiot lol. Thanks for explaining anyways, but i was just a little overwhelmed when seeing all the options this program offers. I set it at 60 fps but it still doesnt fix my low GPU usage. My problem is not really the FPS but the fact that the game is only utilising 20% of my card at times. At the moments it does use 80% of my card i get butter smooth 50-60 fps, its just that the game randomly drops to 10-20 fps with my card dropping to 20% usage. The fps is just a "symptom", i want to fix the cause of this problem. I also get major lag in ARMA 3 with the game only using 40-50% of my card and hitting 25 fps. My CPU usage hovers around 70%, sometimes 80% or 60%. So i know its not a bottleneck. I am starting to think it is a BIOS problem, but i have no idea how i would go about fixing that.

coozie7 · Oct 19, 2014

I've found it's best not to assume a poster knows anything, no disrespect, mate, it's just easier to give detailed instructions to someone you've never met, if you see what I mean.
Flashing the motherboard isn't that hard these days but it IS risky.
Current 'boards usually ship with an updating utility on the driver disc BTW so take a look there and see if one is included.

GhostGamer · Oct 19, 2014

coozie7 :

No offense taken.

I have an ASRock 970 Extreme3 2.0 (yes i know its not the best mobo around). On the disc wich comes with it there is no mention of drivers under Utility. On the disc itself there are only dated drivers, i have the newer ones already.

coozie7 · Oct 20, 2014

Pop over the the Asrock website, or just do a web search for your mobo, if there is an updated BIOS it'll be found there.
If you're unsure about flashing the MB BIOS, don't do it, recovering from a failed flash will almost certainly mean a trip to the repair shop.
Odd that this only effects some games and not others, or I'd suggest you look at the power supply-what make and model is it anyway?

dhamiltongrey · Oct 20, 2014

GhostGamer :

find the right balance.. start off at the lowest resolution and minimum AA then increase the resolution until you find a comfortably quick setting..

GhostGamer · Nov 3, 2014

So found out it was my CPU throttling. I havent fixed it yet, tried everything. Guess i am going to have to contact ASRock. I should have just spend the extra 40 bucks to get the gigabyte board. I will update this if i find a fix or the reason why my CPU throttles.

FarCry 3 30-50% GPU usage and drops to 15-30 fps

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