Stuttering in all games

DJS2k8

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Hello there.

Last year, I got a system built for me by a friend of a friend, for gaming and rendering and this is what I got.

CPU: AMD FX8350 4Ghz
Mobo: ASRock 990FX Extreme3
GPU: 2x Radeon Sapphire R9 280X Vapor-X in Crossfire
RAM: G.Skill 16GB
Power supply: Super flower 1000F14MP 1000w
Case: Aerocool Xpredator X3
OS: Windows 7 Professional

I have a couple of issues with my system.

A problem occurs when the CPU is at full load because the Mobo just isn't capable. The VRM's get too hot and limit the voltage to the CPU. I have also disabled all possible ways of throttling the CPU in the bois. One question I have is that this happens when the CPU is at 63 degrees, is this too hot?

I also get stuttering in all games, even if Crossfire is disabled / 2nd card is removed. I wasn't sure if the Mobo is also limiting voltage to the GPU's? My fps will be locked to 60 but at random intervals it will drop to 41 then back up. Unlocked I can get 200+ in GMod (for example) but still stutters. I locked it to see if i could monitor it but I couldn't spot any causes.

Back onto my main point. I've at least figured out I need a new Mobo. I know a bit but I don't know enough to choose one that is suitable for my components.

Could I get some help in choosing one please?

Thanks,
DJS
 
62 is the max recommended running temp for that cpu. 55 is about normal at max load, so sounds like you need a better cooler.

for the time being tidy the wires inside the case. this will improve air flow through the case.
clean out the dust if there is any on the fan blades as this will slow the fans down.
clean your filters if you case has them.
 

middlemarkal

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the power vrm is a 4 + 1 wich is not so bad. The extreme 6 has 8 + 2 but it's only good if you overclock.
I suspect overheating, if you have the stock cooler CHANGE IT as it's crap.
What case do you have for the heigth of the new cooler, or water cooling
 

DJS2k8

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Fair enough, although it's not just me with this problem. ASRock even removed the 8350 from the supported devices for a bit.

I dont know anything about cooling either but I can tell you they are all fans, one CPU, one front, one back, two side and two top. Technical specs, I will have to tell you after I get home. The problems still occur when they are all maxed out.
 

Anarkie13

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Even if it was removed from the support list for a bit, it's likely for the same exact issue. The cooler. Companies use the stock cooler as well as the stock settings to determine support status. Add in crossfire 280X GPUs and you built yourself a nice little space heater. The heat from those 2 GPUs along with the FX CPU is much more than most computers generate. Inside the case, you're just shoving around a lot of hot air.

Get yourself a Coolermaster EVO 212, or a Corsair H60 (I prefer the H60, myself), and you'll likely see the issues go away, as long as you didn't overheat it too much, and damage something.
 

Rogue Leader

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73 is where that chip starts to throttle, but I agree with everyone else, 2 R9 280X's are like little space heaters, I'm running 2 R9 280s and I have a 200mm fan above them blowing on them. How many fans do you have in your case, do you have it setup for positive pressure? Can you add any more fans? Also the suggestion to replace the cooler with a 212 evo will make a huge difference.

I don't love the 4+1 power phase on that board, but as long as you're not overclocking theres no reason it should not work perfectly fine.
 

DJS2k8

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one CPU
In - one front & two side
Out - one rear & two top

I don't remember the sizes of the top of my head.

I may have space on the bottom of the case for two more fans.
 

Rogue Leader

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Hm ok thats not bad, how old is the build, could they be dusty? If you can add 2 more fans I would put 2 more in fans.

That board looks to have a heatsink on the VRMs so it would be surprising for them to get hot but possible. Is there any airflow over them in your case?
 

DJS2k8

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The build is a year old as I previously stated and I cleaned the fans roughly a month ago.

Here is a picture of my CPU Fan

AbiWL4r.jpg


And as far as I can tell, the VRM's on my Mobo do not have a heatsink. They are just little black boxes?

 

Rogue Leader

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http://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/990FX%20Extreme3/

Thats the motherboard right? Check the top right you'll see a heatsink, the black boxes are chokes they don't need cooling. It seems like your cooling setup is fine from what I see. The cooler you have is enough for your processor.

You may well be right that there is something wrong with the board, the 990FX Extreme 6 has 8+2 power phase and they have a heatsink and spreader, they can handle that chip much better. What are you using to tell you the VRMs are overheating?
 

DJS2k8

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That is my board.

Mostly research from the internet with other people experiencing throttling under load. A quick Google brings up loads of topics of a similar nature.

My main question still is though that I need a new board and I don't know what to choose. Might as well invest in a CPU water cooler too although would the CPU possibly run at lower temps on a better board?
 

Rogue Leader

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I wouldn't dive into water cooling so quickly. However a defective motherboard is possible. If your CPU temp isn't hitting 73 degrees then its not overheating, so if its throttling it has to be something else. Now what are you using to monitor your temps? The best thing to use is AMD Overdrive which will give you the true measurement which is Thermal margin, basically the closer to 0 you get thats the overheat point. It has a logging feature, so give that a shot and see what it comes out with, its the most accurate way to find an issue like this.

http://www.amd.com/en-us/innovations/software-technologies/technologies-gaming/over-drive

If you do need a new board the ASRock 990FX Extreme 6 has an 8+2 power phase and should solve your issues.
 

DJS2k8

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I have been using the ASRock Software for monitoring CPU temps. Like I said, it usually hits 63 degrees (the temp might have already started dropping before I hit Print Screen) on that then that's when the voltage will drop. The first image is mostly stable and the second is the throttling taking place.

quAZTWq.jpg

nzwGeJZ.jpg
 

Rogue Leader

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Yeah your CPU temps are fine your voltage is gone. The VRMs aren't necessarily overheating they may straight up be failing, but either way they aren't putting out enough power. As I suggested the ASRock 990FX Extreme 6 does the job:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157576&cm_re=990FX-_-13-157-576-_-Product

I am an ASUS fan, you could go this route as well:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131851&cm_re=990FX-_-13-131-851-_-Product

or if you want to go fancier:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131877&cm_re=990FX-_-13-131-877-_-Product

Generally using a 4+1 power phase board is not a good idea with AMD FX processors, they suck down power and drive the board harder. Any of the above will work much better.
 

DJS2k8

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I appreciate your help Rougue Leader however all questions are still open. I just want as much advice as possible I guess as I don't want another problem to occur.

I haven't had any advice on the all games stuttering though, could this also be related the the terrible Mobo? My GPU's run at 55-60 degrees when gaming if that helps.
 

4745454b

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I think your CPU temps are still a bit high. More so if it's throttling to stay under 65C. A cheap "fix" might be to make sure they HSF is on correctly by removing and putting it back on. I don't know what cooler you have but it looks to be better then stock. It should perform better then it is. Doing this might fix the problem, and is cheaper then buying a new board.
 

Rogue Leader

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The GPU's are not too hot, really the processor being short on voltage will cause all sorts of issues such as the stuttering (I'm surprised it doesn't straight up crash). I am assuming the cooler is properly installed, what procedure did you follow to install it?
 

DJS2k8

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Everything was built for me so I have no idea how it was done. I've assume it was done appropriately as they build a bunch of computers but then again I got an underwhelming Mobo from them...

My CPU fan might be this.

http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-air-cooler/hyper-tx3-evo/
 

Rogue Leader

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Sorry forgot that. So I would assume it was done right but you never know. If you are going to swap the motherboard anyway and you have a local computer store go ahead and buy a tube of Antec silver thermal compound. Then remove the CPU fan, clean the surface it touches the processor with alcohol. Then clean the CPU with alcohol (gently by putting alcohol directly on a tissue or a static free cloth and rubbing it all off) make sure you ground yourself by touching the metal of the case with 1 hand before doing this. Make sure both are completely clean then put an amount on the CPU about the size of a half a pea put the cooler right on, turn it just slightly and straighten it out, don't lift it or remove any pressure from it. Then tighten it down, and plug in the fan. Then plug your PC back in and let it warm up and do some testing, see what your CPU temps are.
 

DJS2k8

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Holy hell of a bump but I have just discovered something. Turns out my ram isn't compatible with my mobo...

I actually have since installed a h100i gtx which didn't fix the problem, only made it so throttling happened 10 degrees lower.

So can wrong ram be causing this stuttering? Mind you I've had it in the system for 1 and a half years now.
 

4745454b

Titan
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I was about to yell at someone for bumping a 6mo+ old thread, but seeing as it's the OP I guess it's ok. :p

I wouldn't put much faith in the ram list. They are incomplete. It's pretty impossible t test all sticks so they just list some. If it passes memtest then you are fine. Any chance you are using slow spinning hdds? And the stutter is just the system trying to access data?
 

DJS2k8

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So tonight I borrowed my mates HD 7970 and tried it in my system and I still get stutters. Later I found out he actually gets stutters too and the only differences between our systems are the gpu and ram. His ram actually isn't on a compatible list either.

I did a memtest the the other week with one pass but I didn't actually realise how long it would take and I was supposed be doing other things... so ill let it run overnight tonight.

My games are on a Toshiba dt01aca200 which spins at 7200rpm. I guess I could try putting one my ssd to see if that helps. Other than that I'm pretty much out of options.

Cheers guys.