A good CPU to pair with a MSI GeForce GTX 970

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

Hello everyone,
I have been using my custom built PC with a MSI GeForce GTX 970 for a little over a month now and it had been working very well running games at max graphics at 60 FPS just fine. Suddenly one day it started under-performing a lot now only getting around 20FPS and my PC in general lagging a lot more. After some time on the forums everyone i've talked to have come to the conclusion that my CPU is bottlenecking the 970 and that I should get a new one. I am still a bit confused still for two reasons; one being that the problem only started a month after using it for no apparent reason, and two being that my CPU is an Intel Core i5-4690 which should work find as I have done other research and a lot of people say that it and worse can handle a 970.

If there is a probability of there being other problems please say, and if you have any answers to the two reasons i'm confused I would appreciate it.

The main reason I have posted this is to ask for the best other options there are for a CPU that can pair well with a 970 and will not bottleneck it in the future.

Thank you.

questkid44 · Jan 16, 2016

A Core i5 4690K would be a great cpu to pair with that GPU. The i5 would not bottleneck, and there must be another factor that is causing the lag.

Swinginking · Jan 16, 2016

questkid44 :

I agree. Thats the setup I use (but SLI), it works wonders. Plus, the 4890k is a very overclock friendly cpu, mine is sitting at 4.4ghz at the moment.

It never bottlenecked by GPU's even when not overclocked. example: I easily get 80+ FPS on Witcher 3 Maxed out

Archaic59 · Jan 16, 2016

There's no way a 4690 is bottlenecking a GTX 970. You have some other problem.

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

questkid44 :

I have talked to a lot of people on the forum and we haven't got any further than it bottlenecking. I don't know what else the problem could be. When nothing is running the CPU usage will be at almost 0 then as soon as I run a game it starts increasing rapidly until almost 100% usage with only 1 game running. It had worked fine for a month and now randomly this has happened...

TechAddictSimon · Jan 16, 2016

That doesn't sound right, that cpu should be sufficient enough. Now I could be wrong but try going into device manager, look under display adapters and make sure your GTX 970 isn't disabled. If you've already checked this I don't know what to tell you.

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

questkid44 :

I have used software to have a look with some other people on the forum and all we can see is that when in game the CPU usage rises to almost 100% and the GPU stays at below 50%

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

TechAddictSimon :

My GPU is on and working but my CPU is taking all of the load...

Swinginking · Jan 16, 2016

What are you using to check the usage?
Try Open Hardware Monitor (google), have a good game session, then report back with the max reached on your CPU AND GPU.

If the problem does turn out to be the CPU, there may be a fault with the unit itself, if not, then perhaps even a drivers issue or a application which may be causing some interference? Check what you have running in the background there via Task manager.

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

Swinginking :

I have used MSIAfterburner to check CPU and GPU readings, GPU-Z to check GPU, Windows Task Manager to check CPU. I doubt there's anything wrong with the software, but i'll check using the one you suggested. Not a problem of too many apps open as I've tried with no apps open but the game and usage check software open and have had little to no positive change.

Swinginking · Jan 16, 2016

Minecarrot :

Ah, the MSIAfterBurner, doesn't (personally) give me correct readings at all for my set up. Do try the Open Hardware Monitor to double check. Just leave it running in the background while you game. Also, I think the MSI afterburner gives your current cpu/gpu usage and not max reached while its open. If you have closed your game or application or even minimised it, that will greatly effect what readings your getting from Afterburner.

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

Swinginking :

The max I got for all of the CPU cores and CPU total was 100%, and the max I got for the GPU core was 66%. This is all on max graphics in the game Dying Light.

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

In afterburner there is a graph over time so once you have minimised or closed you can check the graphs to see what it was at the highest points.

Swinginking · Jan 16, 2016

Minecarrot :

Im gonna play Dying light as well for a few minutes using a single 970 and the overclock off, let me check what results I get, and ill get back to you in a few minutes

devilhunter1789 · Jan 16, 2016

No way that's a CPU problem, i'm using a 4460 with my 970 and it doesn't bottleneck at all. Are you sure your components aren't overheating or clogged with dust? You should clean out the entire unit including the PSU fan and then check the the thermal paste on your CPU cause maybe there's none left. If you're still having problems then you should try to borrow a friend's old CPU and test it out if it works fine, if it does then your CPU probably broken cause there's no way a 4690 is bottlenecking anything. Same goes for the GPU, try out other GPUs with your current setup and see if the problem goes away.

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

devilhunter1789 :

I've had the PC for just over a month so I doubt there's dust problems, thermal paste problems.

Swinginking · Jan 16, 2016

Right, I have just finished up, and the results are CPU 100%
GPU 99%,
it is likely a problem with your GPU then actually... have your overclocked it recently or seen bad temps on it?

devilhunter1789 · Jan 16, 2016

Minecarrot :

Then it's probably a hardware defect, try contacting Intel and MSI and see if they've encountered the same problems before.

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

Swinginking :

It's not OC'd whatsoever, don't know what a bad temp would be but the max temp I had in that little dying light session was 61. Also can you check what the CPU usage is with the game minimised but still in-game so that I can compare?

Swinginking · Jan 16, 2016

Minecarrot :

Try this:
Get MSIAfterburner to use default settings (you may have overclocked/underclocked by accident with the software ), then go ahead and reinstall the Nvidia drivers. Do a clean install by removing first, restart then install latest drivers and restart.

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

Try this:
Get MSIAfterburner to use default settings (you may have overclocked/underclocked by accident with the software ), then go ahead and reinstall the Nvidia drivers. Do a clean install by removing first, restart then install latest drivers and restart.[/quotemsg]

How do I remove my drivers, as I use NVIDIA GeForce Experience all I can do is check for new updates and install them

Swinginking · Jan 16, 2016

Minecarrot :

1) Go into your Control Panel
2) Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon
3) Select the NVIDIA Windows Display Drivers from the list of programs.
4) Click Change/Remove or Add/Remove button.
5) Confirm with Windows that you wish to continue with the uninstall

Note: A prompt appears asking whether you want to delete all of the saved
nView profiles.
click Yes

Once the driver files have uninstalled, Windows will request that you restart your computer to complete the uninstallation.

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

I don't have an add/remove program option on my control panel but I have an uninstall program option, in that I don't have Nvidia windows display drivers but I have graphics drivers and few other options like that

Swinginking · Jan 16, 2016

Minecarrot :

Its the same thing, get rid of all that is by Nvidia (including geforce experience) on there, Restart, then download Geforce Experience again and use it to update and install your drivers.

Minecarrot · Jan 16, 2016

Swinginking :

I removed and reinstalled them in a different way and it didn't work, I can try yours as well if you want but it'll have to happen tomorrow. Please stick around, you've been a great help so far, see you tomorrow!

A good CPU to pair with a MSI GeForce GTX 970

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