Random FPS loss in all games

Jon Bader · Jun 2, 2016

Hi guys. So I am running a GeForce GTX 970, I-7 4790k 4 GHZ, 16 GB RAM, Win 10 home.

Since I built this PC I have been playing games like Fallout 4, Dota 2, Overwatch.... etc... all on ultra settings with excellent performance. Today though I turned on my computer and went to play a game and noticed a HUGE drop in framerate. I tried multiple games, both online and offline, and had the same result.

I've restarted my PC
I've dusted it out - even though it wasn't very dusty to begin with
I've verified that my graphics driver is up to date via Nvidia Geforce experience and the Nvidia website
I've checked my temps - All seem to be normal
I've checked my latency - Definitely not a lag issue
I've done a malware scan with Malwarebytes - Found a few threats and got rid of them... But did not fix the problem.

And I don't know what else to do to further troubleshoot. I haven't made any recent hardware changes, Just the other day I was gaming normally.

Also I seem to be getting a mobo code 04 which is pci resource allocation error. out of resources.

I've tried re-seating all my RAM and the GPU
I've brought up task manager and briefly monitored usage while in game and all seems normal

spetscom · Jun 2, 2016

Have you monitored the usage of the GPU or CPU during gameplay to see if there is something that isn't looking quite right? When I had low FPS in BF4 I monitored my hardware and found that the CPU usage was spiking every few seconds. Is the frame rate more of a consistent low FPS or is it spikes of low FPS?

Starcruiser · Jun 2, 2016

Try clean installing the graphics drivers. http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2767677/clean-graphics-driver-install-windows.html
There could also be something seemingly unrelated running in the background that changed, possibly another program updated and is using more idle resources than before. Try disabling all of your startup entries, except for the Nvidia control panel.

NerdIT · Jun 2, 2016

Is the GPU overclocked?

Steadyy1 · Jun 2, 2016

1 - Make sure the graphics card isn't overclocked. (Because it is possible for the graphics card to overclock itself.)
2 - Download a program named "MSI Afterburner" and monetize your GPU usage and when it goes up and down. (A graph is displayed on the program.)
3 - Re-install GeForce Experience and all of its drivers.
4 - You could try taking the graphics card out, and putting it back in. Something could've happened overnight.
5 - Make sure your CPU usage isn't high, because it is possible that if your CPU usage is high, then you will freeze / lose fps on games.

Jon Bader · Jun 2, 2016

spetscom :

I did briefly use task manager to monitor usage while in game and it all seemed normal.

Jon Bader · Jun 2, 2016

NerdIT :

GPU shouldn't be overclocked, havent checked if maybe it did it on its own.

Jon Bader · Jun 2, 2016

Starcruiser :

So I went to the link you provided for the clean install guide, followed the exact directions there and it fixed my problem!!! Cheers and thanks to you mate. You are a gentleman and a scholar.

Starcruiser · Jun 2, 2016

You'd be amazed how many times that fixes it.
Happy to help.

Jon Bader · Jun 4, 2016

OK so... Initially It looked like the problem was solved. After I did a clean re-install of my graphics drivers everything worked normally again. But next time I turn on my computer it happens again and I have to do the removal of my display driver and clean install all over again. I've done it 3 times now and the problem keeps re-occurring.

I also uninstalled GeForce experience and told windows to not update the driver automatically. I cant figure out why it keeps happening!

Jon Bader · Jun 4, 2016

Starcruiser :

OK so... Initially It looked like the problem was solved. After I did a clean re-install of my graphics drivers everything worked normally again. But next time I turn on my computer it happens again and I have to do the removal of my display driver and clean install all over again. I've done it 3 times now and the problem keeps re-occurring.

I also uninstalled GeForce experience and told windows to not update the driver automatically. I cant figure out why it keeps happening!

Starcruiser · Jun 4, 2016

Well, back to the drawing board then.
Try clearing your CMOS.
Are you sure the POST code was 04 and not D4? What motherboard is it exactly?

Jon Bader · Jun 4, 2016

Starcruiser :

CMOS?
So yes now I'm fairly sure its a code D4, because I cant find 04 in the manual. I meant to put D4 in the original post but the code D4 is pci resource allocation error. out of resources.

As soon as I do the removal and clean install of my driver the code clears and goes back to normal.
It's a Gigabyte G1.Sniper Z97

So right now I just did the re-install again and the code cleared and my games are working normal, however if this continues when I turn on my computer tomorrow I'll have to do it again.

The code clears as soon as my computer restarts after the display driver uninstaller finishes doing its thing.

So then I reinstall the driver and everything is normal and then as the computer is shutting down code D4 comes back and I have to do the whole thing over again next time I power up

And out of curiousity I just restarted my comp without re-installing the display driver, same thing happened. And the last thing to add - the problem happens when I "power down", If I just do "restart" its fine

Starcruiser · Jun 4, 2016

You have a Clear CMOS button on your board. Press that while unplugged. You should see something along the lines of "setup defaults loaded" while booting. Refer to page 23 in your manual.
It looks like you have a dual BIOS system. In that case, you can also try booting the backup BIOS as described on page 22 in your manual. (Flip the BIOS switch)

Jon Bader · Jun 4, 2016

Starcruiser :

We'll I tried the clear CMOS button and loaded default optimal settings, the problem is still occuring. Now I'm having an additional problem where installing the display driver is failing. Nvidia says it can't detect any compatible hardware so I have to troubleshoot that one too now. I checked in device manager and didnt see it so it looks like after clearing the CMOS my GPU isn't being detected. It's powering up though and the LED control program for the GPU still works.

Haven't tried switching the BIOS yet

Starcruiser · Jun 4, 2016

There should be an option in the BIOS for graphics priority, make sure PCI is set first. Also, make sure the rest of your settings in BIOS are right. You should still try the backup BIOS, it'll help with troubleshooting.

Jon Bader · Jun 5, 2016

So on my motherboard I have two BIOS switches. I'm having trouble understanding how they function from looking at page 23 in my manual.

http://www.manualslib.com/manual/692845/Gigabyte-G1-Sniper-Z97.html?page=22#manual

But they were both set to the value "1" so I switched them both to "2" and rebooted. The code still appeared right before my next shutdown, but when I turned back on the code was gone and back to normal... So I'm not sure if the graphics problem is fixed yet but I'm still having a problem with getting my GPU to be detected again so I can install the display driver.

I was looking in the BIOS for how to set PCI to first priority. the only setting I have been able to find regaurding the graphics is "PCI slot configuration" and it gives the options of Auto, Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3

Starcruiser · Jun 5, 2016

The switch on the left (looking from the front) is the BIOS selector. The one on the right disables/enables the dual BIOS function.
Setting them both to 2 means you're booting your backup BIOS with dual BIOS disabled.
If the error no longer appears, then the problem was with a corrupt primary BIOS. That's what I suspected from the sound of things. You should be safe booting the backup, but keep in mind if you get another problem with the BIOS you'll need to reflash.
Go ahead and test if you still have the problem in your OS. Don't do any overclocking yet.

Random FPS loss in all games

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