x4 860k and r9 270x with poor performance

Omnics · Jun 10, 2016

For a long time now, I've had an x4 860k along side a gigabyte r9 270x 4gb gpu and 8 gb 1333 ram. My problem is, its performance is very minimal. I have my cpu overclocked to 4.1 ghz and games like GTA V or Overwatch are barely playable on lowest settings (around 40-50 fps).

If it helps, my motherboard is a Gigabyte A68H.

what's going on?

weberdarren97 · Jun 10, 2016

Your hardware isn't all that powerful. I'm sorry but you need to put a lot more money than that into a system if you want to play the new games. I recommend an Intel i5 6500, 16GB DDR4 2400MHz, a Z170 board, and at least a GTX 970 (equivalent to an AMD R9 390X).

Omnics · Jun 10, 2016

weberdarren97 :

I've checked plenty of videos with my specs that run the same games i mention at close to high settings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9TLxOdjMoc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfYpk6MZ04k

Omnics · Jun 10, 2016

Another side note, my friend and I tried this with his card (Gtx 960) and the games mentioned ran much better than the given info>

weberdarren97 · Jun 10, 2016

I wouldn't expect more than 40-50 FPS out of that 860k 270X setup, seriously.

But what we can try is to disable startup objects.

If you have Windows 7, press Win+R to open Run, type in msconfig and press Enter. System Configuration should open. Navigate to the startup tab.

If you have Windows 8/8.1/10, press Control+Shift+Escape to open Task Manager. Navigate to the startup tab.

Once you're in startup in either window, disable all programs that you don't need running at all times. Disable everything except for drivers. If a program name includes Audio, Sound, Graphics, Nvidia, AMD, ATI or Radeon; then it's a driver, leave it alone.

Please note that disabling a startup program does not stop it from working, it simply stops it from running in the background at all times. It will still work when you open it.

Omnics · Jun 10, 2016

weberdarren97 :

I wouldn't expect more than 40-50 FPS out of that 860k 270X setup, seriously.

But what we can try is to disable startup objects.

If you have Windows 7, press Win+R to open Run, type in msconfig and press Enter. System Configuration should open. Navigate to the startup tab.

If you have Windows 8/8.1/10, press Control+Shift+Escape to open Task Manager. Navigate to the startup tab.

Once you're in startup in either window, disable all programs that you don't need running at all times. Disable everything except for drivers. If a program name includes Audio, Sound, Graphics, Nvidia, AMD, ATI or Radeon; then it's a driver, leave it alone.

Please note that disabling a startup program does not stop it from working, it simply stops it from running in the background at all times. It will still work when you open it.

I've been doing that as well. Thanks for the help though

weberdarren97 · Jun 10, 2016

That's all I have for you right now, I think you're simply at the limit of the capabilities of your hardware.

Edit: Are you sure that you're running a 64-bit version of Windows?

Omnics · Jun 10, 2016

weberdarren97 :

I am indeed running 64-bit.

weberdarren97 · Jun 10, 2016

Okay then I'm out of ideas. Sorry I couldn't be more help

Omnics · Jun 10, 2016

weberdarren97 :

feel free to spread this

weberdarren97 · Jun 10, 2016

Already on it, I know a few moderators.

Omnics · Jun 10, 2016

weberdarren97 :

Much thanks

nukemaster · Jun 10, 2016

Watching and playing are different, you can not feel input delay or anything on a video. That video is actually running at 30fps.

Can you please check if your video card is maxed at 90+% load while gaming. If it is, the card is doing all it can.

Because the cpu is older/entry level, it could bottleneck faster cards.

Omnics · Jun 10, 2016

nukemaster :

Here's a screenshot of my gpu usage while playing Overwatch with plenty of tabs open on google chrome.

https://gyazo.com/acedfb80395d25b412170b4040ac3e48

nukemaster · Jun 10, 2016

GPU usage is all over the place, do the frame rates follow that or not?

You may well have a cpu bottleneck(this can happen just from running a game on lower settings as well). How loaded are your cpu cores? GTA5 should be pretty good at using multiple cores.

Omnics · Jun 10, 2016

nukemaster :

My frame rate stood around 30-60. I will now check my cpu cores.

UPDATE: After another look, frames never dropped under 40 until going into battle on Overwatch.

Here's a screenshot of afterburner with cpu and gpu load:

https://gyazo.com/8883518fb2da8d372bda2f076a449ccf

weberdarren97 · Jun 10, 2016

I think your CPU is holding your GPU back... I would just get a new system if I were you

Omnics · Jun 10, 2016

weberdarren97 :

I'm not in a money rich situation currently. :/

weberdarren97 · Jun 10, 2016

If you get an i7 6700k (which is a stretch for the average budget) then the integrated graphics will actually be better than your 270X is with your current CPU.

Omnics · Jun 10, 2016

weberdarren97 :

I don't even have enough money to afford another x4 860k

weberdarren97 · Jun 10, 2016

Well then, I hate to admit it, but you're basically stuck with the performance you have now.

nukemaster · Jun 11, 2016

At the start you list the cpu as clocked to 4.1 ghz. Is this the turbo speed or all core speed.

Boost and turbo both work by allowing higher speeds only when less cores are in use(this makes single core performance better). This is more confusing with AMD's module approach because cores share parts on many of the cpus they have on the market.

Please check to ensure your cpu is running at your selected speed under game loads. Do NOT overclock without monitoring temperatures to ensure things are not too warm. Your cpu is loaded pretty heavy(in fact that game is VERY well optimized to use that much cpu).

You say you have already turned down all settings in game, have you tried a lower resolution? I know it sucks, but it may offer free performance.

Another option that may sound crazy is to try to cap your frame rate at 30 or so. Your MSI AB screenshot is not showing frame rates, but I am going to guess they are all over the place. Some users are more sensitive to the change than the actual framerate itself. This is because user input(mouse/keyboard) are shown faster and feel like they have less delay(and from what I can see do) with higher frame rates. Now with the frame rates all over you tend to feel these changes more(after all those 30fps videos look pretty good on youtube because you are not in control and can not feel input delay) than with a solid frame rate. Afterburner has a build in frame rate limiter in the included RivaTuner Statistics Server.

Omnics · Jun 11, 2016

nukemaster :

I used to use AMD Overdrive to increase my ghz on my CPU but I recently went into the bios and changed it there to 4.1ghz at all times. As for the 30fps thing, I'll give it a try. Thanks for your help.

Update: Tried playing at 30 fps and recorded Afterburner, stayed at 30 the whole time sometimes 29

https://gyazo.com/bed5ffa2e9e8ca69431a16d96f4b65d1

nukemaster · Jun 11, 2016

Did that feel any better that way?

The gpu usage being all over may be normal since the game is fast paced and things are always changing(things moving, distance you can see, ect).

Omnics · Jun 12, 2016

nukemaster :

Much worse than my usual gaming.

update: I'm just going to live with it until my friend gives me his gtx960, performance on that thing was much better than the r9 270x I currently use. Thanks for your help guys.

x4 860k and r9 270x with poor performance

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