Fps drops and CPU goes up to 90%

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LillyCookie

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May 10, 2015
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Recently, while gaming, my fps went down from 80 to 60 at random times. While this is happening, the CPU usage goes very high, up to 90%. I'm monitoring the temperature which peaks at 55C while gaming. My CPU is not overclocked, nor is it overheating. The GPU is completely fine aswell. I checked the voltages which are also completely normal. I tried updating my chipset, various drivers but no success. It's not a software issue either, tried reinstalling my OS. I'm very curious on why this is happening and what is causing this.

My specs are:
AMD FX-8350
MSI GeForce GTX 970
16 GB of Micron DDR3 1600 Ram (4x4)
Asus M5A78L-M/USB3 Micro ATX Motherboard
CoolerMaster Bronze 550W PSU
CoolerMaster Hyper 103 CPU fan
Cooler Master HAF912 Advanced case (with 3 fans)
 
Solution
T
That motherboard is not meant for an 8350. Sounds to me like you are experiencing VRM throttling as your voltage regulation is at capacity, and you are not cooling them passively (heatsinks), or actively (fans).

You can add a small CPU fan to the VRMs to prevent them from heating up, or you can orientate your air-cooler in such a way that it blows over the VRM's.

Setting the CPU fan to "max" at all times can also help alleviate the throttling.

Look at this picture. Notice how the VRM's (area to the left of your CPU) are not heat-sinked. The other board is heat-sinked and the VRM's are being cooled through them.



With all that being said. I hope you reformatted before making a forum post...
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JvZ2101

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Mar 4, 2016
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Watch your task manager and look what is causing the CPU usage, while you are gaming. You might have to cancel that application to stop the CPU peak.
 
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uguv

uguv

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Jan 2, 2008
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Run AMD Overdrive and watch your thermal margins while you're gaming. If they get down around 0 (or less) when your FPS drops then it's thermal throttling. It may not necessarily be the CPU but it could be the VRMs. If it never gets down near zero then it's not thermal throttling.
 
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LillyCookie

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May 10, 2015
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It's the game itself that uses so much. I tested it with 3 games and the same happened; the task of the game used up more than usual.
 
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LillyCookie

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May 10, 2015
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The thermal margins go to around 15-20, nowhere near 0. So it can't be thermal throttling.
 
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JvZ2101

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Mar 4, 2016
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Okay, and on what resolution are you playing? And is only the game causing the CPU usage? So there isn't another program running that is causing a lot of your CPU usage? What is your CPU usage when you are not gaming? A lot of questions, I know :)
 
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Themastererr

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May 22, 2016
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That motherboard is not meant for an 8350. Sounds to me like you are experiencing VRM throttling as your voltage regulation is at capacity, and you are not cooling them passively (heatsinks), or actively (fans).

You can add a small CPU fan to the VRMs to prevent them from heating up, or you can orientate your air-cooler in such a way that it blows over the VRM's.

Setting the CPU fan to "max" at all times can also help alleviate the throttling.

Look at this picture. Notice how the VRM's (area to the left of your CPU) are not heat-sinked. The other board is heat-sinked and the VRM's are being cooled through them.



With all that being said. I hope you reformatted before making a forum post to rule out operating system/software issues.


 
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Solution
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LillyCookie

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May 10, 2015
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I'm playing on 1920x1080. It's only the game causing the CPU usage, no other process spikes up (tested on 3 games I'm currently playing; Overwatch, Unturned and Guild Wars 2). While testing I closed all other programs (except for task manager of course). My idle CPU usage is under 10%. With chrome open at about 20-30% (I must admit having a lot of tabs open though).
 
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LillyCookie

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May 10, 2015
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My case has 3 fans, with 2 being near the VRM's. At the top and back of the case exhaust fans, on the front an intake fan plus an intake cpu fan with its airflow being directed towards the back of the case. Would that be enough cooling for the VRM's? Also, do the VRM's have a temperature sensor so I could monitor it?

Thank you for your reply, I will definetly test out setting my CPU fan to max.

Edit: definetly the VRM's overheating. I will get a heatsink for them as soon as I can. Thank you for your help!
 
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Themastererr

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May 22, 2016
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Good to hear Lillycookie. Sorry I didn't get back to your post previously.

If you cannot mount a heatsink in an appropriate way, a small CPU fan will suffice.
 
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