How does my build look? I am feeling underwhelmed with it.

Thatguy4220 · Nov 18, 2016

So, I finished my build around a month ago, and so far, I am really unhappy with it. I can run games like GTAV on the lowest settings, at around 15FPS in the city. I dont even want to know if it will run BF1, because I know it will run like crap. What is holding me back?

AMD FX6300 OC to 4.1Ghz
MSI Radeon RX480 8gb
MSI 970 Gaming Mobo
Samsung 850 EVO 500Gb SSD
Corsair h100i v2 Liquid Cooler
16Gb DDR3 1600Mhz RAM
Corsair 750W Modular PSU

Any ideas as to what is holding me back? Or is this build not as strong as I though, to the point where a game like GTAV is unplayable?

genthug · Nov 18, 2016

6300 is holding you back. Shouldn't be holding you back to 15FPS in the city, but that's the weak point in your build.

Thatguy4220 · Nov 18, 2016

genthug :

Is there an better AMD processor other than the 8 core FX? I feel pretty burned out by the FX series.

genthug · Nov 18, 2016

That would be because the FX series is burned out, and has been for years. On your motherboard, no there isn't. The only upgrades to that CPU on your chipset are the 6350, 8300, 8320, 8350, 8370, 9370, and 9590. Would not recommend anything on that list past the 8350, as the 8370 doesn't give you anything different than the 8350, and the 9370 and 9590 will not be supported by your motherboard. The 8xxx processors would likely do alright as from looking at your motherboard it looks like you have 8 phase power control, but that's your only upgrade if you don't want to swap out 2-3 of your components.

skitszo · Nov 18, 2016

amd is waiting for 7th gen APU/ and Zen

mainly Zen chips....

zen finally will goto 14nm.... think fx is still running 28nm

Tom Keenan · Nov 18, 2016

Go for an intel chip, you won't regret it. The FX series is like 5 years old at this point and the extra cores don't do anything to help games. Pretty much any intel CPU you pick up is going to be just as good or better for around the same price. Since you already bought your components and have 16gb of DDR3 ram I would save some money and see if I could find a deal on a last gen mobo and CPU combo. Probably shoot for an i3 but if you're looking at last gen stuff you may be able to find an i5 for cheap.

genthug · Nov 19, 2016

6xxx to i3 is a sideways move and would be a waste of money given that we're talking GTA V and other AAA titles, which are all well threaded.
As for "just as good or better for the same price"; this only clumps i3s vs. AMD chips, nevermind i5s and i7s which both whack AMD over the head, but for a premium price point. Especially on the i7s. Only i3s live in the same price point as AMD chips, or some older gen non-k i5s if they're on sale or refurbed.
If you're really looking to upgrade, upgrade at the very least to an i5, not an i3. Otherwise, I would wait for next gen to come out w/ Kaby Lake and Zen, and reevaluate then. But--you should be getting more than 15FPS in the inner city in GTA. I noticed my FX 6100 bottlenecking me in the city (OC'd to 4.2-3 GHz), but I was still only dropping from upper 40s-low 50s to lower 30s.

Thatguy4220 · Nov 19, 2016

genthug :

Then I have no Idea why my FPS is so bad. Could it be the fact that I have my games installed on a separate 2Tb 7200 RPM HDD?

genthug · Nov 19, 2016

No, that wouldn't be it. But there has to be something else going on here.
Just to clarify--your CPU will still bottleneck your game, but it should not be bottlenecking it that badly. Do you have MSI afterburner?

Thatguy4220 · Nov 19, 2016

genthug :

I do, but I don't use it.

genthug · Nov 19, 2016

Pop it open, check your CPU and GPU temperatures and usages while in the game--for your CPU, check overall and per core usages (overall should be sufficient here as it's well threaded, but just to clarify).

Thatguy4220 · Nov 19, 2016

genthug :

So, I used assassins creed 4 since it opens quicker than GTA. At low settings, I am running an average of 18fps. CPU cores are averaging 75-80%. GPU usage, ranging from 50-90% with temp staying around 58c. CPU is at 22c. Does this tell us anything? When running through town, my CPU cores all spike to 95-100% usage.

EDIT: Also, turns out my RAM is only 1303. Thats what I get buying used ram from a friend.

genthug · Nov 19, 2016

That could simply be a case of your motherboard not detecting it correctly. My RAM is 2400MHz 16-16-16 timings, my motherboard auto set it to 2133MHz 15-15-16 and it was throwing off my CPU stress testing with IBT until some of the mods pointed it out to me on here.

As for your testing... it doesn't make sense that your CPU is going from 80-100% usage sitting at 22C, especially when it's overclocked... Even if it is on a fantastic cooler, that should be near your ambient temps, unless you put your computer in a freezer. Take a picture of your VCore/Overclock settings and reset your BIOS to default, and retest.

Thatguy4220 · Nov 19, 2016

genthug :

Now...something I didnt think about. This motherboard is used, but I do not think it was reset to default when my buddy helped build my PC. He just removed his OC profile. Could that cause an issue. I have also updated BiOS since I built the PC.

genthug · Nov 19, 2016

I would reset the entire thing, and if the overclock needs to be redone, then redo it. Just take a picture of the settings to get it back to where (I assume) it's stable, and reset to default.

Edit: The other option would be to open up your task manager and track your CPU usage and clock under your performance tab. Check if it's ever clocking up to 4.1, 'cause something tells me it's not stepping.

Thatguy4220 · Nov 19, 2016

genthug :

So, before resetting BiOS, Task Manager said I was not going over 1.35GHz

After BiOS reset, with no OC in place, Task Manager did not go over 1.33GHz.
Is my CPU messed up?

EDIT: Never went over 25% Utilization

genthug · Nov 19, 2016

Well, that is definitely your issue... You don't happen to have your power options set to power saver? Resetting your options would've enabled turbo boost, so it should be switching up when you're putting a load on it. It should've been before as well. You said you got this from a friend? Does your friend happen to have his old CPU lying around for you to possibly test on?

Thatguy4220 · Nov 19, 2016

genthug :

I have it, yes. I bought that from him as well. It was a dual core Athalon. I would have to find it though.

I ran a Prime95 Stress test, the CPU never went over 1.37GHz. Checking BiOS settings now for power saver or anything else.

madmatt30 · Nov 19, 2016

Switch the PC off.
Open the case & check the little vertical switch below the big 24 pin PSU header.

It should be down to then off position.
If it isn't change it then reboot & try again

(I may be wrong on position off switch -its from memory, whatever it's at at try it the other way)

Thatguy4220 · Nov 19, 2016

madmatt30 :

So I want the little OC witch set to off? I believe it is, but I will check again.

Also, turned off all power saving features, CPU still will not run over 1.37GHz, even in a stress test.

Thatguy4220 · Nov 19, 2016

madmatt30 :

Thank you for reminding me. There is a "Slow Mode" switch on this motherboard. It has been on this whole time. Currently clocking at 4.1GHz at 100% utilization during a stress test. Games are running 10000% times better too.

madmatt30 · Nov 19, 2016

No problemo mate , you will not be the first or the last to be caught out by MSI's slow mode switch on their gaming series boards.

The comical thing is if your mate had that board before you he was also likely running it in slow mose the whole time too!!

You're not going to have any issue running a 480 with that CPU now - be aware you have a huge amount more overclocking headroom on that board, cooler & CPU combo.

genthug · Nov 19, 2016

Huh. Was not even aware of that little switch as I've always worked on ASUS boards. Good thing you came to the rescue.

How does my build look? I am feeling underwhelmed with it.

Commendable

Honorable

Commendable

Honorable

Honorable

Reputable

Honorable

Commendable

Honorable

Commendable

Honorable

Commendable

Honorable

Commendable

Honorable

Commendable

Honorable

Commendable

Titan

Commendable

Commendable

Titan

Honorable

Share this page