Low Minimum FPS @ 1080p With High-End Rig

Robot_1X

Commendable
Jul 24, 2016
13
0
1,520
I recently built a new PC (specs below) and cannot get a minimum frame rate above 45fps no matter what game I play, with the Redout demo being the sole exception. I understand that some of the games in question (also below) are poorly optimized games or bad ports, but I'd think that my rig should get a solid 60fps in games like Devil Daggers and The Talos Principle. I've tried fiddling with game settings to no avail. Thinking this was due to a CPU bottleneck I've overclocked my CPU (up to 4.5GHZ), also to no avail. I've tried several other things to alleviate my problem as well: disabling Intel SpeedStep, changing BIOS from PCI to PEG, disabling integrated video, enabling XMP, changing Power Plan to High performance. If I can remember anything else I've done in an attempt to improve my frame rate, I'll edit this post.

Here are the specs:
Intel Core i7-6700K
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB [driver version 378.78]
Gigabyte GA-Z170X-Ultra Gaming
16GB DDR4-3000MHZ RAM
Samsung 950 Pro 256GB M.2
Corsair RMX 750
Windows 10 Education 64-bit

Here are the games I've played on this machine:
The Talos Principle
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Sonic Generations
Devil Daggers
Redout Demo
Wrack
WarHammer 40K: Space Marine
Dark Souls
Doom 2016
Mighty No. 9

If any more details are needed, tell me and I'll provide them.

Thank you in advance,
~Robot_1X
 

Robot_1X

Commendable
Jul 24, 2016
13
0
1,520
Crap, I forgot to list my Power Supply. It's a Corsair RMX 750 (750W). As for temperatures, I've monitored them before with MSI Afterburner and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I'll put exact temperatures when I get back on my machine.

Thank you for your help so far.
 

Robot_1X

Commendable
Jul 24, 2016
13
0
1,520
I actually did set Windows' power settings to High Performance but forgot to mention I did so. I edited my original post to both reflect this and to list my PSU. I just adjusted the BIOS to disable, but haven't tested to see if it impacted performance any since I forgot to do so before checking my temps in MSI Afterburner. The temps for the GPU topped out at 69 degrees Celsius (for most of the session the temp stayed in the 40-50 degree range), while the four CPU cores were all under 35 degrees each. I have a link to my Afterburner log file below if you wish to view it. I played a few puzzles in The Talos Principle for the temperature test.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3As9Mg1FC-0V1NoQkJDVHcySzQ
 

Robot_1X

Commendable
Jul 24, 2016
13
0
1,520
Yes it is the Corsair RMx RM750X 80 Plus Gold. As for software, I normally have the Creative Cloud services, Google Drive, the Nvidia services (e.g. Nvidia container and Nvidia User Experience Driver Component). I also have the normal Windows background processes such as Windows Defender. Nothing that'll eat a large amount of my resources according to the Task Manager. Looking at all my processes and not just the ones that are using the most resources I've noticed that programs that I've ran earlier (Groove Music, Netflix, Store, etc.) still have background processes despite my closing them. Is this a feature of Windows 10? They don't use too many resources, so I don't think that it's contributing to my problem. These games I mention below were ran with the vanilla BitTorrent client running in the background which isn't something I normally do.

I retested some of these games again this morning and disabling Active State Power Management function (which I messed up in mentioning last post) improvements in varying degrees. Wrack got quite an improvement though its performance still leaves much to be desired. My problem with that game was that the frame rate dips into the single digits whenever there's a lot of action occurring even on low settings. Now it'll dip into the mid-teens on the same low settings, but the frame rate dips are much less frequent and tolerable. I'm thinking it might just be the engine since it's a custom engine and not an established engine like Unreal Engine or iD Tech. I'm not too worried about that one.

Devil Daggers plays fantastically now. I get minimum frame rates in excess of ~120 fps constantly. Considering how ancient the game's visuals are, that's how it should've been. The Talos Principle has improved as well, but only in the frequency of the frame rate dips. They happen a bit less frequently, but they still drop to the ~40-45 fps territory. Lastly, Doom doesn't seem to run any better at all either in OpenGL or Vulkan. So far an improvement but not the rock-solid frame rate I'm looking for.

A couple of random ideas I have:
When I installed the CPU into this motherboard, I bent some of the pins with my fingernail. I was able to have the system pass POST after bending the affected pins slightly. Could this affect anything?
I've read this forum thread of some other users experiencing a similar problem to mine. Do you think this is worth noting? Perhaps I should contact Nvidia customer support or upgrade to a GTX 1070 which, to my knowledge, doesn't have this problem?
 

MeesterYellow

Honorable
Jan 12, 2017
563
0
11,160
That's great! Are there anything else you fiddled/messed with?
When you bent the pins, did you bend them back to normal before putting CPU into its socket?
What's your CPU cooler by the way?
I think what you noted was worth it as everything needs to be in perfect condition in order to run properly.
I think contacting Nvidia and Intel would be a good idea. As for an upgrade, that's up for you to decide, as a 1070 user though, I would recommend it.
I have not got any problems on it whatsoever.

 

Robot_1X

Commendable
Jul 24, 2016
13
0
1,520


I hope you're referring to my settings adjustments and not my bending of the pins. This is my first Land Grid Array board.

NUsGweJ.gif


Are there anything else you fiddled/messed with?
No settings messed with, but I have updated my drivers since I last posted. I have not been able to test my games using this new driver yet, but I doubt the new driver would help. There have been a few driver updates lately. I'm guessing it's due to this month's hot releases?

When you bent the pins, did you bend them back to normal before putting CPU into its socket?
I did my best to bend them back using an X-Acto Knife. The pins weren't perfect, but my PC case speaker did not give me any beeps so I'm guessing they were all able to make contact with the socket.

What's your CPU cooler by the way?
It's a Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO.

I think what you noted was worth it as everything needs to be in perfect condition in order to run properly.
I wasn't quite sure if it'd matter since I haven't found any information conclusively stating if there was any performance impact from bent pins.

I think contacting Nvidia and Intel would be a good idea.
Should I instead contact ASUS since that's the brand of the card?

As for an upgrade, that's up for you to decide, as a 1070 user though, I would recommend it.
I have not got any problems on it whatsoever.
This is a last-resort for me if my suspicions are correct and the GPU is some how to blame and Nvidia/ASUS can't/won't help me. I'm only running games at 1080p and 60fps right now. I suppose that I could crank up the settings, perhaps even use DSR, but I think a 1070 would be rather overkill. What resolution do you use, MeesterYellow?

I really do appreciate your help, MeesterYellow.
 

MeesterYellow

Honorable
Jan 12, 2017
563
0
11,160
Yes. I'm referring to your improvement.

Yeah, contact ASUS and Intel (Just to inform them about bent pins and if it has anything to do with your problem).

I use 1080p resolution. 1070 is pretty overkill but I never drop below 60 fps at max settings.

No problem. Glad I'm able to help.
 

Robot_1X

Commendable
Jul 24, 2016
13
0
1,520
Thought I'd give an update on this situation:
I have come to the conclusion that my video card is not the source of the problem as I have borrowed my friend's GTX 980 and had identical performance. I got in contact with Gigabyte and, several days later, was told that bent pins do in fact hinder CPU performance. I was told for some reason to call Gigabyte's tech support and process an RMA. So a couple days later I called and was told that I cannot start an RMA via phone, leading me to create one myself like I was already planning to. Now I am awaiting a response from Gigabyte. I'm guessing I'm able to get an RMA since I never mentioned that I was the one that bent the pins, I just inquired about bent pins impacting CPU performance.
 

Robot_1X

Commendable
Jul 24, 2016
13
0
1,520
I forgot to wrap this thread up, so here's some belated closure:
The problem was in fact the CPU. After replacing the motherboard and inserting the CPU in correctly my system runs everything excellently. I told the Gigabyte rep that I was the one who bent the pins and was told that the company offers a socket repair service. It cost me $45 plus shipping. Like I said previously in the thread I haven't found anything that conclusively stated whether bent pins negatively impact performance. I can conclusively say that bent pins do negatively impact performance even if they still make contact with the CPU. Hopefully someone will come across this post in his/her search and get the right information.

Thank you one last time, MeesterYellow.
~Robot_1X
 

MeesterYellow

Honorable
Jan 12, 2017
563
0
11,160


No problem. I'm glad I was able to help and that you were able to replace your motherboard and have everything running great.
 

TRENDING THREADS