Lower FPS than I'd expect for my setup

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DNAP2010

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Jul 22, 2015
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Here are my specs:
CPU: i5 4690K OC'd to 4.4 GHz
GPU: Geforce GTX 1080 Ti
RAM: 32 GB (4 x 8) Ballistix Tactical LP DDR3 1600 MHz
PSU: Corsair RM750 Gold
My monitor is an Acer GN246HL 144 Hz.
Not sure if there are other components I should mention. Feel free to ask!

The two games I've been testing this are Ghost Recon: Wildlands and Mass Effect: Andromeda. I monitor FPS, temps, and usage (of GPU, CPU, and RAM) via MSI Afterburner on a second monitor.

I'm running both games on ultra settings at 1920 X 1080 (I do not have a monitor capable of a higher resolution). The problem is just general FPS instability. Dropping and stuttering at seemingly random times. I've read that GR:W is extremely CPU intensive right now, poorly optimized so soon after release, and it's a really pretty game. But ME:A isn't really. In both games, if I set the refresh rate to 120 Hz it'll stay near there with consistent dips below, and occasional steep drops for a second before returning. I know that 120 FPS is a high expectation, as lots of tests I've read online, even with the 1080 Ti (and particularly in GR:W), see it only managing around 70 FPS on average. I took this to just be the game. But, with ME:A, I run into the same thing. So, I decided to set the refresh rate to 60 Hz, thinking my setup is more than capable of keeping a constant 60 FPS. Well, it dips to 55, 50, 51, completely randomly. It can't maintain a constant 60. I figured that was a low enough bar. I just want consistency. No drops. A fluid, constant rate.

Is this normal? Am I expecting too much? Do I have a bottleneck? My drivers are all up to date. BIOS, too. Ran a sweeping check of each individually both using my device manager and software (Atuning, and from my ASRock MOBO, the ASRock, Intel, Nvidia, and Realtek websites). Everything seems to be as it should.

Any thoughts?
 
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look at the user comments here at the bottom of the page the commenters aint going for it at all ?? ''

http://www.pcgamer.com/mass-effect-andromeda-review/

its all about hype and sales pitch

guys see all that buy the game see its not all that at all and find like from steam no refunds ..

now look at some of the comments from that review

http://www.pcgamer.com/mass-effect-andromeda-pc-performance-analysis/

''1440p, GTX 1070, i5 4690k — 43 fps max on Eos, with ultra settings. What am I missing?''

''Here are my specs:
CPU: i5 4690K OC'd to 4.4 GHz
GPU: Geforce GTX 1080 Ti
The problem is just general FPS instability. Dropping and stuttering at seemingly random times''

''GTX 1070 8GB Strix
16 GB of Ram
i5 4690k 3.5 stock...
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junkeymonkey

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down load firestrike bench mark and trey its stress test thing ??

[example ]

http://imgur.com/Ak24Pbi

then you may see how stable it is under that ???

then you can do the normal benches and check your same system results ?

''Number of GPUs '' = 1

http://www.3dmark.com/search?_ga=1.125561354.1885901689.1468022640#/?mode=advanced&url=/proxycon/ajax/search/cpugpu/fs/P/1826/1127/500000?minScore=0&cpuName=Intel Core i5-4690K&gpuName=NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti


bad rthing is how much cpu overclocking affect each score on that deal but you should be in some ball park
 
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DNAP2010

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Jul 22, 2015
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Thanks for the reply! Even if I try running either game with my CPU set to stock clock, the same thing happens. I've run that OC for a long time with no issues - it isn't overheating. I am hard-pressed to believe it's a matter of an unstable clock, given that the performance remains the same regardless. If I leave it at stock 3.5 GHz, it's the same.

Any other suggestions?
 
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junkeymonkey

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well those are new games , so maybe thers some optimization with them ??

why I suggested something more stable and proven to run as a standard like firestrike ..

''Hello Wildlands staff, I am currently having performance issues with FPS drops, stuttering and low fps''

http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/1606800-Ghost-recon-wildlands-Optimization-performance-issue-Forums

''And it turns out that rolling back your drivers to 378.49 significantly improves performances''

https://www.reddit.com/r/Wildlands/comments/5xzyfh/if_youre_having_performance_issues_on_nvidia/

so it maybe just how it is for some ? then its not like you get a real game and its a download and a client [more like a rental and there spy/mal -ware attached ] so maybe you got there game and they got your money and you relie fully on them to play it and hope there mandatory content / downloads and updates don't make it worse . thing is your 100% at there mercy . you hold and own nothing with out them .

with that you really don't know is it the game ? there client/ content for the game ? good downloads of any part of the game ?? like you said all was good up till these games , right ??

I don't support steam uplay or origin I don't need to game that bad to subject myself to there doings , not full retail game on disk = no sale

this release not fully ready games and try to fix them on the fly or if at all aint for me . then best I recall ''no refunds '' if not satisfied ??? keep it

anyway so far just from then links a gave seems that's a issue with that one

https://wccftech.com/mass-effect-andromeda-issues-animations/

''However, PC and Xbox One owners sampling the beginning missions via Origin/EA Access have encountered a number of glitches, bugs and issues that are receiving plenty of attention.''

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-mass-effect-andromeda-performance-analysis
 
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DNAP2010

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Jul 22, 2015
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These are all really good points! I considered that it might just be the games, but I keep reading other people suggesting that it might be that my CPU is bottlenecking my GPU at such a low resolution. Effectively, I'm told that because the 1080 Ti can render so many frames so fast at 1080p, the CPU can't keep up. This has me worried that I need to buy a new monitor. Mine is capable of 144 Hz, but only 1080p.

To further illustrate the problem, I turned ME:A's settings down to high (from ultra) and I *still* can't keep a perfect 60 FPS. It'll dip exactly the same. It's as if I've changed nothing at all. I really seems like something is wrong or being throttled or . . . I don't really know. I just can't believe that a 1080 Ti can't get a perfect 60 FPS on games that benchmarks show it should be able to get upwards of 120.

Thanks again for your responses, junkeymonkey. I hope I can get this sorted out eventually.
 
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junkeymonkey

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that's why I said use fire strike and there scores to see ?? use your CPU and card like I linked above . just be sure your not looking at the SLI scores ''Number of GPUs '' = 1

https://www.techpowerup.com/download/futuremark-3dmark-timespy/

I'm using a 4670 non k and a 980ti ??? like said in my class I got 4th today and if you look at it and look at the top 3 above me you see how much more overclocking they got ??? and look at how that top guy non k 4670 cpu is running over its max boost clock @4.0 ??? max on these cpu's is 3.8

so I kinda know if its a crap game and not my hardware , you see ???

personally I don't think its the cpu or the card that 4690k and 1080ti should rock pretty good . I would not have issue pairing them up here and should do a good job


my cpu and gtx 1080ti

http://www.3dmark.com/search?_ga=1.120137992.1885901689.1468022640#/?mode=advanced&url=/proxycon/ajax/search/cpugpu/fs/P/1614/1127/500000?minScore=0&cpuName=Intel Core i5-4670&gpuName=NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

my 980ti score
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/18935221

see not so much gain or not as massive as most would think
 
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DNAP2010

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Jul 22, 2015
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Okay. I'm DL'ing the linked 3DMark software to give it a go. It would be comforting to find out that my setup is fine, and that it's just the game.

Is there any truth to these claims I've read/mentioned that playing at 1080p (or a lower resolution) on a high-end card (like the 1080 Ti) can cause such issues? Rendering frames too quickly, and the CPU can't keep up? Even if that's not my issue here, I'm curious if I'm going to need to upgrade my monitor to get some insurance for my GPU.

Thanks again for all of your help!
 
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junkeymonkey

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should be less work .. should fly at 1080p as to say at 4k all I use is 1080p , I'm sure you will hear all them ''overkill'' stories. the more you go up in resolution the more FPS hit you take

thing is CPU has some to do with it like our cpu 's and the same card will not score as a guy with a 5820k overclocked so in that sense you could say its a bottleneck . or as your cpu will out score a i5-4460 with the same card .

a lot of guys don't look at that all they see is a top high score but don't think on reasons why or any unknowns on how he got that ..

why I don't like to use ''K'' or overclocked cpu to compare GPU results . you can stretch the truth a bit with them .

I got to go , but will check back in the AM and check your results

good luck
 
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DNAP2010

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Jul 22, 2015
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Okay, here are my results (I'm not sure if just copy/pasting the link to my results works, but it's what I'm trying):
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm/18938390

The comparison seems to suggest my score is solid (7374). It's *considerably* lower than the ones you linked me to earlier using my card though (16259, for instance). Why is my mine so much lower? I can't claim to understand the metrics at all. I just see people using similar configurations with a much higher score and it's . . . disappointing, if not outright frustrating. All told, my CPU score is demonstrably lower than my GPU score - this implies I really do need to upgrade my CPU, doesn't it? I'm already trying to scout out a better, reasonably priced 1440p monitor. The best CPU I can get for my MOBO (which I'm terrified of replacing) is a i7 4790K. Coupling that with a 1440p monitor will be expensive, and I don't even know if my situation will get any better. I suppose I'm just being unreasonable, but it just really feels like my system is under-performing.

Thank you, once again, for your consistent response and patience. I really appreciate the help.
 
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junkeymonkey

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well 21'st place not bad as you can see theres a lot worse turned in then like I said look at say 2ed place and how much more overclock on card and cpu he used to achieve that score

you look right where it should be and a good average on time spy [that's there dx12 test] firestrike is the 1080p test ultra is the 4k , extreme is for sli type set ups .

if you look at score 20 flowers cpu at the same clock did not score as well as yours did ?? but his card was clocked a tad bit higher ?? so with that I feel your score was better overall even if it did just score under his [opinion]

then don't forget the 1080ti is a new card and there maybe some better driver optimizations yet to come from NVidia for it and these games as well .
 
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DNAP2010

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You're totally right. I didn't realize when I first looked at the scores that I was comparing a "Timespy" score to a different one. I thought they were all on the same scale, same metric. I've since read up a bit more on averages across all of the different tests 3DMark uses (Firestrike, Ultra, Ice Storm, etc.) and realize that my score isn't really all that bad. I haven't OC'd my GPU at all, so I guess it's all in my head.

I traded in my second monitor via Amazon last night (they gave me a nice credit ) and I'm going to keep my eye on the market and grab a decent 1440p monitor when the price is right. Now, not because I think there's something wrong with my current setup, but just because I've been wanting to try out higher res anyway. I also decided to turn off FPS monitoring when playing Andromeda, since seeing the quantified fluctuations drives me crazy, and to just leave V-sync off and the refresh rate at 100 Hz. Without seeing the number taunt me, I'm actually not really noticing drops much (if they're happening) and I'm able to enjoy it on ultra without nitpicking.

Thanks again for all of your help! It really just seems to be these two particular games. I'm going to mark your previous suspicion of such as my solution. You've been very insightful and I'm grateful.
 
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DNAP2010

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One last thing, to show what's been frustrating me all along. This benchmark (below) from PC Gamer. It suggests that with a 1080 Ti on ultra settings at 1080p, I should be able to get an average of 115 FPS with a minimum of 79. I can't get those numbers. That's why I started off on this goose chase to begin with. Ha.

QujszJUjeZRE27Yr7h3Srg-650-80.png
 
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junkeymonkey

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look at the user comments here at the bottom of the page the commenters aint going for it at all ?? ''

http://www.pcgamer.com/mass-effect-andromeda-review/

its all about hype and sales pitch

guys see all that buy the game see its not all that at all and find like from steam no refunds ..

now look at some of the comments from that review

http://www.pcgamer.com/mass-effect-andromeda-pc-performance-analysis/

''1440p, GTX 1070, i5 4690k — 43 fps max on Eos, with ultra settings. What am I missing?''

''Here are my specs:
CPU: i5 4690K OC'd to 4.4 GHz
GPU: Geforce GTX 1080 Ti
The problem is just general FPS instability. Dropping and stuttering at seemingly random times''

''GTX 1070 8GB Strix
16 GB of Ram
i5 4690k 3.5 stock (never Oc'ed)
Asus Maximus Hero VII
SSD 256GB
And I'm playing at 1440p as I mentioned previously

I have no idea what might be the cause for such a low performance.''

''Yeah I'm getting this as well... 2 Titan X's, an 8 core, and 3200MHz RAM with stupid tight timings and I feel like maybe it's the game lol... I run Dragon Age: Inquisition @ 4K/60 and sure it's a 3(?) year old game but it's the same engine and tons of Detail. Dunno... Sensing optimization issues here...''


ya, see??? several like that they see this review and find its not as so ...

it anit your hardware it there program optimization ..





 
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DNAP2010

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Jul 22, 2015
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Great info and insight. Funny note: one of your quotes from the PC Gamer link is actually my own comment on that review! Ha.

''Here are my specs:
CPU: i5 4690K OC'd to 4.4 GHz
GPU: Geforce GTX 1080 Ti
The problem is just general FPS instability. Dropping and stuttering at seemingly random times''

That's me. Was looking in as many places as possible to get as much advice as I could. The consensus agrees with you. It's the game. I didn't get nearly as much feedback anywhere else as I did from you in this thread. I'm at ease now. I hope Bioware and Ubisoft patch these things up a bit to optimize them.
 
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andrewrr91361

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utilize DDU http://www.wagnardsoft.com/ uninstall your current driver and start with a FRESH install to ensure you don't have any driver conflicting with performance. just a friendly suggestion imo.
 
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