Computer is constantly underperforming...

max13102 · Apr 30, 2017

I built my computer a year ago and I've been having trouble with it the whole time. When I try to run graphic intensive games, it drops frames like crazy is hardly ever goes above 15fps. I've run CPU-Z and it shows that my computer is performing really terribly. I'm not sure where my problem lies or if part of my computer is malfunctioning. I've also tried to watch my CPU performance while running different processes and it never seems to have very high % utilization. I'm not sure if that is significant or not. I also have conflicting results on the temperature of my CPU. My bios says it is usually around 74 C, but any other program I use says it is around 100 C (such as PerformanceTest). Just trying to make my computer run the best it can.

Motherboard: Asus H97-Plus
CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 @ 3.30GHz
Memory: 2x 8GB DDR3 SDRAM PC3-12800
Storage: Corsair Force 3 SSD 55GB
Storage: WDC WD 10EZEX-00BN5A0 1TB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
Power Supply: Corsair RM750

Calvin7 · Apr 30, 2017

Thermal Compound Instructions
That CPU uses Vertical Line method of applying Thermal Compound.
http://www.arcticsilver.com/intel_application_method.html#

weberdarren97 · Apr 30, 2017

max13102 :

You shouldn't expect BIOS and programs within Windows to show the same temperatures. The CPU isn't doing anything in BIOS, but it's busy running Windows when you're using programs. It's going to be warmer in Windows.

That being said, 100C is too hot. Your CPU is thermal throttling. This means that it's slowing itself down and lowering its voltages in an effort to keep from dying of heat.

I have a few questions.

1) What CPU cooler are you using?

2) Does the fan on the cooler spin when you turn the system on, and continue to spin until you turn the system off?

3) When was the last time you've cleaned out your system?

max13102 · Apr 30, 2017

weberdarren97 :

There is also a program (asus performance and power saving utilities) that the Asus motherboard came with that has a temperature reading and says the temperature is around 71 C (this is while windows is running). I'm not sure what is causing these two different readings.

I'm just using the heatsink that came with the CPU with the fan attached to the top. The fan is always running while the CPU is on and reads an RPM of about 2000 rpm. I'm not sure what you mean by cleaning out my system, but I have cleaned out any dust that might be accumulating inside of the case.

weberdarren97 · Apr 30, 2017

max13102 :

weberdarren97 :

There is also a program (asus performance and power saving utilities) that the Asus motherboard came with that has a temperature reading and says the temperature is around 71 C (this is while windows is running). I'm not sure what is causing these two different readings.

I'm just using the heatsink that came with the CPU with the fan attached to the top. The fan is always running while the CPU is on and reads an RPM of about 2000 rpm. I'm not sure what you mean by cleaning out my system, but I have cleaned out any dust that might be accumulating inside of the case.

If you are running Windows 10, that Asus software may be a part of your issue. Windows 10 interacts with motherboard firmware at a lower level than previous versions of Windows. The kernel of Windows is much more aware of what BIOS is doing, making these monitoring programs mostly redundant. Please uninstall that Asus software.

What is your CPU voltage?

max13102 · Apr 30, 2017

weberdarren97 :

max13102 :

weberdarren97 :

There is also a program (asus performance and power saving utilities) that the Asus motherboard came with that has a temperature reading and says the temperature is around 71 C (this is while windows is running). I'm not sure what is causing these two different readings.

I'm just using the heatsink that came with the CPU with the fan attached to the top. The fan is always running while the CPU is on and reads an RPM of about 2000 rpm. I'm not sure what you mean by cleaning out my system, but I have cleaned out any dust that might be accumulating inside of the case.

If you are running Windows 10, that Asus software may be a part of your issue. Windows 10 interacts with motherboard firmware at a lower level than previous versions of Windows. The kernel of Windows is much more aware of what BIOS is doing, making these monitoring programs mostly redundant. Please uninstall that Asus software.

What is your CPU voltage?

The voltage readings for the core varies from 0.6V up to 1.0V, but averages around 0.8V.

LucoTF · Apr 30, 2017

15fps? I have to ask - is your monitor connected to your graphics card, or your motherboard?

max13102 · Apr 30, 2017

LucoTF :

The graphics card has two different connections and I'm not really sure which one to hook up. I've tried both and they don't seem to make a difference. I currently have it attached to the top one (not the connection attached to the motherboard of course.

weberdarren97 · Apr 30, 2017

max13102 :

weberdarren97 :

max13102 :

If you are running Windows 10, that Asus software may be a part of your issue. Windows 10 interacts with motherboard firmware at a lower level than previous versions of Windows. The kernel of Windows is much more aware of what BIOS is doing, making these monitoring programs mostly redundant. Please uninstall that Asus software.

What is your CPU voltage?

The voltage readings for the core varies from 0.6V up to 1.0V, but averages around 0.8V.

Press F2 at startup to load BIOS Setup. Just walk away for a couple minutes. Come back to the machine after a couple minutes have passed. What is the CPU temperature?

Restart normally and let Windows start. Start a game. What is your CPU temperature while playing? If you have to minimize the game to see the temperature in another window, that's okay. Your CPU won't cool down more than 5C in about 10 seconds.

max13102 · Apr 30, 2017

weberdarren97 :

max13102 :

weberdarren97 :

The voltage readings for the core varies from 0.6V up to 1.0V, but averages around 0.8V.

Press F2 at startup to load BIOS Setup. Just walk away for a couple minutes. Come back to the machine after a couple minutes have passed. What is the CPU temperature?

Restart normally and let Windows start. Start a game. What is your CPU temperature while playing? If you have to minimize the game to see the temperature in another window, that's okay. Your CPU won't cool down more than 5C in about 10 seconds.

The bios was reading about 72 C after running for 10 minutes. When I booted up and started playing a game (Dying Light), the temperature only increase to about 74 C after playing for 10 minutes. The voltage didn't seem to make much of a difference and didn't vary much during game play.

weberdarren97 · Apr 30, 2017

max13102 :

weberdarren97 :

max13102 :

Press F2 at startup to load BIOS Setup. Just walk away for a couple minutes. Come back to the machine after a couple minutes have passed. What is the CPU temperature?

Restart normally and let Windows start. Start a game. What is your CPU temperature while playing? If you have to minimize the game to see the temperature in another window, that's okay. Your CPU won't cool down more than 5C in about 10 seconds.

The bios was reading about 72 C after running for 10 minutes. When I booted up and started playing a game (Dying Light), the temperature only increase to about 74 C after playing for 10 minutes. The voltage didn't seem to make much of a difference and didn't vary much during game play.

Something is definitely wrong here. Opening a game should heat up the CPU by a lot more than 2C. 20C would be more realistic.

Have you gotten any blue screen errors (crashes) recently?

max13102 · Apr 30, 2017

weberdarren97 :

max13102 :

weberdarren97 :

max13102 :

Press F2 at startup to load BIOS Setup. Just walk away for a couple minutes. Come back to the machine after a couple minutes have passed. What is the CPU temperature?

Restart normally and let Windows start. Start a game. What is your CPU temperature while playing? If you have to minimize the game to see the temperature in another window, that's okay. Your CPU won't cool down more than 5C in about 10 seconds.

The bios was reading about 72 C after running for 10 minutes. When I booted up and started playing a game (Dying Light), the temperature only increase to about 74 C after playing for 10 minutes. The voltage didn't seem to make much of a difference and didn't vary much during game play.

Something is definitely wrong here. Opening a game should heat up the CPU by a lot more than 2C. 20C would be more realistic.

Have you gotten any blue screen errors (crashes) recently?

I haven't seen any blue screen of deaths with this computer. However, when I was initially putting my computer together, it started to crash after a couple of months and I ended up replacing the ram and it fixed that problem. However, the frame rate problem has never gone away.

weberdarren97 · Apr 30, 2017

So you've experience memory issues on this computer? These sorts of issues sometimes cause problems with a virtual memory file called the pagefile and sometimes the pagefile can continue to create issues even after the faulty memory is replaced.

Please rebuilt your pagefile. This will basically clear all virtual memory, force the computer to run off of only RAM for its memory needs, then build a new pagefile which will be used after the next restart. As long as you have at least 4GB of RAM, there is no issue running your computer without virtual memory for a short period of time.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/how-to-rebuild-pagefilesys/6d455eb6-30ca-47a1-a441-06ec38ef5bb6

max13102 · Apr 30, 2017

weberdarren97 :

I rebuilt the pagefile according to the link you sent. Didn't seem to change much, but I'm glad that the virtual memory is cleared. I was always worried about what to do after replacing the RAM. I have notice that there is no spike in the speed of the CPU when I boot up a game. it is always jumping between 0.6 and 2.0 GHz.

weberdarren97 · Apr 30, 2017

max13102 :

Oh... That information is very helpful.

Please download AIDA64 Extreme. This utility will help tell us whether it's a heat issue that's causing it to run slow, or if we're going to have to look into a possible corrupt BIOS. Hopefully it's just overheating, that issue is easy to solve.

https://www.aida64.com/downloads/ODQ1MTVmYmQ=

Ignore the online warning about there being a newer version available. 5.90.4200 does not include a throttling graph so in my opinion it can stay away from my machine.

For security sake, use the download.aida64.com location.

Drop down the Tools menu across the top, select System Stability Test.

Select CPU, FPU, Cache, RAM and GPU. Do not select Local disk.

Run the test. Keep an eye on the green thermal throttling line on the lower graph. If it goes above 0%, let me know. If the test runs for 10 minutes and there is no throttling, we're going to have to do some more advanced troubleshooting.

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