CPU usage almost maxes out playing games after installing a liquid cooler

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
S

Synccz

Commendable
Dec 21, 2016
21
0
1,520
As the title states, I changed from aircooling to liquidcooling. When I turned my pc on after the swap, i tried to play Destiny 2. My fps went from the average 66 fps to about 32. I then check task amanger and my usage was at 100%. Even on startup its at 100% for a few seconds then drops down to about 12%. I dont understand whats wrong, because other games ru
OI7wx
n just fine.. it seems to be destiny 2 but i dont believe its a coincidence.

Specs

Intel Core i5 6600k
ASUS MAXIMUS VIII HERO Mobo
GeForce GTX 1070
16gb (8×2)
NZXT Kraken x61

Do you think upgrading my 6600k to a 7700k would splve the issue? Im also planning to replcace my gpu with a 1080.

And yes, I have checked my temps, theyre steady at about 30° - 40° under load.

EDIT: My CPU maxes out playing overwatch, too! I've included screenshots of my temps and cpu usage.
https://imgur.com/a/OI7wx

EDIT #2: I decided to boot in clean mode/safe mode and the cpu usage was completely normal. I'm thinking about doing a facotry reset.. for anyone else having this issue, I strongly encourage you to boot your pc in safe mode and check the cpu usage through task manager. If your CPU speed is normal, you probably just need a factory reset. I'm hoping my logic on this whole thing is correct, because I would really hate for it not to work... no matter what happens, I'll make sure to keep everyone updated! Will probably restore sometime next week!


 
Solution
Karadjgne
Safe mode doesn't load any drivers other than system drivers. If you are running safe mode fine and normal is bunk, it'd stand to reason you have a driver issue. A clean install will delete any extra drivers you've installed, but you'll just reinstall them anyways. If it's a legacy driver that's creating the issue, you'll need to make sure you have the latest version of it, mobo drivers especially. Windows only contains generic drivers, so to get full use of lan and audio, you'll still need to visit the mobo vendors website.
Personally I'd start with updating every single one of your drivers, save copies to hdd. If that doesn't fix the issue and you do decide on a clean install, you won't have to chase down everything all over again.
Sort by date Sort by votes
Karadjgne

Karadjgne

Titan
Ambassador
Dec 26, 2012
30,740
4,559
142,790
Something is different in your settings. I seriously doubt even with the biggest AIO's that you'll be seeing 40°C under 100% load unless you've locked out a couple of cores, or bios has been reset to factory defaults with no OC on that i5. Are you positive that your settings are all the same and you didn't happen to upgrade windows to the Fall edition prior to shutdown or some other setting change?
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
S

Synccz

Commendable
Dec 21, 2016
21
0
1,520

I never messed with anything in the BIOS. I've since changed the cooler back to my air cooler in an attempt to make it work again. Nothing has changed. I can include screenshots later when I get home if you would like. With my fan, at 100% its about 50c and nothing really higher than that, that's why I'm baffled because it isnt like it's overheating.

To your question on the windows updates, there isn't any that I know of. The only thing changed in the bios was the pump speed so the pump ran at 100% power.

Im more confused that it really seems to be only Destiny 2. I used to run D2 at 4k at around 57 - 60 FPS, now I can usually get no more than 40. Do you think it could be my gpu or mobo?

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
vMax

vMax

Splendid
Aug 7, 2006
3,445
353
25,690
Check Start up and see what loads up on boot. Run a registry cleaner like Glarysoft (its free and works very well) and anti malware like malwarebytes...just in case. You probably have done this..but you never can tell. Thats all I can think of for the moment but it is odd that it only happens on Destiny2...could be a driver problem? and your setup is very good in the 6600K and 1070. should be able to handle Destiny at good frames.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Karadjgne

Karadjgne

Titan
Ambassador
Dec 26, 2012
30,740
4,559
142,790
The x61 (if hooked up correctly and using the CAM software) actually runs at variable speeds according to whether it's set for liquid or cpu temps. Mine is set for liquid, so avoids the constant fan bumps associated with opening apps etc and is set for silence mode.

You have an i5. Destiny 2 has had issues with i5's and prefers 8threads, so can see 100% usage and consequently can drop frames as a result. Best thing to do is maximize gpu bound settings and minimize cpu bound settings, bringing better balance between the cpu and gpu demands. Things like viewing distance, physX, grass detail etc are cpu bound, put physX on the gpu in nvidia control panel, then start playing around with the detail settings individually, don't just set for ultra and leave it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Synccz

Commendable
Dec 21, 2016
21
0
1,520


The only issue is that the game ran perfectly fine at 4k, ultra even in the beta. Now if I run it at low settings and 720p, the game still struggles 40 fps. I think it's hard to believe for something to just change randomly, especially when I decided to put my liquid cooler in. My CPU also isn't overclocked so it's running at the stock 3.5GHz. My GPU is overclocked, but no blizzard game works with an overclocked GPU for some reason. I'm looking into an i7 7700k, or 8700k. I just really hope this isn't a big issue where I would need to replace my motherboard and CPU. I appreciate the help, I really do, but man I'm really struggling and I'm extremely confused as to why changing a cooler can have such a huge negative impact on a CPU.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Synccz

Commendable
Dec 21, 2016
21
0
1,520


I tried to do those things. Nothing is working and I don;t know why but it's extremely infuriating. Ive unlocked all more cores because apparently only one was running, and now its still the same. I've never had to experience something as baffling as this in my life.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Synccz

Commendable
Dec 21, 2016
21
0
1,520
MERGED QUESTION
Question from Synccz : "High CPU usage on startup - also playing games the usage is usually at 100%"

I've previously posted about this and I have no idea what to do. I built this pc about a year ago and just yesterday I decided to swap my fan for a liquid cooler (NZXT Kraken x61)... So basically on startup the usage shoots up to 100% automatically, keep in mind I've disabled all startup programs in an attempt to fix the issue, to no success. The 100% cpu usage only lasts a few seconds than slowly starts dying down. When I open google chrome, my cpu shoots up usually about 40%... if I play a game, automatically goes back up to 100% but it stays there. Ive monitored my temps while gaming, being idle and also browsing the internet. Gaming Temp - 40-45 degrees Idle Temp: 25 degrees Browsing: 30 degrees. My specs are as follows ------

CPU | Intel Core i5 6600k @3.50GHz
GPU | MSI GeForce GTX 1070
Motherboard | ASUS MAXIMUMUS VIII HERO
Cooler | NZXT Kraken x61
RAM | G-Skill Ripjaws 2x8gb
SSD | SanDisk 500gb
HDD | Seagate Barricuda 2 TB
PSU | EVGA 650 GQ

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking about upgrading to an i7 7700k... but I'm not sure I will if this issue is going to carry over to that processor aswell.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Karadjgne

Karadjgne

Titan
Ambassador
Dec 26, 2012
30,740
4,559
142,790
I'll try to explain.
The cpu processes whatever code comes from the source, be it net or hdd. Resolution has no impact on this, the game code is all the same. It then shunts all that info to the gpu to paint the picture. Here resolution plays a huge role, as that's all on the gpu, having to work 1.7x as hard as 1080p for 1440p, and 4x as hard for 4k. If the gpu has no issues with 1080p, it'll max out possible frames per second, creating a very high demand from the cpu. Sometimes this demand is higher than what the cpu can dish out, and you get 100% cpu usage and a large ish frame drop as the cpu tries to maintain the Hz. If you increase resolution from 1080p to 4k, the gpu now working 4x as hard, can't deliver the same fps as before, which lowers demand on the cpu, which can boost fps. It's all a balance. By lowering your settings and dropping resolution, you lowered the load drastically on the gpu, which now swamps the cpu with demand.

Do the opposite. Run the gpu at 4k. With a 60Hz cap, this'll relax demands on the cpu. Maximize graphics details, putting more demand on the gpu. Minimize processing details like AA, mxaa, physX, grass detail, viewing distance etc, which further relaxes demands on the cpu. Net result is higher load on gpu, lower load on cpu, which maximizes fps.

Make sure you have the latest bios, any updates to mobo firmware like audio and Lan drivers especially and check the destiny 2/nvidia websites for game updates and drivers optimizations etc.

A move to an i7 will help in many ways, but just for the purpose of a single game isn't honestly worth the price.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Synccz

Commendable
Dec 21, 2016
21
0
1,520


What I found out was that if I booted in safe mode, the CPU usage is perfectly normal. I downloaded AiSuite3 right before I switched coolers. I'm thinking there might've been something in those files somewhere.. but anyway, back to my point, I was thinking of completely reinstalling the OS. I feel like it would work considering the CPU ran fine in safe mode.. right? Does that make sense?

And I wouldn't be upgrading to an i7 for Destiny 2... Destiny 2 isn't even a good game, but I do a lot of video editing and I know that hyper threading would help out with the render times.

And also with the balancing GPU and CPU thing, my CPU usage is at 70% on google chrome... it isn't just in games.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
vMax

vMax

Splendid
Aug 7, 2006
3,445
353
25,690


I think that is a good idea. Re-install Windows 10...On a side note, I have never liked the APPs that Motherboard manuafactures include like Gigabyte App Centre and AI Suite. I always find that no matter what, they do cause some problems and thus I always just use the bios for any settings I want like overclocking, fan settings etc....But hopefully try a new install of Windows as that might help.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Synccz

Commendable
Dec 21, 2016
21
0
1,520


Well if it ran at normal in safe mode... it should run normal on a clean install of windows... right?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Karadjgne

Karadjgne

Titan
Ambassador
Dec 26, 2012
30,740
4,559
142,790
Safe mode doesn't load any drivers other than system drivers. If you are running safe mode fine and normal is bunk, it'd stand to reason you have a driver issue. A clean install will delete any extra drivers you've installed, but you'll just reinstall them anyways. If it's a legacy driver that's creating the issue, you'll need to make sure you have the latest version of it, mobo drivers especially. Windows only contains generic drivers, so to get full use of lan and audio, you'll still need to visit the mobo vendors website.
Personally I'd start with updating every single one of your drivers, save copies to hdd. If that doesn't fix the issue and you do decide on a clean install, you won't have to chase down everything all over again.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
S

Synccz

Commendable
Dec 21, 2016
21
0
1,520


Alright, problem solved. I restored the windows 10 OS... everything seems to be back to normal now. Thanks for your help!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
S

Synccz

Commendable
Dec 21, 2016
21
0
1,520


I have just reinstalled windows. Everything seems to be back up and running as it should. Thank you for your help!

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom