Aug 15, 2012
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System is Phenom 9600 X4 @ 2.3GHz 8GB RAM and GTX 650 Ti.

During Battlefield 3, My GPU will only ever have 65% load max. My CPU stays around 75-85%. My Frame Rate hovers around 15-25. Why is my CPU not maxing out to get me a few extra frames?
 
Solution
As popatim stated if it isn't a setting's problem like vsync then it's mostly likely the CPU causing a Bottleneck. BF3 isn't CPU intensive in single player but in multiplayer it is more so on 64 player maps. Before the system I have now I ran a Phenom 9950 Black 2.6ghz overclocked to 3.1 with a 4870 then later a 7870 and it struggled to keep up with BF3 with the CPU overclocked.


BF3 is a very CPU intensive game and your CPU is fairly weak compared to your GPU. It's causing a bottleneck. Upgrading your CPU will give you much better results.
 

Orlean

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Nov 28, 2011
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As popatim stated if it isn't a setting's problem like vsync then it's mostly likely the CPU causing a Bottleneck. BF3 isn't CPU intensive in single player but in multiplayer it is more so on 64 player maps. Before the system I have now I ran a Phenom 9950 Black 2.6ghz overclocked to 3.1 with a 4870 then later a 7870 and it struggled to keep up with BF3 with the CPU overclocked.
 
Solution
Aug 15, 2012
147
0
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I know its a bottleneck. i'm just wondering why does it not max out the CPU even though it clearly needs to.
 

Orlean

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Nov 28, 2011
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It doesn't necessarily need to be at 100% to indicate a bottleneck. The easiest way to test this is to reduce your graphics settings in steps, and see if the framerate increases. If it does not, you are already CPU limited. Fact is those first gen Phenoms were just not that good.