40% Xfire GPU usage bf3

LtMatt · 20 Jun 2013 at 16:10

pgi947 said:
Yep, image above shows load peak highs with HT disabled.

More cores/threads is what this game needs and I suspect BF4 will absolutely fly on 8 core AMD CPU's

+1.

Martini1991 · 20 Jun 2013 at 16:14

The FX83's don't surpass the Intels in low settings, even the i5's.

It'd be more accurate to say that performance per core is needed, but there's a limit to how much the cores can do, even sped up, as some tasks need offloading to more cores.

LtMatt · 20 Jun 2013 at 16:19

Martini1991 said:
The FX83's don't surpass the Intels in low settings, even the i5's.

Battlefield 3 has not had amd optimization though, unlike Crysis 3 where AMD cpu chips perform exceptionally well. The battlefield 3 engine is poorly optimized, with AMD on board im expecting much better in Battlefield 4.

Martini1991 · 20 Jun 2013 at 16:24

Optimization gets thrown around way too often.

It'll mean it's got instruction sets they can utilise and their threads.
Which BF3 being able to utilise more threads, the AMD CPU's already perform well, same with Crysis 3 (With help from the FMA instruction sets)

LtMatt · 20 Jun 2013 at 17:03

PG Tips, if you have time and don't mind if you could run a test with HT on and different speeds of 4ghz vs 5ghz or as close to 5ghz as you can get that would be great.

pgi947 · 20 Jun 2013 at 17:05

Sure what do you want me to keep an eye out for?

LtMatt · 20 Jun 2013 at 17:08

pgi947 said:
Sure what do you want me to keep an eye out for?

I would like to see if i can run my cpu at 4ghz and not cripple my 7950's.

LtMatt · 20 Jun 2013 at 17:32

pgi947 said:
Sure what do you want me to keep an eye out for?

LtMatt said:
I would like to see if i can run my cpu at 4ghz and not cripple my 7950's.

PG I find a good way to stress the cpu is on a 64 man map like caspian, leave the us/russian base and look across the whole map. I find that seems to stress the cpu nicely and often cause gpu usage to drop.

NoobCannon · 20 Jun 2013 at 17:39

ok so im back from work, just downloaded the latest caps and am gonna try BF with the same settings as I have been using

[64p Caspian border]

as you can see pretty poor usage, and looks my cpu is flat out, I guess there is a bottleneck?

[temp differences are because card one is watercooled]

LtMatt · 20 Jun 2013 at 17:41

NoobCannon said:
ok so im back from work, just downloaded the latest caps and am gonna try BF with the same settings as I have been using

SNIP

as you can see pretty poor usage, and looks my cpu is flat out, I guess there is a bottleneck?

LtMatt said:
Simple, cpu bottleneck. Buy an i7 if you want to see 99% usage on both gpu's.

NoobCannon · 20 Jun 2013 at 17:44

ok, the next question is gona be, can I simply buy an i7 and use my existing board etc or is it really not worth it and I should send the second 7970 back

Steve

LtMatt · 20 Jun 2013 at 17:45

NoobCannon said:
ok, the next question is gona be, can I simply buy an i7 and use my existing board etc or is it really not worth it and I should send the second 7970 back

Steve

Yes, sell your i5 and get an i7. An i7 sandybridge or higher will last a long time. I did exactly the same upgrade and i noticed a (small) difference with one 7970 yet alone two.

Martini1991 · 20 Jun 2013 at 17:47

Why's it bottlenecking that badly though?
From all evidence/testimonies given, it shouldn't be as bad as that.

NoobCannon · 20 Jun 2013 at 17:48

any idea how much a good clocking i5 is worth now days? im guessing next to nothing as I don't have access to the MM and only the well known auction site?

such a shame really I finally lucked out on the silicone lottery with my i5 [4.7 @ 1.28v] and its gotta go

edit :- guessing that this CPU will work with my board etc, and should remove the bottleneck?

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-403-IN&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=1859

Tonester0011 · 20 Jun 2013 at 17:59

You'd be looking around the £120 mark, can normally pick up the older SB i7s for £130-140, if you weren't willing to pay brand new prices obviously.

Does seem weird that you're bottlenecking so much more than others.

pgi947 · 20 Jun 2013 at 18:00

LtMatt said:
PG I find a good way to stress the cpu is on a 64 man map like caspian, leave the us/russian base and look across the whole map. I find that seems to stress the cpu nicely and often cause gpu usage to drop.

No worries, been doing all testing on random 64 man servers on larger maps.

Fairly sure 4ghz, HT on will = no bottleneck even with high OC's.

Martini1991 · 20 Jun 2013 at 18:00

You'd be best going second hand, 280 for a 3770k is more than a 4770k after selling grid 2.

pgi947 · 20 Jun 2013 at 18:05

Martini1991 said:
You'd be best going second hand, 280 for a 3770k is more than a 4770k after selling grid 2.

IMO he'd be as well dropping 'down' to a 26/700K, can be had for ~£150 used, odds are will clock within touching distance of 5Ghz under good air which should match/beat a 3770K.

NoobCannon · 20 Jun 2013 at 18:06

Martini1991 said:
You'd be best going second hand, 280 for a 3770k is more than a 4770k after selling grid 2.

cheapest I can find them at [new] is £260.

don't really fancy buying a second hand proc, at the end of the day unless you know the seller or they are a member on here, its very likely to be someone elses overclocking reject!

evohicks · 20 Jun 2013 at 18:24

chief barker said:
I'm stumped, I get 60-65% usage from my CPU (indicating it's not CPU bottlenecked).

At stock clocks for my GPUs i'm getting 40-60% usage, lower my clocks to 850/1375 and the usage jumps up dramatically.

I would like to get to the bottom of this if possible.

Same situation here, mine running @ stock 925/1375 but still 40 - 60% max usage most of the time or less. Still waiting for the next AMD drivers to decide what to do but definately playing BF3 and project cars is no better with 2 GPU's for me.