Does this look right for an r9 280x

balky12 · 28 Nov 2013 at 19:29

Here is a screenshot of my last lol game, only a few minutes of the end. The gfx usage is all over the shop? Is that right? The game felt a bit jerky at times. The lol game stopped after the massive spiking phase.

Also my GPU usage hits 100%, i only have an i3 540 at present, I thought this would bottleneck it?

the1gooner · 28 Nov 2013 at 19:42

If that i3 540 is at stock then yeah major bottleneck I imagine.

I had one before my i5 760 and it did 3.8Ghz with a decent cooler, that would lessen your bottleneck and give you smoother gameplay.

Even better though pick up an i5 750/760 and you will get the fullest performance from your 280x.

So yeah short term fix overclock your i3 540 if you haven't already.

Deceptor · 28 Nov 2013 at 19:59

Dat fan RPM

sieze2 · 28 Nov 2013 at 20:10

Restart the computer and try a graphics intensive game like BF4 or BF3 or crysis etc. I bet the GPU power will be more consistent.

balky12 · 28 Nov 2013 at 20:11

Deceptor said:
Dat fan RPM

only like that when im not in game... when in game its a decent level ~2000.

balky12 · 28 Nov 2013 at 20:12

the1gooner said:
If that i3 540 is at stock then yeah major bottleneck I imagine.

I had one before my i5 760 and it did 3.8Ghz with a decent cooler, that would lessen your bottleneck and give you smoother gameplay.

Even better though pick up an i5 750/760 and you will get the fullest performance from your 280x.

So yeah short term fix overclock your i3 540 if you haven't already.

If it was bottlenecking though i shouldn't hit 100% GPU usage though?

balky12 · 28 Nov 2013 at 20:13

sieze2 said:
Restart the computer and try a graphics intensive game like BF4 or BF3 or crysis etc. I bet the GPU power will be more consistent.

during BF4

NoobCannon · 28 Nov 2013 at 21:36

that's some terrible gcard usage!!

wasting 50% of its potential with that cpu. huge HUGE bottleneck

balky12 · 28 Nov 2013 at 21:47

NoobCannon said:
that's some terrible gcard usage!!

wasting 50% of its potential with that cpu. huge HUGE bottleneck

Thanks Sherlock. Keyword phrase in original post was 'at the moment'

NoobCannon · 28 Nov 2013 at 21:49

balky12 said:
Thanks Sherlock. Keyword phrase in original post was 'at the moment'

then what is the point in the thread, you asked if it looks right and I said no its a huge cpu bottleneck?

balky12 · 28 Nov 2013 at 21:53

1. Should the GPU usage spike all over the shop like that, even with said bottleneck?

2. I am reaching 100% GPU usage whilst playing? My understanding was I wouldn't reach 100% GPU usage if there was a bottleneck?

And I don't have a master in English so forgive me, but 'that's some terrible gcard usage!! wasting 50% of its potential with that cpu. huge HUGE bottleneck' doesn't answer the original question.

NoobCannon · 28 Nov 2013 at 22:34

balky12 said:
1. Should the GPU usage spike all over the shop like that, even with said bottleneck?

2. I am reaching 100% GPU usage whilst playing? My understanding was I wouldn't reach 100% GPU usage if there was a bottleneck?

And I don't have a master in English so forgive me, but 'that's some terrible gcard usage!! wasting 50% of its potential with that cpu. huge HUGE bottleneck' doesn't answer the original question.

1. Yes the gpu usage will be spiking as your cpu cant keep up with it (esp in a cpu hungry game like bf4) hence the huge cpu bottleneck response

2. The odd instance of 100% usage would be in a low cpu demand situation for example - looking at a wall or an empty room. Or maybe in the menu without vysync on

balky12 · 28 Nov 2013 at 23:03

NoobCannon said:
1. Yes the gpu usage will be spiking as your cpu cant keep up with it (esp in a cpu hungry game like bf4) hence the huge cpu bottleneck response

2. The odd instance of 100% usage would be in a low cpu demand situation for example - looking at a wall or an empty room. Or maybe in the menu without vysync on

Ty dude! <3

Minstadave · 28 Nov 2013 at 23:07

In the first screen shot your GPU clocks are down at 2D clock speeds (core 300/mem 150) for the majority of the time which is odd.

The clocks are fine in BF3.

Kurisu Makise · 28 Nov 2013 at 23:20

could i get away with an r9 280x with an i3 3220? its only 6% slower than the ivy i5

coupe69 · 28 Nov 2013 at 23:41

Try monitoring your CPU usage in game too, I'd be interested to see what's happening with that. In theory it will be flat out trying to keep up with the GPU, but you never know.

If you can find a bargain i5 750/760 or even better an i7 860 and clock the balls off it then it could be worth a cheap upgrade. It would at least delay the inevitable board and CPU upgrade for a while.

Minstadave · 29 Nov 2013 at 02:09

Samsara said:
could i get away with an r9 280x with an i3 3220? its only 6% slower than the ivy i5

Depends what you want to do with it.

Kurisu Makise · 29 Nov 2013 at 02:21

i want to get the best card i can before bottleneck sets in

balky12 · 29 Nov 2013 at 08:31

coupe69 said:
Try monitoring your CPU usage in game too, I'd be interested to see what's happening with that. In theory it will be flat out trying to keep up with the GPU, but you never know.

If you can find a bargain i5 750/760 or even better an i7 860 and clock the balls off it then it could be worth a cheap upgrade. It would at least delay the inevitable board and CPU upgrade for a while.

Cheers dude, I got a 4670k and a g1.sniper z87 on the way though!