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Low gpu usage = noticeable frame rate drops

Something wrong here somewhere ... i've locked the CPU @ 3.7, GPU @ Default and look at these FPS dips. It literally crawls to 0% GPU usage.

2012-07-17-18h31-FPS-FPS.png


+12v - reporting very low for some reason (What's going on with that crazy curve towards the end?!)

2012-07-17-18h31-Voltage-12V.png


+ 3.3v

2012-07-17-18h31-Voltage-33V.png


CPU

2012-07-17-18h31-Frequency-CPU0.png


CPU Vcore (Again dips towards the end) - I've tried locking this to default voltage but still seems to fluctuate.

2012-07-17-18h31-Voltage-CPUVCORE.png


@ ljt - I see you're using the same motherboard, I wonder if this is CPU vcore related in someway. Does your CPU Vcore graph look similar to mine or is it constant? Maybe we need to look at a way of forcing the vcore to be constant, as mine is clearly fluctuating (They do seem to coincide with the FPS drops - look at the curve!!)
 
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The cpu vcore drop is due to load increasing, which matches the fps dropping as it should. Different LLC values will affect the change.

It may well be an Nvidia driver issue. If you're willing, there is a way to force a fixed clockspeed. My complete guide is here:

www.overclock.net/t/1267918/guide-n...-disable-boost-fixed-clock-speed-undervolting

However, a shortened version for you:

1. Download http://downloads.guru3d.com/NVIDIA-Inspector-1.9.6.6-download-2612.html

2. Goto command line/Make a batch file to run:
nvidiaInspector.exe -forcepstate:0,2

3. You are now running in a fixed P2 power state. Kepler boost and all dynamic clock adjustments will be disabled. The clock will be running at 700mhz. This will be sufficient for testing.

4. Run your OCCT test again.

5. Return to default by rebooting or issuing this command:
nvidiaInspector.exe -forcepstate:0,16
 
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sadbuttrue said:
The cpu vcore drop is due to load increasing, which matches the fps dropping as it should. Different LLC values will affect the change.

It may well be an Nvidia driver issue. If you're willing, there is a way to force a fixed clockspeed. My complete guide is here:

www.overclock.net/t/1267918/guide-n...-disable-boost-fixed-clock-speed-undervolting

However, a shortened version for you:

1. Download http://downloads.guru3d.com/NVIDIA-Inspector-1.9.6.6-download-2612.html

2. Goto command line/Make a batch file to run:
nvidiaInspector.exe -forcepstate:0,2

3. You are now running in a fixed P2 power state. Kepler boost and all dynamic clock adjustments will be disabled. The clock will be running at 700mhz. This will be sufficient for testing.

4. Run your OCCT test again.

5. Return to default by rebooting or issuing this command:
nvidiaInspector.exe -forcepstate:0,16
Click to expand...

Just done that, GPU was locked @ 700mhz, FPS graph:

2012-07-17-20h10-FPS-FPS.png


The Furmark element virtually grinds to a halt, literally REAL bad stutter. Im experiencing similar in game, just not as drastic.
 
ljt said:
Hi McBain

My 12V looks like this;]
Click to expand...

Thanks mate.

Quick Q, have you got the IGP enabled in BIOS? I've just disabled the HD3000 (yours would be a HD4000 I believe?), and it's looking a hell of a lot healthier than the last graph.

2012-07-17-20h19-FPS-FPS.png
 
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McBain said:
Thanks mate.

Quick Q, have you got the IGP enabled in BIOS? I've just disabled the HD3000 (yours would be a HD4000 I believe?), and it's looking a hell of a lot healthier than the last graph.

Click to expand...

Hi McBain, nah I don't have the IGP enabled. (Just out of interest, what was the setting you changed?) Looks like you're onto something with yours though. Looks a lot healthier than the first graph you posted!
 
ljt said:
Hi McBain, nah I don't have the IGP enabled. (Just out of interest, what was the setting you changed?) Looks like you're onto something with yours though. Looks a lot healthier than the first graph you posted!
Click to expand...

I set LLC to high to prevent vcore dropping below what I manually have set in the BIOS and disabled the IGP that's all. It seems better in games, although still not perfect by the look of it.
 
I've just done the same and my FPS graph is a damn sight better, no more large dips in FPS. The IGP option in the BIOS was defaulted to "Auto" so I set it to disabled, is this the option you changed too?

Whatever it was, its got rid of the stutter in the Witcher 2 and Max Payne 3 I was having (well in the 5 mins I spent on each to test).
 
If its any help in getting a stable Vcore, I've checked my settings and the only things I've changed are;

under voltage control >
vcore = auto
DVID = -0.03v

under advanced frequency control >

all turbos (1 - 4 cores) are all set at 40 to give me my 4Ghz OC

Thats the only 2 settings I've changed. This keeps my CPU @ 1.6ghz at around 0.9v when idling/browsing etc and it never goes about 1.18v under load @ 4Ghz. If I hadn't of set that DVID @ -0.03v then under load my voltges were going as high as 1.21v (which my OC didn't need)
 
ljt said:
I've just done the same and my FPS graph is a damn sight better, no more large dips in FPS. The IGP option in the BIOS was defaulted to "Auto" so I set it to disabled, is this the option you changed too?

Whatever it was, its got rid of the stutter in the Witcher 2 and Max Payne 3 I was having (well in the 5 mins I spent on each to test).
Click to expand...

Yes mate, I set it to disabled. I was running a secondary monitor off it, but just hooked that up to my 670 as well now.

So far, TF2 is vastly improved and so is Skyim, which is now actually butter smooth *touch wood* - I wonder if having the IGP enabled was using up the CPU? I know the GPU is integrated, but I don't know enough about the architecture or how they work together.... but it does certainly seem improved.

Batman Arkham City however is still a stuttering mess, but I put that down to he fact it's always had problems!

Thanks for the info on the voltage, i'll have to sort that tomorrow when I have a bit more time. Is it always recommended to manually set the Turbo clock speed for each core? Mine as default is showing something like 37, 36, 35, 34 even though my multiplier is set to 46. :confused:
 
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I think Batman is just a mess lol (especially in DX11 mode) it was stuttery on my last PC which has no common parts with this one.

The way the turbo settings work seems to be determined by how many of the cores are being used, i.e. the default settings like you said are something like 38,37,36,35 which means if one of the cores is being used it will boost to 38 multi (3.8ghz) if 2 cores are in use it will only boost to 3.7ghz etc etc, so by setting boosts to the same it will boost to that no matter how many cores are under load.
 
ljt said:
I think Batman is just a mess lol (especially in DX11 mode) it was stuttery on my last PC which has no common parts with this one.

The way the turbo settings work seems to be determined by how many of the cores are being used, i.e. the default settings like you said are something like 38,37,36,35 which means if one of the cores is being used it will boost to 38 multi (3.8ghz) if 2 cores are in use it will only boost to 3.7ghz etc etc, so by setting boosts to the same it will boost to that no matter how many cores are under load.
Click to expand...

Thanks mate.

So I managed to get my hands on a multi meter, PSU is kicking out a rock solid 12.1v on the 12v cable, and 5.04 on the 5v rail! Looks pretty solid to me.

I then set all cores to 45 in the BIOS for Turbo settings, and this is the latest, should be even smoother i'm hoping when I get to give it a blast tonight :)

2012-07-18-18h34-FPS-FPS.png


So in effect, it looks like my issue was a combination of CPU BIOS settings and having the IGP enabled.
 
Excellent stuff. It seems it has near enough cured mine too.

I've also set up some options in the nvidia control panel

On the global settings I've set the following;

Power mode = prefer maximum performance

and under most game profiles I've set

Maximum pre-render frames = 1
Vsync = Adaptive

This has all but eliminated stutters in Max Payne 3, GTA 4 and Witcher 2

So if you're still getting some stutters then perhaps try those settings to see if they help
 
Thanks ljt.

Everything seems much smoother now, the only game i'm having a problem with is TF2. Which is very frustrating as it's probably the least demanding!

CPU and GPU usage are both low, mid 40s, yet on 32 player servers i'm seeing FPS fluctuate wildly from 300 to down to 90 when a lot of action is on the screen, which is incredibly noticeable.

I'm guessing that could be some sort of network latency, or poor optimisation though as opposed to a system issue.

Perhaps i'll give adaptive V Sync a try to keep the FPS lower so that the dips aren't as obvious.
 
I did a search for your problem McBain and it appears TF2 is still bugged and is not the fault of any card (lots of users with either card having probs).
 
gregster said:
I did a search for your problem McBain and it appears TF2 is still bugged and is not the fault of any card (lots of users with either card having probs).
Click to expand...

Hi Gregster,

Thanks for that, are these reports on the Steam forums, or just generally?

Thanks
 
hello gregster

the problem is that u are running a PSU test and the others report the test with only GPU ..lol.. so no drops..anyway , the drops is caused by overheat componentes ( generally VRM´s) so the cpu speed is droped causing the fps drop/lag , the fix for me is using ThrottleStop ..follow this structions:

" CPU CLock modulation: Always 100% , so no problem with Speedstep throttling or anything similar

Chipset Modulation . drop to 25% , so this is the throttling problem , Ive checked that is the OCP ( over current protection ) of VRM´s .

so I set Chipset Modulation and CPu Modulation to Always run at 100% , the results . no drops! stable times in IBT ( 26secs each test)

also UNCHECK(untick) BD PROCHOT

click TURN ON

so I jump to overclock my cpu to 2.8 , 1.32 vcore , run IBT again and no drops (with chipset mod 100% in throttlestop)
I close Throttlestop and IBT drops again , so Ive found that chipset modulation is my problem...

Try with ThrottleStop and report the results.. hope I would help you :)



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

and SS of PSU TEST ( CPU + GPU , not only GPU ) 10 minutes

 
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