New System, Crysis FPS Problems - Please Help

HamZaDaG

HamZaDaG

HamZaDaG

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New System Problems, Crysis FPS Problems on a 4870x2 !! - Please Help !!

Hi there, just yesterday, I built a PC with the following specs:

Intel Q9450 at 2.66ghz
Sapphire 4870X2
4GB OCZ 1000MHZ Ram
500GB Seagate HDD
Thermaltake 750w Modular PSU
Antec 900 Case
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler
Windows XP Professional 64 Bit

My problem is, that I've installed Crysis (A very demanding PC game) and I ran the GPU benchmark. By Running this on Direct X9 Modded to Very High with 0xAA, I am getting an FPS from 22-29, on a 20" monitor at a resolution of 1680x1050. And while playing the game, my FPS is ranging from 50-20 !! Now I didn't expect a constant 60+ FPS, but c'mon, I'm using Direct x9 here, and am getting REGULAR framerates of 20 !!, sometimes lasting a good 20 minutes. I've got some possible theories listed below, I'm hoping you guys could lead me to the right direction as to what I should actually do.

Extra Information: On the Catalyst Control Center (Version 8.12) It states in the hardware information, that my system has 1 primary adapter, the 4870X2, and then 1 disabled adapter, and it shows my 4870x2 again. I will show you a screenshot of what exactly is happening.

http://e.imagehost.org/0482/Primary_Adapter.jpg

And then If you scroll down.....

http://e.imagehost.org/0529/Disabled_Adapter.jpg

Also Take Note of the fact that in the device manager, I can see two 4870x2 and none of them have error logos besides them.

Also, when I first made the PC and booted it up, it said 'verifying DMI pool data' and then said successful, please install O/S etc. Then the second time, it just hung on 'verifying DMI pool data'. Then my friend (via IM) told me to change some things on the BIOS (one thing being to boot from the disk drive first, then hard disk), the verifying DMI pool data didn't say 'successful' and go away, but I was able to install my O/S. Now when I boot up, it shows all of these settings which I don't understand, the verifying pool data thing hangs for a second, then it says 'boot from cd/dvd' then the O/S starts.

These are my theories as to what may be wrong, please suggest otherwise if this is the case.

1). My CPU is bottlenecking the GPU, so I must therefore overclock :mad: If this is the case, does anyone know any O/C'ing methods that don't involve permanent changes in the BIOS ? Also, has anyone here got a Q9450, please tell me how much you O/C'ed yours (Remember that I'm not using a stock cooler here, but then again, my cable management inside is awful at the moment :D )

2). XP does not work well with Multi GPU based graphics cards, and I should therefore intall Vista :mad:

3). Something in the BIOS needs to be changed.

4). I hope and pray that this isn't the case, faulty equipment :(

Please respond quickly, as I'm starting to panic atm. Please remember that I am a complete n00b to this stuff, and that this is my FIRST EVER BUILD. Apologies if this is in the wrong section.
 
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crysis is not very good with multiple gpus so thats exactly what you should expect at that resolution and settings
 
So nothing is 'wrong' with my PC ? because I have a friend, who is running Crysis at these same settings on a 4670, but with about 20-25 FPS. I didn't expect 60+ but really, 50-20 ?? :O
 
does seem weak.. i know if i play a game like that without my overclock it gets pretty laggy now and again .. in crysis i get about 30ish fps /high/AAx0/1920x1200
id say try overclocking as much you can out your cpu 3/3.2ghz at least then having a go maybe the X2 is being bottleneck by the cpu :)
 
The problem with O/Cing is 1). I've never done it and might mess it up and 2). I don't want one of the parts to already be faulty, and then have voided my warranty. I definitely can't overclock the 4870x2 as its boiling hot as it is, idling from 60-80 !!!! So the GPU is a nono, but the CPU cores are running at about 40 atm
 
overclocking the cpu is as simple as changing one number, your FSB in bios. You aint really going to kill anything unless you put on Mega mega overclock.. you will probs just get a bluescreen, reset the bios and your fine again. I suggest reading up a little about overclocking cpu.. its fairly simple man. :)

i believe Cat drivers have now fan controls in CCC... have a look in there and see what your gfx card fan does on idle and full load... just play around with it. I found the default fan speeds were too slow.. they could be increased with minimal added noise. :)
 
Problem with changing fans via software is, that I'm using the Antec 900, and (I found) connecting the case fans to the motherboard was either really difficult, or impossible, so I just use the case controllers. Right now the case is on medium fan power (for all 3 fans) and is moderately loud. I'll turn the fans on high later, and see the temperature change and the noise aswell, as the noise is 'somewhat' loud atm.

Still though, should I be expecting an FPS like this in Crysis, or are there other things that I should do to resolve this ? I'm just about to run the Bioshock demo, I'll tell you what kind of FPS i get on full high settings :)
 
unfortunately, my mouse is broken, and bioshock doesn't support the xbox 360 controller. But I tried the Call of duty 4 demo, and with full settings and 4xAA, I was getting an FPS's ranging from 120-76, but unfortunately I think that demo is capped, so I can't exactly go off that. Any other demos to suggest, that work :D Otherwise I'll have to sort this out tomorrow when my new keyboard and mouse arrive.
 
I'm guessing the demo doesn't though, since my controller drivers are up to date and crysis works nicely with it. I'll just try it out tomorrow, when my new Mouse comes.
 
Eeeerm, I don't think you can enable crossfire in CCC with a single 4870x2.

BUT, I think I know what the PROBLEM is, reply if you agree, this does seem pretty worrying

http://e.imagehost.org/download/0489/SUPER_HOT_GPU

0% GPU Activity at 83 degrees !!! I know my cable management was awful but seriously !!!

I'm using the antec 900 case right now, and I don't think I've connected the fans to the Mobo as I didn't know how (I'm new to this remember) so I just used the controllers that came with the case, and set them to medium. Does anyone have some advice as to how to get my temps down !!

REPLY SOON PLEASE, I don't want my GPU melting !!
 
First things first, you will see some FPS improvement from overclocking that CPU, and they are easy to overclock. I would aim for 3.3ghz under that cooler....mine will do 3.7+ under water but I'm a bit lazy so I keep it at 3.6.

Secondly, a 4870X2 @ 1680x1050 is a poor choice, especially when you weren't intending to overclock your CPU. 1680x1050 is still fairly CPU-limited, and the X2 is designed for 1920x1200 and above really.

Re: your high GPU temps, that's the kind of temperature that the X2 runs at idle if you don't create your own fan profiles or buy a new cooler. ATi seem to think it's fine; indeed, the thermal shutdown temperature is still a fair way off, so don't worry about damaging your card. Personally, I run the fan about 33% to keep the temperature in the mid sixties at idle.
 
The thing is though, is that I was planning to play PC Games through my HDTV, which will be a resolution of 1920x1080 (I think). I just wanted to try it on this monitor to ensure I was getting the correct FPS. I was intending to O/C, I just thought I'd get a lot more frames than this at stock. Also, I got the 4870x2 for 300 quid, I had to snap up an offer like that :D
 
Hmmm. Well I used rivatuner, and now my GPU idles at 47, which is much better. I tried the Bioshock and COD4 demos aswell, Bioshock had framerates differring from 160-330, and COD4 had framerates from about 75-250. I know Crysis is demanding but still, an average of 29 on DX9 modded to very high on 1680x1050 ?? Is it really that demanding ?
 
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