Random Low FPS - PSU Issue?

andybl · 16 Jun 2012 at 18:26

Hello all

Usually my PC will run all games with high FPS, but randomly it will suddenly run any game I try at very low fps (<15). This seems to have started occurring after installing a 3TB HDD and 4 LED case fans.

I am using a 550W CoolerMaster PSU, my computer specs are as follows:
-CPU/RAM/GPU/MOBO CPU-Z Validator link
-HDDS: Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s and 3TB Seagate Barracuda ST3000DM001 3.5" SATA III Hard Drive.
-DVD-ROM
-PSU: CoolerMaster GX-550W
-OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
-Monitor: Samsung S24A300H (1920x1080)

I have tried run games off both hard drives when the issue occurs - same results. I have re-installed GPU drivers and tried different versions. I have also formatted and reinstalled Windows.

Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks.

spixelspixel · 16 Jun 2012 at 18:53

any antivirus running? could be scanning

mp260767 · 16 Jun 2012 at 18:57

have you tried disconnecting the stuff you installed that you think might have caused it ?

is the processor overclocked ?

have you got any background application processes running when you game.

andybl · 16 Jun 2012 at 19:26

spixelspixel said:
any antivirus running? could be scanning

My antivirus is Avast, which has automatic scanning turned off so this won't be the issue.

mp260767 said:
have you tried disconnecting the stuff you installed that you think might have caused it ?

is the processor overclocked ?

have you got any background application processes running when you game.

Nothing is overclocked, the only background apps running are steam and teamspeak which are always running and have never been an issue.

I will try disconnect the fans, but the HDD will be an issue as 99% of programs and games are installed on it. I guess I could try it as a last resort, reinstalling everything on the original drive.

nutsnut · 16 Jun 2012 at 19:33

I cant imagine a 3tb HDD being fast for games, this may very well be the issue.

andybl · 16 Jun 2012 at 19:34

nutsnut said:
I cant imagine a 3tb HDD being fast for games, this may very well be the issue.

I have tried gaming from both drives while the issue occurs and it has the same result.

mp260767 · 16 Jun 2012 at 19:35

just checked the CPU-Z link and it looks like you might have speedstep switched on as its showing a core speed of 803.67 MHz (200.92 * 4), check your bios settings.

djabs786 · 16 Jun 2012 at 19:36

nutsnut said:
I cant imagine a 3tb HDD being fast for games, this may very well be the issue.

HDD would be irrelevant to the FPS in game, HDD would probably count for the loading times inbetween levels or something. GPU + CPU + RAM are mainly responsible for the FPS you get.

SouthEastBlue · 16 Jun 2012 at 20:55

Download MSI afterburner and turn on the on screen display in the settings, and activate GPU memory speed and GPU core speed so you can see if the card runs to its specs within games.

It could be that the card is getting stuck in 2D mode, and thus will perform very poorly when in games/3D applications. I had this same issue with my GTX460, and fixed it by reinstalling MSI afterburner and the graphics drivers again. No idea why they got stuck in the first place though.

andybl · 16 Jun 2012 at 21:00

SouthEastBlue said:
Download MSI afterburner and turn on the on screen display in the settings, and activate GPU memory speed and GPU core speed so you can see if the card runs to its specs within games.

It could be that the card is getting stuck in 2D mode, and thus will perform very poorly when in games/3D applications. I had this same issue with my GTX460, and fixed it by reinstalling MSI afterburner and the graphics drivers again. No idea why they got stuck in the first place though.

Thank you, will try this when it next happens.

andybl · 26 Jun 2012 at 13:23

SouthEastBlue said:
Download MSI afterburner and turn on the on screen display in the settings, and activate GPU memory speed and GPU core speed so you can see if the card runs to its specs within games.

It could be that the card is getting stuck in 2D mode, and thus will perform very poorly when in games/3D applications. I had this same issue with my GTX460, and fixed it by reinstalling MSI afterburner and the graphics drivers again. No idea why they got stuck in the first place though.

That definitely was the issue, thank you. When the problem next occurred I checked those values using MSI - all very low values.

After doing some research I found that changing the Power Management Mode in the nvidia control panel to Prefer Maximum Performance in Manage 3D settings, global settings.

Thanks again.