Sapphire R9 380 - GPU spiking and taking FPS with it

[waldaize]

So after some experimentation and checking I've narrowed down that poor performance of my new R9 (based against an old HD6870) seems to be due to the GPU (rated at 1010Mhz) bouncing between 300Mhz & no more than 800Mhz.

This coincides with stuttering and fluctuations in FPS. I am have tried 15.12 and now the 16.1 hotfix crimson drivers...still the same.

I'm using MSI afterburner to keep the fans at around 65% and the temp is going above 55C.

Is there a way I can force the card to run the GPU at a stable 1010Hmz? I can't seem to find a way to do it.

Cheers

 

[Marine-RX179]

There's no need to make a seperate thread to your same "issue".

The GPU clock would will not be running at full clock speed when it is not being stressed enough (such as when the frame rate is held back by the CPU). It's a power saving feature.

My 290x doesn't run at its full clock speed when it doesn't need that kind of grunt to deliver the same max frame rate that the CPU can push. The point is that you need the CPU to be fast enough push higher frame rate in order to give more workload to the graphic card.

I believe you can force it at constant clock speed using MSI Afterburner, but it ain't going to make any different in helping you with you CPU bottleneck situation in WOW.

The lowest cost solution in helping to get noticable improvement is probably go for a 2nd hand i5-K CPU bundle, and trying to overclock it to as high as you can. I overclock my i5 2500K to 4.80GHz for Guild Wars 2, and I still don't get max GPU usage (doing world events with like 60-80 people in the same area in the map) and get dips down to 25fps, simply due to mmos is just too CPU demanding and our current directx is not making use of our CPUs efficient enough.

 

[Limpnoodle]

He said it all ^^

But could check here aswell
https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/

Ask that in that sub forum they wont bite

 

[ED209]

I have the same issue with a 390, use AfterBurner and make it run at the default clock of 1010mhz all the time, I had issues of low FPS in games and when I make it run at 1010mhz using AB it fixed the games running slowly and the fps drops

 

[waldaize]

First of all, apologies for making a new thread...this was more specific than my general thread so assumed a new one would be fine, live and learn hey!

Thanks for everyone's responses and I have now been able to get to a satisfactory position, possibly a little overboard but it works for me. So in case it helps anyone else.

1: Completely unistalled using DDU (in safe mode)
2:Installed the 15.11.x beta CATALYST drives (not Crimson)
3: Used MSI Afterburner to lock the fan to 65%

That got me the following:

A: GPU temp no higher than 60C
B: A more stable GPU @ around 850 Mhz (bounced a little from 700 - 900)
C: Ability to run wow in HIGH setting + 4 x MSAA and maintain a solid 60fps (vertical sync'd)
(I could run Ultra but it would dip depending on the GPU)

Next:

4: Using a little program from Guru3d (Clock Blocker) I can get the GPU to maintain a solid 1010Mhz (expected maximum on the Sapphire R9 380 Nitro out of the box)
5: Used MSI Afterburner to lock the fan to 65%

Result (after 15min initial testing):

D: GPU temp no higher than 55C (its colder today - only 15min game time)
E: A solid 1010 Mhz
F: Ability to run wow in HIGH setting + 4 x MSAA and maintain a solid 60fps (vertical sync'd) + seem to be able to hit Ultra with these settings and maintain a solid 60 fps (will need more testing)

The info given on my CPU is probably right but it would seem that better performance can be had and it's the cards throttling/GPU management that was getting in the way (hey I'm no expert).

Hope that helps others

Wal

 

[LoadsaMoney]

The Crimsons are known to have a core clock bouncing bug, theres absolutely loads of people getting it with them (me included).