Civ 6 is maxing out my CPU and causing FPS drops and yet the CPU temp is ~48°C? Has anyone seen this before?

[Zanuan]

Here's the info: http://imgur.com/a/6uQej

In all other games my CPU does just fine. Witcher 3 at max settings runs perfectly fine with the CPU at ~60°C. Both my RAM and GPU are sitting comfortably and they aren't causing the FPS drops. It says that the CPU is clocked at 3.5 GHz so I don't see why it should be struggling while the temperatures are so low. It defies logic.

 

[ryguybuddy]

Civ games are VERY CPU-intensive so it is normal for a i5 to be fully used. (100%)

 

[Chugalug_]

Yep, Civ 6 is very well optimized this time around, and as mentioned it is extremely CPU intensive.
FPS drops could be due to graphics card thermal throttling, what are your temps on that under load? (Use MSI Afterburner)

 

[weberdarren97]

I see your graphics card is running at 80C at the time of the screenshot. Does it ever get above 85C?

 

[Chugalug_]

^^
Even at 80c it can begin to throttle quite badly, any higher is greatly concerning in regards to performance.

 

[Zanuan]

I see your graphics card is running at 80C at the time of the screenshot. Does it ever get above 85C?

No it has never gone above 81°C. Thats using the standard fan curves.
I just adjusted the fan curves and brought it down to 74°C. Still getting stuttering but this time the CPU isn't totally maxed out.

http://imgur.com/a/sSuka

 

[Chugalug_]

As a test, ramp up the fan speed to a static 90% ish and let us know whether you're still getting stutters.

 

[weberdarren97]

I suggest letting the system remain off for a few minutes then trying again. This is because I'm not familiar with the cooler on that card and I don't know if it has direct MOSFET cooling or not. If it doesn't it'll need a moment for the rest of the card to cool down even though the core temperature has already been lowered.

EDIT: I suppose I could have worded this a little better. I actually don't know the model number of the card at all, hence why I don't know if the cooler has direct MOSFET cooling or not.

 

[Zanuan]

As a test, ramp up the fan speed to a static 90% ish and let us know whether you're still getting stutters.

Upped CPU and GPU fans. CPU is 47°C and GPU is 74°C. Still getting stutters even though those are totally acceptable temps. Also Witcher 3 still running at 60+ fps on max. Seems kinda illogical. I can live with it though. Civ is a strategy game so I don't mind it as much as I would with a rpg or fps. When I drag the screen on Civ 6 it drops down to ~30 and right back up to 60 again. When I first launch the game however it is a solid 60 the entire time but after 10 minutes have passed then the fps drop kicks in. Might as well just document this in case anyone else is having the same problem.