Question CPU BOTTLENECK? I need help.

[AneyR]

Hey, I bought gigabyte rtx 2060 super gaming oc 8gb 3 days ago. When I try to play any game my procesor in task bar gets up to even 100% utilization sometimes when graphic card is on almost 0%. My CPU is i5-8400 and i also have 24GB of ram. I really don't know what to do right now since I paid 500€ for that graphics card... Here is also userbenchmark of my PC: https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/25041705
If anyone could help in anyway I would very appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[lynx1021]

That cooler is JUNK,only good for an I3 maybe. You need something like a Scythe Mugen 5 https://www.amazon.com/Mugen-Rev-CP...keywords=Scythe+Mugen+5&qid=1583265858&sr=8-3
Too keep from thermal throttling.

 

[Third-Eye]

Problem is when i try to play e.g Fortnite i get fps drops i can"t even have 144fps without having drops. GPU is using some usage now in task bar but CPU usage is always around 80-100% i think thats the main problem... If i would want to change CPU I would need to pay additional 500€ for new CPU(200€ - ryzen 7 2700x have 0% bottleneck, new motherboard 100€ and new PSU-almost 100€)...

In the userbench you posted, the CPU base clock is 2.8Ghz and it only boosted to 3.2Ghz, but it's max boost is 4Ghz and should have gone up to at least 3.7-3.8Ghz with the stock cooler depending on whether the case has good airflow. 3.2Ghz boost means the CPU is very likely thermally throttling under load, which is probably half the reason why you keep getting FPS spikes in games. The other would be single channel mode memory at only 2400Mhz and CL17. Slow ram and single channel mode will make games stutter. For battlefield 5, just adding a second module for dual channel mode can improve FPS by 45-55%.

You should start to fix the stutter issues either with cleaning the CPU and heatsink, then repasting the CPU with at minimum Arctic MX-4 (2019 Edition) thermal paste at 6-9€ for a 2-4g syringe. If that doesn't help bring temps down and allow you to boost past 3.2Ghz you need to look at getting a new heatsink. The coolers I posted before should be around 16-24€. After you get CPU thermals under control you should look at replacing one or both memory modules for 16 or 32GB of ram specifically so you can run dual channel mode. Your current modules are an 8GB Corsair CT8G4DFS824A and a 16GB G.Skill F4-2400C15S-16GIS. I still recommend 2666 2x8GB CL15/CL16 over getting a second 2400Mhz 8 or 16GB module.

Those two changes should help bring the stutter under control. Replacing the CPU should be your last option. If you can't fit a 120mm tower cooler in your case there are smaller 90/92mm options, but cost about the same or double if it's low profile. You are going to have to figure out what computer case model you have to see what will fit before you buy a new cooler. A 120mm tower will usually fit in a mid tower case.

 

[AneyR]

The speed of processor now is around 3.8GHZ since I turned turbo mode on CPU cooler. I also have ATX case.
Also there is bottleneck test and is around 20% idk if thats big or no...
https://pc-builds.com/calculator/Core_i5-8400/GeForce_RTX_2060_SUPER/0NX14plu/24/
Also this processor cost minimum 220€ and have 20% bottleneck with my GPU, since AMD ryzen 7 2700x cost around 180-190€ and have around almost 0% bottleneck (https://pc-builds.com/calculator/Ryzen_7_2700X/GeForce_RTX_2060_SUPER/0Qe14p8A/ ).

 

[Phaaze88]

Nononononono! Pretend you never saw that BS - delete it from your memory banks. Bottleneck calculators are bloody garbage.
FORGET IT - delete the link, even.

There is always a weak link in one's build - you can never eliminate them all. Fix one weak link, and you create another.
A balanced build is more important.
If your memory is actually running in single channel mode, it would be the weakest link at the moment.

 

[computermonkey]

If i would want to change CPU I would need to pay additional 500€ for new CPU(200€ - ryzen 7 2700x have 0% bottleneck, new motherboard 100€ and new PSU-almost 100€)...

If the upgrade is going to cost that much you might as well just get an playstation or xbox .
But RAM is pretty cheap, why not try that first?

 

[AneyR]

But CPU have signs of bottleneck(almost 100% cpu usage and low gpu usage). Idk if there would be any difference if i would just upgrade ram. I could also upgrade cpu cooler but idk if would it help...

 

[RodroX]

100% cpu usage does not automatically translate to bottleneck. What that means, in the first place, is that your CPU does not have any more resources available to do any extra work.

So, now that according to you the CPU boost up to 3.8GHz, Do you still have the stauttering while gaming?

Also does your CPU stays at 3.8GHz, or does it throttle down to a lower number very fast? If this is happening then it may indicate, like we mention before, that your current cooler is not enough.

 

[AneyR]

It usually stays at 3.8GHz, but im still getting fps drops and way less fps that i would need to have. I have locked on 144fps and it almost barely gets that. I would need to have 300FPS+ not barely 144. Temperature goes up to 80C tho.

 

[RodroX]

80°C is not a great temp, If you change your CPU, you probably will need a better cooler anyways, it may not help you with your FPS issues but is a good place to start.

You should really try to donwload CPU-Z zip english, (https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html) and check the memory tab to see if yours is working in dual-channel (like what this pic shows, on the "#channel"

https://imgur.com/scBz3

View: https://i.stack.imgur.com/scBz3.png
)

If RAM is in single channel fixing the RAM its another thing you shoudl try. If I were in your place I will try to get my self a 2x8GB DDR4 3200 or 3600 MHz kit, from a known brand (like corsair, gskill, etc.), and try that in your current PC.

The RAM and the cooler (if you buy the right one) can be used on your next PC later on.

 

[AneyR]

So i tryed and it says that is in dual channel: http://prntscr.com/rbiw21
Then probably the issue is connected with cpu.

 

[RodroX]

So i tryed and it says that is in dual channel: http://prntscr.com/rbiw21
Then probably the issue is connected with cpu.

Thats good then, yeah then the problem could be CPU related. You should keep an eye on the CPU temps, frecuency and usage while gaming using MSIafterburner.

As CPU max temp I would try to stay below 75°C.
CPU usage will vary depending on the play mode and a lot of other factors (human enemies on the match and close to you and/or your line of view, playing resolution and details levels, etc.).
CPU frecuency it will also depend on the game, but if the CPU usage is near 100%, you will want your CPU all core frecuency to be near its max, which for your cpu should be around 3.8GHz (as someone mention earlier).


MSi afterburner lets you see in the screen (OSD) all the 6 cores of your cpu, the frecuency they are runing and the usage. Heres a nice explanation, in the video I link the autor choosed to use the combine numers of temp and usage, but if you wana see the usage of each core on the screen, you just need to make it that way instead (

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUS3zx0DlHg
).

 

[13thmonkey]

if you are only getting 5% GPU usage that is not due to a bottleneck, if it were 60% it could be. That CPU should not drag a GPU down to the those levels, no CPU would.

 

[AneyR]

I now get around 40% GPU usage and high CPU usage...

 

[Third-Eye]

I now get around 40% GPU usage and high CPU usage...

You need to increase load on the GPU to see any difference. Use Nvidia Dynamic Super Resolution in the Nvidia control panel, or use the resolution scale in games that have it in options to increase the rendered resolution. So 1080p with 2x or 2.0 render resolution in game would be 4k res and 4x in dynamic super resolution would be 4k res. Try using those and see what your GPU usage looks like.

 

[AneyR]

It still doesnt increase load on GPU. Im trying to play Fortnite tho.

 

[Third-Eye]

It still doesnt increase load on GPU. Im trying to play Fortnite tho.

For Nvidia DSR to work you need to set the in game resolution to 3840x2160 in the graphics menu. Same as if you were setting resolution scaling from the graphics menu, except that resolution scaling takes the resolution you set and scales up or down from that.

 

[AneyR]

Yes, usage is still around 40%...