CPU/GPU low load and low fps

[Calvindude22]

I recently got a new computer and at first it was running perfectly fine with around 100fps on most games. Now however it went down dramatically to around 20. When i checked the load on both cpu and gpu they were both running very low. Any thoughts on why this is happening?
Specs:
i5-4670k
16gb ram
Radeon r9 280x
Thanks

 

[charmer]

Sry for the delay.. it hope you've already solve the problem.
Anyway i you haven't then here's some thoughts:
* The most common solution is a updated driver, check Cor any updates for the GPU and for the rest of the system (bios/uefi and the rest of your mobo drivers, direct X etc')
* check that your psu is big enough to handle your PC while been under load.
* look for high temperatures on cpu, GPU and vrams.

If it had been any help pls update me
Good Luck

 

[Calvindude22]

I went through all the CD's that came with the computer and updated all drivers and still no change, also now i appear to be getting 0% usage on the GPU during fairly intensive programs accompanied by <5 fps. As for psu how would you go about checking if it is enough? During some benchmarks ive done the card runs fully and goes up to 90% so im not sure if that could be it and as for tempurature it appears to be normal, not going hotter at all

 

[charmer]

Please do Not use the CD's drivers, updates are done only from the manufacturer website (for example you upgrade the GPU driver from nvidia website).
Do the same with the motherboard, go to manufacturer website, go to ''drivers'', choose you motherboard from the list there and update everything.

As for the PSU open your case and look inside, look for the Watt number, brand (Corsair, Seasonic etc') and you might see a ''80+" sticker that would be good news.

Again plus update me

 

[Calvindude22]

So I updated all the drivers and such. Now the fps and gpu usage fluctuates, occasionally it'll go up to 80+ fps and the graphics card will be running at a fairly high usage but then it just goes back down to zero then to somewhere in between. As for the the psu its a 650 watt thermaltake 80+ bronze cert

 

[charmer]

So the PSU seams right, Maybe the problem is with vsync, in the NCP/Global, please set vsync to adaptive.
I guess you have seen the fps drops in every game right? did the drops start instantly or after a while?

Do you have some spare parts like another PSU?

 

[Calvindude22]

I have an AMD card so there is no adaptive vsync option only either on or off. The drops in fps dont happen right away either, they tend to happen mid way through and then it just doesnt go back up

 

[charmer]

I have an AMD card so there is no adaptive vsync option only either on or off. The drops in fps dont happen right away either, they tend to happen mid way through and then it just doesnt go back up

Ok so thats good and bad news, the good news are that we know it's not a software/drivers issue, the bad news is that that's a hardware issue.
You said that the GPU and CPU temps are good while been under load, so it leaves us with three possible scenarios:
1. The GPU/CPU is slowing itself down to prevent any damage to itself.
2. The PSU can't comply with the amount of Watt needed or failing to do so for various reasons.
3. Less likely bot possible, your mother board is failing to deliver enough power to the GPU/CPU.

There may be other reasons but those are the main ones.
So the next step is finding the problematic part:
* Find a PSU, preferred a 500W and above and play something, look for any drops.
* Finding another GPU and play on it for a while (preferred a good one so it'll have the same power consumption), see if the drops occur again.
* This one is easier - put your GPU into another PC, install the AMD drivers on that PC and play some intensive games, if the drops reappear - 99% a faulty GPU.


Hopefully this will be it.. I would really like an update on that, Good luck!

 

[Calvindude22]

Not sure if this makes any difference but i just tried out the uningine valley benchmark to get another test in and the average fps was 22.5 but throughout the gpu was running around 40-60 with spikes up or down and the temp did get up to 55 or so degrees

 

[charmer]

Not sure if this makes any difference but i just tried out the uningine valley benchmark to get another test in and the average fps was 22.5 but throughout the gpu was running around 40-60 with spikes up or down and the temp did get up to 55 or so degrees

It most likely means that the GPU core itself is ok and it's showing that it does not reach it's full potential but thats all unfortunately

 

[Calvindude22]

Ok so I didn't want to go about trying a new PSU or GPU unless i absolutely needed to so I was fiddling around some more when I realized my power settings were on 'power saver' rather than the 'high performance' i normally have it on. Now I'm getting great fps and the activity is up in the 90-100% range! My only question now is as long as the temperature is in an acceptable range is the card running up around there ok?

 

[charmer]

That's great news! I didn't know that ''power saving'' can limit the performance that much..
And yes your gpu load needs to be as high as it can to give you the best gaming experience.

 

[Calvindude22]

Okay Thanks alot