Question CPU spikes to 40-60% and the game stops loading ?

[bliz_]

As the title implies when i start loading the game i want to play, in this case "WoT Blitz" thru steam, my cpu after a few seconds will spike to anywhere between where I've seen 40% to 60%. Along with this random spile it'll hang there for almost a full minute before dropping back around 10-20% usage and continue. At the same time as the spike for as long as it hangs the game will freeze and stop loading, even going as far for windows to tell me it has stopped responding. I click wait and let it sit before it continues.

Occasionally the game will make it to the sign in screen after it informs me ive been disconnected from the server, which i couldnt connect to in the first place and repeat the process all over again. its very frustrating as this is the only game ive noticed this on. at the time of posting in currently AFK picking up my girlfriend from work while updating my drivers. i will re attempt with updated drivers when i get back. any sort of response is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

forgot to add the system specs to help identify any issues

i7-4790
GTX 1050ti
whatever MB the optiplex 9020 has
^ this but for psu
^^ also this again but for my C: drive
24gb quad channel DDR3 (2x8, 2x4(all i had okay?)
Cheapo amazon wifi 5g adapter

 

[Aeacus]

quad channel

Does not happen.
Just because you have 4x DIMMs, doesn't mean you have quad-channel RAM.

Answer me this, who is in the wrong; either:
you - claiming that you have quad-channel RAM
or
Intel - stating that CPU supports max 2 RAM channels (dual-channel), specs: https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...r-8m-cache-up-to-4-00-ghz/specifications.html

^ this but for psu

Doesn't tell much, since there are 4 variants for Optiplex 9020, based on the PC case size.

1. Micro - Standard 65W adaptor. Minimum Efficiency >87%, ENERGY STAR compliant.
2. Ultra Small Form Factor (USFF) - 200W up to 90% Efficient PSU (80 PLUS Gold); Active PFC
3. Small Form Factor (SFF) - Standard 255W PSU Active PFC or optional 255W up to 90% Efficient PSU (80 PLUS Gold); Active PFC
4. Minitower (MT) - Standard 290W PSU Active PFC or optional 290W up to 90% Efficient PSU (80 PLUS Gold); Active PFC

Between the 4 different options, there are 6 different PSUs.

^^ also this again but for my C: drive

Again, doesn't tell much, since for Optiplex 9020, options for storage dives are;

Hard Disk Drives: up to 2TB
Supports Hybrid, Opal SED FIPS, and Solid State Drive and M.2 Solid State Drive (Micro)

this is the only game ive noticed this on

If only one game is affected, then it is the game issue. Best course of action is contacting game devs (e.g via game's community) and ask what can be done.

Though, PC itself is old and not that powerful either. So, probably best to look towards completely new PC. Less headache and more satisfaction this way.

 

[bliz_]

Does not happen.
Just because you have 4x DIMMs, doesn't mean you have quad-channel RAM.

Answer me this, who is in the wrong; either:
you - claiming that you have quad-channel RAM
or
Intel - stating that CPU supports max 2 RAM channels (dual-channel), specs: https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...r-8m-cache-up-to-4-00-ghz/specifications.html



Doesn't tell much, since there are 4 variants for Optiplex 9020, based on the PC case size.

1. Micro - Standard 65W adaptor. Minimum Efficiency >87%, ENERGY STAR compliant.
2. Ultra Small Form Factor (USFF) - 200W up to 90% Efficient PSU (80 PLUS Gold); Active PFC
3. Small Form Factor (SFF) - Standard 255W PSU Active PFC or optional 255W up to 90% Efficient PSU (80 PLUS Gold); Active PFC
4. Minitower (MT) - Standard 290W PSU Active PFC or optional 290W up to 90% Efficient PSU (80 PLUS Gold); Active PFC

Between the 4 different options, there are 6 different PSUs.


Again, doesn't tell much, since for Optiplex 9020, options for storage dives are;

Hard Disk Drives: up to 2TB
Supports Hybrid, Opal SED FIPS, and Solid State Drive and M.2 Solid State Drive (Micro)


If only one game is affected, then it is the game issue. Best course of action is contacting game devs (e.g via game's community) and ask what can be done.

Though, PC itself is old and not that powerful either. So, probably best to look towards completely new PC. Less headache and more satisfaction this way.

Was not aware that max was dual channel. Its never given me an issue and its been running perfectly fine until this hiccup. Its the SFF with a 512gb Hard Drive. I have three additional storage devices to which i install games to. I originally had the game installed to my C: drive before moving it and trying again but to no avail. Last time I played the game before this the power had cut out on my PC. Launched 7 Days to Die last night and it loaded perfectly fine.

 

[Aeacus]

Its never given me an issue and its been running perfectly fine until this hiccup.

As hardware ages, hardware degrades and looses it's performance. This is so with all things.

So, it could be that hardware wise, your system has degraded to a point where PC can not operate normally. Though, since you see the issue only with one game, issue most likely is the game itself. Also, it doesn't help that WoT Blitz is MMO and requires good, interrupt free internet connection for it to work at all.

There aren't much to do, to try and remedy the issue.
What i'd do, would be buying 1TB SATA SSD (e.g Samsung 870 Evo) and install OS + game onto it. It makes all loading times MUCH faster compared to HDD. It could be enough to fix your issue. If not, at least all loading times would be shorter still, including OS boot up. So, there's nothing to loose on getting a SSD.

Another avenue would be looking at your internet connection. Is it fast enough and without interruptions. What is the ping to the game servers. Also, are you using wi-fi or cable connection. Though, internet issues can't be solved on it's own and would require contacting ISP.

Launched 7 Days to Die last night and it loaded perfectly fine.

7D2D is offline solo game. It doesn't require internet connection to play. It is vastly different from the WoT Blitz MMO.

 

[Misgar]

As hardware ages, hardware degrades and looses it's performance.

I find the concept that computer hardware loses its performance over the years interesting. It makes it sound like an automobile engine that loses horse power after 2 decades. Over the years, some of those horses escaped the paddock and got loose. Are you implying the OP's system is suffering from electromigration effects or something else?

it'll hang there for almost a full minute before dropping back around 10-20% usage and continue

It might be an idea to monitor the CPU processes in Resouce Monitor (click Open Resource Monitor from the Task Manager page). Open Resource Monitor before loading the game and make a note of any processes marked "Not responding".
https://www.ghacks.net/2017/12/28/a-detailed-windows-resource-monitor-guide/

You can dive in deeper with SysInternal's Process Explorer, but it can get complicated.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

Does not happen.
Just because you have 4x DIMMs, doesn't mean you have quad-channel RAM.

You can buy a "quad-channel RAM" kit and use it in a dual channel board like the OP's. It's not running in quad channel mode, just dual channel, but it's still "quad-channel RAM" if purchased as a kit of 4 matched DIMMs of the same capacity. Admittedly, The OP is running two mis-matched pairs of 2x8GB and 2x4GB, so they cannot possibly be described as a quad channel kit, but he could purchase the quad channel kit below as an upgrade.

G.Skill 32GB DDR3 2400MHz PC3-19200 RipjawsZ CL11 1.65V Quad Channel Memory Kit (4X 8GB)​

https://www.amazon.com/G-Skill-2400MHz-PC3-19200-RipjawsZ-Channel/dp/B00GVUXK9Q/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1AKHWS0Q16210&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.oUn3KxL5XgLPlKqdhEQB1NG5K95R2hltd_YBnVHuJF7ntw2x-xkBs6fZAPzxuixgD7axkmIvJ1t_E5vM04dmNq_nRreUe9WmpX4PPXu9vww3VheHn-KaM43IX35LKX0SA08aZ0jEXe5_Tcn4hXSTPA_YmjbhEcf3EcPbBYvGjwVvD_dd6gYfYMTev0SZzgYgQoYW4D3o3wrCrgsHgxR79nzavYUuVJs60CZjm7YmTFQ.oO1ct0of5bleiMDDDyi6Om0dTPOTjsADv0sepRUPRqg&dib_tag=se&keywords=quad+channel+ram+kit&qid=1728995479&sprefix=quad+channel+ram+kit,aps,215&sr=8-3

 

[Aeacus]

I find the concept that computer hardware loses its performance over the years interesting. It makes it sound like an automobile engine that loses horse power after 2 decades. Over the years, some of those horses escaped the paddock and got loose. Are you implying the OP's system is suffering from electromigration effects or something else?

Yes, it is interesting topic to research. I've researched it in the past as well and for more in-depth understanding, found this good video to watch;

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7WbxDdYucE

You can buy a "quad-channel RAM" kit and use it in a dual channel board like the OP's. It's not running in quad channel mode, just dual channel, but it's still "quad-channel RAM" if purchased as a kit of 4 matched DIMMs of the same capacity. Admittedly, The OP is running two mis-matched pairs of 2x8GB and 2x4GB, so they cannot possibly be described as a quad channel kit, but he could purchase the quad channel kit below as an upgrade.

While one could buy quad-channel RAM kit, it costs more than dual-channel RAM kit and only few buy it. Those who do buy it, are also running server MoBo and they know what they are getting.

So, for consumer MoBo, which OP has, quad-channel RAM kit is waste of money. And since OP is running different capacity RAM, they do not have quad-channel RAM in the first place.

Btw, for good sportsmanship, it is better to link official specs (when available), rather than retail store (e.g amazon) link.
Like so,
specs: https://www.gskill.com/specification/165/174/1532329084/F3-2400C11Q-32GZM-Specification

All i did, is to clear the misconception of "4x RAM DIMMs always = quad-channel RAM". It does not. Only on select instances it does and only on server MoBos.

You can dive in deeper with SysInternal's Process Explorer, but it can get complicated.

There are guides for that, which would've been helpful to link for OP.
E.g like so;
Process Explorer guide: https://www.pcworld.com/article/406...ee-supercharged-task-manager-alternative.html