Crossfire Dropping FPS.

[luke.yallop]

Hey guys, getting back into gaming after building my rig in 2012 and upgrading it in 2014. I'm still a newbie really so take it easy.

Basically the issue is simple, with crossfire the game drops in FPS every game now and again in FC5, FC4, BF1 etc, most games i play. With single card it runs faultless. I upgraded PSU to AX1200 to insure power isn't an issue but it's merely solved the issue. Temps are always fine.

Current specs:

I5 2500K @4.5GHZ
Asus ROG MAXIMUS V Formula
AX1200 PSU (Upgraded from RM750 to troubleshoot problem)
16GB DDR3 1866MHZ mem (4X4)
2X R9 270X Crossfire GPU @ STD CLOCK

This is all on a fresh install of windows and latest drivers & BIOS (18.7.1 AMD Drivers) as recently put a 250 SSD & 3TB HDD

Just unsure where to go next, new GPU or New CPU & MOBO? or if i should play with settings.

Have noticed if i allow extra voltage in AMD overdrive some games crash if that's of any help?

 

[Barty1884]

I would look to monitor system resources, just to confirm where the drops are coming from (CPU usage hitting 100%, perhaps?) BUT, given all works as expected on the single GPU, I'd be inclined to chalk this up to one of the idiosyncrasies of CrossFire (or SLI) specifically.

While the 2500K is showing it's age, it's still no slouch as a strictly gaming CPU - especially when overclocked

Is this strictly a gaming setup? If so, I would fully expect the 2500K to hold up for another round of modern GPU upgrades.

I can't find too much on CFx 270X's vs a modern card..... but did find this YT video (so take it for what it is, some guy on YT :lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlfAtOaawII

So, while max FPS in some titles shoots really high.... the averages/minimums fall way short of an RX480 almost across the board.

On that basis, a single, stronger GPU would be the best route to go.
For a 2500K, I'd look to pair an absolute maximum of a 6GB 1060 or 8GB RX 580 with it.
Probably more suited to a 3GB 1060, RX 570, 1050TI or something like a used 780TI / RP 390X

While you'd likely find some instances of the 2500K holding back a 1060 or 580, I'd fully expect it to be minimal and a pretty well balanced pairing.

 

[luke.yallop]

I
While you'd likely find some instances of the 2500K holding back a 1060 or 580, I'd fully expect it to be minimal and a pretty well balanced pairing.

Okay awesome thanks for your reply buddy! I have found an XFX RX580 Oc edition Thats at a comfortable £175, with 8gb of VRAM it seems pretty elegible, just when you say cpu may hold it back, would that just mean the card might underperform or the CPU will bottleneck the FPS? if that makes sense? Sorry, new to all this upgrade stuff.

Or i suppose what im saying is should i go for a say an older card or is it a case of simply get as best as you can afford?

 

[Barty1884]

The CPU may well hold back some FPS the card could do, but for that kind of money, that upgrade makes sense to me

 

[luke.yallop]

Thanks for the help Barty! I went for the new card so looking forward to getting it through the post and giving it a try. few friends said the 8GB of VRAM should futureproof it massively as a single card! plsu if i can get £100 for both the 270X ill be singing!

 

[Barty1884]

Yeah, even if the 2500k does hold it back in some situations, at that kind price/net cost, you cant go wrong.

As for "futureproof", it doesn't really exist IMO. The added VRAM is nice & all, but we're ways away for >4GB really being utilized at 1080p.... and, while it could be useful at higher resolutions, a 580 isnt a great 1440p or 4K card*.

Its "ok" for 1440p though, but 4K is off the table for it IMO..

 

[luke.yallop]

I use a standard 1080p Samsung curved monitor and can't see myself going any higher in that sense. I like the idea of more VRAM because games like GTA V give you an indicator of how much you're using and it's almost always over 4GB so it's a peice of mind more than anything and considering im not on my PC THAT much seems to fit the bill perfectly

 

[luke.yallop]

Just an update, 580 came today and happily on FC5 at 50-60fps everything maxed out including 2.0 on HDR! So pleased! might even consider an I7 3770K soon as CPU usage is starting to climb up a little.