Question Feel like my I7 10700K and 3080TI FTW3 setup is under performing. Not sure why

[RMA.Renzor]

My system specs are:
RM850 850 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply
Trident Z Neo Series RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3600 PC4-28800 CL16 Dual Channel Memory Kit F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC
I7 10700K
EVGA RTX 3080TI FTW3
Asus Prime Z490-A motherboard
A samsung 970 EVO 1TB SSD

I also have a noctua NH D15 cooler for my processor.
Fractal Meshify Type C Case, which admittedly has only 1 intake and 1 exhaust

Monitors: 2x LG UltraGear QHD 27

The gist:
I'm trying to play games such as Armored Core 6 or Deep Rock Galactic at 2k 144hz, and regardless of quality, it seems to suffer frame drops and cannot maintain 144. I can't tell if I'm maybe just overestimating the capability of my PC, or if something is actually holding it back. Or if it's just engine issues of the games I want to play.

I've got a HWINFO csv file from a quick bout of AC6 with a bunch of frame drops. (With the embedded controller active)

HWINFO AC6 aggressive fan.CSV

drive.google.com

In this test, I did use an aggressive fan curve in precision X, but never saw my GPU temps reach the thermal threshold when glancing at my other monitor.

Now without the aggressive fan curve, the GPU does get hot and reaches the thermal throttle rate, but I'm still getting these drops when I have the GPU fans running harder.

I also did a TimeSpy 3Dmark a few weeks back before I started fiddling with my fan curves. Here's that report

3DMark-TimeSpy-16797-20230831202815.3dmark-result

drive.google.com

I also want to add I've tried a clean install of windows during troubleshooting this. Did that about 1.5 months ago

Hopefully this is enough to help get the ball rolling. Let me know if I can provide anything else

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

Hey there,

I wouldn't think your CPU would be holding you back at the native res of those monitors.

Are your system drivers up to date? What bios are you running? Latest GPU driver too? When the fps drops occur, is there any stuttering, or do you just see the drops through MSI Afterburner or whatever overlay you use?

Is the GPU hitting i85c or so all the time?

Your monitors are Gsync, do you use it? It will smooth any fps drops so you would hardly feel a thing. Unless you are a pro gamer, then Gsync might be an option. Your case could be playing some part in airflow and rising temps.

Are your CPU/GPU overclocked? If so, test again without.

 

[RMA.Renzor]

As of writing this apparently there was a driver update since 9/12 for my 3080TI, but before that it was up to date. I'll download that and move forward.

The GPU will absolutely hit 85C without an aggressive fan curve. In that csv file from my playtime of Armored Core, it was having frame drops without the GPU hitting the thermal throttle on the hotspot. Going as low as 50ish frames at some points. When glancing over at HWINFO it listed somewhere about mid 70 celsius during these drops

As for the frame drops, no stuttering. Just like the brakes were thrown on immediately. My overlay is able to confirm the drops, but no interruptions or lagging in gameplay from it.

My Bios I admittedly haven't touched since I put this computer together in 2021. I updated the firmware on my GPU using precision X just a day ago.

No overclocks on anything.

 

[AlphaStrain]

I don't know if this will help, I can only offer a solution I figured out myself when I first put my new build together. Brand new, nothing installed, I downloaded Path of Exile on an SSD with 2070 super, 32gb of ram and a 12 core CPU. Easy mode right? Native FPS is 60 yet for some reason, that game and a couple others I installed that day to figure out what the heck was going on just would not push 60FPS when they should have no issues doing so. I was like "What the heck is going on?" low and behold I noticed my ram speed was stuck hitting 2133mhz which I was like "Uhhh, that doesn't seem right." so I went into my BIOS and manually set it to 3200mhz which was the speed of the ram. Ever since then, no frame issues.

This was also an issue with my one friend as well as we were stumped when his PC lagged playing Hogwarts Legacy and mine didn't even though he has a Ryzen 9 3950X and a 2080 TI. I have a Ryzen 9 3900X and a 2070 Super. Once he changed his ram speed to 3200mhz his lag issues stopped as well. Hope this helps.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

The GPU will absolutely hit 85C without an aggressive fan curve

This is not normal. Yes, it can operate at those temps, but ideally it should be in the 60-70c range even at load. This could be down to the thermal paste on the GPU, clogged fans etc. So it's worth taking it out, cleaning it and reseating it. it could also be from case airflow.

As for the frame drops, no stuttering. Just like the brakes were thrown on immediately. My overlay is able to confirm the drops, but no interruptions or lagging in gameplay from it.

That's unusual too. I would expect you to have some stuttering or lag if the GPU is throttling.

My Bios I admittedly haven't touched since I put this computer together in 2021

Bios update can bring all sorts of bug fixes. This issue could be one of them. I'd go here and update the bios, and latest Intel ME driver: https://www.asus.com/motherboards-c...z490-a/helpdesk_bios/?model2Name=PRIME-Z490-A

After the bios update make sure you 'clear CMOS' as this will do a reset of the system. Typically it's done by taking the CMOS battery out, shorting two pins marked 'CLRTC' on the edge of your mobo, put battery back and reboot. Check your manual to be sure. Ideally you need Bios 2701.

Is your memory running DOCP?

Edit: You have a very capable system there. But, just having a 3080ti does not negate games reaching 144hz/fps steady. There will always be some ebb and flow with FPS.

 

[RMA.Renzor]

This is not normal. Yes, it can operate at those temps, but ideally it should be in the 60-70c range even at load. This could be down to the thermal paste on the GPU, clogged fans etc. So it's worth taking it out, cleaning it and reseating it. it could also be from case airflow.

That's unusual too. I would expect you to have some stuttering or lag if the GPU is throttling.


Bios update can bring all sorts of bug fixes. This issue could be one of them. I'd go here and update the bios, and latest Intel ME driver: https://www.asus.com/motherboards-c...z490-a/helpdesk_bios/?model2Name=PRIME-Z490-A

After the bios update make sure you 'clear CMOS' as this will do a reset of the system. Typically it's done by taking the CMOS battery out, shorting two pins marked 'CLRTC' on the edge of your mobo, put battery back and reboot. Check your manual to be sure. Ideally you need Bios 2701.

Is your memory running DOCP?

Edit: You have a very capable system there. But, just having a 3080ti does not negate games reaching 144hz/fps steady. There will always be some ebb and flow with FPS.

DOCP? I'm not familiar with that. The other user in the thread suggested manually setting my ram to 3200MHz and that seems to have improved performance slightly. As for my GPU obviously having temp problems. Any reason why it wouldn't have the fans running aggressively to counteract this? When I use precision X to change the fan performance, it comfortable stays in the 70's, shouldn't the GPU try to handle that more?

Regardless, I suppose I should still grab another intake fan for my computer

I'll try and do the BIOS when I have the chance this weekend and let you know.

 

[Peter Ferrari]

cpu is too slow for locked 144fps. You'll need at least a 13600k + fast ddr5 (6000+) to get there. At least this is the best configuration in terms of per/dollars these days.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

DOCP? I'm not familiar with that. The other user in the thread suggested manually setting my ram to 3200MHz and that seems to have improved performance slightly. As for my GPU obviously having temp problems. Any reason why it wouldn't have the fans running aggressively to counteract this? When I use precision X to change the fan performance, it comfortable stays in the 70's, shouldn't the GPU try to handle that more?

Regardless, I suppose I should still grab another intake fan for my computer

I'll try and do the BIOS when I have the chance this weekend and let you know.

DOCP is the Asus version of XMP. It means Direct Over Clock Profile. This is used on ram (technically overclocked ram) It enables your CPU to run faster, along with the ram itself.

Yes, you can set your ram timings manually. This is more cumbersome. Setting XMP/DOCP is almost a one click button to OC the ram, without any hitches. This could account for lesser performance if not enabled.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

cpu is too slow for locked 144fps. You'll need at least a 13600k + fast ddr5 (6000+) to get there. At least this is the best configuration in terms of per/dollars these days.

Well, that's slightly misleading. In some games, at 1440, then it will still push excellent frames. The OP does not need to change to a new platform with new motherboard, ,ram, and CPU to fix the problems they're having. This really all depends on the games being played.

 

[RMA.Renzor]

Well, that's slightly misleading. In some games, at 1440, then it will still push excellent frames. The OP does not need to change to a new platform with new motherboard, ,ram, and CPU to fix the problems they're having. This really all depends on the games being played.

I appreciate the information either way. It's still going to hold true. I suppose my main hitch isn't trying to hit a constant 144 fps. My main issue is sometimes games are chugging all the way to 50ish frames. Granted not for long periods, usually a half second or so then back to normal.

Not sure if it's cumbersome to look through or not, I have a HWINFO64 file from a 2 hour session of Deep Rock where I was having these issues of the frames dropping as low as 60 or so. Again not looking for a constant 144, drops are expected, but into the 60's seems steep. But I can procure a more reasonable csv if necessary, just at a later time tonight I'd say.

 

[Peter Ferrari]

My main issue is sometimes games are chugging all the way to 50ish frames. Granted not for long periods, usually a half second or so then back to normal.

does sound like malfunctioning alright.
how long are the intervals between running normally and those drops you mention ? Every minute ? 5 minutes ? 15 minutes ? More
I've seen rdr2 drop from 60 to 30-something on my rig (also 10700+32g 3600 c16) at times out of nowehere, then go back up in a second, but that only happens once every few sessions or so.

Is your memory running DOCP?

He's not using ryzen.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

I appreciate the information either way. It's still going to hold true. I suppose my main hitch isn't trying to hit a constant 144 fps. My main issue is sometimes games are chugging all the way to 50ish frames. Granted not for long periods, usually a half second or so then back to normal.

Not sure if it's cumbersome to look through or not, I have a HWINFO64 file from a 2 hour session of Deep Rock where I was having these issues of the frames dropping as low as 60 or so. Again not looking for a constant 144, drops are expected, but into the 60's seems steep. But I can procure a more reasonable csv if necessary, just at a later time tonight I'd say.

It's possible it's some background task, what else is running when playing?

Have you updated the bios yet?

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

does sound like malfunctioning alright.
how long are the intervals between running normally and those drops you mention ? Every minute ? 5 minutes ? 15 minutes ? More
I've seen rdr2 drop from 60 to 30-something on my rig (also 10700+32g 3600 c16) at times out of nowehere, then go back up in a second, but that only happens once every few sessions or so.


He's not using ryzen.

Ha! Yes, your are right. I must have been mixing threads Advice is the same either way. XMP for Intel.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

I appreciate the information either way. It's still going to hold true. I suppose my main hitch isn't trying to hit a constant 144 fps. My main issue is sometimes games are chugging all the way to 50ish frames. Granted not for long periods, usually a half second or so then back to normal.

Not sure if it's cumbersome to look through or not, I have a HWINFO64 file from a 2 hour session of Deep Rock where I was having these issues of the frames dropping as low as 60 or so. Again not looking for a constant 144, drops are expected, but into the 60's seems steep. But I can procure a more reasonable csv if necessary, just at a later time tonight I'd say.

Yes, drops that big will be noticeable. It's way below what you'd expect your 1% lows to be. And given this is a measure of smoothness, then something is at play.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

I've asked before, but why aren't you using Gsync.? There will be no sudden stutter with it on. It works in the range from about 48-165 hz or whatever the max refresh is of the monitor.