FPS Drop over the course of months

[setari]

So I am currently recording stuff for Youtube, mainly Pillars of Eternity, which isn't a, y'know, graphics intensive game IMO. When I first turned off Vsync (I have the correct monitor type for it, 60hz+ refresh rate, dunno the exact number but it works), my FPS shot up to the 300's-400's at the title screen and would sit around maybe 100-60ish when playing, 60-40 when recording. Now today (I just recorded a couple episodes a few days ago and my FPS was hovering around 30, dropping into low 20's sometimes) my FPS is shot. This all happened as the topic says, over the course of 2 months-ish.

I have no idea what has happened. I've tried tweaking my computer besides overclocking because I'm scared of overclocking since my house is natively extremely hot during the day when I play, so that's a no-go for me IMO. According to SpeedFan, here are my system temps:

Temperatures

My system specs are:

Win7x64bit
AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series
12GB RAM
CPU: Intel i5 Sandy Bridge 2500 GHz
Windows Aero, etc turned OFF, set to look like Win98 lol

Not sure what else to provide here. If you guys think it's okay to OC my GPU a bit (which is also what I run the recording software through too), let me know and I guess I'll go look up how to do it correctly.

Thanks for any replies.

Also, I have really crappy FPS on GTAV too so that's an issue too.

 

[Archgaull]

What CPU do you have?

 

[setari]

Just edited the OP with my CPU, sorry about that.

 

[setari]

Also changed the temps image to reflect my other cores, sorry about that too lol.

 

[Archgaull]

Those temps are very worrying, what cooler do you have?

 

[setari]

Corsair H60 Watercooler, I think it's called. The cooler is barely working, if even. I've had this thing running at those temps for 3 years now. I am pretty sure the Cooler is broken but I can't do anything about it right now. I might be able to put the stock Intel cooler on it but even then I am not sure how much good that would do.

Also, self-built computer if that means anything.

 

[Archgaull]

That's odd, I have the H50 and it's great, so the cooler is definitely broken. Unfortunately, you'll have to either deal with the issue until you can get a new cooler. Have you tried contacting Corsair?

 

[setari]

I figure it's a bit late to contact Corsair about it lol. I don't have money for a replacement or anything so that's not really in my window of opportunities right now. I could contact them though to see if they can do anything about it.

Edit: Just opened a ticket with them so we'll see how that goes I guess.

However, is the heat the issue? Because I don't understand why my FPS would just drop over the course of a couple months like that. My computer has been like that since I got it, so I feel like that may or may not be the issue, considering the game is running through my GPU and not so much my CPU, right?

 

[bystander]

That heat is WAY beyond spec. I'm surprised your system doesn't just shut down on you. Are you sure the problem is the cooler, and not the thermal compound/paste between the CPU and cooler?

 

[Unolocogringo]

Your processor is overheating and slowing itself down, to save itself.
The processor feeds the video card while gaming. If the processor slows down the video card slows down. It can only perform as fast as the processor sends it information.
Have you cleaned the dust out of the radiator?
You can also put your hand on the pump on the processor to see if it is running. Very slight vibrations and a little bit of noise.

 

[setari]

Oooh I gotcha. Yeah I should have thought of that, not sure why I thought of them as two independent pieces of the computer.

I'm pretty sure the pump is not working at all. In fact it is extremely hot to the touch, always, and is not making any noise whatsoever.

 

[Archgaull]

Okay, then the pump is most definitely dead. I would definitely recommend putting on the stock Intel heatsink, at least it will do something.

 

[Unolocogringo]

In that case the pump is probably dead.
For now your best option is to remove the AIO water cooler and install the original heatsink.
Make sure to clean the processor with alcohol and lint free coffee filter or if nothing else paper towels. then install the stock heatsink.

 

[setari]

Can do guys. Thanks. I'll do it when I get some thermal paste since I don't have any at the moment and I'm sure it could use a new coat at this point.

Also if anyone is still watching this thread, since it's later in the day now, my house is significantly cooler but the temps are the same. Does the air surrounding the CPU/parts not do anything?

 

[Archgaull]

It does a little, but unless you see a drastic difference, I doubt you'd notice a major difference.

 

[Unolocogringo]

The stock cooler has thermal paste/pad pre applied on the bottom, unless it has already been used.
You can install it now, and change the paste later when you get some.

 

[setari]

Hey guys, thanks for helping me out.

I put in the stock Intel cooler and it dropped my temps to sort of acceptable ranges now I would say. Idling it runs pretty much 50's and with a game fired up on full graphics (just tried Guild Wars 2, haven't tried anything else yet since I just finished it up) it runs to 70's and stays there.

Thank you so much for helping me, I am way looking into getting a new cooler ASAP. Holy cow. Thank you guys so much again, thank you, thank you!

 

[bystander]

Those are still higher than they should be. You should get an aftermarket cooler that works and make sure you apply the TMI well.