FPS Lag Spikes every 10 seconds or so

[TheNanMan2000]

Firstly, I'll get what I have already done in attempt to fix the problem. On the Witcher 3 (I get lag spikes on Total War: Warhammer aswell, not on Minecraft, although they're only what I've installed atm) I have turned the settings to lowest and highest, although it does not effect my FPS spikes at all. I have downloaded my CPU, GPU and Motherboard drivers, also checked that they're up to date. (If there is more drivers than that, please tell me). I have defragmented, also made no effect. On the command prompt, I did (What I think is called) a SFC Scan, which detected no problems. When playing the Witcher 3, I turned my GPU fans to full blast, didn't really make a difference. I have taken out both my RAM sticks and put them back in. I will say, when I turn my PC off and then back on to play a game, the time it takes for the lag spikes to come along is longer, although as soon as one comes, they're within the short amount of time again. These are my PC specs:
GPU - sapphire r9 290 tri-X oc gpu
CPU - AMD FX-9590 Eight-Core Processor
Motherboard - themasrock 990fx extreme 3 motherboard
RAM - 8 GB
(If you require any other specs, just ask)

 

[latedev]

Your machine looks ample for the game, but you need to look at all external components to the game first.

With many of these games, they are network connected all the time, so any changes in the network influences the game.

Lag spikes are caused in many ways, but it is usually something else in the background, using up CPU time which is the main culprit. On line games are notorious for causing lag spikes, as many rely on an update every so many milli seconds.

When you start the computer afresh, memory is clear, and as time progresses memory gets filled. Most games use a cache setting which can be changed, after checking the network for problems first I would have a look around at the Wither 3 settings.

 

[TheNanMan2000]

Ok, cheers for that, I'll run the game offline and have as little running as possible whilst I do. Whilst I do that though, do you know how I could keep my CPU's attention on the game enough to stop the lag spikes for in the future?

 

[TheNanMan2000]

I just tried the game again, my wifi was off and nothing else was running, although I still got the lag spikes. Any other ideas?

 

[latedev]

It is all a question of testing then try again. You ruled out the net connection itself but the lag spike tells you there is something going on in the background that maybe causes the CPU to work harder at times, or indeed something else to take up the time.

I know nVidia cards had a problem at one time with the latest drivers being worse than the preceding drivers. So the latest drivers may not always be the answer. If the problem occurred prior to a new driver install, it should point to the drivers not being the problem.

When did the problem first appear, or has it always been this way ?

With 8GB of RAM I doubt if its a memory problem, unless the game itself has a memory problem in the program.

I would start by checking the CPU performance and see if it is the CPU
This will help to explain things and help you create a log http://www.instantfundas.com/2012/03/how-to-record-cpu-and-memory-usage-over.html
When programming for real time applications perfmon is used to check how well the program is reacting under load, given that windows does have other activities that are scheduled to occur naturally.

Identifying any problem is always a bonus when trying to find out any issue, even if it is by elimination.

Of course you also have to consider that a windows update may cause problems, I had this when the anniversary update came out. The only way then is to contact the game programmers and tell then an update in the O.S. has broken their program.

 

[TheNanMan2000]

Ok, I'll give it a try

 

[TheNanMan2000]

I've had a look at monitoring the CPU straight after a lag spike and there's usually a dip in the CPU usage on the spikes.

 

[TheNanMan2000]

Hmm, something interesting, I don't get any lag spikes for Minecraft. I've got all the settings on very high (Or things like render distance on full) and yet there's not a single thing wrong.

 

[latedev]

A dip in the CPU usage could mean another device is taking up that time, as far as Minecraft is concerned that uses the network and although you may have physically turned of the network connection it does not mean the game has stopped trying to use it or is compensating when there is no network.

Changing settings with some games may not actually have the desired result, and in fact lowering the settings with some cause the inverse to happen, the lag gets worse. I don't know why.

Maybe Minecraft is running on a different game engine, that does not stress the CPU in the same way.

Is this a sudden problem, maybe after the anniversary Win 10 update, or has it always been this way ?

 

[TheNanMan2000]

Well, I changed componants on my PC a while ago, and the CPU coolant jel I had on it, aswell as the CPU fan were apparently terrible, which caused my PC to crash when ever I turned it on. I got it fixed and when I was given the PC back, it started getting the lag spikes.

 

[TheNanMan2000]

Something worth mentioning, when I'm in powersaver mode, I get no lag spikes, the only difference is I can't run my games at as high of a setting

 

[latedev]

Well, I changed componants on my PC a while ago, and the CPU coolant jel I had on it, aswell as the CPU fan were apparently terrible, which caused my PC to crash when ever I turned it on. I got it fixed and when I was given the PC back, it started getting the lag spikes.

 

[latedev]

What components did you change ?

 

[TheNanMan2000]

The motherboard, GPU and power supply

 

[TheNanMan2000]

Although I got the parts of my mate, so he removed the CPU and hard drives from his motherboard and just put in my CPU, hard drives and the thing with antenna to connect to the wifi.

 

[latedev]

The thing with an an antenna is your wifi network card.

When he put your CPU in, did he test it to make sure everything was configured for that CPU ? Did he go into the BIOS and reconfigure everything ?

 

[TheNanMan2000]

My mate didn't, although when I sent my PC to be repaired, the guy fit a new CPU fan and Coolant jell. He didn't say he did or didn't, so that may be problem.