GPU usage drops

[Logic669]

My specs :
CPU : Intel Core I5 4440 3.10 GHz
GPU : Gigabyte GTX 960 G1 Gaming Edition 2 GB
RAM : 8 GBs
Motherboard : H81-S2PT
Hard drive : WD 2 TB
OS : Windows 7 Ultimate x64

So my problem is that when I'm running games they work very good for about 20 seconds and then it lags so much for about 3 secs. I used HWMonitor and found that the CPU and RAM usage are 70%-75% but the GPU works on 99% (Which is when the game runs smoothly) and then the GPU usage suddenly drops to 40-60% (When the game lags). It stays on low usage for about 3 seconds and it comes back up to 99%. I tried changing the games' priority in the task manager to high but nothing happened. This happens when playing games like Grand Theft Auto 5, Watch Dogs, Dying Light. But when playing some other games (Like Far Cry 4), the GPU usage doesn't drop and stays at 99-100%, which makes the game run very well with no FPS drops. (I play it on ultra, not lowering and settings).

 

[i7Baby]

Could be the CPU over heating.

 

[Logic669]

According to HWMonitor, the CPU has an average temperature of 42C. And from what I know, the I5's maximum temperature is 70C. So I think it's not an overheating problem, is it?

 

[techgeek]

According to HWMonitor, the CPU has an average temperature of 42C. And from what I know, the I5's maximum temperature is 70C. So I think it's not an overheating problem, is it?

It could be Intel Speedstep kicking in when it's not supposed to. Try setting your Power settings to High Performance and see if that helps. This should keep Windows from dropping the multiplier.

 

[i7Baby]

Or maybe a DoS attack. Do a virus scan.

 

[mx_mp210]

Probably GPU is getting too hot. So it's throttling clock speed to cool it and then again running at full speed.
Check GPU temperatures in HWMonitor or with GPU-Z and confirm it.
If that's the case then you need better ventilation or better GPU profile in order to cool it down during gaming.

P.S. low frame rates occurs when your GPU is running on low clocks rendering high workload....

 

[techgeek]

Probably GPU is getting too hot. So it's throttling clock speed to cool it and then again running at full speed.
Check GPU temperatures in HWMonitor or with GPU-Z and confirm it.
If that's the case then you need better ventilation or better GPU profile in order to cool it down during gaming.

P.S. low frame rates occurs when your GPU is running on low clocks rendering high workload....

Usually when a GPU throttles, it's usage doesn't drop though. When the GPU is the bottleneck it's usage should remain at 100%, so if it throttles, it's even more so a bottleneck.

 

[mx_mp210]

Usually when a GPU throttles, it's usage doesn't drop though. When the GPU is the bottleneck it's usage should remain at 100%, so if it throttles, it's even more so a bottleneck.

Bottlenecks and throttling are two different things. As far as I know GTA V is very graphics intensive game and it can easily use most of GPU processing power. If it's throttling it's usage would be 100% but clocks would be lower then their normal values. It's only occurs to prevent card damaging itself. Plus not all games create same thermal levels, it may be using 100% GPU but may not be creating same amount of heat as other game.

Proper ventilation s always a good idea while using high TDP parts.

 

[techgeek]

Usually when a GPU throttles, it's usage doesn't drop though. When the GPU is the bottleneck it's usage should remain at 100%, so if it throttles, it's even more so a bottleneck.

Bottlenecks and throttling are two different things. As far as I know GTA V is very graphics intensive game and it can easily use most of GPU processing power. If it's throttling it's usage would be 100% but clocks would be lower then their normal values. It's only occurs to prevent card damaging itself. Plus not all games create same thermal levels, it may be using 100% GPU but may not be creating same amount of heat as other game.

Proper ventilation s always a good idea while using high TDP parts.

I wasn't associating throttling with a bottleneck, but throttling will not cause the GPU usage to drop. If anything it would cause it to go up if it's not already at 100% (in say a less graphically intense game). The OP's original post says he is experiencing a drop in GPU usage when the framerate falls. So the CPU is bottlenecking the GPU. Whether that's because the CPU is lowering its clock or throttling due to heat or a process is stealing cycles away from the game, it's not a GPU throttling issue.

 

[i7Baby]

What temps is the CPU getting to? What %usage - per task manager?

 

[Logic669]

I observed the temperature of the GPU while playing Grand Theft Auto 5 using HWMonitor, and I found that it goes up to 68C. So I've increased the GPU fans' speed using OC Guru II and now the highest GPU temperature is 53C while playing Grand Theft Auto 5, but the FPS drop still occurs... It's not overheating as its temperature is only 52C. Also, I observed the RAM usage and its maximum value was 95%. I also tried setting power options to High Performance and it seems it helped a little, but the FPS drop still occurs. It only increase the "good FPS time" to 20-25 secs but then it'd drop again. The CPU's temperature had an average of 56C after about 15 minutes of running Grand Theft Auto 5. The CPU usage is a little unstable, going 60% then 80% then 95% then dropping again to 60%. But I noticed that each time the CPU usage would drop to 50-70%, the GPU usage would also drop to 60-80% thus causing the FPS drop.

 

[i7Baby]

Watch Dogs - http://www.game-debate.com/games/index.php?g_id=4546&game=Watch%20Dogs - the i5 might be OK for low settings but not ultra.

Gaming temp

CPU - up to 60C is OK

GPU - up to 80C is OK.

Low settings or resolution - the CPU should be the bottleneck (100% usage).
High settings or resolution - the GPU should be the bottleneck.

Optimum when both are running at 90+% usage.

 

[techgeek]

I observed the temperature of the GPU while playing Grand Theft Auto 5 using HWMonitor, and I found that it goes up to 68C. So I've increased the GPU fans' speed using OC Guru II and now the highest GPU temperature is 53C while playing Grand Theft Auto 5, but the FPS drop still occurs... It's not overheating as its temperature is only 52C. Also, I observed the RAM usage and its maximum value was 95%. I also tried setting power options to High Performance and it seems it helped a little, but the FPS drop still occurs. It only increase the "good FPS time" to 20-25 secs but then it'd drop again. The CPU's temperature had an average of 56C after about 15 minutes of running Grand Theft Auto 5. The CPU usage is a little unstable, going 60% then 80% then 95% then dropping again to 60%. But I noticed that each time the CPU usage would drop to 50-70%, the GPU usage would also drop to 60-80% thus causing the FPS drop.

That's weird, I would have thought that you would see the CPU usage jump to say close to 100% when you were experiencing the FPS drop. This is typical behavior. When the CPU becomes too busy to keep the GPU fed, the GPU usage drops because it isn't being given enough to do by the CPU.

It's still possible that the CPU is busy. Some system services don't show up in the regular CPU usage in Windows 7 and lower. Windows 8 does show total usage including Windows processes and services.

 

[Logic669]

I disabled Intel HD Graphics from the BIOS and the CPU usage is now more stable. 90-100%. But I'm still experiencing FPS drops. Is the CPU bottlenecking the GPU? I tried some booster programs which turned off all services, most processes while playing. And it still happens. What could be wrong?