GPU Usage Spikes (GTX 970)

[goldenbuddha777]

So I recently changed my GPU from a weaker 2GB Radeon 7700 to a 4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 in an attempt to all round improve my PC and the fps I am getting on certain games.

So although my fps has increased from around ~30 - to 60-70 on GTA V, a fairly demanding game yet when ever I drive to a new area, rendering more of the world I encounter a large spike of fps lag before stabilizing again at around the 60-70 region.

I looked around for fix, reinstalled drivers, changed power setting to prefer performance, problem remained. Saw a thread here about Bitcoin mining trojans which can cause spikes in GPU usage so I took it upon myself to look for usage spikes using Afterburner and I found that it was infact spiking as I enter new zones.

So I've ran about 4 malware scans using different software, removed any suspicious articles, as well as looking along my processes for any obvious miner processes running, nothing. Anyhow I loaded up GTA V and I still have the problem.

As a result I'm posting here as a last resort if anyone has any advice to solve this issue.

My Specifications:
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme 3
CPU: AMD FX-8350
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
16GB DDR3 RAM
Corsair CX750W PSU

 

[n0ns3ns3]

OK ...
I have no idea what the issue is, but I'd do the following to troubleshoot it:
1. Check if there are any GPU usage spikes in 2D mode (on desktop) - if not, it's not something that using your GPU.
2. From what you describe, it seems like a drop, not spike in GPU usage:
2.1 When you drive to a new area, data is loaded from disk and CPU has to do a lot of work, so you should observe what happens to CPU, RAM and your storage when those FPS drops occur. For example, if you have CPU usage jumping to 100% - something wrong with the CPU.
2.2 Try to see what happens when you lower the screen resolution/visual quality - if it helps - problem might be in PCIe speed.
As last resort, try to see if the card behave the same in other system (take it to a friend). If it is, you have a problem with the card. If not, I'd recommend to try reset BIOS to defaults and if that does not help, fresh Windows instal.

 

[Jester Maroc]

It could be that your HDD is slow, you do not list it in your specs. As you move in the game world a new data set needs to be loaded with every section and a slow HDD can cause what you are describing. I doubt it is your GPU.

 

[goldenbuddha777]

My HDD is only about 3 months or so old, brand new so I expect it to be good enough. It has 2TB although I've used up half of it.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

My HDD is only about 3 months or so old, brand new so I expect it to be good enough. It has 2TB although I've used up half of it.

May be, you have something that utilizes the disk too much. Torrents for example.

 

[ema21del9]

My HDD is only about 3 months or so old, brand new so I expect it to be good enough. It has 2TB although I've used up half of it.

Doesn't really matter if it's new, mechanical disks are slow so IT IS possible it may cause some lag when loading new areas, you should be more specific, this happends in GTA V or in other games? because I play GTA V in a shitty HDD and the game never slows down.

 

[goldenbuddha777]

My HDD is only about 3 months or so old, brand new so I expect it to be good enough. It has 2TB although I've used up half of it.

Doesn't really matter if it's new, mechanical disks are slow so IT IS possible it may cause some lag when loading new areas, you should be more specific, this happends in GTA V or in other games? because I play GTA V in a shitty HDD and the game never slows down.

This happens in pretty much any game I play that has some challenging spec requirements, examples are GTA V, Fallout 4, Dota 2, AC Syndicate.

Anyhow, I completely wiped the PC as suggested above, reinstalled the game and I still have this frame dropping usage issue. I assume therefore this is 100% a hardware problem?

 

[ema21del9]

Disregard the HDD then, I play GTA V with a 5400rpm HDD and runs smooth all the time.

 

[goldenbuddha777]

How can I check to look for hardware failures? Any software recommendations as well as a hint as to what I should be looking for? Really in the dark in this area.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

How can I check to look for hardware failures? Any software recommendations as well as a hint as to what I should be looking for? Really in the dark in this area.

Just check the card in another PC.

 

[goldenbuddha777]

How can I check to look for hardware failures? Any software recommendations as well as a hint as to what I should be looking for? Really in the dark in this area.

Just check the card in another PC.

Don't have another PC to do this with.

 

[goldenbuddha777]

So I've found out that I do not get the fps lag and GPU usage drops when loading new areas, it just happens every 20-30 seconds or so. Therefore I think I can assume it's not a HDD related issue? Is there any chance this could be caused by something limiting my GPU usage?

 

[n0ns3ns3]

So I've found out that I do not get the fps lag and GPU usage drops when loading new areas, it just happens every 20-30 seconds or so. Therefore I think I can assume it's not a HDD related issue? Is there any chance this could be caused by something limiting my GPU usage?

If you have done reinstalling the OS and game, it seems more like a HW issue.
It can be anything from CPU, RAM, MB, HDD, GPU.
BUT if your system worked fine before, i'd suspect the GPU.

 

[goldenbuddha777]

Found out that I get the spikes pretty much as soon as my CPU hits 70C, didn't realise I was hitting these temps and I'm gonna have to invest in some better cooling which will hopefully solve the problem. Thanks for all the help.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

Found out that I get the spikes pretty much as soon as my CPU hits 70C, didn't realise I was hitting these temps and I'm gonna have to invest in some better cooling which will hopefully solve the problem. Thanks for all the help.

What cooler do you have right now ?

 

[Jester Maroc]

Found out that I get the spikes pretty much as soon as my CPU hits 70C, didn't realise I was hitting these temps and I'm gonna have to invest in some better cooling which will hopefully solve the problem. Thanks for all the help.

Awesome! Not that you need a new cooler, but that you discovered the problem

I really do hope that you are right, cause 70c is still within the operating range of your CPU. It is not normal for the CPU to start throttling at that low temp.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

Found out that I get the spikes pretty much as soon as my CPU hits 70C, didn't realise I was hitting these temps and I'm gonna have to invest in some better cooling which will hopefully solve the problem. Thanks for all the help.

Awesome! Not that you need a new cooler, but that you discovered the problem

I really do hope that you are right, cause 70c is still within the operating range of your CPU. It is not normal for the CPU to start throttling at that low temp.

It depends at which temperature (sensor) you are looking. For example CPU package sensor @70c -> cores are well above 100c.

 

[Jester Maroc]

Found out that I get the spikes pretty much as soon as my CPU hits 70C, didn't realise I was hitting these temps and I'm gonna have to invest in some better cooling which will hopefully solve the problem. Thanks for all the help.

Awesome! Not that you need a new cooler, but that you discovered the problem

I really do hope that you are right, cause 70c is still within the operating range of your CPU. It is not normal for the CPU to start throttling at that low temp.

It depends at which temperature (sensor) you are looking. For example CPU package sensor @70c -> cores are well above 100c.

Right, which is why I doubt a new cooler will resolve the issue.

 

[n0ns3ns3]

Found out that I get the spikes pretty much as soon as my CPU hits 70C, didn't realise I was hitting these temps and I'm gonna have to invest in some better cooling which will hopefully solve the problem. Thanks for all the help.

Awesome! Not that you need a new cooler, but that you discovered the problem

I really do hope that you are right, cause 70c is still within the operating range of your CPU. It is not normal for the CPU to start throttling at that low temp.

It depends at which temperature (sensor) you are looking. For example CPU package sensor @70c -> cores are well above 100c.

Right, which is why I doubt a new cooler will resolve the issue.

Replacing the cooler involves couple of side effects.
Re-applying the thermal compound, getting rid of the dust and other dirt on radiator fins, making sure that the mount is good. So it can actually solve the problem.
However, it might be also a case of insufficient airflow within the case.