Great computer but still experience performance issues in gaming and video streaming

[edgar_g21]

Hello everyone, I have had serious performance issues while playing video games over the past few months. I've been experiencing drastic drops in fps, lag in crucial times when there is a lot of interaction between players and occasionally errors that cause the games to crash. Along with the game issues, I've noticed that if i go to a website such as www.twitch.tv to watch progamers (League of Legends/Starcraft/etc) that I cannot watch their streams above 480p, the stream will start to lag even if that is the only thing opened on my computer, I believe there is something very wrong because of the fact that I have a more-than-above-average computer. Here are the specs for my issue:

GAMES: I play League of Legends, Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, and have recently tried Planetside 2 but that didn't run very well (that can be omitted from the tests).
PROGRAMS: While playing games, i would typically run Skype (6.7), Google Chrome (Pandora/YouTube/Grooveshark/Music), or Windows Media Player.
INTERNET: I use AT&T's U-verse Max Plus package and here are links to 2 speed tests in my area:
http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/2926280479
http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/2926281366


PARTS: Here are my computer parts for my computer:
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116501
MOTHERBOARD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130645
GRAPHICS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127696
POWER SUPPLY: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182133
SSD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227792
RAM (x2): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231587
BD/DVD-ROM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247
OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116992
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
CASE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

I believe that with these parts my computer should run very well with minimal to no lag but that is not the case unfortunately.
Is there something wrong here like are there incompatible parts or what can be the issue? If there is any other information that I may provide, please let me know. Thank you for taking time to read this and offer your assistance, all help is greatly appreciated!

 

[edgar_g21]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Seu7O6IbATU the last 1/3 of this video will help you install it properly.

Ok so i opened up the case, pulled off the cpu fan and two things. 1 the silver part that sits between the fan and processor was fullll of dust. And 2, i noticed some of the plastic "teeth" of the cpu fan that latches obto the mother board are bent side ways. So when i try to put it back in, its difficult because it doesnt latch on very well

 

[edgar_g21]

Oh dear.. Im worried now because i took out the ram and unplugged some cords in the way so i can set up the fan again which i did, pretty firmly on there now. I reconnected everything but my computer wont boot up anymore as in like it turns on but then turns off after like 10-15 secs without showing anything on the screen..

 

[edgar_g21]

does that look normal?

http://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/p739/edgar_g21/photo_1_zps89699616.jpg

http://i1348.photobucket.com/albums/p739/edgar_g21/photo_zps8245354b.jpg

 

[edgar_g21]

Ok so I removed the heatsink completely (disconnected and not on the cpu) and i was able to boot up my computer and am typing to you now on it. The temps are in the green at the moment hovering around 80 Celsius but i am not running anything else. I am debating trying to buy some more thermal paste and some rubbing alcohol to wipe off all that gel (another friend of mine said that looks like way too much, that i only need like a dab for it and that i should wipe it off with alcohol and reapply some) do you recommend?

 

[tiny voices]

You will damage the computer running it with no heatsink. Idle it should be between 30-40 degrees C.

YOU NEEd to re attach the cooler. You are ruining your CPU.

I would recommend reinstalling the cooler the way it is and NEVER using a computer with no CPU cooler. You may have fried the CPU. Don't mess with anything and reinstall the cooler as shown in the video.

 

[tiny voices]

You can worry about properly applying thermal paste later but just leave the paste on there and reinstall the cooler so it seats correctly. It wasn't making complete contact before and that is why you overheated and honestly running with no cooler and a messed up cooler for so long may have ruined your CPU.

 

[Driice]

Heads up if your computer shuts down after about 10 seconds you might not have the RAM installed completely. You have to be firm when you're putting it in the slot.

 

[edgar_g21]

So i went and bought some thermal paste, removed the existing paste off the cpu and heatsink with rubbing alcohol and q tip. Reapplied thermal paste smaller than a pea, and locked in the heatsink. Turned on the computer, it boots up. Ran Warframe, 0 chop/lag now and i can actually alt tab and tab back in without performance loss. The CPU (when not in use for more than a few mins) is now at the 40-50 degree range and when i play games it shoots up to about 90 degrees in intense part but when I alt tab out it drop back down to about 60-70 again. I tried running Warframe again with max graphics and it doesnt chop anymore, i can get through a whole level without it chopping on bigger fights like it normally did. And I decided to try Starcraft 2 on Extreme settings again and i played vs 1 ai and it didnt chop at all and was able to run it smoothly again. I believe it works well now! This didnt solve my stream lag issue but the games work well now.

 

[edgar_g21]

Is there anything you can offer for the stream that may be related to my hardware so i can try and see if it clears it up? or do you believe that is just an internet issue? (even though it get about 17-18 download speed)

 

[edgar_g21]

Update: I am currently running Planetside 2 on Ultra graphics and no performance issues!

It does get pretty high/hot but when i finish running the game, the cpu cools down pretty quickly. I assume that is normal or not as bad as it was before?

 

[Driice]

Sounds like you might want to get an after market cooler for your build.

 

[tiny voices]

Well it sounds like some damage was done to your CPU. Is it overclocked at all? 90c in game is WAY too hot. It might have been damaged form overheating for so long. Are you POSITIVE you installed the cooler correctly and turned all the pegs the correct way?

It should idle around 35-40 and under load it should not be hotter than 65. You still have a decent problem.

 

[edgar_g21]

Well i'm pretty positive i did it correctly. I removed the old paste with rubbing alcohol and q tips, waited a few mins for that to evaporate and then reapplied a dab of the paste. Granted, the heatsink was moving around a bit while i was trying to lock it into place due to the pins being messed up as i mentioned earlier, i had to really try to lock it in. but I did not turn on the computer until it was secured in and with the case on. I ran Planetside 2 just fine hovering between 40-60 fps in decent sized fights. I exited the game, and only have chrome open and skype but no call, and its at about 40-50 degrees (i assume this is near idle). Also it is not overclocked i believe, i havent messed with any of the settings in the BIOS or anywhere

 

[edgar_g21]

Also i forgot to mention, when iwent to go buy thermal paste, i bought 2 more system fans and attached them to my case cover as intake fans so there will hopefully be more airflow in the computer as well

 

[tiny voices]

The intake fans shouldn't really make much difference.

What is the current idle and load temps of the CPU?

 

[edgar_g21]

I am currently watching a stream on chrome and have league of legends open (just the client, not the actual game) and skype and it is at about 50-60 degrees. And now i just loaded up Planetside 2 and alt tabbed and its hovering around 90-100 degrees C

 

[tiny voices]

that is too high. With the CPU cooler is still not correctly installed or the processor is toast. I would guess its toast. If the CPU cooler is completely correctly installed, then those temps are far too high and the CPU is shot. Sorry man.

 

[edgar_g21]

Well i was already anticipating having to buy another cpu earlier today when i couldnt get it to boot but it ended up working after reapplying the cpu. I appreciate all the help though, i definitely learned a lot about hardware and testing my computer's components so this was very valuable for me, thank you! Would it be safe/alright if i continued to use this cpu for a while (lets say a few months) until i get another cpu? or could this damage other components in my computer?

 

[tiny voices]

It shouldn't damage anything. That much heat on the motherboard isn't good at all but it should be alright. I would try to get a new CPU ASAP. That CPU will burn out pretty soon.

 

[edgar_g21]

What a sad story lol, oh well, thanks again. That is a solid cpu though right, like can i just reorder the same one?

 

[tiny voices]

Its overkill for gaming. An i5 would perform exactly the same. An i7 is only useful over an i5 for video editing or rendering.

 

[edgar_g21]

Oh I see, well as a last request, can you link me a CPU off of Newegg that would run the same as my current i7? I just want to make sure I dont get a wrong cpu, or socket type, or anything, thank you

 

[tiny voices]

Do you do any editing or encoding of videos or just gaming and general use? Do you plan to overclock ever?

 

[edgar_g21]

I dont do any serious editing, maybe once in a blue moon ill make a video with Movie Maker but nothing serious. I'm a gamer and a programmer so if anything i'd have some developing software also but im sure a gaming computer could handle that. As for overclock, i dont plan to unless i need to, but first starting out, no, and also i dont know how to properly overclock a system so i wouldnt try it.

 

[tiny voices]

Get the i5 3570k.