GTX 970 - Low GPU Usage

[Gubs125]

So in all games my GPU usage hovers around 50% and then drops to 13%-20% now and then. After monitoring on my secondary monitor while playing games I notice my CPU usage drops and the core speed drops from 3.5Ghz to 1.33Ghz.
I have reinstalled windows 10 - I have used DDU and also benchmarked using MSI Kombuster - My GPU usage was 99% no drops.

If anyone has any solutions, feel free to help.

Palit GTX 970
AMD FX 6300 3.5Ghz
Coolermaster 500w PSU
8Gb DDr3 1600Mhz Ram
1080p Acer Monitor and 1440x900 monitor

 

[turkey3_scratch]

CPU bottleneck? What's CPU usage at?

 

[amd4lif3]

whats the question lool its like low gpu voltage and then no question well hmmm confusing haha

 

[Gubs125]

whats the question lool its like low gpu voltage and then no question well hmmm confusing haha

Sorry, I was editing it XD

 

[amd4lif3]

LEL

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Is Vsync on or off?

 

[Gubs125]

Is Vsync on or off?

I have tried with it on and off ingame settings. No difference really.
I have not changed the Nvidia control panel settings.

 

[amd4lif3]

well the gpu is being bottlenecked clearly but its not because its an amd chip lool because of that drop in frequency 3.5 ghz to 1.33 ghz my first suggestion is check the cpu temps on idle and load this will give us an idea if they are too warm then you will have to start cleaning the dust out

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Is gameplay smooth? Is CPU usage of any core at 100% while gaming?

 

[Gubs125]

Is gameplay smooth? Is CPU usage of any core at 100% while gaming?

Gameplay is smooth, depending on game, Then when core speed drops so does FPS.
No cores are 100%, normally fluctuating around 80%. When core speed drops - so does CPU usage

 

[amd4lif3]

so for some reason the cpu is throttling do a benchmark and monitor temps i use intel extreme tuning utility to check out my cpu temps at load but not sure how that would work on an amd system ahah maybe prime 95 or something good luck anyway im off to bed

 

[turkey3_scratch]

As amd4lif3 said, what are temperatures like?

 

[Gubs125]

so for some reason the cpu is throttling do a benchmark and monitor temps i use intel extreme tuning utility to check out my cpu temps at load but not sure how that would work on an amd system ahah maybe prime 95 or something good luck anyway im off to bed

My temps are really good. I use Prime 95 to stress test - Idle my temps are 20ish degrees, Max Load for 20 minutes my temps are 40-45ish.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

During prime95, is frequency where it should be?

 

[amd4lif3]

any fluctuations should be noted

 

[Gubs125]

During prime95, is frequency where it should be?

any fluctuations should be noted

The CPU core speed stays between 3.43Ghz and 3.46Ghz and does not drop below that. And of course - 100% usage
Edit - It is now dropping to 1.33ghz and then moves back up

 

[turkey3_scratch]

If the CPU is not at 100% (like when gaming), it downclocks itself to conserve power. So that is perfectly normal.

 

[Gubs125]

If the CPU is not at 100% (like when gaming), it downclocks itself to conserve power. So that is perfectly normal.

The CPU is actually fluctuating now - It dropping every now and the to 1.33. Im going to test the temps again

 

[Gubs125]

The CPU temp is not going above 40 degrees celcius

 

[turkey3_scratch]

I highly doubt your CPU is at 40C when stress testing. If you ended the stress test, it's normal for the CPU to be around 1Ghz.

 

[Gubs125]

Im going to check the BIOS overclock settings and see if anything there is out of order

 

[Gubs125]

I highly doubt your CPU is at 40C when stress testing. If you ended the stress test, it's normal for the CPU to be around 1Ghz.

It has only been stress testing for about 5 minutes, yet it still throttled

 

[Gubs125]

The CPU still throttles and is a regular thing
https://gyazo.com/6165779fa6d001931cbf4ad5364d27d5

 

[Gubs125]

I have solved the issue - Turbo Cores was enabled in the BIOS, once disabled my core speed did not fluctuate under load.