GTX 980 poor usage (and low fps) in BF4 mutiplayer

[SR71Blackguy]

Hello all,
Just on Wednesday I installed my new MSi GTX 980. After I installed the newest driver, I checked Minecraft as a quick/simple benchmark. The fps seemed significantly higher than my previous card (r9 280x), so no problem there. (Actually, side issue: I turned all the settings down including render distance, to see what absurd fps I could get, and when I did that, the card started to produce coil whine.(but that's not my main problem)). Then, I went to go try out the BF4 test range map as a benchmark, and got nothing too crazy (90-120fps). Although, later I did try it a few more times and the fps was about 115-140fps, which is probably where it should be. So, where it gets bad is specifically in the multiplayer. I only got 55-75 fps (everything maxed) on Zavod (a map), where it should be easily 100+. So, after many more games with MSi after burner, I have noticed that the GPU only has a 70% usage, whereas my Intel i5 4670k is at 95+% usage. In another game it got as bad as 50% usage for the GPU, and my fps correlated with that. I would like to know if my issues are indeed based on poor usage, and what I could do to fix this.
Thanks in advance,
Kyle M

Specs
CPU: Intel I5 4670k
MOBO: ASRock Z87 extreme 4
RAM: 8Gb Kingston HyperX Blu
Storage: 7200 rpm 1tb HDD + 240 GB Intel 730 series SSD
GPU: MSi GTX 980 GAMING 4G
PSU: Corsair CX750M
Monitor: 1080p 144hz

 

[Memhorder]

80 CPU Hot!!!

 

[stavros58]

I agree with razamatraz 80c is certainly pretty warm i'm running a IVY Bridge with a 20% overclock on a small form Air cooler instead of the stock one with a 24c ambient room temperature and my temps never go over 65c no matter what I play and how long I play for or if I run bench test on the system. 80c itself isn't overheat but it depends how quickly it gets to the temp and how quickly it cools down when not under load, personally I would make sure regardless that I reduced the CPU temps by 10-15c if it was my system. I didn't notice anywhere where you said what cooler you were using, if cleaning, reapplying paste doesn't make a difference look at a different cooler. Make sure you use the right gear to clean it though or you could do more damage than good. Before you go out buying expensive coolers though check all your fans are working put the CPU fans on max and see if you have the same problem if you don't then you know its the cooler system that isn't working efficiently and can decide what's best from there obviously you dont want to leave the fans on max permanently unless you like ear plugs. A reasonable air system would only set you back about $30-$35 so its not a very expensive fix. I dont agree that the PSU is the problem as there is nothing in your system that would stress it out the 980GTX is a maxwell so its pretty energy efficient, what temps does the 980GTX go to that should stabilise at about 65c as well. I have the MSI 970GTX on a 15% overclock and it never goes over 65c although I do have a permanent low level coil whine which I sent the first card back because of and the replacement had the same issue albeit not as noisy, although I do think unless its my imagination that the whine is slowly reducing in pitch over time. Either way I'm not that bothered as even with its 3.5 gig instead of 4 gig as advertised its an awesome card. Anyhow I think its your CPU throttling, one other thing just check your bios and see if you or your bios haven't inadvertently set something up wrong set it back to default and start again if you are not sure.

 

[No u]

Currently, I technically have an aftermarket cooler, but it looks and functions almost exactly the sane as a stock cooler, so I might as well just say I use a stock cooler. I'll try as many settings for power options and what-not as I can and see if there are any changes

 

[Memhorder]

Rip that sucker off and re-install it!

 

[No u]

This is a game of BF3 I just played. If I were playing BF4 imagine that the usage and frame rate shifted down a bit.

 

[Coolboy951]

use DDU driver uninstaller and try downloading the drivers again