HELP - GPU usage is not stable and low fps in game

[marcustut]

specs
Intel core 2 duo E7200 @ OC'ed to 2.8GHz
Asus 7950 @ OC'ed to 1050mhz/1250mhz 3GDDR5 and power limit +10%
2x2gb DDR2-800
Asrock G41c-vs
Targa 580Watt PSU

It happens every time no matters which game I'm playing on Dota 2, LOL, Battlefield 4 or NBA 2k15 the GPU usage is around 50% and suddenly it goes up to 97% then drop to 2% or 3%, then it will pop up 'AMD Display drivers stopped responding and has recovered' then the game hangs there for awhile then continue, I have tried AMD 14.12 Omega drivers and AMD 14.11.2 it stills happen, my CPU usage is around 80% when I play games

I'm not sure is this a software issue or hardware issue, I still have my card under warranty if it's really hardware issue I can still send it back to the shop and they will exchange a new one for me

 

[SkylerJacobs]

your drivers are crashing. OC is what is most likely causing it.

 

[marcustut]

So which drivers should I use? Omega or 14.11.2, even the power limit +10% also can't handle the OC? how much should I put in my power limit?

 

[coozie7]

Try increasing the memory a little, if that doesn't work you'll either have to increase the core voltage (not all 7950s allow that) or drop the core OC because it looks as if you've hit that particular cards ceiling and it's unstable.

 

[marcustut]

http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k615/MarcusTuT/msi%20afterburner_zpsg737rvgu.png

the GPU usage became so weird after I apply this settings and I also noticed when I underclock the card it became stable will this be any hardware issue or CPU bottleneck so it can't go higher?

 

[coozie7]

You're just pushing the overclock too hard, reset it to stock speeds and retest.

 

[acedl]

Ditto to what Link from the Future Said.

You are being bottlenecked by that CPU. BF4 should have that card at pinned at 99%.

I had a C2D Wolfdale and had a same issue run SLI.

You will need new cpu, mobo and ram to have it all work correctly.

 

[marcustut]

Okay I'm planning to get a x5650 soon with Asus P6T Deluxe v2 it cost not so much and it's cheaper than 4690k but that CPU is like so many years ago, wondering do it still worth it?

 

[coozie7]

@ Marcustut: A old, slow CPU will not cause the GPU use to spike like that, you've just pushed the overclock too far, as you said, when it's underclocked it becomes stable, run it at stock speeds and see how it goes.
And yes, I'm fully aware of how a old CPU will perform with a fast GPU, my E6600 (now Q6600) HD7950 setup does not show the GPU load spikes Marcustut is noticing-just low frame rates.