Is my CPU bottlenecking my GPU?

[Shadowblade2652]

Hi all,
I recently upgraded my computer to the following specs:
CPU: AMD A8-5600k clocked at 3.8GHz (OC)
RAM: 4GB G.Skill 1600MHz
GPU: Nvidia GTX 660TI SE (EVGA) 2GB GDDR5
OS: Windows 8.1

I have a problem running certain games. I can max out games like Borderlands 2 and still get respectable framerates, as well as Battlefield 3. I cannot, however run BF4 smoothly on low-medium settings because the game is very very stuttery. I will have 40FPS one moment and next I'll have around 5 - 10. It's very annoying and I have no clue how to fix it. Is the CPU the reason for the bottleneck, or does it have to do with RAM (I will get 2GB more soon so I'll have 6GB total)?

(Also as a side note, I run the games at 1600x900. I don't run them at 1080p.)

 

[swifty_morgan]

The problem was that I was running the game in DX10 as opposed to DX11. I also changed it to 720p and that reduced stuttering as well. Now the game is playable, even with 4GB of ram

it should be tougher to run in DX11 because it puts more of a strain on the machine.............. I think what really did help was the lower resolution.

 

[13thmonkey]

I would wait until you can do it with an i5, don't waste the money on an i3, you'll be just throwing that money away,

but not really because I'll get money back from selling my current setup (the AMD processor + the mobo)

no you'll be throwing the money away if you get an i3 as you'll soon want an i5 and that would then cost you the price of the i3 and the i5.

 

[Shadowblade2652]

What is the cheapest i5 processor that runs on sandy/ivy bridge? I know they run around $200, correct?

 

[maxalge]

What is the cheapest i5 processor that runs on sandy/ivy bridge? I know they run around $200, correct?

The cheapest are the i5 2330/i5 3330, should be around ~$180 - $185

 

[RussK1]

Lowering the resolution will make it more CPU bound which would make it worse if it was the CPU. @ 4GB of system RAM I would say that is the problem being the pagefile is being nailed.

A 660ti @ 1600x900 will not be bottlenecked by the 5600K in fact jumping to 1080p would be better. The bottleneck is the hard drive because the lack of RAM...

http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/forum/threadview/2955065219324626233/

 

[Shadowblade2652]

The problem was that I was running the game in DX10 as opposed to DX11. I also changed it to 720p and that reduced stuttering as well. Now the game is playable, even with 4GB of ram

it should be tougher to run in DX11 because it puts more of a strain on the machine.............. I think what really did help was the lower resolution.

running at 720p at dx10 somehow made the game just as choppy. I think it was both because the stuttering went away completely after dx11 was enabled.

 

[Shadowblade2652]

Lowering the resolution will make it more CPU bound which would make it worse if it was the CPU. @ 4GB of system RAM I would say that is the problem being the pagefile is being nailed.

A 660ti @ 1600x900 will not be bottlenecked by the 5600K in fact jumping to 1080p would be better. The bottleneck is the hard drive because the lack of RAM...

http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/forum/threadview/2955065219324626233/

I just recently put a Sandisk Caching SSD into the computer. Will that help with the page file or is the page file only on the HDD even with a caching drive?

 

[swifty_morgan]

that's for most used programs.......sorta......... and I think in due time you'll realize what a nightmare they are. I had one for a very short time. formatted it and use it and another for a quick access storage drives.

afaik it's only on the HD.

 

[Shadowblade2652]

that's for most used programs.......sorta......... and I think in due time you'll realize what a nightmare they are. I had one for a very short time. formatted it and use it and another for a quick access storage drives.

afaik it's only on the HD.

what's the problem with them?

Also,
i've been getting a lot of glitches lately. During the game (this is when the game is running at max everything), I might hear some odd sounds (similar to the old atari 2600 games, but indefinitely), and sometimes the game might randomly just crash. Even more extreme though, is sometimes the entire computer restarts, and I have to wait for it to fully boot before I can do anything again. I'm thinking that it is my RAM because I had the same problems with the APU, just not as severe (when I played on the APU it didn't run at max settings so that could be one of the problems as well)

 

[RussK1]

Lowering the resolution will make it more CPU bound which would make it worse if it was the CPU. @ 4GB of system RAM I would say that is the problem being the pagefile is being nailed.

A 660ti @ 1600x900 will not be bottlenecked by the 5600K in fact jumping to 1080p would be better. The bottleneck is the hard drive because the lack of RAM...

http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/forum/threadview/2955065219324626233/

I just recently put a Sandisk Caching SSD into the computer. Will that help with the page file or is the page file only on the HDD even with a caching drive?

You could disable the caching and move the pagefile to the SSD.

What are the full system specs BTW?

sometimes the entire computer restarts

Would indicate power supply or something is overheating.

 

[Shadowblade2652]

Lowering the resolution will make it more CPU bound which would make it worse if it was the CPU. @ 4GB of system RAM I would say that is the problem being the pagefile is being nailed.

A 660ti @ 1600x900 will not be bottlenecked by the 5600K in fact jumping to 1080p would be better. The bottleneck is the hard drive because the lack of RAM...

http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/forum/threadview/2955065219324626233/

I just recently put a Sandisk Caching SSD into the computer. Will that help with the page file or is the page file only on the HDD even with a caching drive?

You could disable the caching and move the pagefile to the SSD.

What are the full system specs BTW?

sometimes the entire computer restarts

Would indicate power supply or something is overheating.

I don't think it's the powersupply though because the PSU is a good cx500m. Should I consider moving into a bigger case?

 

[Shadowblade2652]

To deal with the cooling issue, I've decided to move out of my Rosewill FBM-01 case into something more roomy. I'm wondering what case I should get, since I have a budget of only $40 to 50. I don't need anything fancy, I just need a case that meets a couple requirements:
1. It has to have some sort of cable management area behind the motherboard tray (doesn't need to be monstrously big either, just enough room for some basic power cables, etc.)
2. It needs to have enough fans and/or fan mounts. I need to keep this thing cool
3. It must be micro-atx compatible (I'm not purchasing a new motherboard any time soon, so an mATX is the best I can use.
4. It must look nice. No fancy LEDs, or large intricate designs. All I want is an aesthetically pleasing box to put my components in (a simple color scheme like white or black, and a boxy look)

I'm thinking about either the NZXT Source 210/Elite, the Antec One, or the Fractal Design Core 1000. Which of these cases can fit my needs?

(This is the Source 210 I want, the one with the window (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146102&ignorebbr=1)

 

[RussK1]

The Core 1000 is nice.

 

[Shadowblade2652]

Is it big enough though? I want to eliminate the cooling issue so I don't have any more restarts.

 

[13thmonkey]

actually smaller is better for cooling (given the same number of fans) better cooling is achieved when the air is changed in the case, hence a small case can achieve a better number of air changes than a big case.

 

[Shadowblade2652]

Managed to obtain a fractal define R4. Will it make much of a difference cooling wise?

 

[RussK1]

The Define R4 is the Cats Meow. It's a really nice case...

Don't get trapped into the logic "bigger = better" because "better is better". I'v been a big case guy for years and of lately I've grown a series liking to the smaller more engineered cases.

 

[Shadowblade2652]

I wanted a case with plenty of fan mounts, and this was free. What's the best setup for cooling? Right now my setup is 1 intake in the front, and 1 exhaust in the back panel top, and 1 exhaust in the top of the case. Should I add more intakes?, or one right next to the GPU?

 

[RussK1]

That would be fine.

 

[Shadowblade2652]

how many more fans do you suggest that I add? I want to keep temperatures as low as possible

 

[RussK1]

Air in/air out. With active cooling on the boards VRM circuitry...

 

[Shadowblade2652]

I found 1 more fan, and added that in. Now I have 2 intake (1 on bottom, one on front), and 2 exhaust (1 on rear panel, and one on the top panel). Does this seem like adequate cooling for my components particularly the gpu?

 

[bretmh]

Your CPU is most definitely bottle necking your rig man. But you can always lower resolution and see fit hat takes the stress off of the CPU.

 

[13thmonkey]

the R4 is a great case, got one, love it. Good job getting one.

 

[RussK1]

Your CPU is most definitely bottle necking your rig man. But you can always lower resolution and see fit hat takes the stress off of the CPU.

Lowering resolution puts MORE strain on the CPU. Upping the resolution puts MORE strain on the GPU.

If the reverse were true we'd see people investing in higher end processors and not graphics cards for 1600p and 4K.

Make sense?