Issues with PC

[link_q]

Hello,
I had made a computer a year ago. I've had issues but i never got around to it so I want to ask now.
My specs are:i-750,4g RAM,ga-p55-usb3, Sapphire radeon 5870 1gb, OCZ 700w.

My problem is that i have low fps. Even on older games that the 5870 is supposed to be awesome, I have to lower my settings, which is really lame considering the build. I was told it's drivers. I updated at each new driver but to no avail. The strangest thing is that i am running on 1280x1024 which shouldnt bog down the system at all, all things considered. Please help me Tom's Hardware community, I don't know what to do

 

[Kamab]

So the graphics card shows up in your device manager? =P. Check all the power connections on the Graphics card and try running any diagnostics software from amd/sapphire that came with the card.

Does your computer have onboard graphics? If it does try plugging into it and seeing if there is a difference.

 

[Kamab]

Also, make sure the card is in the correct PCI express slot. I see that board does not have on board graphics.

 

[Kamab]

I mean, make sure the card is correctly inserted in the PCIe slot. My best guess is that your card isn't seated properly or the power cables are not plugged in correctly.

 

[link_q]

Thanks for the quick answer, I will open my computer today or tomorrow. But what do you mean if it shows up? I only have Catalyst Control Center related to that...

 

[link_q]

Well, I opened it, cleaned up everything, checked cables and the card but nothing changed in the performance...

 

[Kamab]

Do you have any other cards you can test in the PCIx slot. It could be a defective card. Your PSU should have no trouble supplying enough power if it's a 700W psu.

 

[link_q]

Sadly I don't own any other cards to test...

 

[Kamab]

What information is available from the catalyst control center? Can you check the clocks speeds on the card? Could you try running a benchmark and seeing exactly how poor the performance is?

 

[link_q]

What information is available from the catalyst control center? Can you check the clocks speeds on the card? Could you try running a benchmark and seeing exactly how poor the performance is?

Thanks for the extensive help you are trying to offer!
The clocks on my 5870 are I think on their defaul (875/1250) Could you point out which benchmark program would be most suitable for that? Thanks again

 

[Kamab]

Something like 3DMark

 

[Kamab]

Oh, did you plug in both 6 pin power connectors? This card has/requires they both be plugged in.

 

[Petrofsky]

If you have a lot of cards in your slots, you could be starving your GPU of lanes, I believe. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

Sometimes the newest driver is worse than an older one. They stop trying to accommodate past cards in favor of the newer ones, and you get left in the lurch. Try archived drivers starting with the one just after your card hit the market.

Just thinking out loud, really.