Low performance after upgrading to GTX 780 (low GPU usage)

[duginox]

Hello everyone, and thank you for checking out my thread!

First off, here's my current build:
GPU - ASUS GTX 780 3GB DirectCU II OC
CPU - i7 3770k running at stock speed (3.5GHz)
Mobo - ASUS P8Z77-V LX
RAM - Kingston 16GB DDR3 HyperX 1600MHz
SSD - Intel 330 SSD 120GB
HDD - Seagate Barracuda 1TB
PSU - XFX ProSeries Black Edition 750W PSU
CPU FAN - CM Hyper 212 Evo
OS - Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Monitor 1 - BenQ GL2450 60Hz 24'
Monitor 2 - Samsung S24B350 24'

Issue
About two weeks ago, I decided it was time to upgrade from my GTX 660 to a GTX 780 to achieve more performance in some of the games that I play, like Battlefield 4, Infestation: Survivor Stories, DayZ, etc.. So I bought a ASUS 780, and I'm not getting nearly the performance that I should. Most of the time the GPU usage is quite low, like 30-60%. Also about 50-70% CPU usage. At the time, my CPU's temp was quite high, so I bought an aftermarket fan to try to cool it. I also bought a new PSU, just to make sure that everything was given enough power. After installing both of those, I got lower CPU temps, but my performance issues were still persisting. I get about 30-50 frames on ultra in battlefield 4, yet the GPU usage sticks at 40-50%. I managed to get it to rise for about 2 minutes yesterday somehow, and my fps rose to 90-100. It's now back to the same abysmal performance. I've updated my drivers, updated my chipset drivers, updated my BIOS to the latest version and nothing seems to resolve this issue. It doesn't matter if I'm at low or ultra in battlefield 4, I'll still get the same lousy performance. GPU usage goes down a bit when I turn down the graphics though.

What I have tried:
-Did CLEAN nvidia driver installs, did nothing
-Updated BIOS and chipset drivers
-Bought new PSU to rule out possible bottleneck
-Bought aftermarket CPU fan to reduce the CPU temps
-Lowered settings, lowered GPU usage
-Cleaned out dust in my PC
-Took off old Thermal paste, applied new, helped CPU temps
-Unparked cores

CPU temps
idle: 40-50C
load: 55-60C

GPU temps
idle: 40-45C
load: 65-67C

Unigine Valley score:

I think something may be bottlenecking my system, hardware wise maybe. I could try to reinstall windows 7 just to see if that would result in better performance, but I doubt it would help with anything.
I really don't know what to do at this point. I don't know if it's my CPU that is bottlenecking me, or if I received a faulty GPU or something. If anyone can come with any solutions that would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers!

 

[duginox]

Ok, so I successfully managed to overclock my CPU to 4.3GHz, yet, the problem still persist. Low GPU usage in games like Battlefield 4. Anyone knows what's up?

 

[jkteddy77]

Ok, so I successfully managed to overclock my CPU to 4.3GHz, yet, the problem still persist. Low GPU usage in games like Battlefield 4. Anyone knows what's up?

Hmm... You're down the same road as me... High benchmark scores, but bad game performance... Could it be a directX issue not utilizing your CPU/GPU? For me, using the Mantle API fixes low fps... hmm

Does this happen in ALL games or... Just BF games and borderlands. I'll tell you right now, you DO NOT need to OC that 3770k in the first place to handle a 780...

You read my thread I sent you on Youtube? I've tried EVERYTHING...
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2197635/low-performance-upgrading-gtx-780-low-gpu-usage.html

You may want to try a new windows install if you haven't attempted so yet. Works best if you can get your hands on a spare Drive for testing so you don't have to wipe everything. Reinstalling didn't help me :/

You'd think a couple more people would have this issue? I only find my own threads when I google this issue...

 

[swifty_morgan]

what happens if you only run 1 monitor?

 

[jkteddy77]

what happens if you only run 1 monitor?

Worth a shot, but I have 3 monitors... and Only running one, I get the same fps.

 

[swifty_morgan]

is the firmware for the ssd up to date? is the ssd set up properly ( you can google that ).................. the HD........ is the game being pulled from that?.....is the HD a 5400rpm model?...... and what happens if you uninstall the game from the HD and install it on the ssd?

 

[duginox]

is the firmware for the ssd up to date? is the ssd set up properly ( you can google that ).................. the HD........ is the game being pulled from that?.....is the HD a 5400rpm model?...... and what happens if you uninstall the game from the HD and install it on the ssd?

I have tried having the game both on the SSD and the HDD, can't say I see any difference between the performance.

 

[duginox]

Ok, so I successfully managed to overclock my CPU to 4.3GHz, yet, the problem still persist. Low GPU usage in games like Battlefield 4. Anyone knows what's up?

Hmm... You're down the same road as me... High benchmark scores, but bad game performance... Could it be a directX issue not utilizing your CPU/GPU? For me, using the Mantle API fixes low fps... hmm

Does this happen in ALL games or... Just BF games and borderlands. I'll tell you right now, you DO NOT need to OC that 3770k in the first place to handle a 780...

You read my thread I sent you on Youtube? I've tried EVERYTHING...
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2197635/low-performance-upgrading-gtx-780-low-gpu-usage.html

You may want to try a new windows install if you haven't attempted so yet. Works best if you can get your hands on a spare Drive for testing so you don't have to wipe everything. Reinstalling didn't help me :/

You'd think a couple more people would have this issue? I only find my own threads when I google this issue...

I'm leaning towards nuking everything and installing windows 8 or something, as it is the one thing I haven't tried yet.

 

[jkteddy77]

Ok, so I successfully managed to overclock my CPU to 4.3GHz, yet, the problem still persist. Low GPU usage in games like Battlefield 4. Anyone knows what's up?

Hmm... You're down the same road as me... High benchmark scores, but bad game performance... Could it be a directX issue not utilizing your CPU/GPU? For me, using the Mantle API fixes low fps... hmm

Does this happen in ALL games or... Just BF games and borderlands. I'll tell you right now, you DO NOT need to OC that 3770k in the first place to handle a 780...

You read my thread I sent you on Youtube? I've tried EVERYTHING...
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2197635/low-performance-upgrading-gtx-780-low-gpu-usage.html

You may want to try a new windows install if you haven't attempted so yet. Works best if you can get your hands on a spare Drive for testing so you don't have to wipe everything. Reinstalling didn't help me :/

You'd think a couple more people would have this issue? I only find my own threads when I google this issue...

I'm leaning towards nuking everything and installing windows 8 or something, as it is the one thing I haven't tried yet.

I have Windows 8.1 64-bit all updated... get the same ow fps issue as my friend with his 8350/r9 290 on Windows 7 64-bit... Don't bother, there has to be another solutions

 

[swifty_morgan]

since you say you're only running one monitor............ low vram and only running 1 card can't have too big an impact..??? how much have you messed with in game settings?

 

[jkteddy77]

Ok, so I successfully managed to overclock my CPU to 4.3GHz, yet, the problem still persist. Low GPU usage in games like Battlefield 4. Anyone knows what's up?

Hmm... You're down the same road as me... High benchmark scores, but bad game performance... Could it be a directX issue not utilizing your CPU/GPU? For me, using the Mantle API fixes low fps... hmm

Does this happen in ALL games or... Just BF games and borderlands. I'll tell you right now, you DO NOT need to OC that 3770k in the first place to handle a 780...

You read my thread I sent you on Youtube? I've tried EVERYTHING...
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2197635/low-performance-upgrading-gtx-780-low-gpu-usage.html

You may want to try a new windows install if you haven't attempted so yet. Works best if you can get your hands on a spare Drive for testing so you don't have to wipe everything. Reinstalling didn't help me :/

You'd think a couple more people would have this issue? I only find my own threads when I google this issue...

I'm leaning towards nuking everything and installing windows 8 or something, as it is the one thing I haven't tried yet.

I know this is more of an AMD thing, but have you tried wiping your Nvidia drivers, cleaning your registry, and then clean reinstalling the latest nvidia drivers (or last best working drivers I mean)
I recommend DDU for wiping drivers.
http://www.wagnardmobile.com/DDU/
get display driver uninstaller

 

[duginox]

Ok, so I successfully managed to overclock my CPU to 4.3GHz, yet, the problem still persist. Low GPU usage in games like Battlefield 4. Anyone knows what's up?

Hmm... You're down the same road as me... High benchmark scores, but bad game performance... Could it be a directX issue not utilizing your CPU/GPU? For me, using the Mantle API fixes low fps... hmm

Does this happen in ALL games or... Just BF games and borderlands. I'll tell you right now, you DO NOT need to OC that 3770k in the first place to handle a 780...

You read my thread I sent you on Youtube? I've tried EVERYTHING...
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2197635/low-performance-upgrading-gtx-780-low-gpu-usage.html

You may want to try a new windows install if you haven't attempted so yet. Works best if you can get your hands on a spare Drive for testing so you don't have to wipe everything. Reinstalling didn't help me :/

You'd think a couple more people would have this issue? I only find my own threads when I google this issue...

I'm leaning towards nuking everything and installing windows 8 or something, as it is the one thing I haven't tried yet.

I know this is more of an AMD thing, but have you tried wiping your Nvidia drivers, cleaning your registry, and then clean reinstalling the latest nvidia drivers (or last best working drivers I mean)
I recommend DDU for wiping drivers.
http://www.wagnardmobile.com/DDU/
get display driver uninstaller

That was the first thing I did when I first encountered the problems. Uninstalled, rebooted, cleaned registry with CCleaner and then reinstalled everything.

 

[swifty_morgan]

send your card back.

 

[duginox]

send your card back.

But the card performs good in programs like Unigine Valley?

 

[swifty_morgan]

i don't play that. just a benchmark tool................. look on line for patches for the game....... check other forums. doesn't sound like any recommendations here are doing anything positive.

 

[jkteddy77]

i don't play that. just a benchmark tool................. look on line for patches for the game....... check other forums. doesn't sound like any recommendations here are doing anything positive.

Well it has to be something. It physically can perform in benchmarks, so it CAN'T be defective. Same with 3DMark, wich my PC passed with flying colors as well...
It has to be software or configuration based somehow...

 

[duginox]

I'm going to reinstall windows 7 to see if it solves anything.

 

[jkteddy77]

I'm going to reinstall windows 7 to see if it solves anything.

Please report back if it worked or not.

 

[swifty_morgan]

do a repair install not a reformat unless the repair doesn't work. ( that would be the second time it asks not the first......... ( keep files intact ).

 

[duginox]

YES!! A fresh install of windows 7 did it. Performance is now great! GPU finally uses 99%. Wish I tried that option before bying new hardware.. Anyways, thank you everyone who tried to help me, appreciate it a lot!

 

[jkteddy77]

do a repair install not a reformat unless the repair doesn't work. ( that would be the second time it asks not the first......... ( keep files intact ).

YES!! A fresh install of windows 7 did it. Performance is now great! GPU finally uses 99%. Wish I tried that option before bying new hardware.. Anyways, thank you everyone who tried to help me, appreciate it a lot!

Hmm... Everyone fixes their issue with fresh installs but my 8350/r9 290 runs BF just the same after a fresh install :/

You had low fps in all games though didn't you? What could cause me to get low fps in BF3, BF4, and the BFH beta only with an 8350 and r9 290 : /

 

[duginox]

do a repair install not a reformat unless the repair doesn't work. ( that would be the second time it asks not the first......... ( keep files intact ).

YES!! A fresh install of windows 7 did it. Performance is now great! GPU finally uses 99%. Wish I tried that option before bying new hardware.. Anyways, thank you everyone who tried to help me, appreciate it a lot!

Hmm... Everyone fixes their issue with fresh installs but my 8350/r9 290 runs BF just the same after a fresh install :/
I only had bad performance in the demanding games, but my GPU usage were never high no matter what game I played.

You had low fps in all games though didn't you? What could cause me to get low fps in BF3, BF4, and the BFH beta only with an 8350 and r9 290 : /

 

[Eugene86]

Re-seat your Power connectors on your GPU and on your PSU if it is modular. Go into your BIOS and check they link configuration for your PCI-E. Make sure it isn't trying to receive power from the PCI-E Bus and that it IS getting power from the PSU.

This may be expensive but try getting new ram that operates at a higher frequency. I have a similar build to you, but I am running Corsair Dominator GT (DIMM x 2) 8 GB @ 2133MHz.

My average CPU temp: 46c under load
GPU Temp: 60-70c under 98% load

These are while playing BF4 64-Bit. All fans are running at full speed or High settings.

All settings are maxed on BF4 and I have no performance issues.

My System:
- ASUS Maximus IV Gene M-ATX
- i7-4770K @ 3.5 GHz (stock) + Corsair H100i Cooler
- Corsair Dominator GT 8 GB @ 2133 MHz with memory cooler
- Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB SSD
- (2) 1 TB Western Digital Blacks (raid 1)
- ASUS 780 GTX 3 GB
- Corsair AX860i PSU
- Samsung BW240 24" Monitor @ 1920x1200 res. 60Hz
- (2)Compaq 22" @ 1600x900 res.
- Corsair 350D Case + (3)Corsair Red LED Fans
- Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit

 

[swifty_morgan]

that doesn't make sense because the board ( pci-e slots ) provide 75watts of power to the card. the rest comes from the PS.

 

[jkteddy77]

Re-seat your Power connectors on your GPU and on your PSU if it is modular. Go into your BIOS and check they link configuration for your PCI-E. Make sure it isn't trying to receive power from the PCI-E Bus and that it IS getting power from the PSU.

This may be expensive but try getting new ram that operates at a higher frequency. I have a similar build to you, but I am running Corsair Dominator GT (DIMM x 2) 8 GB @ 2133MHz.

My average CPU temp: 46c under load
GPU Temp: 60-70c under 98% load

These are while playing BF4 64-Bit. All fans are running at full speed or High settings.

All settings are maxed on BF4 and I have no performance issues.

My System:
- ASUS Maximus IV Gene M-ATX
- i7-4770K @ 3.5 GHz (stock) + Corsair H100i Cooler
- Corsair Dominator GT 8 GB @ 2133 MHz with memory cooler
- Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB SSD
- (2) 1 TB Western Digital Blacks (raid 1)
- ASUS 780 GTX 3 GB
- Corsair AX860i PSU
- Samsung BW240 24" Monitor @ 1920x1200 res. 60Hz
- (2)Compaq 22" @ 1600x900 res.
- Corsair 350D Case + (3)Corsair Red LED Fans
- Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit

I don't think we have similar builds though.... You have a 4770k/780, and I have an 8350/r9 290.
I talk to MANY with 8350/780 that say it runs fine, but a majority of the people with my issue have 8350/r9 290...

Why could this be? also, a 4770k is MUCH faster than my 8350, but this game should be optimized for it. I'v checked all throughout my bios, I have no PCI-E options like that, and I've played with every areas of my MOBO's BIOS. Nothing has fixed it :/

I got a 4790k and Asus Z97 Pro coming, hopefully that will fix it, if it doesn't I guess I'll have to try some faster RAM (many still run fine with 1333 RAM though...)