[SOLVED] Lower performance than expected for Core i5-12400 and 7900 GRE

[nex-]

I have a chance to upgrade to a 7900GRE recently and decided to try out CP2077. However, my performance has been lower than expected at FHD Ultra preset at an average 70 fps. The CPU is running at 100% usage at max temp 61 C, while the GPU is around 50-60% usage.
I have tried turning off XMP, reinstalling driver using DDU without any luck.
Comparing to a few benchmark videos on YT, which has an average 100-110 FPS for Ultra preset with the 7800xt card, or average 169 FPS for Medium setting with the 3080 (Mine is 84 FPS)
System info:
CPU: i5-12400
RAM: G.SKILL Trident Z Neo 32GB 3600MHz DDR4
Main: MSI Pro B660M-A DDR4
GPU: RX 7900GRE
PSU: Corsair RM850x

 

[rgd1101]

sound like issue with the cpu if it is running at 100%

 

[Barty1884]

The CPU is running at 100% usage at max temp 61 C, while the GPU is around 50-60% usage.

Basically, your GPU is waiting around for the CPU to "catch up", given these stats.

What did you upgrade from?

At 1080p, I wouldn't expect to see the 7900GRE fully taxed when paired with that CPU - but would've assumed a *bit* better performance.

Have you checked what is using up your CPU resources? Anything CPU-intensive running at the same time? I'd try having nothing else running (game + monitoring software, otherwise idle in Windows), and see if performance improves any.
If not, then you're looking at either a CPU upgrade or (more advisable) a resolution bump - you'd have a better pairing with those specs + a 1440p display anyway.

 

[Eximo]

Well you certainly want XMP on. What is the CPU clock speed when it is at 100% usage running CyberPunk?

Doubtful that is a single 32GB stick, but are you properly running dual channel mode? That can make a huge CPU performance difference.

Certainly room for CPU improvement, but I agree seems like something is amiss.

 

[vMax]

Couple of points. The 12400 though a very good CPU is going to hold back the 7900GRE especially at 1080p. Your RAM is critical so make sure XMP is on and it is running at it's rated speed and I presume it is 2 x 16GB sticks...

You can also seperatly test the 12400 in Cinebench R23 mutli and single core test and check your score versus the review scores to make sure you are getting the best out of it.

Also go into the Windows Power plan settings and put it in ultimate performance mode when gaming and retest. Make sure you BIOS is at the latest version. Ultimatly, I think the CPU will be holding you back especially at 1080P though the positive side is that in the future you have a path the 13th/14th gen which was a proper step up from Alder Lake so if and when you get the chance, bag a 13600 or 13600K (motherboard will need to move to the Z690 or Z790 though for the K series to extract max out of it) in the future, it will push the 7900GRE to drive even more performance.

 

[nex-]

Basically, your GPU is waiting around for the CPU to "catch up", given these stats.

What did you upgrade from?

At 1080p, I wouldn't expect to see the 7900GRE fully taxed when paired with that CPU - but would've assumed a *bit* better performance.

Have you checked what is using up your CPU resources? Anything CPU-intensive running at the same time? I'd try having nothing else running (game + monitoring software, otherwise idle in Windows), and see if performance improves any.
If not, then you're looking at either a CPU upgrade or (more advisable) a resolution bump - you'd have a better pairing with those specs + a 1440p display anyway.

I upgraded from a 1060, quite a substantial upgrade ngl.
I don't expect to see the GPU fully taxed either, but this low perf is very weird especially comparing to benchmark videos.
Nothing is using my cpu resource, I tried it with nothing running but doesn't have any noticeable improvement tbh

 

[nex-]

Well you certainly want XMP on. What is the CPU clock speed when it is at 100% usage running CyberPunk?

Doubtful that is a single 32GB stick, but are you properly running dual channel mode? That can make a huge CPU performance difference.

Certainly room for CPU improvement, but I agree seems like something is amiss.

It's around 3.9 GHz, power draw is 31W (which is kinda low when running at max clock?)
I'm pretty sure I'm running dual channel mode correctly. The rams are connected to the second and fourth slot away from the CPU

 

[Zerk2012]

I have a chance to upgrade to a 7900GRE recently and decided to try out CP2077. However, my performance has been lower than expected at FHD Ultra preset at an average 70 fps. The CPU is running at 100% usage at max temp 61 C, while the GPU is around 50-60% usage.
I have tried turning off XMP, reinstalling driver using DDU without any luck.
Comparing to a few benchmark videos on YT, which has an average 100-110 FPS for Ultra preset with the 7800xt card, or average 169 FPS for Medium setting with the 3080 (Mine is 84 FPS)
System info:
CPU: i5-12400
RAM: G.SKILL Trident Z Neo 32GB 3600MHz DDR4
Main: MSI Pro B660M-A DDR4
GPU: RX 7900GRE
PSU: Corsair RM850x

Was the YouJunk videos using the same processor as you?

If it 100% then that's all it can do.

FPS comes from the processor till you get to a point where the video card can't keep up.

Edit your clock speed locks about right 4.4 single core 4.0 all cores.

 

[hotaru.hino]

It's around 3.9 GHz, power draw is 31W (which is kinda low when running at max clock?)
I'm pretty sure I'm running dual channel mode correctly. The rams are connected to the second and fourth slot away from the CPU

This doesn't really make sense if the CPU is at 100%, because PL1 is 65W. Also verify if the RAM is running in dual channel using CPU-z, it should say "Dual" if dual channel is working.

I'm curious what the CPU utilization distribution is on Task Manager when it's at 100%.

 

[nex-]

Was the YouJunk videos using the same processor as you?

If it 100% then that's all it can do.

FPS comes from the processor till you get to a point where the video card can't keep up.

Edit your clock speed locks about right 4.4 single core 4.0 all cores.

Yes
For example this guy is running 1080p Ultra setting at 121 FPS

View: https://youtu.be/6UKuy8zBewU?si=sj5drIdA-Re3d5pL&t=516

Gamer Nexus has a video comparing the 5600 vs 12400 where he listed the 12400 paired with 3080 running CP at medium setting at 169 FPS

View: https://youtu.be/ifI9nnmW5sg?si=VAkMJtcwsm56Kj--&t=509

Another video running 12400F with 7800xt at 1440p ultra with 64FPS, and the usage is only around 80%

View: https://youtu.be/yb5HOctii5I?si=zCsN8pE_oMR0CA3N&t=1311

 

[nex-]

This doesn't really make sense if the CPU is at 100%, because PL1 is 65W. Also verify if the RAM is running in dual channel using CPU-z, it should say "Dual" if dual channel is working.

I'm curious what the CPU utilization distribution is on Task Manager when it's at 100%.

Here are the CPU and the memory tabs in CPUz

https://imgur.com/JRLh62H

View: https://imgur.com/JRLh62H

https://imgur.com/WicQm4P

View: https://imgur.com/WicQm4P

in the memory tab it says the channel is 2 x 64bit
The CPU utilization is around 90% for CP and the rest for system and background apps

 

[hotaru.hino]

in the memory tab it says the channel is 2 x 64bit

Memory is running in dual channel then. I guess they changed the label some time ago.

I'm still fixated on that you reported the package power consumption was 31W. This could be a BIOS setting, but you could also override this (probably) via Intel XTU. See if increasing PL1 (start at 65W, then do 5W increments) does anything.

 

[nex-]

Memory is running in dual channel then. I guess they changed the label some time ago.

I'm still fixated on that you reported the package power consumption was 31W. This could be a BIOS setting, but you could also override this (probably) via Intel XTU. See if increasing PL1 (start at 65W, then do 5W increments) does anything.

Here is the power draw after I tried to update my BIOS to the latest version (basically no change)

https://imgur.com/WrEYoxL

View: https://imgur.com/WrEYoxL

Intel XTU already set the power max at 255W at the beginning already

https://imgur.com/1HaCTOV

View: https://imgur.com/1HaCTOV

 

[nex-]

Forget to write up a solution here, but better late than never:
Turned out because I cloned Windows from my old system to the new one, it stuck with the old number of cores of the old CPU.
Changing the number of cores used in the setting to maximum (or just reinstall Windows) and the issue is solved.
Thank you for everyone helping me with this issue.

 

[USAFRet]

Forget to write up a solution here, but better late than never:
Turned out because I cloned Windows from my old system to the new one, it stuck with the old number of cores of the old CPU.
Changing the number of cores used in the setting to maximum (or just reinstall Windows) and the issue is solved.
Thank you for everyone helping me with this issue.

Yep.

Cloning from an old, completely different, system, often has issues.