MSI R9 280x potentially underperforming

[Sheepwall]

For some time I have accepted that my GPU is old and not able to run the latest games well. But that thought was challenged when I saw the performance of other's comps with the same GPU online. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7tGCIq8Upg for example)

If I set my settings in Skyrim Special Edition to Ultra and start a new game. I will be around 15 fps in the introductory cart-ride of the game. I wonder if this is normal, if it is being bottle-necked, or if I can maybe do something else to make it better?

My specs:

• 
  GPU: MSI R9 280X Gaming 3G edition
  CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K @ 3.50 GHz (4CPUs)
  RAM: 8 GB Dual-Channel DDR3
  Mo-Bo: Z97-A
  PSU: EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G2 80+ GOLD 750W
  
  OS: Windows 10 Pro N 64-bit

GPU Driver: 17.11.4

Temperature while just using browser and small programs (according to "Speccy"):

• 
  CPU: 30 deg C
  Mo-Bo: 30 deg C
  GPU: 40 deg C

During the mentioned Skyrim intro:

• 
  CPU: 30 deg C (max 30% usage for all)
  Mo-Bo: 30 deg C
  GPU: 67 deg C (99% usage)

Fan speed was at ~30% max.

I am not very knowledgeable in PC components and analysis, so thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

 

[PhysX_HW]

If the GPU is running at 99%, then it's possible.
I don't have my 7970 anymore, so can't really try it out myself, but from what you wrote, it's possible that the 280X is just not fast enough anymore.

 

[Nihilanth]

Yes, its definitely under performing. The 280X is still a capable 1080p GPU. I had one before my 470 and it ran SSE just fine. Your temps seem fine as well. Also, your CPU is plenty enough for your GPU.

If you're using MSI's Afterburner, then check the kind of clocks you are getting when running SSE. See if you are actually running at full core clock. Your card might be throttling.

You could also uninstall the current drivers, run DDU (http://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html) in safe mode, wipe any remnants of the current drivers and then install the latest ones.

Also, do you have access to another GPU (maybe a friend's) that performs similarly to the 280X to check if the problem persists even without it?

 

[RARRAF]

or just over-clock it a bit I am sure my machine at home is over clocked at lest 300Mhz until you see artifacts look on youtube plenty of videos use https://www.msi.com/page/afterburner

 

[Nihilanth]

He should definitely OC the card to gain extra performance but if its working properly, he simply should not be dropping down to 15 fps in that introductory cart ride even at stock settings. I had a 280X and I remember being comfortably over 40 fps even in heavy scenes with most settings maxed out. The video he linked to proves that. Something else is causing this performance drop.

 

[Sheepwall]

Thanks a lot everyone for the replies. I fiddled a little bit with the excellent "EZ Tuner" of my motherboard. It performed an overclocking for me based on the answers on some questions I got asked. Now when I run Skyrim I get 40+ FPS where I previously got 15!

I was just about to write this here, when the PC crashed. I tried Skyrim again after changing the fan-Temp feedback loop in MSI Afterburner, and it seems to work fine so far (a bit noisy, but I can handle that!).

Looking at the monitoring in Afterburner, I can see that my CPU went up to almost 4.5 GHz while playing. Does this mean that my (non-overclocked) CPU was the bottle-neck? If I am to upgrade this PC in the future, will I then have to upgrade CPU as well as GPU? Might be worth to just buy a whole new PC if that is the case.

EDIT: Grammar

 

[Nihilanth]

Thanks a lot everyone for the replies. I fiddled a little bit with the excellent "EZ Tuner" of my motherboard. It performed an overclocking for me based on the answers on some questions I got asked. Now when I run Skyrim I get 40+ FPS where I previously got 15!

I was just about to write this here, when the PC crashed. I tried Skyrim again after changing the fan-Temp feedback loop in MSI Afterburner, and it seems to work fine so far (a bit noisy, but I can handle that!).

Looking at the monitoring in Afterburner, I can see that my CPU went up to almost 4.5 GHz while playing. Does this mean that my (non-overclocked) CPU was the bottle-neck? If I am to upgrade this PC in the future, will I then have to upgrade CPU as well as GPU? Might be worth to just buy a whole new PC if that is the case.

EDIT: Grammar

Strange. The CPU OC shouldn't make that kind of difference. I have an ancient 2500K which I remember was at stock with my 280X but it still handled the card just fine. And at a measly 4.0GHz, it maxes out my RX 470 in nearly everything so no, I don't think you need to ditch your CPU especially if you OC it. You should also OC the card but you could do with a better one. What you should get depends on your needs, your monitor and of course, your budget.

 

[Sheepwall]

Strange. The CPU OC shouldn't make that kind of difference. I have an ancient 2500K which I remember was at stock with my 280X but it still handled the card just fine. And at a measly 4.0GHz, it maxes out my RX 470 in nearly everything so no, I don't think you need to ditch your CPU especially if you OC it. You should also OC the card but you could do with a better one. What you should get depends on your needs, your monitor and of course, your budget.

Okay so I overclocked the GPU to some values I had tested earlier that seemed safe. I get a few extra FPS now.

Do you think it is worth looking further into this huge FPS gain due to the CPU OC, or is it not worth it? If something is up with the CPU then getting just a new graphics card might not be worth without fixing the CPU first is what I am thinking.

Thanks for your help

 

[Nihilanth]

Okay so I overclocked the GPU to some values I had tested earlier that seemed safe. I get a few extra FPS now.

Do you think it is worth looking further into this huge FPS gain due to the CPU OC, or is it not worth it? If something is up with the CPU then getting just a new graphics card might not be worth without fixing the CPU first is what I am thinking.

Thanks for your help

So if you turn off the OC, your performance nose dives again? While gaming, is your core clock fixed or does it fluctuate? You can easily check this with Afterburner/Riva Tuner. Also, what happens if you return your CPU to stock and only OC the card?

Your CPU is good enough for much better cards. There are people running cards like the 1070/1080 with a 2500K. Also, in that video you linked to that guy's using a 6300 which is a far inferior gaming chip compared to yours especially oc'ed. What kind of fps are you getting in the same areas shown in the video? Cause if its lower, then its clearly not the CPU. I don't know if the 6300 oc'ed to even its very best can beat the 4690K at stock.

Now don't get me wrong, oc'ing the CPU helps. I currently have a heavily modded Skyrim classic with a moderately demanding ENB, and oc'ing the CPU does make a difference but no way in hell should you go down to 15 fps in that scene even with your CPU at stock.

Btw, what's the speed your RAM sticking are running at? And have you tried clean installing your drivers like I suggested? As in uninstall, run DDU, reinstall? There's no need to do it every time new drivers come out but it doesn't hurt doing it once in a while especially when you're having issues like this.