My PC Components are under-performing!

[Emanuel179]

For a while now i have never been able to get good FPS in games. Components listed here as well as my benchmark:

http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3399502

Possible reasons for this could be the fact my motherboard has a few loose sockets, when i say that i mean sometimes things like the 12 pin connector can be jiggled about. Also some screws are over tightened etc etc - lets just say it was built really badly. Another thing, i cant update to the latest version of windows. This is because i have the pro version on my system despite the fact i have a licence for home edition. Believe me I've tried everything to get this to work but simply cannot. Another reason could be i simply bought it faulty, as it was an ASUS Strix overclocked card. Finally, there may be a driver issue involved - as i dont think I installed any new ones when i replaced my hardware. The thing is - I check device manager and nothing needs updating. Perhaps i'm wrong. All help is appreciated because this is giving me a nightmare - 20fps in modded Skyrim and 45 in Nier Automata. The thing i know is that sometimes my FPS can skyrocket up to 60 in Skyrim, but then stays at a constant plummet of 20fps...

 

[Aeacus]

When you run the Userbenchmark program, do you have a game running at the same time or is your system at idle? Asking this because you have unusually high background CPU usage during PC benchmarking and most of your RAM is also used up.

Like in this run: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3413814
Background CPU usage of 31% and 3.1 GB free RAM out of total 8 GB.

For comparison, here are the bench results of my Skylake build (full specs in my sig),
1st results, PC performance when i'm browsing the web: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3416525
Got background CPU usage of 10% and i have 5.9 GB free RAM out of total 8 GB.

2nd results, PC performance when i've optimized my PC for gaming: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3416648
Got background CPU usage of 0% and i have 6.5 GB free RAM out of total 8 GB.

On hardware standpoint, our PCs perform the same. Here's also the comparison between our builds (mine as base and yours as alternative):
Userbenchmark PC Build Comparison

Baseline Bench: Game 65%, Desk 78%, Work 47%
CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060-3GB
SSD: Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB
HDD: WD Blue 1TB (2012)
RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 3000 C15 2x4GB
MBD: MSI Z170A GAMING M5 (MS-7977)

Alternative Bench: Game 64%, Desk 78%, Work 47%
CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K
GPU: Nvidia GTX 970
SSD: Samsung 750 EVO 250GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 1TB
RAM: HyperX Fury DDR4 2133 C14 2x4GB
MBD: MSI H110M GAMING (MS-7994)

So, provided that you don't have hardware issues (e.g dying GPU), do check what is hogging the resources of your system.
I keep tabs on my system with a little program called Process Explorer,
link: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/processexplorer.aspx

 

[Emanuel179]

When you run the Userbenchmark program, do you have a game running at the same time or is your system at idle? Asking this because you have unusually high background CPU usage during PC benchmarking and most of your RAM is also used up.

Like in this run: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3413814
Background CPU usage of 31% and 3.1 GB free RAM out of total 8 GB.

For comparison, here are the bench results of my Skylake build (full specs in my sig),
1st results, PC performance when i'm browsing the web: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3416525
Got background CPU usage of 10% and i have 5.9 GB free RAM out of total 8 GB.

2nd results, PC performance when i've optimized my PC for gaming: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3416648
Got background CPU usage of 0% and i have 6.5 GB free RAM out of total 8 GB.

On hardware standpoint, our PCs perform the same. Here's also the comparison between our builds (mine as base and yours as alternative):
Userbenchmark PC Build Comparison

Baseline Bench: Game 65%, Desk 78%, Work 47%
CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060-3GB
SSD: Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB
HDD: WD Blue 1TB (2012)
RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR4 3000 C15 2x4GB
MBD: MSI Z170A GAMING M5 (MS-7977)

Alternative Bench: Game 64%, Desk 78%, Work 47%
CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K
GPU: Nvidia GTX 970
SSD: Samsung 750 EVO 250GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 1TB
RAM: HyperX Fury DDR4 2133 C14 2x4GB
MBD: MSI H110M GAMING (MS-7994)

So, provided that you don't have hardware issues (e.g dying GPU), do check what is hogging the resources of your system.
I keep tabs on my system with a little program called Process Explorer,
link: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/processexplorer.aspx

Thanks for your answer! Also I can't help but notice our builds are really damn similar haha. To reply to what you've said, my computer is idle when I run the userbenchmark (however I have ran benchmarks recently that sometimes show no high background cpu). Maybe I'm in google chrome or a few things, but nothing major like a game. I have had that high background cpu for a while, and believe me I've tried to look into it. I have dont every malware scan / task manager check but nothing seems to immediately spring up. I will check the link you sent when I get home tomorrow though, thanks for that. Could any of the possible problems I listed above be at fault ? And if I do have hardware failure in certain areas how can I know which component is the problem, because the benchmarking is telling me they all are. Now I'm no expert with PCs, or even close for that matter, but if my motherboard turned out to be the problem I might understand, since it connects to everything and has suffered damage. But well, I've had this problem for a while and every time I get help from someone IRL or on the internet I just end up even more stuck ... :/

Thanks

 

[Aeacus]

I understand your reluctance in getting help since you haven't got any solutions to your problem.

By reading your description about your problem and looking your benchmarks, my first order of business would be to figure out why your CPU and RAM usage is so high. Fixing software issues does take quite a bit of time but it's cost free. And in most cases, it's all you need to fix. I like to keep hardware replacements as last resort since those can cost money.

In hardware standpoint and when looking benchmark results, 3 components are usually underperforming: CPU, GPU and RAM.

Your RAM will be underperforming all the time since you have 2400 Mhz RAM that is running in 2133 Mhz due to the MoBo chipset limitations. There's no harm to RAM or MoBo due to this but using faster RAM than supported by MoBo will get you results that are below expectations.

Underperforming GPU and CPU may suggest towards dying components but since something is hogging your system resources, i'd deal first with software issues rather than switching out hardware.

Though, it is possible that your MoBo can have it's take on your system's low performance but in general when the MoBo is bad, the system won't turn on at all.

About Process Explorer. Process Explorer is more advanced version of Task Manager and it shows far more accurate information about all the applications running in your system. Even though there may not be 1 single application that hogs all your resources, look towards those applications that use the most resources. Since when you add up all of them, you'll end up with nice chunk of resources being used.

 

[Emanuel179]

I understand your reluctance in getting help since you haven't got any solutions to your problem.

By reading your description about your problem and looking your benchmarks, my first order of business would be to figure out why your CPU and RAM usage is so high. Fixing software issues does take quite a bit of time but it's cost free. And in most cases, it's all you need to fix. I like to keep hardware replacements as last resort since those can cost money.

In hardware standpoint and when looking benchmark results, 3 components are usually underperforming: CPU, GPU and RAM.

Your RAM will be underperforming all the time since you have 2400 Mhz RAM that is running in 2133 Mhz due to the MoBo chipset limitations. There's no harm to RAM or MoBo due to this but using faster RAM than supported by MoBo will get you results that are below expectations.

Underperforming GPU and CPU may suggest towards dying components but since something is hogging your system resources, i'd deal first with software issues rather than switching out hardware.

Though, it is possible that your MoBo can have it's take on your system's low performance but in general when the MoBo is bad, the system won't turn on at all.

About Process Explorer. Process Explorer is more advanced version of Task Manager and it shows far more accurate information about all the applications running in your system. Even though there may not be 1 single application that hogs all your resources, look towards those applications that use the most resources. Since when you add up all of them, you'll end up with nice chunk of resources being used.

Alright. Now I will tell you that I have multiple times tried to fix the Windows update problem - however there seems to be no possible fix (believe me I've had Microsoft helpers control my PC multiple times - but I can't fix my windows 10 without going back to Windows 8.1 and deleting all my data - or buying a new Windows 10 key for £100+. This is due to a mismatch between my windows installed and my actual key. Another problem is - my motherboard. Thanks a ton for the info, I did have a big problem with the PC turning itself off before. Its working better now - however I really thought the ram I bought was 2133hz. Big mistake :/. If I had to I can upgrade my motherboard, or downgrade my ram, since well that will bother me - the limitation. If I go ahead and delete all data in order to fix the Windows problem :/. I'll see if I can upgrade the mobo also. Along with using that thing you linked to try and fix my high CPU usage. If that fails there's hardware problems in both my GPU and CPU and possibly ram - aka worst case scenario. Thanks

 

[Aeacus]

As far as your genuine Win 10 goes, you don't have to buy the retail version of Win 10 that comes with installation DVD and license key. You can only buy the license key and activate it with your Win 10 Pro OS,
amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/DOWNLOAD-Version-Windows-Activation-Instructions/dp/B01FDRPPHC

With genuine license key, you don't need the installation disk either. You can just download Win 10 from Micro$oft and create USB boot drive to install your Win 10,
further reading: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Few words about Win updates. Win 10 updates are notorious in messing up the users PCs. Even so much that many users had to uninstall the latest Win 10 updates to get their system back to running order. This is just one of the reasons why i don't use Win 10 and i'm sticking with my Win 7.

If you do plan on going with new MoBo then you'll need new Win 10 license key either way since your current Win license key is tied to your MoBo.
For new MoBo, aim for a Z170 or Z270 chipset MoBos. Z-series MoBos allow you to OC your K-series CPU and you also are able to use much faster RAM, e.g 3000 Mhz.
For Z170 cipset MoBo, you can go for the same MoBo as i have, MSI Z170A Gaming M5,
specs: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z170A-GAMING-M5.html#hero-specification
It has nice black & red theme and it comes with lots of features (e.g 2x M.2 SSD slots, 3-way SLI support, RAM speed support up to 3600 Mhz etc). With BIOS update, MoBo will support Kaby Lake family CPUs as well.

Or, if you go with Z270 chipset MoBo, then you'll gain 4x PCI-E lanes over Z170 chipset,
chipset comparison: https://ark.intel.com/compare/98089,90591
(Check the "Highlight differences" box for better view.)

For Z270 chipset, you can also go with MSI, e.g Z270 Gaming M5,
specs: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z270-GAMING-M5.html#productFeature-section
Z270 chipset MoBos doesn't need BIOS update to support Kaby Lake CPUs since they do that off the bat.

If you don't trust MSI MoBos anymore then second MoBo manufacturer whom i suggest would be Asus.
Though, first try fixing your PC by software before looking towards hardware replacement.

 

[Emanuel179]

As far as your genuine Win 10 goes, you don't have to buy the retail version of Win 10 that comes with installation DVD and license key. You can only buy the license key and activate it with your Win 10 Pro OS,
amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/DOWNLOAD-Version-Windows-Activation-Instructions/dp/B01FDRPPHC

With genuine license key, you don't need the installation disk either. You can just download Win 10 from Micro$oft and create USB boot drive to install your Win 10,
further reading: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Few words about Win updates. Win 10 updates are notorious in messing up the users PCs. Even so much that many users had to uninstall the latest Win 10 updates to get their system back to running order. This is just one of the reasons why i don't use Win 10 and i'm sticking with my Win 7.

If you do plan on going with new MoBo then you'll need new Win 10 license key either way since your current Win license key is tied to your MoBo.
For new MoBo, aim for a Z170 or Z270 chipset MoBos. Z-series MoBos allow you to OC your K-series CPU and you also are able to use much faster RAM, e.g 3000 Mhz.
For Z170 cipset MoBo, you can go for the same MoBo as i have, MSI Z170A Gaming M5,
specs: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z170A-GAMING-M5.html#hero-specification
It has nice black & red theme and it comes with lots of features (e.g 2x M.2 SSD slots, 3-way SLI support, RAM speed support up to 3600 Mhz etc). With BIOS update, MoBo will support Kaby Lake family CPUs as well.

Or, if you go with Z270 chipset MoBo, then you'll gain 4x PCI-E lanes over Z170 chipset,
chipset comparison: https://ark.intel.com/compare/98089,90591
(Check the "Highlight differences" box for better view.)

For Z270 chipset, you can also go with MSI, e.g Z270 Gaming M5,
specs: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z270-GAMING-M5.html#productFeature-section
Z270 chipset MoBos doesn't need BIOS update to support Kaby Lake CPUs since they do that off the bat.

If you don't trust MSI MoBos anymore then second MoBo manufacturer whom i suggest would be Asus.
Though, first try fixing your PC by software before looking towards hardware replacement.

Alright! So i've updated all of my drivers and i am about to reinstall windows deleting all my data. As for process explorer however, here is mine: http://imgur.com/a/sOMkr

It says CUE (my keyboard lighting) takes up 20 percent! But it also says system idle takes up 60 percent, which i don't really understand. What did you do in my situation to optimize your PC? And how can i go about doing the same? :/

Once again thanks for the sustained responses and help!

 

[Aeacus]

When in Process Explorer, select "File" -> "Show Details for All Processes" to see every single process running in your PC.

System Idle shows the percentage of unused CPU power. Since you have 65% free of CPU power, the rest of it, 35% is used by all your applications combined. And from there you'll see why you have so high CPU background usage.

I too have Corsair CUE 2 since i have Corsair Strafe RGB KB but my CUE 2 doesn't take 20% of my CPU, it only takes about 2.6%. Do you have some macros running inside the CUE 2 that would explain the high CPU usage by CUE 2? Also, what version of CUE 2 you have? Mine is 2.11.115.

Under the spoiler is the image of my processes ordered by the CPU usage:

Spoiler

click on image for full size

Also, your Google Chrome and it's 7 instances you have running take up quite a lot of RAM when they all are added up. (Arrange the list by "Private Bytes".)

 

[James Mason]

Userbenchmark is super sensitive to ANY unnecessary programs running. So you have to disable anything that isn't a core system process when you run the benchmark. No AV, no Keyboard software, no open web browsers, no chat programs, NOTHING.

 

[Emanuel179]

When in Process Explorer, select "File" -> "Show Details for All Processes" to see every single process running in your PC.

System Idle shows the percentage of unused CPU power. Since you have 65% free of CPU power, the rest of it, 35% is used by all your applications combined. And from there you'll see why you have so high CPU background usage.

I too have Corsair CUE 2 since i have Corsair Strafe RGB KB but my CUE 2 doesn't take 20% of my CPU, it only takes about 2.6%. Do you have some macros running inside the CUE 2 that would explain the high CPU usage by CUE 2? Also, what version of CUE 2 you have? Mine is 2.11.115.

Under the spoiler is the image of my processes ordered by the CPU usage:

Spoiler

click on image for full size

Also, your Google Chrome and it's 7 instances you have running take up quite a lot of RAM when they all are added up. (Arrange the list by "Private Bytes".)

Userbenchmark is super sensitive to ANY unnecessary programs running. So you have to disable anything that isn't a core system process when you run the benchmark. No AV, no Keyboard software, no open web browsers, no chat programs, NOTHING.

I'm trying my best here, but hey this new benchmark seems to change dramatically!
Here: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3431856

 

[James Mason]

I'm trying my best here, but hey this new benchmark seems to change dramatically!
Here: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3431856

looking better, but definitely go into the Bios and make turn on your XMP profile for the ram, if you can. If you can't, well it will always be low.
Also your CPU isn't turboing up to 3.9ghz... which could be because of your motherboard.
Make sure your Windows Power Profile is set to Maximum Performance.
Your HDD is performing worse probably because of how full it is.

 

[Emanuel179]

I'm trying my best here, but hey this new benchmark seems to change dramatically!
Here: http://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/3431856

looking better, but definitely go into the Bios and make turn on your XMP profile for the ram, if you can. If you can't, well it will always be low.
Also your CPU isn't turboing up to 3.9ghz... which could be because of your motherboard.
Make sure your Windows Power Profile is set to Maximum Performance.
Your HDD is performing worse probably because of how full it is.

I can expect that from the HDD. But as for the CPU, i have already set the power profile to max performance. .. I will go and change the RAM setting now thank you.

 

[Aeacus]

Your MoBo drivers DVD comes with plenty of utilities, do you have MSI Command Center and MSI RAMDisk installed?

If you have MSI RAMDisk installed then uninstall it since it uses quite a bit of RAM for unnecessary purposes.
Further reading: https://www.howtogeek.com/171432/ram-disks-explained-what-they-are-and-why-you-probably-shouldnt-use-one/

As far as MSI Command Center goes, it overwrites most changes you make in BIOS and it's not advisable for using.
For example, when i first composed my Skylake build, i installed MSI Command Center and i did like it's fancy looks. But what i didn't like was it's inability to detect my Kingston RAM. Even though i set from BIOS my RAM XMP to 3000 Mhz, once the Windows loaded and MSI Command Center started, the MSI Command Center's failure to detect my RAM set it to run at 2133 Mhz, despite what changes i made in BIOS. So, i ended up uninstalling my MSI Command Center and now my RAM is running nicely in 3000 Mhz.

About Intel's Turbo Boost feature. It's description can be misleading since you won't get the full 3.9 Ghz on all 4 cores if all 4 cores are in use. If your CPU maxes in single-core use then you might get about 3.9Ghz for that one core only. If your CPU maxes in dual-core use then you might get about 3.8 Ghz for two cores and so forth. In other words, the more cores in use, the lower the turbo boost.
Here's further reading that shows exactly how much of turbo boost you could get when you have X number of cores in use,
link: https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/processors/000005647.html
(Click on "6th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 Desktop Processors" to see the chart.)

Besides Userbenchmark tool, i also use Unigine Heaven to determinate the gaming power of my PC,
link: https://unigine.com/en/products/benchmarks/heaven

Download it and run it on different settings to see how much FPS you'll actually get without the need to launch a game. It's also a great way to see the stability of your GPU if you have it OC'd with OC software (e.g MSI Afterburner). If you see artifacts on the screen then either your GPU OC isn't stable or your GPU is dying.

For example, i'll see screen tearing during GPU benchmarking in Unigine Heaven since my monitor is old and not meant for gaming.