R7 260x massive fps drops (Win 7 64 bit)

[phabri7io]

Hi there:
I recently purchased an Sapphire r7 260x 2gb OC.
I´m experiencing a strange fps drop with two games: Shadow of Mordor and Far Cry 4, wich I play from windows 7 64 bit.
I have multiple O.S. (Windows XP-32bit, Windows 7-32 bit, and Windows 7 64-bit).
I installed the 64 bit version only to play those games (there are not 32 bit version)
Now, when i´m playing on 32 bit a demanding game like Crysis 3 on (high 1366x768 graphics) i get 50 to 70 fps, with no drops.
When I play Shadow of Mordor or Far Cry 4 (also on high 1366x768) I get 50-60 and after several seconds a massive drop happens (to 10-20 fps) Screen stutters for a milisecond and raises to 50-60 fps again.
I have no idea where to start looking for issues (not enough ram for 64 bit? 2x2 gb 1333)
Here are my system specs:

Asrock 960gm vgs3
FX-6300
Arctic Cooler Freezer 7
2x2Gb Ddr3 1333 Mhz
Sapphire R7 260x 2Gb Ddr5
Antec VP 450p
Western Digital Blue 7200rpm 1Tb
Thermaltake Versa I

Thanks in advance.

 

[RaDiKaL_]

Not enough RAM indeed, those games eat up easily 6GB+ of RAM so as soon as your 4GB are used it starts using the pagefile in the HDD, since it's so much slower than RAM it will inevitably cause a big fps drop everytime is accessed.

Also if I recall correctly both games you mention (100% sure with far cry 4) have performance issues that developers still need to fix.

 

[phabri7io]

Not enough RAM indeed, those games eat up easily 6GB+ of RAM so as soon as your 4GB are used it starts using the pagefile in the HDD, since it's so much slower than RAM it will inevitably cause a big fps drop everytime is accessed.

Also if I recall correctly both games you mention (100% sure with far cry 4) have performance issues that developers still need to fix.

Damn!I knew it!
But (and only to learn a bit more): Previously I had a 7750 wich could run shadow of Mordor on high (med shadows), with no v-sync and no filter, at decent 40 fps with no drops. The higher amount of ram used by the system is due to the very high settings and the r7 260x at full load?

 

[Nikola Aslanov-1338074]

As memory and GPU power you are exactly at the minimum requirements of both games - 4G RAM and HD5850 (260x is slightly faster, but obviously not enough). Try medium with the current config or upgrade. I'm not sure that memory upgrade will be enough.

 

[phabri7io]

As memory and GPU power you are exactly at the minimum requirements of both games - 4G RAM and HD5850 (260x is slightly faster, but obviously not enough). Try medium with the current config or upgrade. I'm not sure that memory upgrade will be enough.

Even at 1366x768???

 

[phabri7io]

As memory and GPU power you are exactly at the minimum requirements of both games - 4G RAM and HD5850 (260x is slightly faster, but obviously not enough). Try medium with the current config or upgrade. I'm not sure that memory upgrade will be enough.

Sorry, just to keep learning:
R7260x like a a 5850? Would not be more like a 7790?:
=47&cmp[]=2701&cmp[]=2502]http://www.videocardbenchmark.net/compare.php?cmp[]=47&cmp[]=2701&cmp[]=2502
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/1035?vs=1044

 

[Nikola Aslanov-1338074]

I'm not sure. Do not play these games, found the requirements in the net. You can try first memory upgrade and if that does not improve the game play - think about GPU upgrade.
To be sure if the RAM is a problem - open task manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), navigate to Performance tab, observe Memory Usage history. Do not close task manager window!
Start the game - play until frames drop, play several more seconds. Then minimize the game and check the Memory usage history again. If memory is above 4G - then obviously RAM is not enough and HDD paging has started.

 

[Nikola Aslanov-1338074]

Don't get me wrong. 260X is a good card and is better than 5850, but in the tom's GPU hierarchy (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-graphics-card-review,3107-7.html) they are in adjoining levels. So performance difference is not extremely big. Try the steps above, then try memory upgrade - the game will show.
Until then - try medium.

 

[phabri7io]

I'm not sure. Do not play these games, found the requirements in the net. You can try first memory upgrade and if that does not improve the game play - think about GPU upgrade.
To be sure if the RAM is a problem - open task manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), navigate to Performance tab, observe Memory Usage history. Do not close task manager window!
Start the game - play until frames drop, play several more seconds. Then minimize the game and check the Memory usage history again. If memory is above 4G - then obviously RAM is not enough and HDD paging has started.

Weird. Memory does not goes above 4 gb, but I see "paging error"? I also opened disc activity window and it shows constant activity.
I tried (just out of curiosity) disabling paging file, but nothing changed.
Here are the images:Any Ideas?

 

[Nikola Aslanov-1338074]

Column name is misleading. "Errores de pagina" or "Hard Faults/sec" - this is exactly when PC run out of memory and had to use the hard disk.
Some info here: http://www.7tutorials.com/how-use-resource-monitor-windows-7 - search for "hard faults".
RAM is full in the second and third picture - 8MB libre/Free - this is almost nothing.
"In Use"/En Uso and Standby/En espera - these are both in use also, sort of active use and memory cache (but again full with data)
This confirms that memory upgrade is needed.

 

[Alaa emad]

i recommend install a fresh copy of windows as it seems a driver problem

 

[phabri7io]

Column name is misleading. "Errores de pagina" or "Hard Faults/sec" - this is exactly when PC run out of memory and had to use the hard disk.
Some info here: http://www.7tutorials.com/how-use-resource-monitor-windows-7 - search for "hard faults".
RAM is full in the second and third picture - 8MB libre/Free - this is almost nothing.
"In Use"/En Uso and Standby/En espera - these are both in use also, sort of active use and memory cache (but again full with data)
This confirms that memory upgrade is needed.

Hi there!
Sorry for the really late reply.
Question:replacing only one 2gb module with a 4gb module would be enough? (Temporary solution.Not enough money for 2x4gb, so I`m planning to buy 1x4gb 1600mhz first, and later add another one. I know it won´t work in dual channel ,and paired with a 1333mhz module will cause the new one to lower its speed to match, but: I would have 6gb ram whatsoever, or not?)

 

[Nikola Aslanov-1338074]

Not sure, man. Using ram in pairs is recommended since probably 10 years ago and I've always done it this way. Probably it will work with 1x4 and 1x2.
You can also ask in the Memory part of the forum.