Strange GPU usage and grapical issues on high end rig

[bromchild84]

Hi,

I've recently upgraded my rig, specs are as follows:

X99 Asus Rampage Extreme V Motherboard
i7 5930x OC'd to 4.4 @ 1.140v (stable) cooled by Noctua NH-D14 (idle 29-30, load about 59 heavy gaming)
R9 295x2 8gb + 8gb XFX DD R9 20X (both OC'd to 1050ghz/1400ghz) running in tri-fire. I know it will only use 4gb but I was thinking of resale value of the 290x (I just added the 290x, Mobo, CPU, RAM and PSU)
32gb 2400ghz DDR4
Asus Xonar DX2
Corsair AX 1500w Platinum
256g gb Samsung 830 Pro SSD, MX100 500gb SSD, 2tb Seagate hard drives
NZXT Phantom full tower (3x 200mm, 3 x 120mm, 1 x 140mm)
LG 4k IPS Freesync Monitor (LG 27MU67)

I am experiencing some strange goings on when playing Metal Gear Solid 5 The Phantom Pain. When using full screen mode it will use all 3 GPU's (100% usage) and run completely maxed out at 4k 60fps BUT there are some strange glitches happening in the top 5th (maybe 2 or 3") of the screen, the rest of the screen is perfect (its not tearing or stuttering, or doesn't look like it to me anyway). When I switch to borderless windowed mode these glitches disappear BUT only the R9 295x2 is being used (on MSI afterburner it actually only shows 1 GPU in use so I presume its only using one of the R9 295x2's GPUs) so I have to turn down the graphical settings to high rather than very high to get decent frame rates.

I've tried several things to no avail, changing all the graphical settings in game and also selecting enable crossfire in games with no associated profile etc etc. Has anyone experienced similar issues or can any one offer any advice as to how to fix this? ie to be using all 3 GPU's properly and not to have the glitches at the top of the screen.

Many thanks

Eric

 

[James Mason]

What about other games like BF4, or Crysis 3?
I'd be willing to bet it's because it's a console port, even though it's a good one.

 

[bromchild84]

Thanks for your reply!

Most other games are running very nicely, I had issues with Far Cry 4 (happened on single GPU usage with all GPU's and also CPU running at stock) on but I ended up just deleting it, I had already completed it. Witcher 3 appears to be not liking something either, very low frame rates even on the lowers setting (tried borderless and full screen). I will try re-installing Crysis 3 and BF4 just to see how things go. I got 13500 on Fire Strike extreme

 

[bromchild84]

Crysis 3 all settings maxed out at 4k bar anti-aliasing (3rd setting SMAA I think it was), all 3GPUs working (gets them pretty toasty!), hovering about 45-50fps. Battlefield 4 is still downloading.

Still a bit baffled about the Metal Gear Solid, full screen using all 3 GPU's (with graphical glitches at top 5th of screen) but borderless windowed mode only uses 1 GPU but with no graphical glitches?

Any ideas?

 

[James Mason]

"Console port" syndrome.
and/or AMD needs to make specific drivers for it.
CF and SLI are both finicky technologies that don't really pay off often enough.

 

[bromchild84]

Just been playing BF4, all settings maxxed at 4k bar AA witch is at 2xMSAA, was about 70 FPS average, switched to borderless window and same again, 2 GPUs stop working leaving the one running. No glitches though just the same as Metal Gear when changing from Full Screen to Borderless windowed mode goes from 3 GPU's down to 1. Seems strange to me

All in all I can't really complain too much just a tad annoying, its all looking pretty awesome in 4K!

 

[bromchild84]

Oh, one other thing I have noticed and I dont know if HW Monitor is incorrect, my CPU usage on the 5930k at 4.4ghz sometimes gets to 100% utilisation, my 3770k never got to 100%. Surely my new CPU is not a bottleneck?? Could this imply that something is wrong or is it normal? OR is HW Monitor telling lies? This was also happening at 1440p

 

[bromchild84]

It appears its only when returning to "Motherbase" I get the graphical glitches at the top of the screen. I have been playing it most of the day and the CPU usage maximum is now 33%, could the 100% just be a false reading on HW Monitor?

 

[James Mason]

It appears its only when returning to "Motherbase" I get the graphical glitches at the top of the screen. I have been playing it most of the day and the CPU usage maximum is now 33%, could the 100% just be a false reading on HW Monitor?

The 100% could have been a "you opened task manager and that always causes the CPU to spike for no good reason" event.
I'm pretty sure the game, like all new games, isn't setup to properly use multiple GPUs. SLI and CF support typically only come late in a games "lifespan"

The game not really being "made for 4k" since it's a console port as well.

Possibly your "slightly" weird GPU setup, even though tri-fire "works," it might only be working because AMD did alot of fiddly pokery to get it to work where it does.

But, either way:
1) Crossfire doesn't work in any sort of windowed mode.
2) SLI does work in windowed modes.

 

[bromchild84]

Thanks for your answers, all working amazingly well now, the slightly strange setup has got me tri-fire while only using 2 slots and also keeps the temps down in the case, now its all working well I'm actually delighted with it! I think you are right about the 100% CPU issue at its only sitting around 30-35% even under heavy gaming now.

The issue with the top bit of the screen in MGS V goes away if you change a graphical setting (like lighting) and then change it back (weird but it works a fix!), now at 4k all settings at maximum 60fps and very smooth thanks to the Freesync I presume, very happy! The electricity bill may be a bit mental this month though!!

No need to upgrade for quite a while now!! (hopefully)

Thanks again