Sudden dip in graphics performance

[SmallArchangel]

I've been searching the web in vain for what might be causing this, so any help or advice appreciated.

My pc was running all games at highest graphical settings until recently, when the texture quality in everything suddenly seemed to drop. This happened around the time I updated my graphics drivers (Nvidia) to 364.72. I've tried rolling back the drivers, and I'm now on 365.10 - neither helped.

These are my specs:
Windows 7 64 bit
CPU i7 2600k
GPU Nvidia GTX 670 (4GB VRAM)
8GB RAM

My GPU has been tested with FurMark and performed fine, not going over 80 degrees in temp, so not running too hot. Rest of the system seems ok too for temperatures so far as we have been able to make out. Nothing else has changed so far as I am aware.

Any ideas?

 

[Coryhatcher]

What games do you play? The 670 is starting to get slightly weak for modern titles, so there is that. Also, maybe the game got updated and needs beefier graphics now? If you only play one game, they could have a performance leak bug, make sure to try it out with more than that game, considering your test went well.

 

[SmallArchangel]

I don't play any really new titles; as mentioned in the op the pc used to perform well on all the games I have currently got graphical problems with. And I know my card is rapidly entering 'potato' territory - nearly time for a new gpu - but it really should be able to handle 7 Days To Die even if it has been updated recently. It's not exactly graphically challenging. I think Archeage does have a leak issue, but it never used to be so bad - all textures disappear over time now.

I did find some melted thermal paste (I think) on the outside of the gpu since posting, but not sure if that means the card is fried, has overheated at some point and become damaged, or is simply underclocking itself to avoid overheating. (If so it is underclocking immediately upon loading a game, though). FurMark showed a consistent temp of 80, which, while not actually overheating, is a tad warm.

 

[Coryhatcher]

I don't play any really new titles; as mentioned in the op the pc used to perform well on all the games I have currently got graphical problems with. And I know my card is rapidly entering 'potato' territory - nearly time for a new gpu - but it really should be able to handle 7 Days To Die even if it has been updated recently. It's not exactly graphically challenging. I think Archeage does have a leak issue, but it never used to be so bad - all textures disappear over time now.

I did find some melted thermal paste (I think) on the outside of the gpu since posting, but not sure if that means the card is fried, has overheated at some point and become damaged, or is simply underclocking itself to avoid overheating. (If so it is underclocking immediately upon loading a game, though). FurMark showed a consistent temp of 80, which, while not actually overheating, is a tad warm.

Do you have a warranty?

 

[SmallArchangel]

For the gpu? I doubt it, as I have had it for quite a while - the warranty will have long since expired.

Funny thing is I am not experiencing any of the usual symptoms of gpu failure (artifacts, ctd's, bsod's etc). I might have to look in to getting some beefier cooling power - may be time to upgrade the case, too.

 

[Coryhatcher]

For the gpu? I doubt it, as I have had it for quite a while - the warranty will have long since expired.

Funny thing is I am not experiencing any of the usual symptoms of gpu failure (artifacts, ctd's, bsod's etc). I might have to look in to getting some beefier cooling power - may be time to upgrade the case, too.

You could try applying your own thermal paste and wiping away the excess paste, considering you have no warranty to void. Idk if that will do much good though, considering it is coming out of the side. Good luck, that's all I can think of, I'm not really an expert, just trying to help.

 

[SmallArchangel]

That's ok, thank you for your suggestions! I think a new gpu is probably called for in any case - I like to keep my hardware slightly more up to date that that...

 

[TerryLaze]

My pc was running all games at highest graphical settings until recently, when the texture quality in everything suddenly seemed to drop.

Sooooo,it still runs as fast as before but only textures are messed up?
What kind of drive do you have (hdd/ssd) ,is it old,did you check if it still runs ok?
Usually games will load a lower version of the texture first and then a better one,if there is some kind of hold up,usually by disk to ram,then the better version might never be loaded,or take a long time to appear.

 

[Coryhatcher]

That's ok, thank you for your suggestions! I think a new gpu is probably called for in any case - I like to keep my hardware slightly more up to date that that...

Okay, good luck! I found my 780 ti for $150, so you can surely find something, you know, if you like cheaper used cards. Mine does have some issues with the heat censored causing constant 100% fan speed, but well worth the performance.

 

[SmallArchangel]

Sooooo,it still runs as fast as before but only textures are messed up?
What kind of drive do you have (hdd/ssd) ,is it old,did you check if it still runs ok?
Usually games will load a lower version of the texture first and then a better one,if there is some kind of hold up,usually by disk to ram,then the better version might never be loaded,or take a long time to appear.

Yes, I have not noticed any perceptible fps loss (and I don'g get great fps as it is so I really would!) But textures are either taking a really long time to 'pop' or they're just not. I have an SSD and 2 HDD's, none of which are old. Most games are installed on the SSD of course, and I've had that less than a year. I think if there were issues with any of my drives they would probably make themselves known in other ways - I've had drive problems before and I couldn't miss them.

But some sort of system bottleneck certainly seems to be occurring somewhere. I'm intending on adding 16GB more RAM over the next week or so - had 2 attempts at that already, but one of the chips was faulty both times! My current 8GB is fine though, and that's as much as I have ever used so far. As I say, CPU seems fine in testing, and I think my psu is adequate for the job (an 820W, I think - or close to that). All fans etc. working fine so far as I can tell, case and components never hot or even that warm to the touch. No dust either - my other half is a coder and has done the hardware side - he's not up on gaming rigs, but knows how to hoover a pc, seat the components etc!

 

[TerryLaze]

Try to run the game in windowed mode with the task manager in the background and look if cpu, disk or ram is maxing out and if it is some other task other then the game running.

 

[SmallArchangel]

Try to run the game in windowed mode with the task manager in the background and look if cpu, disk or ram is maxing out and if it is some other task other then the game running.

I've not been able to test all games this way - Fallout 4 is the newest game I run and it doesn't want to work in windowed mode, so no go.
My CPU usage is typically around 25% while in-game, but my RAM is maxed out, so that could be it (probably is an issue, let's face it). That hasn't changed, but recent updates to the dreaded Windows could have upped it's capacity for sucking up RAM - my system uses 4GB while idle. The main processes using memory are Chrome (I never leave that open while gaming of course!) Steam, and Windows applications (I do have all unneccessary nonsense turned off). Antimalware Service Executable is the worst culprit at 115-120,000 K.

Bring on the new RAM... I have 4GB VRam of course, but not entirely sure how the system allocates or uses that.

 

[TerryLaze]

Fallout 4,bethdesda games in general,are well known for bad memory/texture handling.
(if you run the launcher and go to options you can select windowed mode)

 

[SmallArchangel]

I've never had an issue with Skyrim, though... Seems to work ok now too (more choppy fps, though). I know how to put FO4 into windowed mode - it just doesn't run. Chucks an error. Beth is known for that one, too. Their games are never happy if you alt-tab to desktop or use windowed mode.