Suddenly low fps and issues with GPU usage

[PCproblemos]

It's worth noting that this is a computer lent to me by the computer re sellers that are currently fixing my own laptop. (It is gonna take more than 5 weeks)

The first game i downloaded on this computer was counter strike GO, and it ran fine for like a week. Then i bought and downloaded GTA 5. It played well, i got the frames expected for a laptop like this - until like 20 minutes in when my fps dropped to 12. I suspected an error with Nvidia optimus (i thought that the integrated graphics was in use) so i pulled the power cable (The nvidia card disables when running on battery) and the fps stayed the same. However when i logged my GPU usage with GPU-Z it turned out that the Nvidia card was still the one that was processing the game, but the load on the card was only 4-6 %. The fps doesn't recover. When i start the game again the time varies between 0 and 20 minutes (The longest was 40, but that was 1 out of maybe 20) til the issue arrives.

After hours of trying to fix it i decided to play CSGO instead. My frames were very low. During the week before the GTA 5 download i got frames varying from 100-150 on medium high settings. And now i was able to achieve a mere 40 on the lowest settings. I was certain that the integrated graphics card was in use instead of the Nvidia one, so i pulled the cable and the frames went down further. I checked with GPU-Z and my Nvidia card load was 90%+ all the time.

I have re installed both games.
I have re installed the drivers.
I have spent hours looking for solutions and related issues online.
I have factory reset my computer.
I have run virus scans.
I do not have power saving on.
Temps are below 50 celsius. (Always play with cooling pad)

After everything i've done the issues remain.
I've used everything in my arsenal, and i still can't figure out what causes the damn problems.

Important specs:
Gt840m 2gb ddr3
i54210U quad core (2 physical, 4 logical) clocked at 1.7 ghz
8gb ram

Help would be appreciated!

 

[Joshua Martin]

Just pulling the cable shouldn't automatically switch the graphics engine. The game would more than likely need to be restarted.

If you want to confirm you're running the correct GPU, download MSI Afterburner and select the Nvidia GPU and monitor it while gaming. If you see GPU usage going up, then you know it using the right GPU.

To manually pick which GPU you want an application to use head to: Nvidia Control Panel > Manage 3D Settings > Programs > Select the program you want and change to "Use high performance GPU". Then when the game starts it should use the correct one if it isn't already. I used to have an Nvidia Optimus powered laptop and it was kind of buggy on some games.

Also, note that fps will drop dramatically when not plugged into power, even if it is using the Nvidia GPU.

Hope this helps.

 

[PCproblemos]

As i wrote in the text i monitored the gt840m usage (with GPU-Z) and it drops below 10% and stays (GTA 5). But in CSGO, a significantly less demanding game, the right card is ALWAYS 90%<. So just to be clear:

In GTA 5 the game plays fine when the Nvidia GPU usage is fine. Then the usage drops low and stays, and so does the fps. So as i said, the nvidia card is in use.

In CSGO the right card is always used 90%> and the fps is still very low.

 

[PCproblemos]

**EDIT**
So i checked the nvidia gpu load and apparently it doesn't go down below ten like GPU-Z showed, in fact it goes up to 99%. That's where my fps drops, at 99% gpu usage. All my cores are being utilitized, the vram and the ram aswell. So low fps at high gpu usage and low temps. I'm clueless

 

[Joshua Martin]

Have you blown on the laptop and made sure it's dust clear? Not sure why you're all of a sudden getting low frames. 99% GPU usage is great. Is your power supply getting to hot or anything? Could be limiting the power I guess.

 

[PCproblemos]

So i found out why the gpu usage was 99%. The gpu core clock goes down to 135 mhz. I have no idea why.