[SOLVED] Suddently low fps

[Jimmidk]

Hi guys

Some weeks ago i suddently got low fps on everything i play (CP2077, Sea of Thieves, CS:GO)

It use to be around 60-70+fps i CP2077 with DLSS on and max settings, but now im low in late 20 mid 30. I have ran a Heaven Benchmark a couple of times and my score is 51fps/1400 points. I've checked my old score on a picture i had, and that old score was 98fps/2490 points. So almost the double of what i gets now.

I have checked clock mhz while running heaven and it is around 1500-1600mhz which ofc is low. temp is 75-79c all time so im not sure it is temp related. Newest driver and no OC. Power settings in Windows is set to Maximum performance.

I have both GPU and CPU in a custom waterloop.

PC spec:
X570 MB
Ryzen 5 3600
32gb 3200mhz ram
RTX 2080 Evga Black Gaming.

What can cause my fps drops?

Thanks
Jimmi

 

[David0ne86]

Have you tried to uninstall/install drivers with the ddu method? Have you updated windows recently? Alot of people reported having their fps tanking with the recent windows updates. Those clocks are way too low. Being watercooled, 75/79 degrees is hot af. I would honestly check the watercooled loop and change the fluid. A watercooled card should never go past 60/65 degrees, especially with those low clocks. Something is def wrong with that loop or the card is not receiving the liquid coolant and thermal throttling.

 

[Aeacus]

it is around 1500-1600mhz which ofc is low. temp is 75-79c all time

Based on that, i'd say your GPU is thermal throttling. That also explains the drop in FPS.

I have both GPU and CPU in a custom waterloop.

When was the last time you drained and flushed your loop? If ever?

I found another user, who also had same issue and once he deep cleaned his system, he got it running like a charm,
link: https://linustechtips.com/topic/1127523-why-is-my-gpu-thermal-throttling-solved/

Btw, open loop needs most maintenance of all cooling solutions and you'd need to flush your system at least once a year. While it's good to do deep cleaning every 2 years (deep clean = take the whole loop apart and clean everything, while flushing the system with vinegar).

Here's also JayzTwoCents vid how to flush (not deep clean) your system:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqYQ-XnOPPI

 

[Jimmidk]

I had the waterloop in mind, but it is only 5 month ago i changed the MB, so the whole loop was rebuild at that time.
A reason why the temps are High, could be that i have the Nzxt H510i Elite which has a bit of a poor airflow, AND the case is in a cabinet, thou the cabinet door is open while the pc is on.
BUT the pc has been in the cabinet all time (1,5 year) and it is just now the low fps is showing.

Yes i had the old Nvidia driver removed with DDU, and yes i have the latest Win10 Update.

 

[Aeacus]

BUT the pc has been in the cabinet all time (1,5 year) and it is just now the low fps is showing.

Does it hurt when you try to improve your PC's cooling?

Here, i'd be taking the PC out of the cabinet and put it on the desk, then open it up and clean the insides from the dust. After which, run the stress tests and look if temps are still high and if GPU thermal throttles again, lowering FPS.

If all that fixes your issue, then it was cooling issue. At this point, i wouldn't chuck the PC back in a small, confined space (cabinet).
If not, then you can look towards other possible issues.

 

[Jimmidk]

Does it hurt when you try to improve your PC's cooling?

Here, i'd be taking the PC out of the cabinet and put it on the desk, then open it up and clean the insides from the dust. After which, run the stress tests and look if temps are still high and if GPU thermal throttles again, lowering FPS.

If all that fixes your issue, then it was cooling issue. At this point, i wouldn't chuck the PC back in a small, confined space (cabinet).
If not, then you can look towards other possible issues.

Did just that, took the pc out and left it on the table, all panels off. Still hitting the mid 70 and the fps is the same. actually just got a score of 1250 on Heaven Benchmark 🙁

 

[Jimmidk]

Im not sure if the coolant can be the problem. I have none spare coolant but have ordered some, but i guess i can use destilled water just to check?
I know using just destilled water is not good for a longer period, but this will be for about 2-3 days.

 

[Aeacus]

but i guess i can use destilled water just to check?

Well, distilled water is okay as long as you use anti-corrosion and anti-bacterial additives in it. Since without the two, you'll corrode the metal in your loop and start life in the water, which smudges the water block. Especially noticeable with clear/seethrough water blocks.

Oh, coolant may not be the only problem. Thermal paste/pads is another possible source of an issue. And same goes to the mounting pressure.

 

[Jimmidk]

Well, distilled water is okay as long as you use anti-corrosion and anti-bacterial additives in it. Since without the two, you'll corrode the metal in your loop and start life in the water, which smudges the water block. Especially noticeable with clear/seethrough water blocks.

Even if im just running it with distelled water for a day or two, until i got my cryofuel?

Think im gonna take it all apart again and redo paste and pads.
I could use the original gpu cooler just to see if that change anything?

 

[Aeacus]

Even if im just running it with distelled water for a day or two, until i got my cryofuel?

Well, do you want to risk it?

I could use the original gpu cooler just to see if that change anything?

If you have that then yes, you can use GPU stock air cooler, to see if it makes a difference. If it does, issue is with your open loop. If it doesn't, then issue lies somewhere else, most likely within software (OS).

 

[Jimmidk]

Well, do you want to risk it?


If you have that then yes, you can use GPU stock air cooler, to see if it makes a difference. If it does, issue is with your open loop. If it doesn't, then issue lies somewhere else, most likely within software (OS).

I ended up using the Cryofuel from my loop again. flushed the system with distilled water and filled it back up with the 5 month old Cryofuel just until i get the new one.

I took the waterblock off the GPU and saw that some of the paste was hard (like clay, and it was the EKwb paste), so i changed it and the same with the thermalpads.

It helped!! Now im sitting at 61-63c on Heaven and got a score at 2504, and in CP2077 i get around 80-105fps, with DLSS, and i am now running it for the first time with RayTracing on and have 50-65fps

 

[Aeacus]

It helped!!

So, you did read the link i gave where someone else had the same issue and servicing the open loop also fixed his problem? 😀

EKwb paste

Paste should gradually harden over the years. But since that is some proprietary paste, maybe it hardens faster, to force people to service their open loops more often? I don't know.
If it is, it's a neat trick by EKwb part to keep people maintaining their open loops. 😆

In any event, nice to hear that you got your issue solved.

 

[Jimmidk]

So, you did read the link i gave where someone else had the same issue and servicing the open loop also fixed his problem? 😀



Paste should gradually harden over the years. But since that is some proprietary paste, maybe it hardens faster, to force people to service their open loops more often? I don't know.
If it is, it's a neat trick by EKwb part to keep people maintaining their open loops. 😆

In any event, nice to hear that you got your issue solved.

Yeah i did read it😁

And yes if their paste is suppose to harden like that it’s pretty clever of them😅.
I’m not sure, but my guess to what went down with my temps, could be that the paste was gradually getting harder and harder, until it got to the point where it lost it’s effect.

 

[Aeacus]

I’m not sure, but my guess to what went down with my temps, could be that the paste was gradually getting harder and harder, until it got to the point where it lost it’s effect.

Yeah, this is the most likely course of action.

Though, during load (gaming) your GPU is constantly outputting a lot of heat, maybe even more than your CPU and that paste you use, maybe isn't designed to handle such high heat output, hence why it hardened that fast. Or it's all about EKwb's secret plan and that is supposed to happen. 😆

 

[Jimmidk]

Yeah, this is the most likely course of action.

Though, during load (gaming) your GPU is constantly outputting a lot of heat, maybe even more than your CPU and that paste you use, maybe isn't designed to handle such high heat output, hence why it hardened that fast. Or it's all about EKwb's secret plan and that is supposed to happen. 😆

Funny you mention the difference between GPU and CPU temps. Im almost sure that the paste i used first time was the same i used on my CPU. Yesterday when i did the repasting, i noticed that the paste that came with the GPU Block was still sealed, so i must have used the same paste to CPU and GPU. Might be a difference in the paste between the ones for CPU and GPU🤔

 

[Aeacus]

Might be a difference in the paste between the ones for CPU and GPU🤔

Could be. Only EKwb can tell for sure though, if they disclose it, that is.