Question What is bottlenecking my GPU?

[Tom Bombtongue]

First off, my hardware:

• Intel i7 7700
• NVidia GTX 1080
• 16 GB Memory
• Gigabyte Z270-Gaming K3
• 1TB magnetic drive

The problem:
GPU runs @40% resulting in very poor FPS in games.
Also, I don't know whether related or not, while booting up the system, the dark pre-BIOS screen lingers for 3-4 minutes.

What I have tried so far:

• Checked the CPU using burn-in - clean.
• Checked the storage using CrystalDiskMark - clean.
• Checked CPU temp - never higher than 80° Celsius. I also renewed the thermal compound.

Please tell me if I can provide more info.

 

[timbroslice]

Do you have the latest drivers for your GPU?

 

[Metal Messiah.]

On what screen resolution are you playing games, 1080p or 2K/4K ? Since when did this issue start to occur ? Recently, or it was there since the beginning ??

*If "performance" related issue: -Note the "exact" point in which the performance reduction occurred (ie: After Windows update, After Bios update, After Driver update, After thermal system shutdown, After Hardware change/upgrade etc...)

Have you tried doing a CLEAN re-install of the GPU drivers, or maybe even Rollback to a previous version ? Use the DDU tool. Also, are you using Windows 10 OS ? Did you recently update your OS build ?

What is the GPU's temp value when playing Games ??

 

[Tom Bombtongue]

Do you have the latest drivers for your GPU?

Yes, I do.

On what screen resolution are you playing games, 1080p or 2K/4K ? Since when did this issue start to occur ? Recently, or it was there since the beginning ??

*If "performance" related issue: -Note the "exact" point in which the performance reduction occurred (ie: After Windows update, After Bios update, After Driver update, After thermal system shutdown, After Hardware change/upgrade etc...)

Have you tried doing a CLEAN re-install of the GPU drivers, or maybe even Rollback to a previous version ? Use the DDU tool. Also, are you using Windows 10 OS ? Did you recently update your OS build ?

What is the GPU's temp value when playing Games ??

I am playing @1080p, never tried higher resolutions.

The PC is ~2 years old, but I don't usually play demanding games. Mainly play League of Legends. This game used to give upto 300FPS but now goes as low as 50 at times.

I wish I knew the exact point things went wrong. But I don't think it is Windows update or BIOS update. I keep the GPU drivers up-to-date but can they really lower the performance this much? I also didn't change hardware since I built the system.

Yes, I am using Windows 10. I will try a clean re-install of the driver next.

GPU temp is like 40°.

 

[Metal Messiah.]

I keep the GPU drivers up-to-date but can they really lower the performance this much?

It depends on the driver though. Sometimes early BETA version drivers are more stable than the recent ones. But there is no hard and fast rule to this. Maybe also format your OS copy, do a fresh Windows install ??

 

[Metal Messiah.]

Forgot to ask this before, but which power supply unit are you using ?

 

[rcald2000]

Tom Bombtongue Hi.

Can you name at least two games where you're seeing 40% utilization? What resolution / settings / FPS are you seeing in said games? Which application are you using to check GPU utilization? Personally I like GPU-Z ("senors" tab) and my second choice would be Hardware monitor. I've seen task manager wrongly display this figure, which is why i'm asking.

"while booting up the system, the dark pre-BIOS screen lingers for 3-4 minutes."

Did your system always do this? If not, did this situation develop around the same time as your 40% GPU utilization?

 

[Tom Bombtongue]

I have tried re-formatting, that is why I was not responding. After a clean re-install, the problem is still there.

Forgot to ask this before, but which power supply unit are you using ?

The 700W power source that came with the chassis.

Tom Bombtongue Hi.

Can you name at least two games where you're seeing 40% utilization? What resolution / settings / FPS are you seeing in said games? Which application are you using to check GPU utilization? Personally I like GPU-Z ("senors" tab) and my second choice would be Hardware monitor. I've seen task manager wrongly display this figure, which is why i'm asking.

"while booting up the system, the dark pre-BIOS screen lingers for 3-4 minutes."

Did your system always do this? If not, did this situation develop around the same time as your 40% GPU utilization?

I get 40% GPU usage and only 40FPS @1080p highest settings in Dragon Quest XI. I am using MSI Afterburner to check it.

It didn't always wait in the pre-BIOS screen. It has been like this for the past year or so, and the FPS drop has started since around the same time.