[SOLVED] Why is my computer not working harder?

[Pooleb27]

So let me start by saying i recently upgraded my cpu and changed to a new case. I have much better airflow now and better temps all around. However, when playing any of my games, I can't get over 70-80 fps. I understand some games aren't intensive, but that still doesn't explain the low fps. I have tried it on low settings and on ultra settings. I have tried playing on my 1080p monitor and on my 1440p monitor. Nothing changes. I got similar fps on my old computer which had an i5 4460 and a gtx 970. I ran MSI Afterburner for an hour or so while playing and i noticed my cpu never goes over 50% usage and my gpu never goes over 70% usage and those numbers are usually lower than that. The temps on both are very good so i know it's not being throttled by heat. There is also no form of Vsync or framerate cap on. So am i missing something? This also happens when i have no overclock on my graphics card just with even smaller usages and less fps. Here is a screenshot of how it will look after playing any of my games for a while.

https://gyazo.com/d3bf06a5ad33911ec07bcb4f716f70b5

Here is my setup also.

Z97 PC Mate
i7 4790k
Hyper 212 Evo
Asus Gtx 1070 Dual
16gb ddr3 2400
Corsair Carbide 270R case with 3 intake fans on the front and 3 exhaust fans on the back and top.

Any help would be appreciated. I am going crazy here trying to figure out whats wrong.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Here are the first steps to take when trying to solve these kinds of hardware problems. If you have already tried these steps, all of them, exactly as outlined, we can move along to more advanced solutions.

If there are any you have NOT done, it would be advisable to do so if for no other reason than to be able to say you've already done it and eliminate that possibility.


First, make sure your motherboard has the MOST recent BIOS version installed. If it does not, then update. This solves a high number of issues even in cases where the release that is newer than yours makes no mention of improving graphics card or other hardware compatibility. They do not list every change they have made when they post a new BIOS release.

Second, go to the product page for your motherboard on the manufacturer website. Download and install the latest driver versions for the chipset, storage controllers, audio and network adapters. Do not skip installing a newer driver just because you think it is not relevant to the problem you are having. The drivers for one device can often affect ALL other devices and a questionable driver release can cause instability in the OS itself. They don't release new drivers just for fun. If there is a new driver release for a component, there is a good reason for it. The same goes for BIOS updates.

IF you have other hardware installed or attached to the system that are not a part of the systems covered by the motherboard drivers, then go to the support page for THAT component and check to see if there are newer drivers available for that as well. If there are, install them.

The last thing we want to look at, for now anyhow, is the graphics card drivers. Regardless of whether you "already installed the newest drivers" for your graphics card or not, it is OFTEN a good idea to do a CLEAN install of the graphics card drivers. Just installing over the old drivers OR trying to use what Nvidia and AMD consider a clean install is not good enough and does not usually give the same result as using the Display Driver Uninstaller utility. This has a very high success rate and is always worth a shot.

If you have had both Nvidia and AMD cards installed at any point on that operating system then you will want to run the DDU twice. Once for the old card drivers (ie, Nvidia or AMD) and again for the currently installed graphics card drivers (ie, AMD or Nvidia). So if you had an Nvidia card at some point in the past, run it first for Nvidia and then after that is complete, run it again for AMD if you currently have an AMD card installed.

Here are the full instructions on running the Display driver uninstaller and CLEAN installing new drivers.

*Graphics card CLEAN install tutorial using the DDU*

 

[Karadjgne]

Fps limits are set by the cpu. The gpu has to live up to them according to resolutions and detail settings. So if the game tested is only running 4 threads or less, you'll get almost identical fps with either the 4460 or 4790k, since the gpus are more than capable of ultra and 60fps+ and the cpus have identical IPC.

As far as usage goes that's not a measure of how hard the cpu is working, but a measure of how much the cpu has to use to maximize fps according to the game code. If you are seeing 50% usage, that's basically just 4 threads usage, and thats what the game code demands be used. It won't use 100% because the game code says use 4 not 8 threads. You'd notice a difference between the 2 cpus if testing heavy threaded games like Witcher 3 and light threaded like cs:go where Witcher 3 can use 8, cs:go uses 2. The 4460 would bog like crazy in Witcher 3, hitting 100% usage as all its threads get swamped, but far less usage on the i7 as its 8 threads bandwidth has room to move. Cs:go would be identical fps as either cpu is usage below either thread limit.