All system resources are fully utilized at 100% on AC4.
All system resources are fully utilized at 100% on AC4.
Hey, your CPU stays at full capacity in Assassins Creed Black Flag, leading to frequent stuttering. I’ve got an i7 2700K and a R9 290X that’s only using 30% of its power—have you seen anyone else face the same issue? Maybe there’s a fix or workaround you’re missing.
It's similar in many of NVIDIA's gameworks titles—solutions aren't clear because I didn't even try playing them.
The same problem occurred with the i5-4690k, with all CPUs running at full capacity and others showing similar behavior. The issue seems linked to the i7 model rather than the i5. After switching to the i7-4790k, performance improved significantly—around 80% across cores and threads—and the game became much better optimized. You might try reinstalling the game if optimization still isn’t working.
Some ignorance about Nvidia Gameworks one again. I've played many games with Nvidia gameworks that have great optimisation and many that have poor optimisation. It has nothing to do with gameworks, stop spouting bullshit. AC4 is not very well optimised in the first place and any gameworks features can be disabled and it still runs like shit.
Since they began relying more heavily on tessellation without any visual benefit, it negatively impacts users who don’t support Maxwell technology. Essentially, "good optimization" means if a title runs smoothly on a PS4 at 1080p, it should also perform well on a PC with 4K or even 4xSSAA. It doesn’t imply mediocre performance with low-quality settings. Examples include Alien Isolation, Tomb Raider, and the new Sniper Elite—AMD titles that deliver high resolution across platforms. These games are often released with 4K support on high-end GPUs, or they downscale to lower resolutions on less powerful hardware. What counts as good optimization is seen in titles like Alien Isolation, Tomb Raider, and the latest Sniper Elite. AMD releases typically handle 4K smoothly, while Nvidia’s Game Works often struggles with tessellation, especially for users without powerful hardware. This isn’t about quality; it’s about how games are marketed and optimized for different systems.
Your setup handles demanding games well despite the CPU hitting 79% because of efficient cooling and good hardware balance. The GTX770 and R9 290x provide solid performance, and the AC4 at max helps maintain stable temperatures. It's possible thermal throttling or memory issues are contributing factors, especially with high load.
It seems the situation isn't about Nvidia at all. Poor implementation of gameworks can cause issues regardless. My friend had an HD 6950 and 3770 running the game smoothly at medium-high settings with 60fps.
AMD handles game performance well. Nvidia titles lag significantly. AMD applications perform smoothly at average settings and resolutions. Nvidia’s issues stem from tessellation and external pressure, forcing developers to implement it even when they explicitly prohibit it, similar to CDPR’s approach. http://www.pcgameshardware.de/The-Witche...U-1107469/ CDPR Balázs Török: Indeed, we support tessellation for landscapes and water views in our rendering system. We’ve experimented with applying it to other elements, but results haven’t met expectations. In fact, our objects don’t require tessellation; it only adds unnecessary complexity. This only raises overhead, so we reserve it for scenery and water effects while keeping the rest unaffected. PCGH: We’ve observed similar challenges in other titles—tessellation for character rendering often leads to poor visuals and high power consumption. CDPR Balázs Török: Precisely. Many technical hurdles emerge when adapting tessellation to meshes, and it remains a major pain point. It’s best used only when it delivers clear benefits or stands out as a notable improvement. By the way, this isn’t a novel solution. http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/17351...-and-amd/2 The core advantage of Game Works is delivering optimized experiences. Unfortunately, the opposite is happening here. Regarding visual effects, they struggle to run smoothly across any configuration in these titles. Even at 1080p on a GTX 980, achieving smooth frame rates fell well below 30 FPS.
Demo displayed at 1080p using a 980 achieved 60fps. Hair rendering runs smoothly without affecting performance in FC4. Tessellation is a DX11 capability, not a Nvidia-specific feature—Nvidia isn’t involved.
False claims circulated about low performance numbers, but actual reports from the Polish press indicated drops below 30 across various sources. Some Nvidia titles listed a GTX 770 alongside a R9 290 as equivalent, though this would require tessellation—a feature the developers chose not to include initially. Evidence shows CDPR criticized tessellation in their assets prior to launch. Another game, Evolve, also lacked proper tessellation treatment. The GTX 970 struggles significantly against a R9 290 at higher resolutions and even underperforms at 1080p. Sweclockers generally trust benchmarks, confirming the GTX 970 isn’t a strong contender for 1440p or 4K. In Shadows of Mordor, a similar situation occurred with no tessellation support. The GTX 980 is considered solid but falls short compared to reference cards like the 290x at 1440p. To achieve competitive performance with a GTX 770, tessellation is necessary. Running it at 1440p via native or DSR would yield better visuals and smoother gameplay. TXAA would appear distorted. With a GTX 980, you’re already in the 1440p range; it’s not close to 1080p quality.