FPS Dropping to Zero
FPS Dropping to Zero
FPS experiences sudden drops to zero in online games. Interrupts last between a few seconds and under a minute, occurring roughly every 5 to 10 minutes. Occasional random stuttering appears during normal use, such as freezing while typing in forums. The exact cause remains unclear.
System specifications:
CPU: Ryzen 9 5900X
GPU: EVGA Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti
Motherboard: MSI X570 Gaming Plus
RAM: Corsair Vengeance Pro 3600 18-22-22-42 2x16GB (plus recently acquired 2x16GB)
SSD: Intel 670P
PSU: Corsair RM750X
Previous events:
Sunday: Added new RAM (same model as original, 2x16GB). Passed Memtest but failed hammer test; struggled to boot at 3600 MHz. Removed and tested again.
Rebooted: Windows reported updates installed (possibly after a month).
Monday: First FPS drop observed during gameplay. Initially considered server-related.
Tuesday: Multiple FPS drops recorded. Investigation began.
Wednesday: Suspected old RAM issue (possible loose connections). Swapped slots and tested again; same problem persisted. Attempted slower RAM from previous system (failed to boot due to BIOS settings).
Thursday: After MEMTEST passed with new RAM, still experienced issues.
Checked temperatures for CPU and GPU. No abnormal spikes.
Performed Prime95 and Furmark tests—no stability problems detected.
Conducted 3DMark and stress tests; results matched previous benchmarks from a year ago. Stress test achieved 98.7% frame rate consistency. No zero FPS drops observed.
Rolled back Windows update. Issue unresolved.
Ran DDU, updated Nvidia drivers. No improvement.
Executed SFC /scannow—detected corrupted files but no resolution.
Inspected PSU cables; all appear connected properly.
Monitored Task Manager during drops; only minor spikes in services like "Service Host: Local Service (Network Restricted)" and "State Repository Service." Unlikely to be the cause if not actively using them.
Recorded additional observations later.
Tested in single-player games—frame rate fluctuated randomly between 180-200 and 30 FPS. No consistent pattern.
Checked ping during online sessions on google.com; no spikes detected.
In-game ping remained stable throughout the FPS drops.
Updated BIOS from 7C37vAH to 7C37vAI.
Switched to GTX 1070 model—same issue persisted.
Reset CMOS, reinstalled CPU pins, and tested different PSU.
Adjusted RAM timings manually; achieved booting with 4x16GB but intermittent drops continued.
Both SSD and HDD show normal SMART status and speeds.
Before considering more extreme solutions:
I’m contemplating swapping the video card (an older GTX 1070 is functional) and replacing the PSU to determine if these components affect performance, though I dislike rewiring the PSU.
My suspicion remains on the RAM—though after testing both pairs separately and changing slots, I’m not convinced it’s the main problem. Could there be a RAM stability issue with older modules?
What BIOS version is active for your motherboard right now? Regarding the GPU driver reinstall, did you utilize DDU before updating your GPU drivers with the newest release?
BIOS version is 7C37vAI. It was 7C37vAH at the time I faced the issue, and I attempted to update it but the problem continued. I'll add this to the list.
Using DDU and reinstalling drivers didn't resolve the issue.
Latest update:
2x16 GB RAM will start at 3600,
4x16 GB RAM won’t boot at 3600MHz.
MSI EZ Debug indicator for CPU lights up (not RAM), but it’s unclear if this is typical.
The system restarts multiple times before loading the OS at 2133MHz.
At this stage, I might disassemble and reinstall the CPU.
They appear to be identical in make and model, specifically Corsair Vengeance. If they were purchased at different times, check the version/revision numbers on the sticks from each kit. I plan to reflash the BIOS and reset the CMOS after a successful update with the latest revision. The problem might lie with the board/BIOS or the processor itself—try swapping in another board to test compatibility. If it works fine, the issue likely resides with the board/BIOS. If it matches your platform’s issues, then the RAM or a newer revision could be the cause.
I performed a CMOS clear before attempting the CPU reinstall. Also tried replacing the PSU without success (added to main list). Concerning the RAM, yes, it's the same model and make. The versions differ. I've verified I can get both to operate separately at 3600 or together at 2133 (no tests between). However, FPS drops to zero in every situation now. Prior to the RAM 4x16 installation, this issue didn't exist, so it's possible the memory controller was affected. I'm inclined to think it might be related to the motherboard or CPU, especially since I don't have other AM4 CPUs or boards to swap. Perhaps I'll use this as a reason to upgrade my home server and build a Ryzen system for swapping parts. The current socket appears to still be 1150.
Regarding the RAM, yes, it's the same model and make. The versions differ. I've verified that both can run independently at 3600 or together at 2133 (no testing between). However, FPS drops to zero in every situation now.
So this problem didn't exist before the RAM 4x16 upgrade, suggesting a possible memory controller issue?
Please include the specific RAM versions. The platform's ability to work with either kit without problems implies it doesn't tolerate mismatched RAM. I interpret mismatched here as different ICs due to version numbers, which are often swapped for cost or supply reasons.
Old: 3.44
New: 8.35
This isn't accurate.
4x16 boots at 2133. Still experiencing FPS issues.
2x16 (new v8.35) boots at 3600. Still facing FPS drops.
2x16 (old v3.44) boots at 3600. Still encountering FPS problems.
Thanks for the help, but currently I can't restore my original setup without the performance dropping to zero. I might need to adjust the clocks manually.
I haven't managed to recreate the behavior in any synthetic program. I'm uncertain what this means, but I tested it three days ago:
https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/57079446
This is Time Spy's Stress test which also fails to reproduce the action.
https://www.3dmark.com/3dm/84428684
Even when running at 2x16 with my old sticks @ 2133, I see a complete FPS drop.
Example of the issue (I've tried replicating in 4 games, including one offline session):
The behavior appears every 3-5 minutes, possibly due to CPU or RAM constraints. At this stage, I think a benchmark dependent on CPU performance would be more reliable. I've also attempted to replicate it in Furmark but haven't been able to.