FPS drops but no clear reason found?
FPS drops but no clear reason found?
I'm wondering if anyone can assist me. I experience FPS drops in games occasionally, and I'm currently playing Fallout: New Vegas to evaluate it. It's an older title that should perform well on my system, but it actually stutters more than newer titles. I've reviewed all my system metrics using the Windows Resource Monitor, checking every core and resource usage with the AMD overlay for FPS and utilization. Whenever the FPS drops, nothing seems to be fully utilizing any resources—no cores are maxed out, no disk activity, no memory spikes. The performance remains very static, almost unchanged, yet stutters persist. What might I be overlooking? Who should I consult about this? Thank you.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.
This is a laptop, a Dell Insprion 5577
CPU:
Intel i7-7700HQ @ 2.80Ghz, 8 cores
CPU cooler:
Stock...?
Motherboard:
Don't know, can't find that info
Ram:
16GB DDR4
SSD/HDD:
HDD 5400 RPM
GPU:
AMD Radeon RX 6800 (External)
PSU:
EVGA 500w, several years old.
Chassis:
Don't know, laptop?
OS:
Windows 10
Monitor:
Dell
BIOS version:
Most up to date version. This PC no longer receives updates.
We're focusing on a laptop, so identifying its make, model, and SKU is essential for understanding the hardware. The format you used was intended for a PC, as you mentioned posting in the Systems section. Would you like to try removing all GPU drivers using DDU in Safe Mode, then installing the latest drivers from AMD's support site manually? Also, could you confirm the version of Windows 10 you're running?
I followed your instructions for the Nvida and AMD drivers (though I did have some Nvidia files here and that graphics card is not connected to the motherboard). I reinstalled the AMD drivers using their software; I'm unsure if the elevated command is "Run as Administrator." Fallout is now crashing after the reinstall, and I can't play it.
I notice numerous complaints regarding gaming laptops underperforming.
Typically, they run while connected to power.
A frequent issue is thermal throttling.
Coolers are often compact and have limited power output.
Monitoring tools like HWMonitor or HWinfo will display current, minimum, and maximum CPU temperatures.
Check each core individually for detailed insights.
For Intel chips, a maximum temperature of 100°C in red indicates throttling.
With Ryzen processors, the threshold is usually around 85–90°C.
The CPU reduces its clock speed and power consumption to safeguard itself until conditions improve.
Lowering the multiplier can cause the CPU to operate at full capacity.
This may result in the CPU being at 100% usage.
What steps can be taken?
Ensure your cooler’s airflow is unobstructed and the fan is functioning.
Use Windows balanced power profile instead of performance mode.
Set a minimum CPU performance level around 20%.
Although unusual, adjusting the advanced settings in Windows Balanced Power Profile to a maximum of 90% may help.
You might not immediately notice the impact on performance.
I think the previous 500w power supply might not be sufficient for the external RX 6800. When using an external GPU on a laptop, you need to pay close attention to power distribution between the CPU, GPU, PSU, and GPU. It seems to me that if you consider "external" as a dedicated internal GPU rather than the built-in one, the setup becomes more delicate. The processors in laptops are usually throttled down, but AMD suggests 650w for their desktop RX6800, which is significantly higher than what your laptop provides. Still, TPU indicates the RX 6800M uses 31% less power than the desktop version, so the old PSU could work. However, it remains a tight situation since older PSUs might deliver only about 10% less power, making it barely sufficient. I wonder if this issue arises even when the laptop is connected to a power source or just on battery.
I’ll have to consider the CPU temperature advice later this evening.
The power supply seems like a possibility, especially since Helldivers has caused BSODs and I didn’t notice power reaching the graphics card until I restarted the PC. The graphics card is an internal desktop unit connected externally via a dedicated PSU, which then connects to my laptop.
I wasn’t expecting the PSU to be the problem, as nothing else appears to draw power from it. I also doubted that recommended PSU specifications assume other components are using power from it. Additionally, FPS drops are much more severe in older games compared to newer, demanding titles—could this still point to a PSU issue?
I only keep the laptop plugged in, so there’s no need to unplug it since the external graphics card keeps me using it at the desk.
I wasn't entirely confident about what you were referring to, since most people don't do that on a laptop. But if the EVGA 500w unit is connected to the GPU, it's probably the issue. AMD suggests a 650w power supply for their RX 6800 desktop GPU. As for why this problem appears in an older game, it might be because of poor coding or insufficient optimization, which can lead to unexpected power surges. The fact that Helldivers II has had its own technical issues backs this up. It's still wise to follow the recommendations from the GPU chip manufacturers regarding power supply usage, even if the GPU is the only component connected to the PSU.