Issue with low frame rates or drops in certain games on a high-performance PC
Issue with low frame rates or drops in certain games on a high-performance PC
Hello. I get straight to the matter.
In certain titles such as Fortnite, Watch Dogs Legion, Borderlands 3, Cyberpunk (a bit), Assassin's Creed Odyssey/Origins, and Anthem, I experience lower FPS than expected or noticeable drops/freezes that render the game unplayable. I’ve looked into potential causes within Windows and software settings, but found nothing. Generally, I performed three format/restore point cleanups and checked for changes, yet the issue persisted.
I also tried some minor system tweaks—disabling localization, camera, adjusting visuals, etc.—but nothing resolved the problem. An advanced approach included disabling HPT, VBS, ISLC, unparking the CPU, and debloating Windows. Still, no significant improvement.
There were also attempts to modify BIOS settings such as thermal throttling, power-saving options, RAM XMP profiles, and various BIOS updates. These changes produced only minor variations in performance.
Gpu drivers were adjusted to different settings, but the issue remained unchanged. Lowering or raising graphic settings didn’t help much (I tested VSync on/off, fps limits, CPU usage programs). CPU usage was consistently high in these games, though not always at maximum.
I changed the GPU drivers to different versions and still faced similar problems.
Changing BIOS settings like thermal throttling, power saving, RAM XMP, and other updates made only small differences.
The GPU drivers themselves were the same across versions.
In these games, adjusting graphics settings didn’t significantly improve stability (I tested VSync, locked/unlocked FPS limits, and used CPU usage tools).
CPU usage was high during gameplay (though not always peak), and I tried Amd Virtual Super Resolution from 1080p to 1440p. This reduced CPU load and increased GPU utilization, resulting in slightly more stable performance with noticeable FPS drops. Still, it remained challenging to play.
It seems there’s likely a bottleneck—generally my CPU is insufficient for the GPU, even with higher RAM speeds. I watched benchmark results showing better performance in games I mentioned compared to my setup, especially with the same RAM speeds and higher CPU frequencies. I also reviewed an RTX 3070 paired with an i5 9600K and 2400MHz RAM, which achieved better FPS and stability.
Some people attribute the issue to RAM problems, but I’m not convinced.
My PC specifications:
- CPU: Intel i5 9600K
- GPU: Radeon RX 6700 XT
- Motherboard: ASRock B365 Pro 4
- Power Supply: Bequiet 650W
- Cooler: Spartan 3 Pro
- RAM: DDR4 2400MHz, 2x8GB
- Monitor: 75Hz 1080p with FreeSync
- OS: Windows 11 (previously Windows 10 had the same issue)
- Storage: SSD/HDD
I tested this configuration with another card (RX 5600 XT), which also suffered from lower FPS due to a weaker card and frequent instability. For example, in games like AC Valhalla, Dying Light 2, Forza Horizon 5, Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, CS:GO, GOD OF WAR, and Ghost Recon Breakpoint, all performed perfectly at ultra settings with locked 75fps and VSync. These results matched those in benchmarks on my system, which runs at 65Hz max CPU and around 60-70 on the GPU.
Temperatures stayed within safe limits (around 65°C during gaming or benchmarking) on the CPU and GPU.
I’m unsure what else to try. I hope someone can assist me.
Sorry for the grammar issues.
What is the difference between SSD and HDD? How much space are they using? What memory consumption does the game have? Is there a malware check on the system?
SSD: Kingston SA400 240/480 gb
The 240 gb drive now offers 66gb available and a 480gb 63 gb freeHDD toshiba hdwd 7200: 1TB, with 133gb free space. However, this might not be the problem. Running games while disks have around 70-80% free space still shows similar performance as before.
No malware detected; scanned by Windows Defender and protected with paid Norton 360.
While playing Cyberpunk, RAM usage averages 9.3 GB.