PC has started to underperform in games (stuttering, much lower fps than usual)
PC has started to underperform in games (stuttering, much lower fps than usual)
Rewrite the text using different words, maintaining the original meaning as closely as possible.
Here’s a revised version of the text with altered phrasing and vocabulary:
I am experiencing significant performance issues across several games, including Mordhau, VALORANT, and CS:GO. Initially, the problems manifested as stuttering in Mordhau, which was unusual given its stable frame rates. Subsequently, I encountered frame rate drops during intense action in both the VALORANT beta and CS:GO, even when using low graphics settings. Prior to these issues, I could consistently achieve high frame rates – over 250 on low settings and 150+ on high settings – in CS:GO. Now, I’m seeing a fluctuating range of 50-60 fps on high settings and 80-90 fps on low settings. The stuttering in Mordhau is intermittent but disruptive.
I suspect the problem lies with my hardware, particularly my graphics card (a GTX 970 from 2015), as it’s an aging component. My system specifications include: an Asus PRIME Z370-P motherboard, an Intel Core i7-8700k processor, a GTX 970, a Corsair TX850M 850W power supply, 16GB of Corsair Vengeance LED DDR4 RAM, a Samsung SSD 850 EVO 500GB, and a WDC 1TB HDD. The operating system is Windows 10 Pro 64-bit.
I've already taken several troubleshooting steps, including a complete reinstall of Windows 10 after wiping the SSD, updating my Nvidia drivers using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller), and adjusting in-game settings such as disabling V-sync, limiting frame queuing to 1, and setting power management to "Prefer Maximum Performance." I have also run extensive stability tests, including Prime95 for CPU stress testing, IntelBurnTest, and Memtest86.
However, I continue to experience random system restarts approximately once a month or every few weeks – a problem I haven't been able to fully diagnose. My GPU and CPU temperatures are within acceptable ranges during operation, as confirmed by HWMonitor. I’m unable to swap out hardware components due to budgetary constraints, so I need assistance in identifying the root cause of these issues.
Here’s a summary of my testing:
* **Furmark Score:** 3700-3900 points at 1080p with various presets (including AA).
* **CSGO FPS (Top Right):** Low settings - 50-60 fps; High Settings – 80-90 fps.
* **Mordhau FPS:** Varies significantly, sometimes light stuttering, other times heavier stuttering that drops the frame rate momentarily.
I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or recommendations you can offer to help resolve this problem.
This user is experiencing stuttering during VRAM-heavy stress tests, specifically OCCT and gpumemtest, while his friend with a similar GPU does not. The user suspects a faulty GPU due to observed memory clock drops and the inability of these tests to trigger any errors, unlike typical benchmarks like Furmark. They plan to replace their GPU based on this evidence.
Here’s a rewritten version of the text, focusing on clarity and removing redundancies:
“I've been troubleshooting issues with booting my PC, experiencing stuttering similar to what I encountered in Mordhau. Initially, this only affected Mordhau, but now it’s also appearing in other games. I’ve tried several solutions without success, including different RAM configurations, checking all cable connections, and resetting the CMOS battery.
Currently, I'm considering replacing components one at a time to pinpoint the cause. My initial thoughts are leaning towards either the CPU or GPU as potential culprits, though I don’t know what else could be causing this behavior.
Interestingly, Valorant is now running smoothly – which seems unrelated to the problem. The stuttering in Mordhau mirrors the symptoms I initially saw elsewhere. I've tried booting with just the keyboard and mouse connected and using only one RAM stick, but nothing has resolved the issue."
RTX 3070, RTX 3080, RTX 3090 - these are all high-end graphics cards that could potentially cause stuttering or performance issues with certain games, especially when running on older hardware like an Intel i5-9600K CPU and a GTX 970. The issue isn’t necessarily the integrated graphics itself, but rather a mismatch between the powerful GPU and the system's overall capabilities, particularly in terms of RAM (8GB) and CPU bottlenecking.
The described stuttering is likely due to the RTX 3070 struggling to keep up with the demands of games like CS:GO and Mordhau, especially when combined with the limitations of the 970 and the i5-9600K processor. This creates a bottleneck where the GPU isn't receiving enough data from the CPU to render frames smoothly, leading to noticeable stutters or dips in frame rate.
The observation that integrated graphics don’t exhibit similar stuttering suggests that the bottleneck is occurring *before* the GPU receives its workload – likely at the CPU level. Upgrading to a more powerful GPU like an RTX 3080 or even 3090 would alleviate this issue by providing the necessary processing power and bandwidth for the RTX 3070 to operate efficiently. However, it's crucial to address potential bottlenecks elsewhere in the system (RAM upgrade, CPU optimization) alongside the GPU upgrade for optimal performance. It’s also worth noting that driver updates and game patches can sometimes improve performance by optimizing how the GPU interacts with the games themselves.
Update 3:
A friend suggested that I should do a GPU VRAM test. I tried with OCCT and gpumemtest and they show no errors. However, everything stutters while these tests are running, while he was getting no stutters whatsoever. He also noticed that my GPU's memory clock drops from 3500mhz to 3000mhz while doing this test. The regular gpu stresstests like Furmark do not stress the VRAM, so that's why there were no issues in regular benchmarks. So, I feel like it is definitely the GPU. Ordering a new one today. I'll just mark it solved and do another update if it turns out to not be the GPU, but it's 99% sure.
Hi, i have a similar problem, do you have any updates on your side?