Seeking ideas to fix performance issues that occur only in certain games
Seeking ideas to fix performance issues that occur only in certain games
I'm facing performance problems only with specific titles. My PC handles Diablo 4 and Destiny 2 smoothly, but Cyberpunk 2077 and League of Legends consistently struggle with stable frames and drop below 20fps even at the lowest settings. I haven't seen thermal issues since checking temperatures and GPU-Z data. The whole system freezes during these games, not just the apps, suggesting a CPU bottleneck. My machine gets dust cleaned roughly monthly. Drivers are up to date except the BIOS, thermal paste was replaced this year. I built my setup around 2020 with these specs: Intel i7-9700K @3.60GHz, 32GB RAM, MSI GeForce RTX 3080, Samsung 970 EVO Plus M.2 500GB NVMe SSD, a 4TB HDD, and a Team Group 1TB SSD (games moved there after initial concerns). OS is Windows 10 Pro Build 19045.3208, 1000W PSU. Additional notes: Cyberpunk worked fine at launch but became problematic recently; League of Legends runs steadily at 60fps after a fresh install, yet becomes unplayable over time. I use Ubuntu on WSL2 and Docker for work, with DirectX 12 enabled.
What version of your operating system are you running and is it current? Are your system temperatures normal when idle and during workloads? Have you updated your motherboard firmware and installed the latest chipset drivers from AMD or Intel? Is your storage functioning properly—HDD, SSD, and any firmware updates applied? What are the latest GPU drivers and vBIOS versions? Are your RAM specifications listed with XMP support, and have you enabled it? Have you run stress tests using tools like OCCT or Prime95? How do your benchmark scores compare with similar systems? Have you replaced any components or tested hardware swaps? Did you execute the Windows System File Checker (sfc /scannow) via command prompt, PowerShell, or Terminal? Which troubleshooting steps have you already tried? Provide details on CPU, motherboard, RAM, storage health, and any recent changes you made before the problem occurred. Do your benchmark results (Cinebench R23, Unigine Heaven) vary significantly? Have you replaced any parts and tested them in another setup? Did you run the System File Checker or similar utilities? Any additional diagnostic tools or logs you've examined?
Thank you for your reply. I value your assistance in beginning this process. I bought the machine during the early days of the pandemic, and it became essential for my work. Due to personal challenges, it served as my primary tool and provided mental support during the crisis. It plays a vital role in my daily life, making replacement difficult. Living in an area with frequent power outages, I prefer not to update the BIOS unless necessary. Right now, I’m reviewing your recommendations in case they help me avoid delays in responding. So far, I’ve tried OpenHardware Monitor and Cinebench R23. The monitoring tool shows high CPU load at 100% with stable speeds, while CPU clock stays at 800MHz and power use is minimal. Cinebench R23 indicates normal performance, unlike Open Hardware where power draw and speed are high. This suggests the issue might be with the CPU or operating system. I’m checking these threads to determine if they resolve my problem or if further action is needed.
I found a solution using your tips and additional resources. The MSI Dragon Center was already installed on my system. It was causing conflicts with the game's CPU interaction, especially in Game Mode. Disabling it resolved the issue. I'm now removing Dragon Center completely. Long story: I discovered it was installed but required admin rights to update. When I allowed updates, three games—Valheim, League of Legends, and Cyberpunk 2077—were running under Game Mode. It seemed the game mode disruptions and outdated updates were interfering with them. Thanks for guiding me through this!