Some games slow down because the CPU is struggling to keep up.
Some games slow down because the CPU is struggling to keep up.
Starting from scratch, here are your details summarized:
- Processor: Ryzen 5 5600X EVGA 3060 Ti FTW3 Ultra MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus 4x8 (32GB)
- Power Supply: Corsair Vengeance 3200MHz CL16 CX650 RGB, 2TB WD SN750 SSD
- Monitor: 34" 3440x1440p, 100Hz
- Issue: After updating Warzone, CPU stayed at 100% and GPU clocks stayed below 500MHz in Minecraft and other games.
Steps tried:
- Updated GPU drivers but problems persisted.
- Performed BIOS update – issue continued.
- Checked chipset drivers – still no help.
- Swapped GPUs with a friend’s system (4770k, 1070Ti); her GPU worked fine, his had the same issues.
- Removed two RAM sticks to check for channeling; no difference.
- Verified power limits were at maximum; thermal temps normal (CPU ~60°C, GPU ~65°C).
- Ran Windows Defender and scanned for malware; only "Nicehash" found, removed but didn’t resolve.
- Reinstalled games – no improvement.
- Considered a fresh SSD swap, but system was new and minimal.
- User benchmark score: [link provided]
Current concern: CPU bottleneck in vanilla Minecraft, especially under light settings. No clear fix found so far. Next steps?
Sure, I'll do it right away once I get home today. The power limit on Max has been set for as long as I can recall, and I've confirmed it.
From what I can tell just by checking your specs, it seems your power supply might be a bit lacking. Sure, 650w works, but it’s not the most impressive setup. The rest of your rig is solid. How does your cooling system look? Are you using the original cooler? If yes, options like the Shadow Rock 3 or Arctic Esports Duo could really boost performance.
I've also suspected PSU and realized it's clearly a lower tier unit. I found it on sale when I assembled the PC last year and am gradually upgrading. However, with a wattage meter, it only reads about 450W under synthetic loads on both CPU and GPU. The cooling should be adequate—iCUE H150i Elite Capellix 360mm installed as exhaust (push), three SP120 fans on the side of the case, and two basic Corsair fans at the bottom. The case is a Metallicgear Neo Cube, essentially a modified O11D. Even with fans set to minimum, both GPU and CPU stay around 60-65°C.
I actually intended to switch to a 5800x and x570 board, but I think I'll wait until the next generation of Ryzen chips come out. Fingers crossed the cooling components will still fit.
It doesn't seem worthwhile to upgrade just yet. Manufacturers have verified that the AM5 mounting will match the AM4 version, so the coolers should still work.
Unless it's actually faulty, a low quality power supply shouldn't affect the system in such a way.