Speaking hesitantly on the note D4
Speaking hesitantly on the note D4
Hello everyone, I’m experiencing random stuttering and fluctuating frame rates while playing Diablo 4 at low settings with FSR 1 active. This issue occurs on a Windows 10 system with a 2560x1440 display. I haven’t encountered these problems in other titles like FIFA 19, League of Legends, Diablo 2 or Genshin Impact, though it’s common across different engines. Since each game uses its own engine, comparing them isn’t the best approach. I suspect Diablo 4 might be more demanding due to being the newest release among the ones I’ve played. During stutters, my Task Manager shows full CPU and GPU usage. I tried lowering the resolution to 1920x1080, but the problem persisted. Sometimes it shares load with Google Chrome, which also consumes a lot of resources. I closed Chrome briefly and saw a slight improvement, though not enough. In MSI Afterburner, my GPU usage drops to zero during stutters while CPU and all cores stay steady. This makes me think there could be a CPU bottleneck, but I’m hesitant to upgrade just because it might not fix the issue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. My current setup: CPU i5-4460, GPU Asus GTX 970, 16GB RAM at 1333MHz, installed on the same SSD as the OS (still with 1.44TB free).
If your output depends on the CPU, reducing resolution isn’t the right approach. A full CPU utilization suggests the CPU is the bottleneck. Cutting resolution only lessens the demand on the GPU. However, if the CPU can’t process faster, the GPU will get no work to do, resulting in no performance gain. Instead, you’ll notice decreased GPU activity. It’s a good idea to verify this with tools like Afterburner to check per-core CPU and GPU usage.
I understand. I thought reducing resolution would ease the GPU's workload, but I expected it would lower the data transfer from my CPU. My GPU utilization isn't at its maximum—currently about 30-45% while I'm active, and the CPU stays steady. I think it will increase when I travel and use more power. I've noted before that during stuttering, the GPU usage in MSI Afterburner drops to near zero while my CPU usage remains consistent (see attached photo).
This closely resembles a CPU constraint then. For Afterburner you generally prefer using the in-game overlay, but screenshots already verify that. Your CPU reaches its maximum capacity while the GPU struggles to process. The workload the CPU sends to the GPU stays constant regardless of resolution changes. Only the pixel count the GPU needs to display shifts. Think of it like asking someone to create an image. You perceive the same amount of data to provide, whether it goes onto a small card or a large screen. But the effort they must perform grows with the number of pixels they must render. The quicker they finish, the more often you need to supply additional tasks, otherwise they'll sit idle. Exactly what you're observing here. A CPU overwhelmed by other tasks (like running the game simulation) can't continuously feed the GPU with content. Therefore, a more powerful CPU is necessary.
Certainly noted. Performance is quite limited. The CPU falls short, barely reaching the required threshold—around 4% on a single core and 7% on multiple cores. Basic specifications only ensure basic operation, not smooth gameplay. Especially noticeable at 1440p. For reference, see the comparison pages: https://www.cpu-monkey.com/en/compare_cp...e_i5_2500k and https://us.battle.net/support/en/article/251518. Adjust in-game settings to 1920x1080, lower render resolution to 720p, and aim for around 30fps. Close Chrome fully and disable all unnecessary background processes.
I understand. I thought about upgrading from i5-4460 to i7-4790k since it offers a stronger CPU and fits the same socket. I’m hoping this will be sufficient for playing D4.
I'm following your suggestions and holding off on the upgrade. I thought the additional four threads on the 4790k wouldn't make much difference since it has the same core count. Comparing it to LGA 1700, which typically has 15-25 cores, makes sense. I also saw that those planning minor upgrades might want to wait, as support for Windows 10 ends in about two years. I'm not sure how this affects my plans, but the information checked out. I guess prices for certain parts could drop, and I managed to achieve 50-120fps on D4 at 1440p. I had to turn off my second screen for a smoother frame rate. Switching the screen resolution to 1080p also helps, though I'll use that setting once stuttering becomes noticeable. I'm also thinking about upgrading my RAM soon.
They are easy to find on eBay based on your location, usually starting around $65 to $99 USD. You can purchase 16GB kits at about $25. These figures don’t cover shipping costs. A new Xbox costs about $300 at Best Buy. To illustrate the power of today’s consoles, you’d need a Ryzen 7 3700X CPU and an RX 5700XT GPU to match a modern Xbox performance. For more details, check the links provided. D4 works well with an Xbox, but you’ll have to buy the game again—Blizzard is disappointing—but once logged in, your BNet account lets you resume exactly where you left off.