System performance decreases.
System performance decreases.
For a few months my PC has been acting strangely, especially when playing games. I often notice sudden drops in frames per second that aren’t normal—like jumping from 60 to 50 FPS and then dropping back down. I don’t think it’s related to my hardware since my CPU is an AMD FX 8350, which is quite modern. The only other possible issue might be with my motherboard, specifically the Asrock 970 EXTREME4 model. I’ve checked some software options, but in Task Manager during gameplay I see something affecting the CPU. I’m unsure what to do next, any suggestions would be really helpful.
I faced the same issue with my Fx 8320 and the same motherboard. After researching and checking measurements, I realized the problem might be with the VRM on the motherboard. It was overheating, often exceeding 100°C, and a fan was placed right next to it. Could be worth checking if that’s the cause.
In essence, eorros in game code prevent automatic clearing of hardware allocations. This results in some RAM being locked but not actively used. Most systems can identify this and reset the allocations after a short delay. When this occurs, it may lead to sudden frame drops and performance issues, though the game code itself is responsible.
You can use a monitoring tool or dashboard provided by the VRM manufacturer to view its temperatures.
The issue with this motherboard lies in its 4+1 design, which isn't suited for the power requirements of these CPUs. This is why certain CPUs are listed as needing "only with a top down blower" or similar, since they help regulate heat for nearby components and VRMs. Another approach could be reducing the CPU clock speed until stability is achieved. I had to lower the Fx 8320 from 3.5Ghz to 3.2Ghz to prevent overheating.