The recently assembled gaming computer is performing at a lower speed compared to its predecessor.
The recently assembled gaming computer is performing at a lower speed compared to its predecessor.
Greetings,
Recently, I’ve decided to construct a gaming desktop as an improvement over my existing gaming laptop. The new hardware is significantly superior in terms of power, however, I frequently experience sluggish performance or frame drops during gameplay, despite the monitor displaying 50-60 frames per second using MSI Afterburner. It often doesn’t feel that smooth.
Below are the specifications of both machines, running on a 2560x1080p display with a 32-inch, 144Hz refresh rate.
LAPTOP
Intel i7-7700QM
Nvidia GTX1060 6GB
16GB at 2333mHz
500GB SSD
DESKTOP
Intel i9-9900K
EVGA RTX2080TI XC Ultra Gaming 11GB
32GB at 3200mHz
500GB M.2 SanDisk
MSI - MPG Z390 GAMING PLUS
Chipset, graphics card, Intel processor and BIOS have all been updated. The Nvidia control panel is set to default with the GPU configured for maximum performance. CPU power settings are set to 100% minimum and maximum. Temperatures remain under 60°C for the CPU and under 80°C for the GPU while under load.
I can comfortably play Ghost Recon Wildlands on my laptop at Ultra settings without encountering frame drops. However, on my desktop, I’ve lowered graphics to high and still only achieve approximately 80 frames per second, which doesn't feel like a consistent 60.
I play Anthem and Ghost Recon Wildlands with two friends, one utilizing a powerful 1080ti card paired with an 8700k processor, and the other possessing a laptop identical to mine. We frequently discuss our frame rates, and both consistently report being 10-20 frames higher than my own, despite all of us maintaining maximum settings. Furthermore, none of us are overclocking.
I intended to utilize Streamlabs OBS for recording gameplay and have meticulously configured the software on both machines, comparing settings with my friends. They exhibit only minor frame rate dips during recording, while I experience significant issues.
I have experimented with Geforce Experience to optimize settings, which typically defaults to Ultra performance.
All hardware is completely new.
Therefore, what might be the cause of these discrepancies? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you.
The game’s performance can fluctuate, occasionally exhibiting minor freezes and significant jumps in frame rate. Disabling Vsync and utilizing a borderless display window often improves stability, though persistent micro-stuttering and hitching may occur until the game’s expansive world has fully loaded its textures upon initial launch. On systems with faster hard drives, a good guideline is to wait until the entire map appears in full resolution without any blurring – this can take up to 30 seconds on a standard HDD, or as little as 10 seconds with my 500GB Samsung 970 EVO NVMe drive. Furthermore, if the camera experiences a pause during zoomed-in views of your group when entering a safehouse, quickly traveling back to that specific location without visiting any other house can be beneficial. If the zoomed-in view is fluid…
Ghost Recon Wildlands can sometimes run with minor lagging and significant pauses, occasionally. Disabling Vsync and using a borderless display window often improves things, although persistent stuttering and hitching may still occur until the game’s expansive world textures fully load after startup. A good rule of thumb for players using slower hard drives is to wait until the complete map appears clearly on screen, without any blurring – this can take up to 30 seconds on a standard HDD or as little as 10 seconds on a fast NVMe drive like the Samsung 970 EVO. Another helpful technique is to immediately fast travel back to that same location if you experience camera stuttering when the game zooms in on your squad during a safehouse load. If the zoom is smooth, it suggests smoother gameplay overall.
I can confidently state that I have invested substantial time in GRW, having completed Tier Level 1 Mission Replay after dedicated grinding and recently producing a 3.5-month Extreme, No HUD, No Upgrades video guide, meticulously exploring multiple tactics for restricted gameplay scenarios. Therefore, I possess a thorough understanding of the game’s limitations and effective workarounds. The issues aren't typically related to your hardware specifications, but rather stem from Ubisoft utilizing older game engines struggling to manage their large environments.
Here’s a link to an example of my guide, which was originally captured on an 8700k processor with a 1080 SC display and 16GB of 3200 RAM, then resized to 1440p for YouTube’s higher bitrate capabilities. Despite using various bitrates, uploading 1080p videos to YouTube requires significantly less data than processing 1440p footage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuJTYE0x...jNAf0YFt00
Interestingly, I utilize Windows 10’s Balanced power mode for gaming. My 8700k automatically boosts to 4.4GHz upon launching a game, but for potentially improved performance, you can use Nvidia Inspector 1.9.7.8 to manually set the game to High Performance mode—simply leave Windows in Balanced, open NI, click the Nvidia icon, select Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands from the Profiles dropdown, then choose Power management and set it to Prefer maximum performance. This method maintains cooler temperatures and quieter operation while gaming, reverting to Balanced mode when the game is not running.
Regarding streaming, maintaining a sufficient upload speed – at least 10-12 MB – is essential for utilizing higher stream bitrates.
Finally, concerning your system specifications compared to those used in the example, you haven’t mentioned your power supply unit (PSU), a critical component that's often overlooked. Could you please specify what PSU you are currently using?
Ghost Recon Wildlands can experience occasional stuttering and hitching, particularly when the game loads its expansive world textures. Switching to borderless display mode often improves performance, but loading times can still be lengthy, especially on slower hard drives – requiring up to 30 seconds on an HDD or 10 seconds on a fast NVMe drive like the Samsung 970 EVO. If you notice camera hitching during zoomed-in squad views when loading a safehouse, quickly traveling back to that same house without visiting others can help maintain smooth gameplay.
Based on extensive experience – including creating a lengthy Extreme, No HUD, No Upgrades video guide with countless mission playthroughs – I understand the game's limitations due to outdated engine technology and its struggle with large environments. To manage performance, I use Nvidia Inspector 1.9.7.8 to force High Performance mode for Ghost Recon Wildlands, automatically reverting to Balanced mode when the game is not running. This process, coupled with a balanced Windows 10 power setting, keeps my system cooler and quieter. Streaming requires sufficient upload speed – at least 10-12 Mbps – for higher bitrate settings.
Regarding your system specifications, you neglected to mention your power supply unit (PSU), which is a significant component. You are using an EVGA 750 watt PSU and a 500GB Samsung 970 M.2 drive, both of which are excellent choices. Initially, I utilized borderless display mode with GeForce Experience optimization (resolution scaling at 1.2 and switching to full screen) which provided some improvement. Randomly, games like Anthem and GRW would run flawlessly, but occasionally they would perform poorly. Restarting the system frequently didn't always resolve these issues. I plan to test your suggestion of returning to borderless mode, maintaining resolution scaling at 1.2, and utilizing Nvidia Inspector to ensure High Performance mode is consistently applied, and will report back on the results. It’s disappointing to invest in hardware that doesn't reach its full potential, and I am hoping this will improve Ghost Recon Wildlands’ performance.
Thank you for your thorough response!
I apologize for overlooking the EVGA 750-watt PSU – it’s a SuperNova, as you noted given your specifications.
I appreciate the 500GB 970 m.2; it works wonderfully for me!
Regarding GRW, I initially attempted borderless mode with GeForce Experience optimization (adjusting resolution scaling from 1.00 to 1.20 and switching from borderless to full screen), which provided some improvement.
Additionally, I’ve experienced sporadic periods of smooth gameplay, where game recordings were flawless (such as with Anthem and GRW). However, when performance degrades, a system restart rarely resolves the issue.
I plan to implement your suggestion of reverting to borderless, maintaining a 1.2 resolution scale, and utilizing NI to assess the results.
Thank you again for your assistance; I sincerely hope to achieve optimal performance with this setup. It’s disappointing to invest significantly in hardware only to have it perform worse than my laptop.
The 970 EVO is impressive, but did you monitor temperatures after installation? My ASUS Prime Z370-A consistently maintains temperatures below 52°C with the NVMe drive. Your Z390 GAMING PLUS shares a heatsink for the NVMe drive, similar to mine. Ensure you remove the plastic backing if it uses thermal tape and consider a standoff before securing it to ensure proper contact.
I advise against using GeForce Experience Optimizer for any games. Your hardware should adequately handle virtually all titles, requiring only minor adjustments in resource-intensive games—a dedicated guide, such as those offered by GeForce, is usually sufficient. The Optimizer’s effectiveness varies significantly depending on individual system configurations.
If rebooting refers to exiting a game and restarting the PC, that can temporarily alleviate RAM-related texture loading issues, though it often exacerbates them in the long run. Personally, given my preference for privacy and minimal reliance on social media, I deactivate all Windows 10 telemetry applications – this alone frees up a substantial amount of RAM (one to several gigabytes). I also use SpyBot Anti Beacon to prevent system telemetry collection, eliminating the need for frequent reboots. Furthermore, unnecessary startup programs can consume RAM and potentially lead to software conflicts.
Regarding GRW specifically, it tends to consume more RAM upon relaunching – a lengthy texture re-loading process. Carefully review the preceding information, paying attention to camera hitching during squad zooms when loading a safehouse. Many users with fast SSDs report persistent hitches and stutters, stemming from an outdated game engine struggling to stream textures efficiently.
The primary performance improvement with the 970 EVO was the elimination of missing vehicle audio and map blur upon initial launch. Texture quality sees a minor enhancement, but loading times remain substantial – typically 10 seconds or more, or requiring travel to a safehouse. A clear indicator of improved performance is smooth camera zooming when loading a safehouse. Despite utilizing 3400 MB/s NVMe drives, the Koani Bravo safehouse still takes approximately 2:04 to load. This highlights the game’s inherent quirks.
Finally, don’t neglect a fundamental step: ensure all necessary DirectX and Visual C++ files are installed for each game.
Kartune2013:
Thank you for your thorough response!
Sorry, I completely overlooked listing the EVGA 750W PSU.
I also use a 500GB 970 M.2, and I really enjoy it!
For GRW, I initially used borderless display with GeForce Experience optimized settings (resolution scaling from 1.00 to 1.20, and switching from borderless to full screen). This helped a little.
Additionally, I’ve noticed it running smoothly at random times, with games recording flawlessly (e.g., Anthem / GRW).
When it starts to lag, I restart the system, but this doesn't always help.
I plan to try your suggestion of reverting to borderless display, maintaining the 1.2 resolution scale, and using NI, and will report back on the results!
Thank you very much. I truly hope to achieve optimal performance. It’s disappointing that my hardware performs worse than my laptop.
I assume the EVGA 750W is a SuperNova, given your high-end specifications. They also produce an overpriced Bronze 750W that is not worth purchasing.
The 970 EVO is great, but did you check its temperatures after installation? Mine rarely exceeds 52°C on my ASUS Prime Z370-A. I noticed your Z390 GAMING PLUS has an NVMe heatsink, similar to mine. Ensure if it includes thermal tape that you remove the plastic backing; it may require a standoff to contact properly.
I don’t recommend GeForce Experience Optimizer for any games. Your specifications should be capable of running almost any game at maximum settings. You might occasionally need to lower one setting on very demanding games, but a good guide is sufficient – something like the GeForce guides showcasing resource-intensive settings. The reason these guides are better than the optimizer is because they’re created by experts who understand graphics settings and individual games, while the optimizer relies on user-submitted data which may not apply to your system.
If restarting refers to rebooting the PC after exiting a game, that will refresh RAM and can improve texture loading issues in the game, but it often exacerbates them. It's a matter of preference, but as I prefer privacy over convenience, I disable all W10 telemetry applications. This alone frees up a substantial amount of RAM (one or more gigabytes). I also utilize SpyBot Anti Beacon to prevent system telemetry. This eliminates the need for frequent reboots. Excessive startup programs can also consume RAM and sometimes cause software conflicts.
Regarding GRW, the texture loading process appears to have a reverse effect – it consumes more RAM each time you relaunch. Carefully review the previous information, especially if you notice the camera hitching when zooming in on your squad during loading. Many users with fast SSDs report similar texture loading issues due to the game’s outdated engine struggling to stream textures efficiently.
The only noticeable performance difference with the 970 EVO was that I no longer encounter missing audio for vehicle doors and engine sounds, and the full-screen map doesn’t need to clear its blur anymore. The game world texture quality improves somewhat, but you still experience a delay of about 10 seconds or require traveling back to the safehouse. The camera zooming in smoothly when loading a safehouse indicates good performance. Despite using one of these 3400 MB/s NVMe drives, the Koani Bravo safehouse still takes a considerable 2:04 to load. This highlights how quirky the game is.
Don’t forget a simple step: ensure all necessary Dx and VS files are installed for each game.
My 970 temperatures are good, and benchmark testing indicates they’re above average for that model.
I set W10 to balanced mode, used NI and the default was already at preferred max.
The issues persist; I didn't mention before that I use Streamlabs OBS for recording.
For my laptop, I notice frame drops of up to 15 when using Streamlabs OBS for recording.
On my desktop, the supposed “beast,” simply having Streamlabs open and not recording/streaming will cause significant fps drops. Even when the monitoring shows 85fps, it feels like intermittent jumps between 20-30 fps. As soon as Streamlabs is turned off, the jolts stop and monitoring shows approximately the same or a slight increase (around +5fps). However, it feels smooth again.
I’ve experimented with Streamlabs OBS settings to prioritize CPU usage during recording and set the process priority to high, but Windows Task Manager shows Streamlabs only using approximately 6% at peak, averaging 3%. This is somewhat surprising considering my 9900k desktop. My laptop, however, shows Streamlabs using up to 30%, averaging 15%.
I'm testing a regular OBS program today. My curiosity remains regarding Streamlabs OBS compared to my buddy’s setup (using a 1080Ti / 8700k), which produces significantly better results. My recorded videos are so poor that I hesitate to watch them without feeling depressed! The output is considerably worse than my actual gameplay. But, the times when it runs smoothly with Streamlabs OBS and recording are truly amazing – I don’t understand why or when those moments occur.
I am an IT Analyst at Cityhall of Montebello California, so I’m familiar with minimizing unnecessary computer usage (background processes/services/etc.). With that in mind, do you have any further advice or troubleshooting steps?
Thank you again for your insightful advice and experience – I truly appreciate it and am learning a lot about the gaming world, hardware, and software.
Have you installed Nvidia Inspector or Nvidia Profile Inspector? The newest version of Nvidia Inspector is 1.9.7.8., and the standard power management setting isn’t “Prefer maximum performance”; it’s “Optimal performance,” which is essentially the same as Balanced in Windows 10.
I utilize ShadowPlay for recording because its 20-minute caching feature eliminates the need for repeated attempts and prevents unnecessary drive space consumption and subsequent deletions of unused files. Furthermore, it causes minimal performance disruption. I’ve created two video tutorials focusing on *The Evil Within* and *GRW*, and it’s been incredibly helpful in saving time and streamlining the process. When recording segments exceeding 20 minutes, I simply press Esc near that point, wait approximately a minute for the capture file to complete writing after saving it, and then resume playing. This approach prevents choppy video during the capture process—a common issue when ShadowPlay is actively writing a file. This method works effectively for single-player modes, but some multiplayer matches can extend beyond 20 minutes. I generally find that most multiplayer sessions are shorter than 20 minutes, however.
Alternatively, DxTory presents itself as another option for recording, although it’s primarily designed for distribution rather than live streaming. It does provide Distribution Writing and the ability to record dual audio channels. Distribution Writing allows you to distribute the capture file across multiple drives, functioning similarly to a RAID system. The process involves DxTory creating a “RawCap” file, which requires conversion to a playable AVI format using the DxTory codec. This method can potentially improve performance, but it results in larger files that aren’t compatible with numerous playback programs.
Therefore, I prefer ShadowPlay overall due to its speed, convenience, and broad compatibility. Utilizing instant replay instead of continuous recording also minimizes performance impact. Even in manual record mode, the impact is minimal because it leverages your GPU’s hardware for H.264 encoding—a process handled directly by the Nvidia drivers, rather than through external software. The GeForce Experience software associated with ShadowPlay is solely for configuration adjustments. Note that some third-party applications can utilize your GPU’s hardware to compress video, but they typically don't achieve the same level of performance as ShadowPlay due to their reliance on external software drivers.
Your desktop CPU likely exhibits lower usage percentages because it’s equipped with a more powerful processor, reducing the strain on system resources. Laptop CPUs are often significantly slower than their desktop counterparts.
If you remain committed to using OBS, exploring a helpful setup guide might be beneficial. I found this one particularly useful:
[video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpgRWhFaoys"][/video]