There seems to be an issue with my hardware, but I'm not sure if it's related to the CPU or GPU.
There seems to be an issue with my hardware, but I'm not sure if it's related to the CPU or GPU.
Hey everyone,
I updated my GPU about two years ago (Zotac RTX 4070ti) on April 28, 2023, and purchased the CPU last year (i5-13600K) on April 20, 2024. I suspect the CPU might be the issue since I’m seeing slowdowns across various programs—Netflix stutters while scrolling, and even non-GPU apps run sluggishly. This model is known for its performance issues, but most of the time rendering works fine; however, my system struggles with tasks like unwrapping 3D models or importing into Unreal Engine.
I’ve updated the BIOS several times, planning to install the latest version soon, but it hasn’t helped much. The stuttering and slowdown have been ongoing for a while now.
The reason I bought the CPU was thinking the problem stemmed from too many NVME drives on my old motherboard (only one M.2 slot, so I added PCIE cards). I’m considering a new motherboard that supports four NVME drives since I’m running three. This suggests it might be the GPU rather than the hardware itself.
I recently restored a clean Windows installation using Macrium Reflect, but the issue persists, indicating it’s likely not software-related. I’ve also tried updating drivers without success.
The problem is especially pressing because I have three weeks left to meet a project deadline—this is for a game project that will be featured in a $25k USD showcase in April, and I need to finish the trailer by mid-March.
I’m unsure how to pinpoint the exact cause. Running benchmarks on the GPU won’t help much for the CPU. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I refreshed my GPU around two years ago (Zotac RTX 4070ti) on April 28, 2023, and purchased the CPU last year on April 20, 2024 (i5-13600K).
When sharing a troubleshooting thread, it's standard to provide complete system details. Please format the information as follows:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
RAM:
Storage: SSD/HDD:
GPU:
Power Supply:
Chassis:
Operating System:
Monitor:
Include the PSU age along with its make and model. Also, note the current BIOS version for your motherboard.
I've modified the BIOS several times (planning to install the latest soon), but results have been consistent so far.
Have you checked the BIOS settings to see if power plans were altered? Asus boards often require some adjustments before they stabilize.
I recently completed a clean Windows installation using Macrium Reflect, yet the problem persists, suggesting it might not be software-related. I've also updated drivers without success.
Rather than switching from a cloned OS or drive, I backed up all essential data, recreated the bootable ISB installer, disconnected all drives except the one for installation, and installed the OS in offline mode.
During offline mode, I installed all necessary drivers via an elevated command (right-click installer > Run as Administrator).
Moved this thread from the Components section to the Systems section.
My apologies, I had been awake for 20+ hours when I posted.
CPU: i5-13600K 3.50 GHz
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120
GPU: Zotac RTX 4070ti
Motherboard: MSI PRO-Z790-A-WIFI-DDR4
Ram: Corsair RGB something something. lol. 64GB
SSD: Crucial NVME 4tb
PSU: brought over from my Alienware that I bought in 2018. If I remember correctly, it's an 800 Watt
OS: Windows 10 pro. Fresh install as of yesterday.
BIOS: 7E07v1F - I flashed it last night after posting.
It's not based on speculation, it comes from experience. I'm not the most skilled with technology or hardware, but I'm not a novice either. The GPU functions well in the viewport in Unreal and appears to work similarly in 3ds Max as well. HDs perform adequately during file transfers, and my equipment seems capable of handling tasks without becoming a bottleneck in PCIe lanes, with sufficient power from the PSU, among other things. Slowdowns occur specifically when exporting an FBX file or importing it into Unreal, or during operations that rely heavily on CPU processing. Performance metrics in Task Manager show CPU usage at just 2% when idle, memory at 59% with Chrome and eight tabs open, and my Windows drive utilization between 0 and 3%. The GPU is running at 3%.
Instead of moving from a cloned OS/drive, I recommend backing up all mission-critical data, rebuilding the bootable ISB installer, disconnecting all drives except the one you want to install the OS onto, and then installing the OS in offline mode.
While offline, run all necessary drivers through an elevated command—right-click the installer and select Run as Administrator.
This approach seems like a solid tip for me.
PSU: originally from my Alienware purchased in 2018
- Could be a good time to replace the power supply. Are you absolutely sure there are no proprietary aspects with this PSU?
Good luck.
I’ve been using this PSU with this hardware for almost a year. If it wasn’t working, I’d think it wouldn’t have worked at all from the start.
Urgh! I went ahead and bought the cheapest compatible CPU just to check if that was the problem, but now my system is powered on, yet the mouse and keyboard aren’t responding, and the monitors aren’t detecting any signal. Nothing could be simpler. Lol
Joy! They say bad luck comes in waves…
After installing the new CPU, my system stopped posting. I attempted to use the CMOS battery for five minutes, but it didn’t work. The new CPU is an i3 12100f, which should fit my motherboard. The machine starts up, fans spin, and RAM color changes, but my mouse, keyboard, and monitors won’t respond.
The situation is improving gradually. I understand that reinserting the original i5 CPU has been tried, yet the mouse and keyboard remain unresponsive, and the monitor still doesn’t receive a signal. The CMOS battery was removed for ten minutes, but it didn’t make a difference.
"my game project has been gifted a $25k USD spot in a brand new showcase that's happening in April and I have until mid March to finish the trailer"
- You have a lot to win / loose if you don't get on track soon, so why not invest in a reliable system that you need now and sort through the broken parts later at your leisure.
- Start with a new CPU, motherboard, GPU, PSU at least; you could consider testing the existing ram in this system, but you're probably best to put it aside and if it proves good later sell it.
- put it another way: If you get yourself a new system (later sell the old parts that work when you've had time to sort it out) and meet your project deadline, you'll feel great (no real loss). If you dig in to 'I'm going to save a few bucks and fix this broken PC now' and it takes down your project you're going to be pretty unhappy - sure, maybe you will alternatively fix that broken PC, but you'll probably have less time to work on the project which should be the priority.