Your equipment seems quite poor, but are you sure?
Your equipment seems quite poor, but are you sure?
Hey, I’ve been facing some issues with my computer lately. Most of the games I play are showing low frame rates. They’re not extremely low, but they’re definitely dropping. Even the titles I’m confident my system can handle aren’t running smoothly enough. This made me wonder if there’s something wrong with my setup or options, or maybe my hardware isn’t up to the task anymore. For instance, in Horizon Zero Dawn, when I move my camera, the lag is noticeable, but the FPS numbers say otherwise. Recently, I bought Days Gone and it seems to run well overall, but pushing it too high still causes delays. When I’m far away or in smaller cities, the performance drops even more. I’ve read some comments about lagging in Days Gone, and it seems many of those systems are quite expensive. I thought I had a solid setup with things like the RX 5700 XTRAM and a Ryzen 7 processor. Some people say these components are costly and hard to get, especially in my country where prices are around 1,600 or 2,2041 PLN. Also, I’m confused about why GPUs and CPUs are so expensive. In my country, I can find used or second-hand units on popular sites, but they seem scarce now—even though they’re still available. Is this just a Polish issue? My main question is: could my PC be misconfigured (like the monitor, card, or CPU) or am I just hoping for better performance than what my current machine can handle? Thanks for your help.
My specs are:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (8 cores)
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5700 XTRAM (16 GB)
- OS: Windows 10 x64
- Monitor: Gigabyte g32qc (165Hz, rarely hits 165fps)
- Motherboard: B450M DS3H
Monitor settings may need adjustment. Verify it operates at 165Hz for optimal performance. Comparing with game benchmarks of similar specifications can be useful. In competitive titles, achieving 165fps is common—enable freesync to avoid tearing. For non-competitive games such as SOTR or AC series, you can prioritize quality over higher frame rates, maintaining around 60fps which still delivers a great experience.
This situation isn't limited to Poland. A global semiconductor shortage is causing production problems for devices relying on chips like CPUs and GPUs. Combined with higher demand from home entertainment orders last year and the recent crypto surge, production goals have dropped due to issues like the weak RTX 20 series launch. We're facing a perfect mix of factors leading to worldwide GPU shortages. Are you sure your GPU drivers and motherboard BIOS are up to date? Often people claim their system isn't performing well by comparing benchmarks for one component while ignoring how the rest of the setup differs from the tester's setup. The main step should be checking the drivers first. What performance metrics are you seeing in the games you're playing?
The current issue isn’t affordable anywhere anymore. The demand for chips is rising sharply while supply hasn’t adjusted accordingly. Many car factories are closing down due to part shortages—not because production can’t happen, but because companies miscalculated future needs. Power costs are also increasing, making older models like the 1030 more attractive compared to newer ones such as the 8800gt. Once you pay twice as much for a 1030, it becomes a strong value proposition. Machines are becoming faster, and space is filling up quickly. The device you mentioned should perform well today; if not, there’s likely another factor at play. This doesn’t necessarily mean hardware failure, but could involve software inefficiencies or compatibility issues. AMD’s requirements differ from Intel’s, which might affect performance in some scenarios.
Sure, I tried that too. Switching from 1080p to 1440p might be the reason. On 1080p I experienced similar problems—high FPS in games but no smooth performance. I assumed it was a monitor issue, hoping a higher refresh rate would help, but it could have actually made things worse. I’m still unsure, but my new monitor seems to be contributing to the problem.
When switching to 1440p, the display shows significantly more pixels. A reduction in frame rate is likely.
I have the latest drivers for the GPU, but I’m not sure about the BIOS. The term "numbers" is confusing to me since I’m not very familiar with hardware details. It might sound silly, but I’m not really comfortable with benchmark tests. For example, the frames per second I get in Days Gone are usually above 60, often higher when I’m not in busy spots or when I’m not focusing on distances with lots of objects like houses or detailed landscapes. I always manage to keep a high FPS (above 60), but it seems like the counter isn’t showing it accurately. It feels inconsistent, and I suspect my monitor could be the issue. Some people mentioned that a 1440p screen might draw more power, so it makes sense that my current specs could be underperforming. Like I said, on 1080p I experienced similar problems—high FPS in games but no smooth feel. I thought it was related to the monitor, and switching to a higher refresh rate might help, though it could have backfired.
It's understandable you're frustrated. Adjusting settings like resolution can be tricky, especially with high refresh rates. Sometimes the changes don't show up as expected, and trying different options doesn't seem to fix the issue. It might help to double-check your hardware compatibility or consult the manufacturer's support resources.