Upgraded to 5800X3D and RX 7900 XTX, nothing but problems, mediocre performance

[faye]

Had a Ryzen 5 3600 and RTX 2080 in the Gigabyte X570 I Aorus Pro WiFi mITX board for years, got a 7900 XTX and wasn't happy with performance so I got a 5800X3D. RAM (Gskill Ripjaws DDR4-3600 CL19) had been occasionally flakey for a while so that was replaced with Corsair Vengeance DDR4-3600 CL16. At this point the only thing in the system more than a year old is the motherboard, and it seems to work fine. The chipset fan has been replaced with a Noctua.

BIOS fully updated
Windows 11 Pro fresh install, fully updated, including C/.net/direct X/etc
reBAR/above 4GB addressing enabled in BIOS
AMD X570 drivers installed
AMD Adrenalin 23.9.1 installed (23.9.2 works but control panel will not open)
AMD Ryzen Master installed, just for monitoring

Temps could be better but aren't worrying; the A4-H2O is a small case with somewhat limited airflow. Nothing is hitting above mid 70s C under load.

System is stable but doesn't perform like I just spent $1500 on it, and I'm starting to regret not saving up another $1000 for a RTX 4090 and 7800X3D. A number of people told me I'd be crazy to not just grab the 5800X3D, and looking at benchmarks that seemed to be the simple, easy, cheaper way forward... But it's been a stressful mess, and I'm not seeing the same numbers others are getting with very similar setups.

Microsoft Flight Sim is a good example of this - there are many benchmarks showing the 5800X3D and 7900XTX getting right around 60 FPS average at 4K, ultra settings, DX11 renderer. I do sometimes see that high, even higher, on internal plane view or at very high altitude, but getting reasonably close to any city will drop it in to the 40s. That's just... Pathetic. I expect far more from this kind of high end hardware, and I don't think that's unreasonable? So either the benches are all done poorly (unlikely) or there's something wrong with my setup.

I also regularly bench 5-10% below average for "same hardware" in 3DMark. While I don't put a lot of stock in these numbers I think it's telling that I've always seen equal or just above the average with the 3600 and 2080, everything running stock and otherwise equal.

Oh - I went in to this knowing AMD hadn't caught up with raytracing, but god it's bad. I expected to be able to do more than with the 2080 and yeah, not really. Between that and software issues - sound cuts out randomly over HDMI, the latest driver package breaks the Adrenalin control panel on a fresh Windows install - I'm really regretting giving AMD another chance after like 15 years of Nvidia cards.

Apart from reinstalling Windows AGAIN (which feels like it's inevitable at this point) any suggestions? I'm at the end of my rope.

 

[wNotyarD]

Did you reset bios settings after swapping the CPU and the RAM? Also, did you stress test the memory to see if there isn't errors?

 

[faye]

Did you reset bios settings after swapping the CPU and the RAM? Also, did you stress test the memory to see if there isn't errors?

Yes, BIOS CMOS has been reset more times than I care to count in the past few days (had horrible stability problems with old RAM / before BIOS update).

Old RAM had errors, the new Corsair kit does not.

 

[Dr. Dro]

You mentioned that your Radeon settings app doesn't work on 23.9.2? Might have some weird driver conflict going on. Worth a try running AMD's cleanup utility and reinstalling fresh:

https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/faq/gpu-601

I suppose you know better than to just let tons of things open while you play as well, if you can spare the time, does this still occur with a brand new Windows install?

 

[faye]

You mentioned that your Radeon settings app doesn't work on 23.9.2? Might have some weird driver conflict going on. Worth a try running AMD's cleanup utility and reinstalling fresh:

https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/faq/gpu-601

I suppose you know better than to just let tons of things open while you play as well, if you can spare the time, does this still occur with a brand new Windows install?

This install is literally like 3 days old. There's nothing on it but AMD's drivers and some games. Haven't even bothered with the mouse and keyboard apps cause I figure I'll be reinstalling again in a day or two at the rate we're going.

Already ran the cleanup utility, then DDU when that didn't work. With 23.9.1 the settings app works fine. 23.9.2 it won't open. Also disabled Windows auto installing drivers, just in case.

 

[lowrider_05]

"AMD Adrenalin 23.9.1 installed (23.9.2 works but control panel will not open)"

You need to DDU the Driver, and install clean, Did you check the Hotspot/Junction Temp of the 7900XTX?
The Crackling sound over HDMI sound´s like the IF Speed is to high or mismatched to the RAM, this was the source of Crackling Sound for me but with a USB DAC.

 

[wNotyarD]

Could you post a ZenTimings screenshot, to see if there isn't a FCLK:UCLK mismatch?

 

[faye]

"AMD Adrenalin 23.9.1 installed (23.9.2 works but control panel will not open)"

You need to DDU the Driver, and install clean, Did you check the Hotspot/Junction Temp of the 7900XTX?
The Crackling sound over HDMI sound´s like the IF Speed is to high or mismatched to the RAM, this was the source of Crackling Sound for me but with a USB DAC.

Already DDU'd the driver and reinstalled, same exact behavior - system boots fine, games fine (other than being slower than it should be and the occasional sound issue), AMD logo in the system tray, but the overlay doesn't work when I press Alt-R and trying to start the control panel app silently kills even the icon app in the tray. Downgrade to 23.9.1 and it's fine. I'm probably going to break down and reinstall Windows again today or tomorrow, and at this point I'd bet just about anything it'll be broken the exact same way when I try to install 23.9.2.

As for the sound issue, it's not a crackling, it drops out completely for a second or two, seemingly at random. Won't happen for hours, then 3 or 4 times in as many minutes, then ten minutes and again, etc. This happens regardless of application -- could be watching Youtube via MS Edge, could be playing a game or listening to Tidal. Same behavior.

I found others with the same issue and the "fix" seems to be using a DP to HDMI adapter/cable, but that will break HDR and Freesync, so it's a no go. I've tried multiple high quality HDMI cables, all of which had zero issues with the previous RTX 2080 or my girlfriend's old GTX 1070 and this TV, and this happens with all of them. Sound enhancements are disabled. "Let applications take exclusive control" is disabled. No change.

Temps are fine, never sees 80C. Not ideal - I'll probably try to figure out some ducting - but not the source of the problem here.

Could you post a ZenTimings screenshot, to see if there isn't a FCLK:UCLK mismatch?

Unfamiliar with the app, but I'll grab it shortly, thanks.

 

[QuietBob]

Could you post links to your 3DMark results?

 

[faye]

Could you post a ZenTimings screenshot, to see if there isn't a FCLK:UCLK mismatch?

Could you post links to your 3DMark results?

I scored 6 065 in Speed Way

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX x 1, 32768 MB, 64-bit Windows 11}

www.3dmark.com

 

[kurosagi01]

Regarding your GPU, maybe try using DDU to do a GPU driver clean up:

Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) download version 18.0.8.1

Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) - Remove AMD/NVIDIA/INTEL Graphics Drivers Cleanly - DDU is a driver removal utility that helps you completely uninstall AMD/NVIDIA graphics card drivers and packages from your system, leaving no leftovers behind, including registry keys, folders, files...

www.guru3d.com

1.Download the latest Adrenalin driver or a version you are comfortable with using
2.Turn off Wifi or ethernet connection
3.Boot into windows safe mode
4.Run DDU and select Clean and Restart
5.Install Adrenalin driver and restart
6.Enable Wifi/ethernet and try running a game again

 

[faye]

Regarding your GPU, maybe try using DDU to do a GPU driver clean up:

Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) download version 18.0.8.1

Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) - Remove AMD/NVIDIA/INTEL Graphics Drivers Cleanly - DDU is a driver removal utility that helps you completely uninstall AMD/NVIDIA graphics card drivers and packages from your system, leaving no leftovers behind, including registry keys, folders, files...

www.guru3d.com

1.Download the latest Adrenalin driver or a version you are comfortable with using
2.Turn off Wifi or ethernet connection
3.Boot into windows safe mode
4.Run DDU and select Clean and Restart
5.Install Adrenalin driver and restart
6.Enable Wifi/ethernet and try running a game again

Already tried this more than once. Exact same behavior. 23.9.1 works fine, 23.9.2 I can't open the Adrenalin control panel or overlay.

 

[Dr. Dro]

View attachment 315136

Nothing about this looks particularly wrong for a DR kit... the memory timings are a bit looser than most kits but shouldn't exhibit that much discrepancy.

I noticed from your 3DMark score that you have HVCI disabled as well, and with a 3-day old Windows install i'm at a loss here.

Regarding your GPU, maybe try using DDU to do a GPU driver clean up:

Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) download version 18.0.8.1

Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) - Remove AMD/NVIDIA/INTEL Graphics Drivers Cleanly - DDU is a driver removal utility that helps you completely uninstall AMD/NVIDIA graphics card drivers and packages from your system, leaving no leftovers behind, including registry keys, folders, files...

www.guru3d.com

1.Download the latest Adrenalin driver or a version you are comfortable with using
2.Turn off Wifi or ethernet connection
3.Boot into windows safe mode
4.Run DDU and select Clean and Restart
5.Install Adrenalin driver and restart
6.Enable Wifi/ethernet and try running a game again

DDU generally not a good idea on AMD, use their own cleanup utility instead

 

[faye]

Nothing about this looks particularly wrong for a DR kit... the memory timings are a bit looser than most kits but shouldn't exhibit that much discrepancy.

I noticed from your 3DMark score that you have HVCI disabled as well, and with a 3-day old Windows install i'm at a loss here.



DDU generally not a good idea on AMD, use their own cleanup utility instead

I'm local to MicroCenter and got the RAM from there. If you see a better kit in stock at the Madison Heights, MI store I'll go swap it out later today. As you said, I doubt that's the real issue here though.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Your sound dropouts are due to the cable, it is struggling with the bandwidth, limit your maxfps, change the cable.

Already tried this more than once. Exact same behavior. 23.9.1 works fine, 23.9.2 I can't open the Adrenalin control panel or overlay.

Works fine for me, and is not widely reported as a issue so that's something on your end, sounds like a driver conflict though.

But if you don't need the extra games the later driver supports don't use it.

 

[faye]

Your sound dropouts are due to the cable, it is struggling with the bandwidth, limit your maxfps, change the cable.

Works fine for me, and is not widely reported as a issue so that's something on your end, sounds like a driver conflict though.

But if you don't need the extra games the later driver supports don't use it.

I've tried 4 different cables. All of these cables work fine with two other cards in the house, connected to the same display, running the same games at similar FPS (though at lower settings). It's not the cables.

As for the 23.9.1/.2 thing, what driver could possibly be conflicting at this point? It's a fresh Windows 11 install. It's literally just whatever Windows auto-installed and the AMD chipset and GPU drivers. That's it.

 

[wNotyarD]

I'm local to MicroCenter and got the RAM from there. If you see a better kit in stock at the Madison Heights store I'll go swap it out later today. As you said, I doubt that's the real issue here though.

A fast RAM kit isn't as crucial for an X3D processor, so no need, and your RAM numbers sound alright. Loose, yes, but alright.
But like @Dr. Dro I'm also at a loss here, you shouldn't be having issues with either the motherboard or the PSU.

But an idea: do you still have the R5 3600 at hand? If yes, how does it behave with the 7900XTX? Likewise, can you test the 5800X3D with the 2080?

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

I've tried 4 different cables. All of these cables work fine with two other cards in the house, connected to the same display, running the same games at similar FPS (though at lower settings). It's not the cables.

As for the 23.9.1/.2 thing, what driver could possibly be conflicting at this point? It's a fresh Windows 11 install. It's literally just whatever Windows auto-installed and the AMD chipset and GPU drivers. That's it.

Right well you know, so little point me bothering, good luck and good bye.

Jic when I had this a genuine cable from club 3d fixed it, worked on three other PCs too.

 

[faye]

A fast RAM kit isn't as crucial for an X3D processor, so no need, and your RAM numbers sound alright. Loose, yes, but alright.
But like @Dr. Dro I'm also at a loss here, you shouldn't be having issues with either the motherboard or the PSU.

But an idea: do you still have the R5 3600 at hand? If yes, how does it behave with the 7900XTX?

I've still got it, yes, though I'd rather not swap it back in if I don't have to. The 7900XTX works fine with it, just lower FPS / CPU limited, as you'd expect. Hence the upgrade.

As for the RAM, for what I paid for the Corsair kit it should be among the best at this point... so if you don't mind letting me know what to look for in a better kit I'll probably go swap it on principle. I don't care about the lights, I do care about performance. That said, part of me is nervous to touch it -- it works, which is more than can be said for a lot of things about this computer lately.

 

[wNotyarD]

I've still got it, yes, though I'd rather not swap it back in if I don't have to. The 7900XTX works fine with it, just lower FPS / CPU limited, as you'd expect. Hence the upgrade.

Lower FPS as I'd expect is one thing, but what I'd like to know is if it gives you the same wild swings as your 5800X3D. If anything, if 3600+7900XTX nets you a bench score which isn't below average.
And as I edited my earlier post, testing the 5800X3D with the 2080 on the same scenario.

As for the RAM, for what I paid for the Corsair kit it should be among the best at this point... so if you don't mind letting me know what to look for in a better kit I'll probably go swap it on principle. I don't care about the lights, I do care about performance. That said, part of me is nervous to touch it -- it works, which is more than can be said for a lot of things about this computer lately.

Theoretically? 16-20-20-40 isn't very tight for 3600, but should by no means be a dealbreaker. Many people do have issues with Vengeances paired with Ryzens though, so there's that.
As you said, you tested your ram kit (didn't mention what test, though) so unless anything else indicates that it is the issue, let's leave it in peace.

 

[lowrider_05]

There is a even newer (BETA) driver from AMD: https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-23-9-3-cyberpunk2077-payday3

Maybe this one works better. As a side note your 3dMark result is about 1000 Points lower then mine with my 24/7 OC (https://www.3dmark.com/sw/843676), but i cant see your GPU Clocks and/or Temps on the 3dmark Result.

 

[faye]

There is a even newer (BETA) driver from AMD: https://www.amd.com/en/support/kb/release-notes/rn-rad-win-23-9-3-cyberpunk2077-payday3

Maybe this one works better. As a side note your 3dMark result is about 1000 Points lower then mine with my 24/7 OC (https://www.3dmark.com/sw/843676), but i cant see your GPU Clocks and/or Temps on the 3dmark Result.

Same thing with the beta driver. This has been such a frustrating experience. I guess I'm reinstalling Windows again. If that doesn't fix it everything is going back, I don't even care about the restocking fees at this point. I've been fighting with this stupid thing for days, and there's literally no reason it shouldn't just work.

 

[freeagent]

End the fight, everything should just work.

 

[lowrider_05]

Same thing with the beta driver. This has been such a frustrating experience. I guess I'm reinstalling Windows again. If that doesn't fix it everything is going back, I don't even care about the restocking fees at this point. I've been fighting with this stupid thing for days, and there's literally no reason it shouldn't just work.

I´m sorry that it does not work for you, for me the 23.9.2 and the 23.9.3 Beta driver work without a hitch. Only thing i can remember is, when the Radeon Settings from the Windows Store is installed, and you install the Standalone AMD Driver over it, then the Settings App wont open.

 

[faye]

I´m sorry that it does not work for you, for me the 23.9.2 and the 23.9.3 Beta driver work without a hitch. Only thing i can remember is, when the Radeon Settings from the Windows Store is installed, and you install the Standalone AMD Driver over it, then the Settings App wont open.

Good thought, but I never installed the app in the Windows store.