PSU Limiting GPU Performance?

[Joxrox]

Hey forums,

I posted here a while ago about bad proformance with my HD 7970 (Not GHZ edition). I am getting 40-45 FPS in BF4 in ultra settings @ 1366x768, with no noticable difference on lower graphics settings. I have recently been woundering if my PSU could be limiting proformance due to insifficient power.

My specs:
CPU: i5 2500k
MOBO: Asus P8Z77-V LX
GPU: HD 7970 (Not GHZ edition)
RAM: 8GB Corsair XMS3 1600Mhz
SSD/HHD:
Intel 120GB SSD
2 Western Digital 500GB drives (Not in RAID)
PSU: Thermaltake TR2 600w

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[thebluebumblebee]

According to W1zzard, the 7970 draws ~190 watts (Peak: Crysis 2 at 1920x1200, Extreme profile, representing a typical gaming power draw. Highest single reading during the test.) Your CPU can account for another 100 watts. The rest of your system most likely pulls less than 25 watts. Therefore, you're well within the rated capacity of your PSU.
I read your other thread:
May I suggest something like Process Explorer to see if there is something using your system that you are not aware of. I found that the WD software for an external HDD was using 25% of my son's system CPU.

 

[Joxrox]

According to W1zzard, the 7970 draws ~190 watts (Peak: Crysis 2 at 1920x1200, Extreme profile, representing a typical gaming power draw. Highest single reading during the test.) Your CPU can account for another 100 watts. The rest of your system most likely pulls less than 25 watts. Therefore, you're well within the rated capacity of your PSU.
I read you other thread:
May I suggest something like Process Explorer to see if there is something using your system that you are not aware of. I found that the WD software for an external HDD was using 25% of my son's system CPU.

Thanks for your help! Any idea what else might cause the low FPS?

 

[ruff0r]

Thanks for your help! Any idea what else might cause the low FPS?

Monitor your Gpu with GPU-Z is it clocking down? is it throttling ? temperatures are okay?
Is your cpu overheating? check with core temp .

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Which slot do you have the video card in? The black one or the blue one?

 

[Joxrox]

Monitor your Gpu with GPU-Z is it clocking down? is it throttling ? temperatures are okay?
Is your cpu overheating? check with core temp .

I have done all that before and I saw no problems. Temps for the CPU and GPU are all in the 70s

 

[Joxrox]

Which slot do you have the video card in? The black one or the blue one?

The blue one.

 

[leeb2013]

worth checking your CPU usage to check it's not maxing out.

 

[Pehla]

i want to see how this goes out!! there are allways some wierd things that can cause low performace!!

 

[Black.Raven]

unlikely, My 7970 worked fine on a 450 watt psu. Be sure to download the bèta drivers from amd.

 

[EarthDog]

Not unlikely, impossible. It works or it doesn't. This is not like a light bulb that loses voltage and gets dimmer.

At that resolution you are incredibly CPU bound. Overclock that 2500K and watch your FPS go up.

 

[MxPhenom 216]

Why are you running a 7970 at 720p? Like Earthdog said, you are CPU bound at that resolution. Better start overclocking that 2500k, assuming you have adequate cooling already.

 

[W1zzard]

Is your CPU overheating? Check with Realtemp

 

[Pehla]

i would stres both cpu and gpu!! and watch how temps behave..

 

[Bo$$]

Sounds like temps

 

[HD64G]

Although not possible to be the PSU, this PSU model and gen is awful. TR2 470W was horrible for me. I just tell you that it said 300W conrinuous-470W max and whenever I asked for 250W it boiled and extracted hot air. Now having a OCZ Z550 silver and whatever I ask, air extracts almost cool, not even warm.

So, maybe not stable voltage for some lines could cause arrythmia to your PC as a whole (RAM, NB, CPU or GPU), but not only to your GPU. I would buy something better in your place (I did it 2 years ago).

 

[EarthDog]

You replaced crap with MEH... nice!

 

[thebluebumblebee]

But he correctly used arrhythmia in a post! The efficiency of the PSU has nothing to do with the OP's problem, unless it is causing the rest of the system to overheat. The OP has not indicated a misbehaving PC, just lower than expected FPS. W1zzard, what would happen if a card is not getting enough power? Would these newer cards limit their performance or would it be a hard error?

We NEED screen shots. CPU usage and temps while gaming. GPU usage and temps while gaming.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

You using windows 7? Bf4 was buggy as hell like that for me on 7. Switched to 8 and issues are basically gone.

 

[EarthDog]

W1zzard, what would happen if a card is not getting enough power? Would these newer cards limit their performance or would it be a hard error?

Hard error. Again, this is not a lightbulb that dims it works and gives its all or doesn't.

 

[W1zzard]

W1zzard, what would happen if a card is not getting enough power? Would these newer cards limit their performance or would it be a hard error?

the system will crash or fail in another way. there is no mechanism that performance can be reduced. the system does not "know" how much power it's getting or if it's not getting enough.

 

[KainXS]

just wondering do you have the TR-600 or the P model, theirs a big difference, with my thermaltake 600 watt purepower, the psu somehow cut my performance in half and the 12v rail was very unstable, it was terrible but you should check your cpu temps because your at such a low resolution.

 

[Joxrox]

I'll try to respond to all on one message. I have already OC'd my CPU to 4.3 Ghz with little proformance gain. I am running Windows 7, but I installed Windows 8.1 and it barely made a difference. I have noticed that in some games, esspecialy BF4, my cpu is maxed out at 90-95%, but it never goes above 80c on the stock cooler. I will try to post screenshots soon...