Low GPU utilization Crysis2 DX11not CPU bottleneck

[nievz]

Low GPU utilization Crysis2 DX11not CPU bottleneck [SOLVED]

Anybody knows why this is? I'm using a q9400@3.7ghz and ATI 5850 OC'd to 936/1116.

When i first launch the game and play, i'm just getting around 55% GPU utilization while my CPU is just around 65% utilized across all 4 cores. This started happening when i updated the game to DX11 and hi-res textures.

Now i have a workaround for it! Here goes. While in-game and having the utilization i described above, I do an ALT-Enter to go to window mode, wait a few seconds, then back again to Full screen mode. Afterwards, my GPU shots up to 99-100% until i close the game and run it again. This leads me to believe that nothing in my hardware setup is a bottleneck. Something that has to do with the OS's resource management.

I want a permanent fix. This happens in TDU2 also and Witcher.

Anybody?

 

[Damn_Smooth]

It only happens in those 3 games? Or is it all games?

 

[nievz]

yes. but those three games are graphically more intensive than others i play since i can't play them on MAX with my VC. i remember it happening on Shogun2 as well but i don't play that anymore. i've gone through several drivers already from 10.6 to 11.7.

 

[Damn_Smooth]

Is it effecting framerates?

 

[nievz]

yes losing 10-15fps when GPU is low util

 

[Damn_Smooth]

I have never heard of this before. How long have you had the card?

 

[nievz]

Almost a year. I didn't have the issue when Crysis 2 was still on DX 9... here are my in game settings:

 

[Damn_Smooth]

Did it happen in the other games while Crysis was in DX9, or did it just start after the Crysis upgrade?

 

[nievz]

other games had it before the DX11 update...

 

[LDNL]

Id say, your Q9300 is bottlenecking the 2 5850s...

But he has only 1 card? Kind of a stupid question but what operation system are you using and what kind of temperatures is the card in while these intensesive games?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

But he has only 1 card?

Fixed

for some reason i read that he was running 2 cards.

Must be more tired then i thought...

------

Still suggest a driver sweeper and a fresh driver re-install. if that doesnt fix it, then maybe a fresh install of windows.

Also your chipset drivers are upto date

 

[nievz]

But why do I have to switch between FS to window mode and back before the GPU goes to 100%?wished it would just go on full utilization the first time i fire up the game.

I'll try a clean driver install.

That's good to know how a new CPU like the 2500K can bring further improvement in performance. However, i'm on a single 5850 not crossfired...

 

[FreedomEclipse]

also...

stupid question... did you make sure you installed the update in the correct order starting with the 1.9 patch then the high res textures and shizzle?

 

[nievz]

Kind of a stupid question but what operation system are you using and what kind of temperatures is the card in while these intensesive games?

Win 7 x64. My temps are around 55C. I have an AC in the room too. The ALT-ENTER thing only works with Crysis 2. I tried Shogun 2 earlier and my GPU is just at 74% tops. While my CPU is barely at 40% on all cores.

 

[nievz]

also...

stupid question... did you make sure you installed the update in the correct order starting with the 1.9 patch then the high res textures and shizzle?

yes.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

Try Process Lasso if you think there is some background process interfering with the game. Also look at the tips found here.

 

[nievz]

I've used a utility recently that sets the priority of the game to 'realtime' (forgetful me, i don't know that app's name anymore) right after launching it. It didn't make a difference, i still had to toggle to/from window mode to get full performance. Disabling Symantec Endpoint Protection didn't help either.

Thanks for the link! I'll try those that applies and Process Lasso.

 

[erocker]

If you haven't done so yet, thoroughly uninstall your drivers and reinstall them.

 

[nievz]

i tried Process Lasso's game mode and it didn't change anything. i also used driver sweeper to uninstall and then reinstalled Catalyst 11.7, again no change.

I reset the clocks of my VC to default and just got 8% improvement in utilization.

 

[nievz]

It didn't make sense but i turned off Vsync. SOLVED!

 

[Damn_Smooth]

It didn't make sense but i turned off Vsync. SOLVED!

That's really weird, but I'm glad you got it worked out.

 

[Cratzky]

It didn't make sense but i turned off Vsync. SOLVED!

Yes of course, turning off vsync will remove the Hz lock from ur screen (lets say u have a 60hz screen, then ur framerate wont go above 60fps) and it will sync every frame which removes the screen tearing effect which appears when having vsync off.

Also, turning off vsync will lead to higher numbers of FPS, even in menus, which sometimes can get abnormally high and can potentially lower the video cards life by having much increased heat output due to fps being abnormally high so the GPU utilization goes close to/or 100%.

Sitting at 50% gpu utilization will give the card a longer life. Sitting at 100% all the time will shorten its life.

Personally, i never play without vsync, when i play TF2 i get 60fps steady with vsync and no screen tearing (hate it) and my gpu utilization is around 20-40% ... but as soon as i turn off vsync, i get close to 100% utilization and above 200fps.... see my point? thats FPS i certainly dont need in that specific game.

However, in games where vsync is slowing down the performace lower then 50fps for me, i turn off vsync for optimal performance, then i know the fps without vsync wont exceed abnormal numbers and cause additional stress to my card.

Hope this shed some light on your issue that is actually perfectly normal behavior.

Also another thing, if you are getting low gpu-utilization and low-cpu utilization, check your RAM... is it full during that game , add more ram , with full, i mean that the amount of "Free ram" will be near 0 .
"Physical ram" usually sits at around 77-79% when its completely full. Due to the rest being cached.

For games like crysis1 and crysis2, i do play without vsync due to their designs. Playing with vsync in those games is hardcore and it should be avoided for optimal performance

Im also curious how you managed to scare your q9400 up to 3.7ghz..... personally i havent seen a q9400 above 3.6ghz, could you share some info?

 

[Batou1986]

I wish someone would come up with a working solution to Vsync i cant stand tearing it total ruins the immersion factor in games but in allot of games turning vsync on kills performance.

Secondly the DX11 patch for Crysis 2 is utter crap unless they have recently fixed it, no other game dx11 or not runs that bad on my pc. Shogun 2 runs 100x better dx11 max then Crysis 2 dx11 low.

 

[kn00tcn]

was OP saying he had lower frames even with vsync still on before alt tabbing? that would be interesting to me as i cant stand vsync off anymore

for me, very few games actually lost performance when vsync is on, other than just cause 2 demo (dunno if fixed), homefront demo (very buggy in dx11), & a few other weird games

bc2, gta4, crysis warhead, crysis 2 demo (nevermind the lack of profile issues at that time), every unreal engine game (i set smooth fps to 0/60 instead of 22/62), & many more... all run fine with vsync even in demanding areas that drop below 60, the fps is the same as vsync off but with the bonus of no tearing

 

[nievz]

@cratzky
It didn't make sense because i thought it won't limit me to 30fps when my FPS dips below 60 with VSYNC on. I'm on 60hz refresh. I now remember experiencing this problem in Just Cause 2 and i had to use d3doverider.

3.7ghz is the farthest i can push it before it's unstable. I probably just got a better batch. I'm using a DFI Lanparty Blood Iron mobo. I can send you details of my BIOS settings once i get the info.