My GPU is only using one PCI-E lane... and I have no idea how to fix it or if it's even fixable.

[ӕolus]

New user, first time poster on these forums. I'm desperate for an answer to a problem that has been bugging me for months now.

Before I start, I should mention I'm not a hardware expert whatsoever (far from it, hence why I'm here). So if I phrase or say something that doesn't fully make sense, feel free to let me know.

Ultimately, I've been trying to fix a frame rate issue in Planet Coaster (a simulation roller coaster game made by Frontier). I posted a long and detailed explanation of the issues I'm experiencing on Planet Coaster's tech support forum. I suggest looking through it here to get a good overview of the problem, the various solutions I've tried, and other information. But at this point, I now believe there's a larger issue at stake with my hardware.

The devs at Planet Coaster have no idea how to fix my frame rate issue, but I'm being strongly led to believe it has to do with my GPU. Specifically, when I run a render test through GPU-Z, my Bus Interface reads "PCIe x16 2.0 @ x1 2.0" -- and I'm being told that it should read "@ x16 2.0."

Here are my specs:

ASRock H81M-HDS mobo
Intel Core i7-4790K @ 4.00 GHz
GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB
16 GBs of RAM
Corsair 500W CX500 PSU
Windows 10 64-bit

So does anyone have any idea why my GPU is running in a non-optimal way? And more importantly, does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix it?

(By the way, I posted this under General Hardware not knowing there was a more appropriate subforum to post it under. Mods, feel free to move this post if necessary.)

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

Check your bios for settings in the PCI-E Configuration options. There might be a x16/x4/x1 option in there you can adjust or was adjusted. Also make sure the GPU is in the slot closest to the CPU.

 

[ӕolus]

Check your bios for settings in the PCI-E Configuration options. There might be a x16/x4/x1 option in there you can adjust or was adjusted.

Thanks for the suggestion, but that was something the Planet Coaster folks already suggested I look into. Here's a link directly to that discussion.

To summarize the discussion: The UEFI settings under PCIE1 Link Speeds are Gen1, Gen2, and Gen3. I tried all three and they did not solve the frame rate issues, nor did the Bus Interface show "@ x16 2.0."

Also, my GPU is in the correct slot, as shown here. My mother board in fact only has one slot into which my GPU could possibly be installed.

 

[EarthDog]

Bios updated to the latest version?

So... everything else works fine except for this game? I'm wondering since it's not really graphics intensive and the other games work fine, the card isn't ramping up to 3d speeds and leaving the port in its lower speed state as well.

When you test on gpuz, it doesn't ramp up???

 

[ӕolus]

Bios updated to the latest version?

Yes. Through UEFI, I "Internet Flashed" (whatever that means) to the most up-to-date version 2.20.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H81M-HDS/?cat=Download&os=BIOS

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

In the device manager under System Devices what does it show for PCIE Express Root Port?

Oh wait so you are only seeing this issue with Only this one specific game and not all games?

 

[jboydgolfer]

I'm pretty sure it should read x16 @3.0

Your motherboard supports nothing higher than what you're getting

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H81M-HDS/

i see no gpuz screenshot, but from what he posted, it matches what Asrock says that board rates for...

 

[Aenra]

Look at the 'Bus Interface' in the GPUz pic he uploaded, it doesn't say what it should be saying..

@ OP, are you sure the issue is only with this one game?

(stupid question: Is there any chance whatsoever there is something [dirt for example] blocking the actual GPU's pins from making proper contact with the PCIe mobo slot? And/or any chance something there has broken or been bent?)

 

[LightningJR]

When I have that issue I usually fix it by reseating the GPU. I blow on the PCI-E slot too (like a NES cartridge)

Works every time

 

[ӕolus]

In the device manager under System Devices what does it show for PCIE Express Root Port?

Oh wait so you are only seeing this issue with Only this one specific game and not all games?

I wasn't entirely sure how to answer this question since I'm seeing more than one thing that reads Root Port, so I just took a screenshot of what I'm looking at.

 

[newtekie1]

Have you tried pulling the card out of the computer and re-inserting it?

 

[jboydgolfer]

Look at the 'Bus Interface' in the GPUz pic he uploaded, it doesn't say what it should be saying..

@ OP, are you sure the issue is only with this one game?

(stupid question: Is there any chance whatsoever there is something [dirt for example] blocking the actual GPU's pins from making proper contact with the PCIe mobo slot? And/or any chance something there has broken or been bent?)

i see no gpuz screenshot, but from what he posted, it matches what Asrock says that board rates for...

if op is getting what he posted

my Bus Interface reads "PCIe x16 2.0 @ x1

hes getting what asrock has listed for that board, unless @op typo'd the OP

 

[Aenra]

i see no gpuz screenshot, but from what he posted, it matches what Asrock says that board rates for...

He did, look at post #5, bottom left.

 

[ӕolus]

When I have that issue I usually fix it by reseating the GPU. I blow on the PCI-E slot too (like a NES cartridge)

Works every time

I resat my GPU several times when I was originally investigating whether it was installed in the wrong slot, as some people were suggesting. And yes, I even blew into it like an NES cartridge.

In the device manager under System Devices what does it show for PCIE Express Root Port?

Oh wait so you are only seeing this issue with Only this one specific game and not all games?

Yes. All my other games run great. But as the devs at Frontier have repeatedly explained to me, Planet Coaster cannot be compared to games like BF1, GTA V, etc., precisely because it's a simulation game and very CPU-demanding.

Look at the 'Bus Interface' in the GPUz pic he uploaded, it doesn't say what it should be saying..

@ OP, are you sure the issue is only with this one game?

Yup. And here's the most insane part about this, guys: (I'm copying/pasting this from my Planet Coaster post)

I bought this game before Christmas and put about 15 hours into this game. After Christmas, I installed some new hardware, which included the i7, the GTX 1060, and 8 GB of additional RAM. Before I installed those upgrades, I was running Planet Coaster at a consistent 50-60 frame rate on an Intel Core i3, a SAPPHIRE DUAL-X Radeon R9 270 GPU, and of course 8 GBs less of RAM. ...

... my frame rate issues appeared only AFTER I substantially upgraded my system from lower end hardware that was arguably barely even at minimum spec. Explain that one to me. (I even reinstalled the lower end hardware and removed the added RAM to see if the game would work again as it did at ~60 fps. Yup. It did.)

 

[newtekie1]

i see no gpuz screenshot, but from what he posted, it matches what Asrock says that board rates for...

if op is getting what he posted

hes getting what asrock has listed for that board, unless @op typo'd the OP

He should be getting 2.0 x16, not 2.0 x1 like he is getting.

The 2.0 x1 is for the small slot that won't even fit a graphics card.

 

[Aenra]

So basically, your issue began after unmounting the old and mounting the new. Like three of us mentioned already, do try re-sitting your GPU? And while at it, check and see if there's anything bent, scratched or broken? Be it in the mobo slot, or the GPU?

About the GPUz, i meant that it should be showing the specific PCIe, but it's not.

 

[jboydgolfer]

thats odd, id try to check the interface speed with another program possible.......it just says PCI express in his SS....

should look like this...except his board doesnt support this higher Rev..

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

So if you run another game it works at 2.0 x16?

 

[jboydgolfer]

.

open your Nvidia control panel, and click system info in the bottom left corner, see what interface speed says there maybe?


like this...

 

[ӕolus]

thats odd, id try to check the interface speed with another program possible.......it just says PCI express in his SS....

should look like this...except his board doesnt support this higher Rev..

Yes, sorry. In the above screen, I'm not sure why the Bus Interface only reads "PCI-E Express." Here's another screen that may help. (FYI: I have GPU-Z running to the right of the example -- the one without the red highlight)

 

[jboydgolfer]

He should be getting 2.0 x16, not 2.0 x1 like he is getting.

i know, he posted differently in the OP tho, so i was confused...

my Bus Interface reads "PCIe x16 2.0 @ x1

the 16 threw me off...

 

[ӕolus]

open your Nvidia control panel, and click system info in the bottom left corner, see what interface speed says there maybe?


like this...

Next to "Bus:" it reads "PCI Express x16 Gen2"

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

Bios updated to the latest version?

So... everything else works fine except for this game? I'm wondering since it's not really graphics intensive and the other games work fine, the card isn't ramping up to 3d speeds and leaving the port in its lower speed state as well.

When you test on gpuz, it doesn't ramp up???

I think earthdog is on to something here. If it works in other games, then it is not detecting this as a game needing full power.

You need to manually force it.

open the nvidia control panel

Go to 'Manage 3D Settings'

'Program Settings' tab

Find the .exe for the game having issues

Find the Feature 'Power Management Mode'

Set it to 'Prefer Maximum Performance'

Apply

Fixed.

 

[EarthDog]

If jboydgolfer didn't have me on ignore...... it's like an echo chamber... but with instructions on the echo. He showed screenshots of gpuz without the tester running my thin skinned friend.

lBeing serious, I have unanswered questions and same with zim.... we could end this if those are answered and followed.

The screenshot shows its in idle and not with the load test in gpuz... I'm betting it's the game amd zims instructions resolve it.

 

[jboydgolfer]

Next to "Bus:" it reads "PCI Express x16 Gen2"

I must be missing something here because if it says PCI express GEN 2 X16 , then he's getting the speeds that the motherboard rates for on asrocks website

Unless I'm reading their website specs incorrectly,which is possible