Need Help Optimizing CPU, CPU most likely not running as fast as it should

[Mike458]

Hello everyone, first post here and very confused on why my CPU is running far slower than it should be. Apparently the CPU is the main problem in my build and it's been causing a lot of games to run a lot slower than they should. I have an Intel Core i7 6700K and running it on Benchmark app Cinebench R15 gives me this result:

I have no idea what this means, but the CPU is almost constantly overloaded (and gives me huge stutters especially in iRacing), and I have no idea how to optimize it. Is there anything I can do to help speed up my CPU to where it should be so I can run games on max settings?

 

[PLSG08]

What's your whole rig spec? It could be the CPU throttling. Do you have an Aftermarket CPU cooler?

 

[Mike458]

I have an NVidia 2080 graphics card, an Intel i7 6700k CPU, 16 GB RAM, 22.2 GB Virtual memory, an ASUSTeK Z170 AR Motherboard, and an NZXT Kraken X62 liquid cooling system.

 

[John Naylor]

Can you run HWiNFO64 "sensors only" and record CPU Load %, Core voltages, Core temps while running the ROG Real Bench Benchmark ?

Any warnings or errors in Event Viewer system or application logs ?

What OS and are you allowing Windows Update to install hardware drivers

Can you add your complete system specs to your profile ?

Processor Is it overclocked / To what extent ?
Motherboard OK
Cooling OK
Memory ?
Video Card(s) Which 2080 GFX card
Storage ?
Display(s) Resolution / Refresh Rate / Model No.
Case and Quantity / Model No. of fans
Power Supply ?

 

[Mike458]

Below is a scan of the original specification. We have since made the following upgrades:



1. NZXT Kraken X62 Liquid Cooler

2.Asus ROG STRIX FTX2070 08G GAM

 

[Caring1]

Hello everyone, first post here and very confused on why my CPU is running far slower than it should be. Apparently the CPU is the main problem in my build and it's been causing a lot of games to run a lot slower than they should.

Compared to what?
You can't compare your system to others just because it has the same GPU.

 

[Mike458]

Compared to what?
You can't compare your system to others just because it has the same GPU.

Compared to some of the people I know that have far inferior CPUs to mine, and they can run iRacing at higher settings than me and get consistent 100+ FPS.

 

[Toothless]

Compared to some of the people I know that have far inferior CPUs to mine, and they can run iRacing at higher settings than me and get consistent 100+ FPS.

Okay, sir, we don't need what other people have. We need to know what temperatures your chip is running at.

 

[Mike458]

My CPU is running at about 60-70C under max load.

 

[Caring1]

You have an expectation of performance and make an assumption that your system is underperforming without giving details of what your expectations are, or what you based your assumptions on.
Seriously, details help otherwise you're coming across like you are trying to troll us.

 

[8BitZ80]

Cinebench result seems fine, I wouldn't be jumping straight to the conclusion that the CPU is the problem. It's always best to benchmark a couple of different games to get more information on where the performance deficit is coming from, otherwise it's most likely just an isolated issue with iRacing. Try resetting the graphics settings to default, see if that helps.

 

[Mike458]

One other thing you should know was that when this PC was built by Micro Center in 2017, they forgot to take the plastic covering off one of the heatsink. There was no heat transfer to the heatsink, and the computer was running at 100C under gaming loads. This was fixed when the PC was refitted with the 2080 and liquid cooler in 2019. It doesn't seem to have any functional errors, but could that long term exposure to high temperatures reduce performance to the CPU?

Cinebench result seems fine, I wouldn't be jumping straight to the conclusion that the CPU is the problem. It's always best to benchmark a couple of different games to get more information on where the performance deficit is coming from, otherwise it's most likely just an isolated issue with iRacing. Try resetting the graphics settings to default, see if that helps.

I also tested this PC with plenty of other games such as Beam.NG drive and NFS Heat, and the stuttering still happens. The last race I did on iRacing yesterday had the CPU maxing out almost constantly and huge framerate stutters to occur.

 

[tabascosauz]

Do you mean to tell us that you ran the PC with the plastic tray sandwiched between the heatsink and IHS for two whole years and hadn't noticed that something was up?

Today's CPUs have way too many thermal protections, they don't immediately give up the ghost when uncooled/improperly cooled like they used to long ago, but after 3 years, the state of that CPU and everything hiding under the IHS is anybody's guess. Stock VID isn't very high for a 6700K, but very high temperatures can accelerate degradation even at the same voltage.

I don't want to say that a 6700K at stock speeds will "bottleneck" a 2080, but you can certainly do much better on the CPU front in 2020.

 

[Caring1]

One other thing you should know was that when this PC was built by Micro Center in 2017, they forgot to take the plastic covering off one of the heatsink. There was no heat transfer to the heatsink, and the computer was running at 100C under gaming loads. This was fixed when the PC was refitted with the 2080 and liquid cooler in 2019. It doesn't seem to have any functional errors, but could that long term exposure to high temperatures reduce performance to the CPU?

Yes, constant high temps can lead to degradation of the CPU.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

IMO i would check that the block is mounted to the CPU properly. Id also like to know the fan configuration of your case. Shoud be at least two in the front pulling air in and 3 exhausting air out.

 

[phanbuey]

put your power profile to high performance and run again.

 

[overclocking101]

I have been running my 6600k for3 years constant stress 4.4ghz overclock without degradation at first it was ran hard and benched heavily then just ran normal. That said temps like that can screw your cpu up but I would be more worried about your vrms on the board and the surrounding components with temps that high for that long. But if iracing is what your basing on it could be a software problem or a simple setting issue.

 

[Mike458]

Yes, constant high temps can lead to degradation of the CPU.

Is there any way to tell that degradation has happened, and is there any way to test if the CPU is running slower than it should due to heat degradation?

To be clear, it hasn't been running hot (assuming 60-70C isn't hot) since we put in liquid cooling, it was probably running at 100C under gaming loads ever since we got the PC before the liquid cooling was added.

IMO i would check that the block is mounted to the CPU properly. Id also like to know the fan configuration of your case. Shoud be at least two in the front pulling air in and 3 exhausting air out.

Here's my fan configuration.

Do you mean to tell us that you ran the PC with the plastic tray sandwiched between the heatsink and IHS for two whole years and hadn't noticed that something was up?

That is correct. We didn't have a temperature monitor at the time so we didn't know what was up (and there were no signs of degradation/overheating), but once we saw the computer refuse to restart a few times due to overheating, we loaded up HWMonitor and realized something was wrong.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Personally, I not a huge fan of that setup. because the airflow at the front of the case is quite restricted due to case design. For instance if you had a meshify C or any case with a mesh front. then that wouldnt be a problem.

I see on google image search that some other people have done the same as you but its not what i would call optimal...

Mount the AIO on the top of the case like like so. the R5 should be able to do it after you remove some of the sound dampening panels.

The Kraken X62 is a good cooler. You should be getting better temps.

 

[Vario]

The Cinebench result looks normal to me, if you are comparing it to the 4770K, that 4770K is clocked at 4.4 and your 6700K is at 4.01Ghz, so you would see a lower score. You could try raising your turbo multiplier and seeing if you get better results.