Bottleneck

[Jonathan19]

Hi, Don't be afraid by that long post ()

I can't run Metro Last Light correctly on my config, but there's nothing you can do about that

The weird thing is that, when I wanted to make sure the CPU was not the bottleneck, I found.. basically nothing, RAM not full, GPU not maxed, CPU neither, VRAM not full.

Here's a screenshot from inside the game with hardware status overlay




My other testings (changing in-game settings) showed a great increase in FPS when decreasing resolution (indicating GPU limit*), and basically no changes when moving from Very High graphics quality to Low (Indicating no CPU bottleneck*)

So yeah, for sure my graphic card can't take it, but I can't understand why it is not running 100% in that case... Internal bottleneck on the graphic card ?


Here's my config (pretty old ) :

CPU : AMD Phenom II X4 980-BE
GPU : Gigabyte HD6850 [1 GB VRAM]
RAM : 8 GB [G.Skill 1600 MHz, CLS 11, PC3-12800, Single channel (despite 2x4GB !!) ]
Mobo : ASUS M5A97
Hard Drive : Seagate Barracuda ST310005 24AS [SATA/7200RPM/1TB] [Benchmark http://hdd.userbenchmark.com/Seagate-Barracuda-720012-1TB/Rating/2022http://usbflashspeed.com/device/14066]
Display Resolution : 1920x1080 [Okay okay, "definition"]
OS : Windows 7 64bits


If you have anything to enlight me, i'll be thankful


* : If I'm not wrong !

 

[Jonathan19]

Up and another question (Yeah.. again)

Do you think my CPU will bottleneck a R9 280x (in most games) ?

 

[DominionSeraph]

Turn down resolution. If FPS doesn't rise, it's CPU.

 

[gmaster456]

Up and another question (Yeah.. again)

Do you think my CPU will bottleneck a R9 280x (in most games) ?

No. Not anything worth worrying about. EVERY computer has a component that's bottlenecking the rest. It's the severity of it that's the key. A Pentium D with a Titan for example. That's a severe bottleneck.

 

[Techhog]

VRAM bottleneck? Also...

[Okay okay, "definition"]

Huh? Resolution is the correct term...

 

[mfenn]

Since lowering the resolution increases performance dramatically, then you're looking at a a GPU bottleneck. The reason that you don't see full GPU utilization is that with 1GB of VRAM, it's spending most of its time waiting for textures and such from main memory and not actually computing anything.

What's your upgrade budget (if any)?

Also, since your RAM is showing up as single-channel even though all 8GB in two sticks is recognized, most likely you have the RAM in the wrong slots. Post your motherboard model and we can tell you which slots it should be in for dual-channel operation.

 

[Jonathan19]

Turn down resolution. If FPS doesn't rise, it's CPU.

Did already as written in my first post. FPS increase, so yes, GPU bottleneck

But I don't understand why no component show 100% usage.

No. Not anything worth worrying about. EVERY computer has a component that's bottlenecking the rest. It's the severity of it that's the key. A Pentium D with a Titan for example. That's a severe bottleneck.

Yeah sure, but I tought it was more common than that

VRAM bottleneck? Also...


Huh? Resolution is the correct term...

Oh, actually idk in english, but in french the correct term for the actual number of pixels regardless of the dimension of the display is "definition" whereas everybody says "resolution"..

So I guess that the reverse in English
You learned me something, thx man

Since lowering the resolution increases performance dramatically, then you're looking at a a GPU bottleneck. The reason that you don't see full GPU utilization is that with 1GB of VRAM, it's spending most of its time waiting for textures and such from main memory and not actually computing anything.

What's your upgrade budget (if any)?

Also, since your RAM is showing up as single-channel even though all 8GB in two sticks is recognized, most likely you have the RAM in the wrong slots. Post your motherboard model and we can tell you which slots it should be in for dual-channel operation.

Hum okay.. So that's because of a filled VRAM or too slow pipe somewhere ?

Around 200€ (So 200$ without taxes)


Double-checked, RAM sticks are in slots A (With A-B-A-B configuration on the motherboard)

And my motherboard is compatible with dual-channel
That's an Asus M5A97 (Not r2.0, evo or whatever)

 

[Techhog]

Most likely, you are simply running out of VRAM. 1GB isn't enough anymore.

 

[Jonathan19]

Most likely, you are simply running out of VRAM. 1GB isn't enough anymore.

Yep I know, but on the screenshot that's still far from 1 GB, that's less than 700MB, this is what I find weird :/

But sure, I will get a problem on that side sooner or later if that's not already the case

 

[Techhog]

Yep I know, but on the screenshot that's still far from 1 GB, that's less than 700MB, this is what I find weird :/

But sure, I will get a problem on that side sooner or later if that's not already the case

Even at 70%, given what game this is, it's probably swapping textures a lot to avoid completely filling it.

 

[Jonathan19]

Even at 70%, given what game this is, it's probably swapping textures a lot to avoid completely filling it.

Okay okay, thanks Techhog

So VRAM filled => New R9 280X Toxic 3GB coming

Should do the trick

 

[Techhog]

Okay okay, thanks Techhog

So VRAM filled => New R9 280X Toxic 3GB coming

Should do the trick

Is that in your price range? If not, R9 280 will do the trick.

 

[mfenn]

Hum okay.. So that's because of a filled VRAM or too slow pipe somewhere ?

Both. But you can't really improve the speed of the pipe, so you've gotta go with more VRAM.

Around 200€ (So 200$ without taxes)

The card you mentioned is nice, but it looks to be way over 200 euros. Is that OK?

Double-checked, RAM sticks are in slots A (With A-B-A-B configuration on the motherboard)

And my motherboard is compatible with dual-channel
That's an Asus M5A97 (Not r2.0, evo or whatever)

On your board, the A and B are denoting the channels. So in order to get dual-channel operation, you need one DIMM in each channel, not both DIMMs in the same channel. With two DIMMs, you should fill slots A2 and B2 (blue). Refer to page 2-5 of your motherboard's manual for a diagram.

 

[Jonathan19]

Both. But you can't really improve the speed of the pipe, so you've gotta go with more VRAM.



The card you mentioned is nice, but it looks to be way over 200 euros. Is that OK?



On your board, the A and B are denoting the channels. So in order to get dual-channel operation, you need one DIMM in each channel, not both DIMMs in the same channel. With two DIMMs, you should fill slots A2 and B2 (blue). Refer to page 2-5 of your motherboard's manual for a diagram.

OK thx, will try that
I always though that they must be put that way (sorry for that pretty ugly sentence...) and discovered only a few days ago that this wasn't working :X


Actually changed my choice, I found an Asus one at 182€ barely used on Amazon

 

[Jonathan19]

Is that in your price range? If not, R9 280 will do the trick.

Used, yep.
Got the Asus one 182€

 

[mfenn]

OK thx, will try that
I always though that they must be put that way (sorry for that pretty ugly sentence...) and discovered only a few days ago that this wasn't working :X


Actually changed my choice, I found an Asus one at 182€ barely used on Amazon

Let us know how it goes!

By the way, other than misspelling "thought", your sentence was perfectly good.

 

[Jonathan19]

Let us know how it goes!

By the way, other than misspelling "thought", your sentence was perfectly good.

Actually... I discovered only a few ago that dual channel thing and I changed just before my cpu cooling and removed my memory sticks...

And.... pluged.. well.. only one of them... (shame on me :\), 8gigs detected by windows, 4 working, so no dual channel.

"Problem solved", got a beautiful dual channel back on my rig x)
(with a .empty-stick-empty-stick. configuration on mobo)

Anyways, thanks for your help

(Yes, I'm really ashamed right now D


EDIT : As I wrote in my first post, my ram was CLS 11 and now I read CLS 9...
Is it possible after doubling ram and going dual channel ?

 

[mfenn]

EDIT : As I wrote in my first post, my ram was CLS 11 and now I read CLS 9...
Is it possible after doubling ram and going dual channel ?

When you were running both DIMMs on one channel, that puts more load on the CPU's memory controller, so it may have detected at CAS 11. Now that your memory is running across both channels, it can run at the normal CAS 9.

 

[MongGrel]

Just came in fast and was reading through.

You still might have a VRAM issue in the future I'd think, but glad to hear it's faster.

 

[Jonathan19]

When you were running both DIMMs on one channel, that puts more load on the CPU's memory controller, so it may have detected at CAS 11. Now that your memory is running across both channels, it can run at the normal CAS 9.

Okay, thanks for the explanation ^_^

 

[Jonathan19]

Just came in fast and was reading through.

You still might have a VRAM issue in the future I'd think, but glad to hear it's faster.

Arg sorry, I don't understand what you mean..

Why do you think I'd still have VRAM issue in the future with a 3GB card ?
I'm only running a 1080p screen, but even at 1600p it seems to be fine from what I read, isn't it ?

Faster ? :hmm:

 

[nsafreak]

Arg sorry, I don't understand what you mean..

Why do you think I'd still have VRAM issue in the future with a 3GB card ?
I'm only running a 1080p screen, but even at 1600p it seems to be fine from what I read, isn't it ?

Faster ? :hmm:

At 1080p it'll be a while before you'll run into any potential issues, perhaps sooner with 1600p but not that much sooner. You should be able to get a good 3-4 years of life out of this GPU although your CPU is getting long in the tooth and should be the next item on your list to upgrade within the next year or so.