Question CPU underperforming in games

[XANtheman]

Hello I have recently upgraded my CPU from a R3 1200 to a 3300x. Complete specs are as follows-

CPU- R3 3300X
RAM - 2x8 GB DDR4 2400MHz in dual channel (CMK8GX4M1A2400C16R)
GPU- MSI GTX 1650 D6 AERO ITX OCV1
PSU- CX 450
MOTHERBOARD- MSI B450M PRO VDH MAX (BIOS 7A38vB4 - AGESA 1.0.0.4)

My older CPU was bottlenecking my GPU in games like Cyberpunk , metro exodus, FC Primal, so I upgraded to a R3 3300X. I saw benchmarks on youtube and was able to confirm that R3 1200 should be the bottleneck in my system (see this video-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L33n3TdSjNk&t=3213s). In the video the GTX 1650 clearly manages above 30 at 1080p ultra most of the time in the train sequence with a R3 3100 whereas my R3 1200 would drop to mid 20's in that sequence. The problem is that even after the upgrade I am dropping to mid 20's. IMO RAM should not be a bottleneck with GPU of this caliber at 1080p ultra settings( NVIDIA hairworks disabled and tessellation off in metro exodus).

I tried the following fixes-
1. Fresh install of windows 10 to windows 21H2
2. Installing the latest chipset drivers and Nvidia Geforce drivers
3. Clearing CMOS
4. Disabling windows game mode and switching to high performance power plan.
5. Disabling all power saving features in BIOS, maxing out cTDP limit
6. Reseating RAM
7. Trying latest BIOS updates
8. using max performance in Nvidia control panel.

At this point I have no further ideas to troubleshoot this issue. Also if it is genuinely the memory then that is really disappointing in terms of compatibility of this platform. If you guys have a solution please do post it.

 

[XANtheman]

If your CPU package power consumption is 21 W during that particular scene, then it is clear that it's not boosting properly.

It is not 21W see max value of CPU package power

 

[Markfw]

Yes I tried different BIOS versions and had same problem on all. What could be the cause of my CPU not boosting?

it is not required. Must be GPU bound ??

 

[tamz_msc]

Upon closer inspection, your motherboard is messing with your power delivery. Power reporting deviation is absurd. To confirm, run a stable load like Cinebench R20 or R23.

Read this to see what all of it means. I think if my idea is correct, you most likely have to change motherboards.

 

[igor_kavinski]

I think if my idea is correct, you most likely have to change motherboards.

If the OP decides to change, he shouldn't stop at mobo. Sell his system off and just get i3-12100. Cheapest option is to find a game that performs better on his rig.

 

[XANtheman]

Upon closer inspection, your motherboard is messing with your power delivery. Power reporting deviation is absurd. To confirm, run a stable load like Cinebench R20 or R23.

Read this to see what all of it means. I think if my idea is correct, you most likely have to change motherboards.

 

[Shmee]

I would turn down settings, I suspect 1080p ultra may be too high for a 1650. See if that helps.

 

[XANtheman]

I would turn down settings, I suspect 1080p ultra may be too high for a 1650. See if that helps.

You may be correct but what about the Youtube channel that I posted ? I have the exact same ddr6 model.

 

[Markfw]

You may be correct but what about the Youtube channel that I posted ? I have the exact same ddr6 model.

There are a lot of variables. What CPU motherboard and memory did he have ? I doubt they are all the same as yours.

 

[tamz_msc]

View attachment 57342

Well, motherboard seems to be ok. But I still suspect the CPU isn't boosting properly. Try setting manual PPT, TDC and EDC from within the BIOS. PPT should be 88W, TDC 60A and EDC 90A.

 

[XANtheman]

Well, motherboard seems to be ok. But I still suspect the CPU isn't boosting properly. Try setting manual PPT, TDC and EDC from within the BIOS. PPT should be 88W, TDC 60A and EDC 90A.

But is PBO relevant for a 3300X, I thought it was for R5 and higher

 

[tamz_msc]

I would turn down settings, I suspect 1080p ultra may be too high for a 1650. See if that helps.

The frame drops are due to CPU underperforming most likely from what is being described.

 

[tamz_msc]

But is PBO relevant for a 3300X, I thought it was for R5 and higher

It works, but the benefits are to be found on the higher end CPUs. What I'm suggesting though is to manually set those parameters to their default values.

 

[XANtheman]

It works, but the benefits are to be found on the higher end CPUs. What I'm suggesting though is to manually set those parameters to their default values.

Not helping, tried it

 

[Hitman928]

Not helping, tried it

Is the dropping to 20 fps temporary during that sequence or does it happen over and over again? What type of storage are you using?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I didn't reject your advice, it is the company which blows my mind. They really should add the cost of high priced RAM kits with there CPUs because at this point there components are garbage. I posted that comment because I wanted to show my frustration for the company.

I take this as an admission that you joined the forums to bash AMD. All because you don't know how to spec a build. That's wizard Annie!

It has been known since day one reviews of Zen way back in 2017, that memory timings and bandwidth were important to performance. With 3200MHz being the sweet spot before diminishing ROI.



And playing exodus on a 1650 at Ultra settings? lol!

 

[UsandThem]

I take this as an admission that you joined the forums to bash AMD. All because you don't know how to spec a build. That's wizard Annie!

It has been known since day one reviews of Zen way back in 2017, that memory timings and bandwidth were important to performance. With 3200MHz being the sweet spot before diminishing ROI.

Sometimes you see a post that makes you go "Wow". However, their post blew my mind:

They really should add the cost of high priced RAM kits with there CPUs because at this point there components are garbage.

 

[UsandThem]

It also looks like they posted the same garbage over at Tom's:

https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/cpu-underperforming-in-games.3749609/#post-22608666

I already had a bit of spat with members at anandtech forums about my issue. I 'll say the same thing I said there, that red team should include the price of high cost RAM kits with there CPU because there CPUs work like garbage without it. I thought my CPU is plenty fast and RAM should not matter when you are GPU bound. But liitle did I know that I purchased components from a garbage company (yes I mean the red team)

So obvious troll is obvious.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The last few years, this has been one of the 2 most common AnandTech forums n00bz trolls. The other is posting for "help" then proceeding to troll everyone, wasting our time. Regardless of what general or even extremely specific hardware and software troubleshooting advice is provided. The process is always -

Nope, that didn't work.
Nope, I tried that already. Even though I never mentioned it before you suggested it.
Nope, it's not whatever component, driver, or OS issues you suggested. I have already engaged in a full ship of Theseus troubleshoot, and reinstalled everything from scratch.

The outcome is either -
It is inexplicable, must be Gremlins or a Scooby Doo mystery that can't be solved.

or

Silly me <insert esoteric fix here> with the implication of - I guess no one but me possessed the know how to fix it. As if we care enough to spend the next however long searching for potential solutions to an issue you failed to even articulate properly.

 

[XANtheman]

Is the dropping to 20 fps temporary during that sequence or does it happen over and over again? What type of storage are you using?

I am using a HDD and the drop occur in other select sequences like storm sequence in the same level and taiga.

 

[Shmee]

I am using a HDD and the drop occur in other select sequences like storm sequence in the same level and taiga.

If you don't have an SSD, that is another big problem. This can affect loading times in games, general system performance and responsiveness, and will especially cause trouble in large open world games and MMOs.

At this point, I would recommend the following changes: a good SSD for games and OS, an upgrade to 5600X at minimum(as 3300X is only 4c and is an older generation) and please turn down graphics settings. Later on when you can get a better GPU you can turn them up again. Honestly I think the RAM should be workable for now, though it should have been purchased as faster from the beginning.

 

[XANtheman]

If you don't have an SSD, that is another big problem. This can affect loading times in games, general system performance and responsiveness, and will especially cause trouble in large open world games and MMOs.

At this point, I would recommend the following changes: a good SSD for games and OS, an upgrade to 5600X at minimum(as 3300X is only 4c and is an older generation) and please turn down graphics settings. Later on when you can get a better GPU you can turn them up again. Honestly I think the RAM should be workable for now, though it should have been purchased as faster from the beginning.

I overclocked my RAM to 3200 CL16 using Github RAM OC guide. I am sure that the timings are stable because they worked on my R3 1200 (I used Hcl memtest till 1000%). I punched in voltages from DRAM calculator. At this point I am doubtful about my CPU. Could it be that my switch from R3 1200 to 3300x wasn't recognized by my motherboard. One last thing that I want to ask is what should be the ProcODT on ryzen 3000 for 2400MHz ? My motherboard is setting up that on the higher side (60ohm)

 

[tamz_msc]

I don't understand how recommending an upgrade to a $250 CPU can be a part of the solution to the OP's problem. I also fail to see how ridiculing OP's frustrations with AMD helps the cause (it is a natural reaction to blame the company, especially if you've had negative experience two times on the trot).

 

[XANtheman]

I don't understand how recommending an upgrade to a $250 CPU can be a part of the solution to the OP's problem. I also fail to see how ridiculing OP's frustrations with AMD helps the cause (it is a natural reaction to blame the company, especially if you've had negative experience two times on the trot).

Leave it I don't mind what they say I just wanted to know if my CPU is faulty or if someone has a solution that would be even better.

 

[tamz_msc]

I am using a HDD and the drop occur in other select sequences like storm sequence in the same level and taiga.

That could be the reason for the drops.

 

[XANtheman]

That could be the reason for the drops.

any way to verify through HWinfo, never saw HDD causing constant fps drops