Maximizing GPU Usage

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UaVaj

Golden Member
Nov 16, 2012
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can a GPU expert explain why some games (BF4/FrostBite3 in this instance) is unable to fully utilize GPU (680 n 680tri sli in this instance). CPU seem to be fine (i7-3770k stock in this instance).

to keep this as scientific as possible. only one in 64 player map. ultra setting. siege of shangi after the tower collapsed positioned on water edge of flag A staring at the flag C.

1920x1080 (this is just for comparative testing)
GPU is at 75% usage. (single 680 averaging 55fps)(other two 680 idling)
CPU is at 44% usage. (34% core average, 55% HT average)

5760x1080 (6000x1080 bezel compensated) (this is the actual gaming setup)
GPU is at 72% usage. (680 trisli averaging 48fps)
CPU is at 48% usage. (35% core average, 61% HT average)



what could be causing the holdback? another 25% more performance would be nice. like to peg GPU at 99%.
 
Last edited:
BrightCandle

BrightCandle

Diamond Member
Mar 15, 2007
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A variety of reasons. 3x SLI isn't always going to scale perfectly because you are asking it to render 3 frames at a time with AFR. It could be the CPU threads, just because it says 44% usage doesn't mean there isn't a CPU bottleneck, it's not about overall usage its more about thread level usage and synchronisation. For me at least bf4 scales very well with CPU and GPU usage, could be a problem with 3 way SLI.
 
omeds

omeds

Senior member
Dec 14, 2011
646
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More than likely CPU limitation. Try turning mesh quality to low and see if you get an fps boost and if there's any change to GPU usage.
 
lehtv

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
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Based on the framerates, it looks like a clear CPU bottleneck at 1080p. Even your triple monitor framerates should improve if you overclock that CPU. It's probably as BrightCandle said, CPU usage itself doesn't necessarily say much about whether it's a limiting factor or not.
 
U

UaVaj

Golden Member
Nov 16, 2012
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do note:

at 1920x1080 was a single 680 (other 2 gpu was idle)
at 5760x1080 was tri sli.


vsync is always off. next step is overclocking cpu to 4.5ghz.

hoping to peg all 3 gpu at 99%.
 
M

magomago

Lifer
Sep 28, 2002
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Are you getting poor performance anywhere, or this more of a theoretical exercise?
 
U

UaVaj

Golden Member
Nov 16, 2012
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reason for this inquiry is.

most of the time. games runs good and playability is un disturb. random glance at the frame meter shows frame hovering around mid 50s.

however are times that frame rate do dip too low and causes me to notice. quick glance at the frame meter show frame is dipping into the mid 30s.

looking for lag free gaming experience. not givin up any eye candy neither. if the current hardware not enough, will upgrade.
 
U

UaVaj

Golden Member
Nov 16, 2012
1,546
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oc i7-3770k from 3.7ghz to 4.7ghz. gain 7fps.
oc 680trisli from 1097mhz/1502mhz to 1202mhz/1800mhz. gain 0fps.

results points toward cpu bottle neck. =-(
 
U

UaVaj

Golden Member
Nov 16, 2012
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either
hwinfo is inaccurate at reporting actual hardware usage
or
frostbite3 is broken and unable to fully use available hardware.
 
Last edited:
n0x1ous

n0x1ous

Platinum Member
Sep 9, 2010
2,574
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UaVaj said:
oc i7-3770k from 3.7ghz to 4.7ghz. gain 7fps.
oc 680trisli from 1097mhz/1502mhz to 1202mhz/1800mhz. gain 0fps.

results points toward cpu bottle neck. =-(
Click to expand...

PLX chip on your board for tri-sli? maybe lane allocation issue?
 
B

bystander36

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2013
5,154
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UaVaj said:
oc i7-3770k from 3.7ghz to 4.7ghz. gain 7fps.
oc 680trisli from 1097mhz/1502mhz to 1202mhz/1800mhz. gain 0fps.

results points toward cpu bottle neck. =-(
Click to expand...

All games cause a bottleneck somewhere. That is to say, something is always holding back performance. If you get a game that has everything perfectly balanced between the CPU and GPU, the next game will not. Heck, a minute later one part or another will hold things back.

People seem to get too focused on making sure their GPU is at 99% usage. If it is always at full usage, that would mean the vast majority of the time, the CPU is more powerful than you needed.

Anyways, CPU usage, tells you the total usage of every core on the CPU. It only takes one core/thread to bottleneck in order to hold back GPU performance.

As long as your GPU isn't always showing 50% usage or something closer to that, it shouldn't be a big deal. You'll use that power on another game instead.
 
U

UaVaj

Golden Member
Nov 16, 2012
1,546
0
76
n0x1ous
mb is asus p8z77 ws. currently running 16x/8x/8x. no way this is a bandwidth issue.

bystander36
- point taken. however given the current hardware, there is still plenty of room for improvement.
 
K

KompuKare

Golden Member
Jul 28, 2009
1,224
1,581
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Why are you using HWiNFO and not MSI Afterburner for GPU&CPU or ProcessExplorer for CPU?

AFAIR, HWiNFO doesn't do logging whereas Afterburner and ProcExp do. So with a log you can see if when you see a slowdown, one CPU core is pegged at 100% or so. Also, ProcExp can monitor hardware interrupts incase some driver is not responding quickly enough and if service is causing problem, ProcExp can list thread in a svchost.exe process.

None of which might solve your problem but at least it might give you something to post back here with which someone may be able to help you with.
 
omeds

omeds

Senior member
Dec 14, 2011
646
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81
Mesh quality is the only setting you can change that will effect CPU performance. I know you want everything ULTRAAA!!1! but this setting doesn't effect the quality of an object, only its LOD distance. That is to say, objects nearer to you remain of identical quality.
 
U

UaVaj

Golden Member
Nov 16, 2012
1,546
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76
kompukare
they are all pulling data from the same sensor. doubt it will make a difference. hwinfo does log. just incase - will try msi ab and ep.

omeds
not givin up ultra setting. will simply buy better hardware to deliver enough fps.
 
FalseChristian

FalseChristian

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2002
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You don't buy an uber CPU like the i7-3770K and keep it at stock! Overclock that son of a bitch to 4.4GHz at least! My i5 2500K at 4.533GHz easily beats your much more expensive i7-3770K at stock.
 
2

24601

Golden Member
Jun 10, 2007
1,683
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We really need a comprehensive sticky to point people to when they ask these questions.

Having to repeat the same exact answers 1-10+ times per day is tiresome.
 
U

UaVaj

Golden Member
Nov 16, 2012
1,546
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76
afterburner and hwinfo uses the same sensors. both log file show the exact same info. afterburner does have a nice graph for quick glance. :thumbsup:

all cpu (core and ht) bearly reaches beyond 65% load. averaging 50%.
all gpu bearly reaches beyond 80% load. averaging 70%.

culprit points to frostbite3 being broken causing a cpu bottleneck. gpu is constantly waiting.

next step is to try windows 8.1 x64 (currently win7 x64).



also, explain communism. all ears.
 
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