Low GPU Usage Low FPS

[Hector45]

Hi guys, I'm trying to figure out what my issue is with low GPU usage and FPS.

Online and in singleplayer my GPU usage (on the ground) stays at about 67-73% while I'm getting between 47-53 FPS. At altitude it will go to about 85% usage with 60-70FPS.

CPU usage seems to jump all over the place but not consistently at 100% usage. CPU 5 and 6 tend to get the highest load, speed oscillates between 4.6-4.9GHz.

Anyone have any ideas? My brother has almost the identical build to mine only difference being a Z590 board and a 3080 10GB and he gets higher GPU usage and consistent 60-65FPS (see build in sig line).

I've attached some screen caps.

     

  

 

[okopanja]

Try going into the BIOS, disable hyper-threading. I had similar issue, and it turned out after this my GPU was finally working in 90% above ranges.

 

[Hector45]

2 minutes ago, okopanja said:

Try going into the BIOS, disable hyper-threading. I had similar issue, and it turned out after this my GPU was finally working in 90% above ranges.

 

Yeah I did that recently but didn't help much. Only thing I can say it helped was I no longer get momentary dips into 25-30FPS while on the carrier in a busy multiplayer server.

[okopanja]

How does it perform outside of multiplayer?

Is this the most popular online server?

Servers can have performance issues with lots of objects and players. Sadly DCS servers use  single thread, if it reaches 100% you may get delayed responses, and I think this leads with GPU waiting on your side.

If I am not mistaken instant action should result well above 100 FPS?

[Hector45]

10 minutes ago, okopanja said:

How does it perform outside of multiplayer?

Is this the most popular online server?

Servers can have performance issues with lots of objects and players. Sadly DCS servers use  single thread, if it reaches 100% you may get delayed responses, and I think this leads with GPU waiting on your side.

If I am not mistaken instant action should result well above 100 FPS?

I tried instant action F14 cold start, GPU usage 85% 72FPS so a bit better.

[okopanja]

Some more dumb questions:

- resolution? fullHD, 1440p, 4k?

- VR? (I have no VR), so no help from me

- VSYNC on/off?

- FPS limit?

- Monitor refresh rate?

[Hector45]

1 hour ago, okopanja said:

Some more dumb questions:

- resolution? fullHD, 1440p, 4k?

- VR? (I have no VR), so no help from me

- VSYNC on/off?

- FPS limit?

- Monitor refresh rate?

3440x1440

No VR

Vsync currently on, though I've tried both

No FPS cap

144Hz

[FR4GGL3]

Did you ever try to set VSYNC to "off" or "fast" at the nVidia Control Panel?

I have had a similar issue. Since then I have VSync off in Game and at the nvcp - and I do set a fps limit for DCS. This way I could find a balance between performance and produced heat / energy consumption. With zero tearing issues. But that might not work for you. But you could try it.

Edited February 23, 2022 by FR4GGL3

[Hector45]

4 hours ago, FR4GGL3 said:

Did you ever try to set VSYNC to "off" or "fast" at the nVidia Control Panel?

I have had a similar issue. Since then I have VSync off in Game and at the nvcp - and I do set a fps limit for DCS. This way I could find a balance between performance and produced heat / energy consumption. With zero tearing issues. But that might not work for you. But you could try it.

 

OMG dude you're my hero! Never thought to try VSYNC fast.

I disabled in game VSYNC and enabled VSYNC Fast in the NVCP for DCS specifically, boom consistent 99% GPU usage 60-70FPS in multiplayer. THANK YOU!!!

[FR4GGL3]

Glad it worked for you. Keep that setting in mind - it works for some more Games with "older" Engines (sorry to call the DCS Engine old, but it mostly helps on older Engines - that is what I wanted to say).

[FR4GGL3]

There is another Thing: power management of the CPU. If you have still some hickups or if you can see strange dips in Benchmarks like 3D Mark or real life Applications, you can tinker around with the power safing option in your UEFI.

On my Gigabyte Z390, I need to disable anything lower than C1E (no C3, no C6 or even deeper). Because there are efficency functions that try to raise the efficency by forcing a fast sleep. And there are times when the CPU can't wake up fast enough - you can even see this at the GPU usage as it doesn't get its Data fast enough.

Going to energy safing is fine, as long as this doesn't happen in nanoseconds. That is what helped a lot on my machine.

 

But if it ain't broken, don't fix it.

Edited February 24, 2022 by FR4GGL3

[Hector45]

5 hours ago, FR4GGL3 said:

There is another Thing: power management of the CPU. If you have still some hickups or if you can see strange dips in Benchmarks like 3D Mark or real life Applications, you can tinker around with the power safing option in your UEFI.

On my Gigabyte Z390, I need to disable anything lower than C1E (no C3, no C6 or even deeper). Because there are efficency functions that try to raise the efficency by forcing a fast sleep. And there are times when the CPU can't wake up fast enough - you can even see this at the GPU usage as it doesn't get its Data fast enough.

Going to energy safing is fine, as long as this doesn't happen in nanoseconds. That is what helped a lot on my machine.

 

But if it ain't broken, don't fix it.

 

Thanks for the info, I'll have a look.

[BitMaster]

ErP is one of those "mysterious" functions many don't know what it actually does to your daily computing habits. Usually it is disabled on Asus/MSI/GB/ASR boards but enabled on Dell/HP/Lenovo etc.

It allows deeper sleep, faster and will also interfere with Mouse/Keyboard settings as a wake-up device... Make sure it's OFF if you have C-State or PowerSettings issues.

But tbh, actually, ErP is a good thing, just maybe not for a DIY Über-PC built for DCS or gaming in general.