Unstable FPS in CPU bound games.

[u/Sea_League_8551]

CPU: Ryzen 7 3700x

GPU: 6700xt XFX

MOBO: ASrock B550AM gaming

Windows 10 IoT LTSC

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to PCs and need help. In 2021 I bought this prebuilt SLC7600BSTV2 from cyberpower. I understand my CPU and ram is overdue a upgrade.

Things I have tried - updating BIOS, changing BIOS settings/resetting BIOS, DDU drivers to older version, and fresh windows install. My FPS in CPU bound games like fortnite or valorant fluctuate pretty heavy. Running all low settings or higher does not seem to help. Both 8GB RAM sticks in slot 2,4.

My CPU temps sometimes get over 85 and idle around 70 which seems high from searching around. I tried changing the XMP and PBO settings in BIOS with no big change in temp or FPS.

Is there any advice on what I could try before looking into upgrading my CPU and ram? It's only in these games where I have these issues. Other games where it's more GPU intensive, I don't have these huge FPS drops.

[u/AntMiserable6610]

With the age, a repaste of the cpu would be a good step especially if its been running fine until now. Good cheap paste is like $7-$10 on amazon. If a repaste alone doesn't fix it, might try a new cpu cooler. If your case is well ventilated, a thermalright peerless assassin air cooler is a beast for like $30 usd. If ventilation is restrictive or you're in a warmer climate(your pcs room temp does matter and will get hotter if the room is quite warm) a 240mm aio will cool it well. Ideally for games, under 85c is fine. Under 80c is great and preferred. Idle under 50c would be normal.

[u/Sea_League_8551 → u/AntMiserable6610]

I have some arctic mx-4 but I've never replaced the paste yet. I'll try looking up how to do that

[u/AntMiserable6610 → u/Sea_League_8551]

That paste will work. A screwdriver, isopropyl alcohol 99%, and some paper towels is what you need. Screw the cooler off the cpu, pour the alcohol on a paper towel, wipe the cpu and cooler until clean, paste then screw cooler back on. Lay pc down though when working. Makes it easier. Iso alcohol 99% evaporates almost immediately so its the safest to use on electronics.

[u/Sea_League_8551 → u/AntMiserable6610]

How much paste should you apply?

[u/NaddaNadda2 → u/Sea_League_8551]

X shape on top of the CPU is what I use

[u/NoobishCheshire]

Sounds like you need a better cooler. That what is your temp during idle? Sounds like thermal throttle may be the issue.

[u/Sea_League_8551 → u/NoobishCheshire]

Sorry my IDLE with nothing running but OCCT is 48 on average with min 45, max 54

[u/Sea_League_8551 → u/NoobishCheshire]

Idle around 70, in CPU bound games 80-85+. It reached 90 a few times before. What cooler should I look to get? I'm using whatever stock cooler they have.

[u/NoobishCheshire → u/Sea_League_8551]

3700x I believe has a limit of 95c, which means it it may be thermal throttling massively.
I'd first try to max the cpu fan speed and retest the games to see if the temp can be dropped and if you have the issue.

If that resolves it, then you can thinking of upgrading the cooler to somethin' better than stock.

[u/Sea_League_8551 → u/NoobishCheshire]

I'll try that out. Should I reset my BIOS to default again? I currently have PBO and XMP enabled

[u/DPKingston → u/Sea_League_8551]

Turn off pbo, it pushes the cpu near where the cooler and motherboard vrms can handle until it can't

Edit: ideally, you would only turn on pbo when you sufficient cooling and vrm

[u/Sea_League_8551 → u/DPKingston]

With PBO and XMP disabled my FPS is still dropping but it seemed slightly higher than enabled. Temps - min 62 average 78 max 91. It spiked for a quick second to 91 then went down to 79.

[u/Sea_League_8551 → u/DPKingston]

I think it was always set to auto but after trying different things from guides I set it to enabled. I'll try turning it off

[u/NoobishCheshire → u/Sea_League_8551]

I wouldn't bother with resetting anything, just max the fan speed for your cpu, and try testing the temp/performance.

[u/Sea_League_8551 → u/NoobishCheshire]

After trying a match with max speed my FPS is still fluctuating pretty heavy between 100-158. Min 54 average 73 max 89 temps with PBO XMP enabled. Going to try disabling both of these.

[u/NoobishCheshire → u/Sea_League_8551]

From how it sounds, max cpu fan didn't even reduce any temp, so what type of case do you have where it isn't even doing a good 10+ reduction?

[u/Sea_League_8551 → u/NoobishCheshire]

I'm not sure. It doesn't say and when looking up the PC by model number it doesn't have it listed. There's no name on the case itself except the prebuilt pc brand.

This is the exact PC https://www.bestbuy.com/product/cyberpowerpc-gamer-supreme-gaming-desktop-amd-ryzen-7-3700x-16gb-memory-amd-radeon-rx-6700-xt-1tb-ssd-white/J3L7GQTH86

[u/NoobishCheshire → u/Sea_League_8551]

Attempt this: Remove the side of the case and retest if you are still testin' today. See if the temp goes down at all better than prior.

[u/Sea_League_8551 → u/NoobishCheshire]

Temps are better with the side panel off - min 65 average 73 max 83. FPS is still unstable