General Discussions

[TommyRedline]

Hello everyone. So I guess that, specifically, i'm having an issue with GPU utilization drop while playing Space Marine 2. I can manage to generate over 100 frames, but i've tried lowering the quality settings, all types of configurations in the Adrenalin software, and nothing has helped so far. This build is only 2 months old.

The Build:

Ryzen 7 7800x3D

XFX Speedster Merc 319 RX 7800 TX

Corsair Vengeance RGB 32gb DDR5 6000MHz C36 UDIMM

WD_Black SN770 2TB PCIe Gen 4

MSI MAG B650 Tomahawk WiFi DDR5

Corsair CX-M Series CX750M ATX supply

Samsung 49" Odyssey QD-OLED G9 DQHD 240Hz 

I am absolutely lost as to why I'm having any issues at all. I seem to have noticed this issue creeping up on other games such as Warframe, and if I play COD at all, I have to play in window mode as well or it is basically unplayable. I am at a loss here. The only things done in bios (though i've tried many things and have undone them all) are the Simultaneous Multi-threading is off (heard thats better for gaming?) and I set the DRAM to its appropriate speed, 6000MHz.

I could really use some help here. Any and all suggestions will be welcomed, and though I cant immediately remember EVERYTHING that i've done, i'll be sure to let you know if I have or haven't if you help me to narrow this down. Thank you

[Faisalkazmi]

Hey there, sorry to hear you’re dealing with frustrating GPU utilization drops and lag despite your powerful setup. Let’s tackle this step-by-step:

1. Drivers & Software

• Clean Install GPU Drivers: Use DDU to wipe current drivers, then reinstall the latest Adrenalin 24.9.1 (or newer). Space Marine 2 has had optimization issues, so check for game patches too.

• Chipset Drivers: Ensure AMD’s latest B650 chipset drivers are installed from AMD’s website.

2. BIOS & CPU Settings

• Re-enable SMT: Turning off Simultaneous Multi-Threading can hurt performance on Ryzen CPUs. Enable it in BIOS—modern games (and Windows) benefit from extra threads.

• Update BIOS: Check if your MSI B650 has the latest BIOS (e.g., AGESA 1.1.7.0 or newer) for better memory/CPU stability.

• Reset BIOS: Load optimized defaults, then re-enable EXPO for RAM (6000MHz). Avoid manual OC/tweaks for now.

3. Memory & Stability

• Test RAM: Run MemTest86 or HCI MemTest to rule out instability. DDR5 can be finicky—even with EXPO.

• SoC Voltage: If unstable, a slight bump to CPU SoC voltage (~1.25-1.3V) might help (but stay within safe limits).

4. Power & Windows Settings

• Power Plan: Use Windows Balanced or AMD Balanced (avoid High Performance—it can cause erratic boosting).

• Check PSU: Ensure all GPU power cables are fully seated. A 750W PSU should suffice, but transient spikes on AMD GPUs can strain lower-tier units.

5. Game/System Tweaks

• Disable Fullscreen Optimizations: Right-click the game .exe > Properties > Compatibility > disable fullscreen optimizations.

• Run Fullscreen (not windowed): For COD, use exclusive fullscreen mode if possible.

• Disable Overlays: Turn off Discord, Adrenalin, or Xbox Game Bar overlays.

6. Advanced Checks

• Resizable BAR: Ensure it’s enabled in BIOS (AMD calls it “Smart Access Memory”).

• Thermals: Monitor CPU/GPU temps with HWInfo64. The 7800X3D is sensitive to thermal throttling if cooling is insufficient.

• Background Apps: Close RGB software (Corsair iCUE), monitoring tools, or browser tabs that might hog resources.

7. Nuclear Options

• Windows Reinstall: If all else fails, a clean OS install eliminates software conflicts.

• Hardware Test: Borrow another GPU to test (or try yours in a friend’s PC) to isolate the issue.

Community Check

• Check r/AMDHelp or the Space Marine 2 subreddit for similar issues. Some games have engine-level bugs (e.g., shader compilation stutters) that need developer patches.

Let us know what you’ve tried and any patterns you spot (e.g., utilization drops during specific scenes). We’ll help narrow it down!