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Question

GPU 0% and some display problems while gaming

Apr 2, 2018 10:01AM PDT

Hello,

Could you please help me?
I have recently bought some very nice PC but I have issues while trying to play games.

Issue 1:
(I'm using HWMonitor program to check usage and temperatures of my CPU and GPU)
When I'm trying to play Mass Effect Andromeda or Starcraft II, something strange happening to my screen. Some horizontal lines appear from time to time, also screen flickers sometimes for a little while.

Issue 2:
When I'm playing, I have ridiculously high temperatures on my CPU, while GPU usage is 0%. I don't understand how games are working on ultra settings if my GPU usage is 0%...
When I'm playing Dragon Age: Inquisition I can set graphics to Ultra, but my CPU temps are over 90 or 100 celcius!! (that's why I don't play)

When I'm using my PC for example for work with music programs - everything works well and CPU temps are ~50 celcius.

Issue 3:
When I'm gaming (for example Starcraft II or Mass Effect Andromeda) occasionally, like once per minute, screen suddenly goes black for a second, then going back to normal. At the same time there appears massage on upper right corner part of the screen "DisplayPort" which appears always when I turn on this monitor. (Display Port: No signal, then "Display Port" normally...).
Display Port is connector I'm using between Screen and GPU.
What is interesting is that this "sudden turn off" of screen happens only while gaming, never in other circumstances...

MY GEAR:
CPU: Intel i7 7700k (not overclocked)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO (With Noctua Fan)
GPU: Radeon RX580
MOBO: Biostar Z270 GT9 Racing
RAM: 4x8GB Corsair Vengence Led
PSU: Corsair VS650
Screen: Eizo EV2455
Case: Silentium Aquarius X70W
the rest of gear seems irrelevant so I don't list it here.

I have installed newest AMD Driver... it changed nothing.

PS: I ordered Noctua NH C14S cooler so my CPU temperatures should get lower anyway.

Best regards,
Invoker

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Just a quick check.
Apr 2, 2018 10:17AM PDT

I ran into this and the owner had their video monitor plugged into the motherboard. The GPU was not at all in use.

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Answer
Apr 2, 2018 11:17AM PDT

Thanks for the answer.
Monitor is plugged into GPU i checked it of course.

Few changes I've noticed:
GPU usage is not 0% all the time, just most of it. Sometimes or goes to 30% or 50% or even 100%, then goes back to 0%. I've read somewhere that it often happens when monitoring Radeon GPU usage.

The real problem is with this screen issue. I'll try to post a video how it looks like.

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Video of screen disturbances
Apr 2, 2018 11:24AM PDT
https://youtu.be/_db68jUGcQU

There is a video presenting how this screen disturbances looks like. I've made it with my phone so quality isn't great.
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Answer
The video doesn't seem to show the problems.
Apr 2, 2018 11:43AM PDT

The horizontal lines from the video look to be game generated.

1. Anyhow, old games might not tap the GPU so for a game like that you find the forum for the game in question and look for "My GPU isn't being used" questions.

2. HWMonitor is nice and all but we can't be sure it works on all PCs. See if your GPU maker has a utility for monitoring.

3. Try HDMI or VGA to the display?

4. https://www.google.com/search?q=Starcraft+II+not+using+my+GPU finds it's true. I rarely duplicate prior answers. I see lots of complaints about this title. Do a similar search for the other game too.

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It's not game generated
Apr 2, 2018 12:23PM PDT

Hey. Thank you for the answer. I'll try these solutions in a sec.

To answer I must say these lines seem, but they're NOT game generated. I have the same thing in Mass Effect Andromeda.
I also played Starcraft II on my old PC and it didn't had these lines. I have these lines in every game and only while gaming.
Also monitor turns off and on only while gaming.

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So what is the difference from old to new PC?
Apr 2, 2018 12:26PM PDT

Remember that the video didn't reveal that much. The graphics could be a flaw in the video card, driver, monitor or just the game on this new hardware doing something bad.

Displayport wasn't in wide use when Starcraft came out so it's clear that new gear may be troublesome.

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Thank you! I solved all the problems
Apr 4, 2018 6:17AM PDT

Thank you! I managed to solve all the problems actually.

It seems like two different problems were evoked by two different things.

1. First of all I did a clean reinstall of my AMD drivers as recommended on official AMD site:
https://community.amd.com/thread/180667

What it did is right now my GPU is working normally around ~100% during gaming and my PCU temps are normal, around 60/70 celcius while gaming on ultra. (So right now both GPU and CPU are working while gaming as intented)

Interestingly, it didn't fix the problem with horizontal lines...

BUT:

2. I switched my monitor connector to DVI and boom, the lines are gone now!

So it seems like lines were because of DisplayPort and high CPU temps were because of problems with AMD driver (installed by windows 10, after I did manual clean install everything is fine).

btw. the problem was prevailing in all games, not just Starcraft II. I think everything is OK with Starcraft II

All games are working properly now Happy

I leave this massage here, hopefully it will help someone in future Happy

Thank you for your help!
Best regards,
Invoker