Horrendous performance with low GPU utilization

[TwistedMetalGear]

UPDATE (1/14/22): ISSUE IS FIXED

I had to disable CPU C-States under the advanced CPU configuration in my BIOS. For anyone else encountering this issue, please try disabling CPU C-States.

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I'm having a really weird issue. I'm only showing an average of 60% GPU usage during gameplay and it's leading to a very choppy frame rate (30-55 fps and very unstable). This is on a high end system with a 3080 Ti. The bizarre thing is that certain parts of the game run great. To summarize:

- In-game benchmark runs great (100% GPU usage, 80-100+ fps)
- Photo mode runs great (100% GPU usage, 80-100+ fps)
- Pause menu runs great (100% GPU usage, 80-100+ fps)
- Reading in-game logs runs great (100% GPU usage, 80-100+ fps)
- The first 5 seconds of gameplay (after loading a save) runs great (100% GPU usage, 80-100 fps)
- After 5 seconds of gameplay, it runs HORRENDOUS (60% GPU usage, very unstable 30-55 fps, video card running cooler than usual due to the low GPU usage)

- Changing quality settings has no effect on frame rate.
- DLSS on vs. off has no effect on frame rate.
- Resolution has no effect on frame rate (I went from 4k down to 1280x720 with absolutely no difference in frame rate).
- Running exclusive full screen vs. windowed has no effect on frame rate.

All of my other games run great. It's only this game that has an issue. Is it possible that Denuvo is causing this?

System specs:
i9 9900k
32GB RAM
EVGA 3080 Ti XC3
Windows 10

[Jigen]

Dude wtf how did we both find it at the same time?!

[GLaDiolOS]

Originally posted by Jigen:

Dude wtf how did we both find it at the same time?!

I was just as astounded when I checked the thread. But I am happy that there is some way for us to enjoy the game! Now I just hope that we do not run into the crashing issues others are having. Fingers crossed!

If this works out until this issue is (hopefully) fixed by a future patch, we should make a top level post in the technical forum, so others do not have to look through prior thread histories. Or maybe if this works for Twisted Metal, he can update his post with the workaround instructions.

[TwistedMetalGear]

Appreciate the suggestion but setting to realtime didn't change anything for me. Still the same ol' 60% GPU usage with super choppy frame rates.

oka555, can you try this out and report back?

[oka555]

Originally posted by Twisted Metal:

Appreciate the suggestion but setting to realtime didn't change anything for me. Still the same ol' 60% GPU usage with super choppy frame rates.

oka555, can you try this out and report back?

Yup I tried and pretty much the same

[Jigen]

I'm really surprised two of you are still having issues.

So while the game is running and you check the Priority it is indeed set to Realtime? i.e. after you click it, it actually set? i.e. no "access denied" message? I know depending on your Windows user permissions, altering the priority can be restricted.

FWIW I'm in Windows 10 with latest patches, mobo BIOS is 4.30I. Resizable BAR is fully enabled, using the XMP profile on my DDR4-3000 RAM. Currently on Nvidia driver version 496.13, User Account Control is set at 2nd to top. I do have a Freesync monitor (just trying to think of things that could in any way affect process utilization)...

[TwistedMetalGear]

Seems like you're using an older driver, maybe that's the difference? I'm on 496.49. I also don't have Resizable BAR enabled. But I don't think GOTG uses that since it's not on the whitelist.

As for the priority setting, I tried swapping from normal to realtime multiple times. I even tried launching gotg.exe as admin and then setting the priority to realtime. The setting is indeed sticking, but it has no effect.

For reference, I'm on an ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming-ITX/ac with a 9900k. Latest BIOS, stock settings (except I have an XMP profile enabled on RAM). Fresh install of Windows 11.

[Psymind]

Same for me. No effect whatsoever :/

[TwistedMetalGear]

3 patches and still no fix. Eidos please. I want to play your game.

Here's some comparison screenshots:

Gameplay: 48 fps with 46% GPU usage
https://i.imgur.com/ub49gUn.jpg

Photo mode of same exact scene: 103 fps with 99% GPU usage
https://i.imgur.com/3DGV7MZ.jpg

[Jigen]

It seems they did implement something that relieved my problem, such that I no longer have to set the application priority to realtime. It is smooth upon launching the game without changing the priority.

[oka555]

did they ever fix this?

[TwistedMetalGear]

They didn't fix it but I found a solution!!!!!!!

Turns out the issue was caused by CPU C-States being enabled in the BIOS. Once I disabled C-States, my GPU usage jumped to 100% and my frame rate was smooth as butter! I'm so happy that I get to play this game now.

oka555, can you please try it and report back? Look under the advanced section in your BIOS. You should have an advanced CPU configuration menu and there should be a CPU C-States setting in there. Try disabling it.

[Jigen]

Originally posted by Twisted Metal:

They didn't fix it but I found a solution!!!!!!!

Turns out the issue was caused by CPU C-States being enabled in the BIOS. Once I disabled C-States, my GPU usage jumped to 100% and my frame rate was smooth as butter! I'm so happy that I get to play this game now.

oka555, can you please try it and report back? Look under the advanced section in your BIOS. You should have an advanced CPU configuration menu and there should be a CPU C-States setting in there. Try disabling it.

Glad you found a solution! I'm surprised it's C-States for you - but I had problems with C-states on other hardware in the past.

Enjoy the game!

[Rash]

Thank you so much. I've looked everywhere for a solution and yours fixed it 😍

[Captain Worthy]

Disabling C-states prevents the CPU from throttling down when it's idling, so something must have been tricking it into idle mode for some reason, causing a performance bottleneck. Were you using a high power plan or something else in your Windows power plan settings?

With C-states disabled your CPU will now use more power and will be running hotter for longer periods of time, so keep an eye on the temps and ensure cooling works efficiently with regular cleanups.