Unusually High GPU Usage/Temps

[Zrehael]

I've been noticing lately that this game seems to have developed the odd quirk of using 99% of my GPU and running at ridiculously high temperatures (90C-100C) in game. It's never done this before and I can't imagine what caused it to start, as only a week ago, it was running fine. Is anyone else having this problem or has anyone else had this problem and know how to fix it?

My PC specs (No parts OCed):
i7-3930k six-core processor @ 3.8GHz
Radeon HD 7970 3GB video card
16GB Quad Channel DDR3 RAM @ 2133MHZ

And before you ask:
- I have tested to see if it only happens with this game, and it does only happen with this game
- I have cleaned the dust out of my case, and properly to make sure dust didn't get in the electrical bits
- I have tried turning up the fan, it doesn't help.
- I have tried lowering the AA values, it doesn't help.
- I have been able to play this game at Extreme settings before with my card not even reaching 70C thanks to my computer's excellent cooling. The issue is why I can no longer do this when nothing regarding the case, video card, video card drivers, computer specs, etc... have changed.
- The drivers I've been using are up to date.
- I do run dual monitors, but that's not the issue as I had been running a dual monitor setup before, and this wasn't happening.

[Fekke]

Are you sure Sleeping Dogs is allowed to use all of your processor's cores?

[Proff. P. I. Staker]

A quick google will reveal the game has a reputatuion for this. So much so i know of people who wont play it for the stress on the system. It causes my GPU to artifakt and crash. Cant be good for the gpu.... Never had a game do this to my graphics card before, not even battlefield or crysis come close.

[Zrehael]

Fekke The Bro の投稿を引用：

Are you sure Sleeping Dogs is allowed to use all of your processor's cores?

Don't see why it isn't able to. I'll look into it.

*UPDATE* Just ran a benchmark. Sleeping dogs is using all six cores rather evenly. I'm surprised.

[Sustanon]

What was this unusually high temps you were hitting? Sleeping Dogs has always hit my gpu a little harder than other games when on extreme and maxxed out AA. I've never hit 70's but my cards are water cooled and even 70c is not detrimental in any way. What kind of case/mobo setup do you have? Also didn't AMD just get a driver update a coulple days ago and has this just started after you updated? I have nvidia cards so I just remember someone saying something about the new driver and FC3 performance. You have no OC on cpu or GPU ?

[Zrehael]

Sustanon の投稿を引用：

What was this unusually high temps you were hitting? Sleeping Dogs has always hit my gpu a little harder than other games when on extreme and maxxed out AA. I've never hit 70's but my cards are water cooled and even 70c is not detrimental in any way. What kind of case/mobo setup do you have? Also didn't AMD just get a driver update a coulple days ago and has this just started after you updated? I have nvidia cards so I just remember someone saying something about the new driver and FC3 performance. You have no OC on cpu or GPU ?

I hadn't updated between the two times I'd played the game, so the driver can automatically be written out as an issue, as the driver version didn't change between the two times. My card would usually hit into the 90C range, which is VERY unusual as no other game would ever get this hot, even games one would consider to be on par as far as the demand it would place on the GPU. I didn't OC anything... Pretty much all of this was stated in the opening post.

As far as my case goes, I use air cooling, because frankly watercooling is a waste unless you're overclocking and I'm not. The case I use is the Thermaltake Level 10 GT, which has plenty of ventilation to keep the case cool.

I'll check into the new drivers and see if that does anything as well.

*UPDATE*: Updated from 12.11 to 13.1. No difference. I'm pretty certain that drivers aren't the issue.

[Brick n Wall]

I have a very similar setup, 3930k and HD7950. I'm pushing my GPU along at 1GHz, and my temps, while definitely higher than in most games are settling in at around 63C. I'm running the same drivers, factory standard air cooling on the card.

I know that this isn't exactly a solution to your problem, but I thought maybe knowing that a similar system spec and AMD card in another system is not having the issue at least rules a few things out for you.

Curiously, the game is loading Core 0 at up to 60% with nothing much showing on any of the other cores.

One question: Are you certain no other game settings have changed? Did you enable the high res texture pack previously? Did it auto enable after an update if not? A long shot, but it's the only thing that comes to mind.

[Zrehael]

Lemondrop の投稿を引用：

I have a very similar setup, 3930k and HD7950. I'm pushing my GPU along at 1GHz, and my temps, while definitely higher than in most games are settling in at around 63C. I'm running the same drivers, factory standard air cooling on the card.

I know that this isn't exactly a solution to your problem, but I thought maybe knowing that a similar system spec and AMD card in another system is not having the issue at least rules a few things out for you.

Curiously, the game is loading Core 0 at up to 60% with nothing much showing on any of the other cores.

One question: Are you certain no other game settings have changed? Did you enable the high res texture pack previously? Did it auto enable after an update if not? A long shot, but it's the only thing that comes to mind.

I've had the high res texture pack since I first purchased Sleeping Dogs and it's worked fine. Only recently have I purchased the Zodiac and Nightmare DLC, but even those played fine for a while without causing these kinds of problems.

No other game settings have changed as far as I know.

[Omega X]

60-70C is rather normal for GPUs under load. The only time you worry is when it approaches 90-100C. If you're playing at Max settings, try lowering SSAO and Anti-Aliasing down one level and your framerates will improve and so should your temps.

[Zrehael]

Omega の投稿を引用：

60-70C is rather normal for GPUs under load. The only time you worry is when it approaches 90-100C. If you're playing at Max settings, try lowering SSAO and Anti-Aliasing down one level and your framerates will improve and so should your temps.

I would agree... Except my card is hitting 90C. It USED to hit 60-70C, now it hits 90-100C with 99% usage for no reason. Hence my problem.

[Sustanon]

At 90c with no overclock at all, it wouldn't matter what settings in-game something is messed up. What's your temp's in other games? Do you play FC3 or Hitman anything GPU taxing and what kind of temp's are you seeing? What card exactly do you have?

[Sustanon]

What software are you using to get temp's in game? You check your fan profile on the gpu?

[Zrehael]

Sustanon の投稿を引用：

At 90c with no overclock at all, it wouldn't matter what settings in-game something is messed up. What's your temp's in other games? Do you play FC3 or Hitman anything GPU taxing and what kind of temp's are you seeing? What card exactly do you have?

My temps in other games usually go around the low 60's in GPU taxing games. My card is the reference series HD 7970 3GB card from Sapphire.

Sustanon の投稿を引用：

What software are you using to get temp's in game? You check your fan profile on the gpu?

I have a dual monitor setup for college (main monitor for 3dsmax, other, smaller monitor for viewing the tutorial crap they want me to do), and I have a gadget on the second monitor that keeps track of my temps and usage. Pretty accurate, actually.

[Just So Guy]

Seems it is time to clean some dust inside your rig.

[Zrehael]

Just So Guy の投稿を引用：

Seems it is time to clean some dust inside your rig.

Seems it is time to go back and read all of the original post. I already did that.

[Just So Guy]

then do it again paying especial attention to heatsinks.