Low fps, high end system? Check your GPUs PCI-e mode...

[St. Jimmy]

You might have read an article some time that it doesn't matter too much what slot you've installed your GPU or what mode (x2, x4, x8 or x16) the GPU runs.

Well this can be somewhat true in many games but modern games can be very demanding on PCI-e bus speed. Wreckfest is one of them and you should always try to run you GPU at PCI-e 2.0 or 3.0 x16. PCI-e 3.0 x8 might also be just enough because it's the same as PCI-e 2.0 x16.

PCIe 2.0 x8 IS NOT ENOUGH! You'll get big drop in performance.

I've seen couple cases in years and I bet there are many not resolved cases that are the same. Guy/girl gets full utilized GPU but fps is low even on low settings. This has been a case of running GPU in wrong slot or at wrong speed.

So how to check at what bus speed your GPU is running? Dowload GPU-Z program.
Run the game and then run the GPU-Z. Check the GPU-Z while game is running and you should be able to see this:

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/456855352319934515/466970368565837824/unknown.png

Check the "Bus Interface:"

In this case the user is running the GTX 1080 Ti at PCI-e 3.0 x2 !!!

I've seen so many reports in here that say "I've high end system GTX 1080 Ti but my fps is like 20 no matter how low settings. Other games run fine" and I've been suspecting it can be this same kind of issue.

Usual reason is that the GPU is installed in the wrong slot (so it's not on the top one) or there's some wrong setting in BIOS.

Example topics:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/228380/discussions/0/351660338709527509/

http://community.bugbeargames.com/index.php/topic,9003.msg87131.html#msg87131

[phoink]

Well Done - WF is a demanding game that can reveal these kinds of issues.

[Xheptor]

Thank you so much! Solved a mystery for me :)

[[DUSK] Devils Shadow]

This needs pinned!

[St. Jimmy]

Originally posted by Xheptor:

Thank you so much! Solved a mystery for me :)

Great! May I ask did you moved your GPU on top slot, was there some BIOS setup or was there a software problem?

[Wonderwrench]

Nice! But there is more to it than that. You need to run the render test to make sure power management is not lowering the PCIE link speed that would make it seem like link speed is a problem. See screen shots. Sux that the forum does not allow file uploads.
https://mega.nz/#!DKxXzDxL!YOQkTHLAh6nW3gRsgy0c9L7zlMNTVpO0IlvOKyp3UWo
https://mega.nz/#!fKpFxDzQ!MpRETbxavzzAXBkBcwgnIuFZQOKptg-6xh3UV1UAeXQ
https://mega.nz/#!vbgT1ZrQ!7hXqFME-XAzblWbxDRu6Fw03HxH_B-z2_zbzZepeKRY

[scotoman]

Thank you St. Jimmy. Mine was running at x1! Reseating the card has got it up to x4 and this makes the game run decently. Going to see if I can get it up to x16.

[St. Jimmy]

Originally posted by Wonderwrench:

Nice! But there is more to it than that. You need to run the render test to make sure power management is not lowering the PCIE link speed that would make it seem like link speed is a problem. See screen shots. Sux that the forum does not allow file uploads.
https://mega.nz/#!DKxXzDxL!YOQkTHLAh6nW3gRsgy0c9L7zlMNTVpO0IlvOKyp3UWo
https://mega.nz/#!fKpFxDzQ!MpRETbxavzzAXBkBcwgnIuFZQOKptg-6xh3UV1UAeXQ
https://mega.nz/#!vbgT1ZrQ!7hXqFME-XAzblWbxDRu6Fw03HxH_B-z2_zbzZepeKRY

OK good catch! Wondering if this could be that sometimes some power saving settings don't detect Wreckfest and run it at lower speed.

I'll add in the OP that check the bus interface when playing the game.

[trickeh2k]

This is the exact same issue I have actually. However, I've done just about everything at this point and my board still only runs it in x2 mode. Reseating the card sadly didn't do much, so at this point it's either down to the gpu having faulty connectors or bad vbios (unlikely, since the card has dual bios and both won't work), or, more likely, the board itself has bad pci-e slot.

[scotoman]

Putting my GPU in the 2nd slot has me up to x8 and even better performance. Maybe a faulty 1st slot then.

[St. Jimmy]

Originally posted by scotoman:

Putting my GPU in the 2nd slot has me up to x8 and even better performance. Maybe a faulty 1st slot then.

Hmmm I'm really starting to wonder is this some driver or BIOS fault or what. What motherboard you (and many other with the issue) have?

[scotoman]

I have an ASUS Maximus Hero VIII. I was two BIOS releases behind. I just updated that, cleaned the connector with compressed air and then pushed the card firmly back into slot 1 and now I'm up to x16 and over 120FPS on high settings. So thanks again!

[Wonderwrench]

Originally posted by St. Jimmy:

Originally posted by Wonderwrench:

Nice! But there is more to it than that. You need to run the render test to make sure power management is not lowering the PCIE link speed that would make it seem like link speed is a problem. See screen shots. Sux that the forum does not allow file uploads.
https://mega.nz/#!DKxXzDxL!YOQkTHLAh6nW3gRsgy0c9L7zlMNTVpO0IlvOKyp3UWo
https://mega.nz/#!fKpFxDzQ!MpRETbxavzzAXBkBcwgnIuFZQOKptg-6xh3UV1UAeXQ
https://mega.nz/#!vbgT1ZrQ!7hXqFME-XAzblWbxDRu6Fw03HxH_B-z2_zbzZepeKRY

OK good catch! Wondering if this could be that sometimes some power saving settings don't detect Wreckfest and run it at lower speed.

I'll add in the OP that check the bus interface when playing the game.

If you notice in my screen shots my system idles in PCIe 16x 3.0 @16x 1.1 mode what ever that means and PCIe 16x 3.0 @16x 3.0 mode with the render test running. BTW I do not have the low FPS problem. GTX 1070 Ti on a Z97 Intel chipset mother board in the PCIe 16x 3.0 slot. I had an idea. I went into power options/ change plan settings for the plan in use/ change advanced power settings/PCIE and changed the link speed power management to off. Was on moderate power savings because I run in balanced mode.( I know I should be using the High performance plan for a gaming rig but I have no problems doing so). I then rebooted and ran GPUZ. Link speed still says 16x 1.1 at idle. No joy, was worth a shot. Might work for others though so worth a try.

[b2007929]

So how to check at what bus speed your GPU is running? Dowload GPU-Z program.
Run the game and then run the GPU-Z. Check the GPU-Z while game is running and you should be able to see this:

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/456855352319934515/466970368565837824/unknown.png

This is not the default version of GPU-Z.

Please update the thread.

[👽H€L¡XX®]

I was under the impression that Windows was a Plug and Play system, and the bios would automatically recognize and configure the GPU at trhe correct connection speed.
Mine did.
GPU -Z verified.

But, great thread and good info for this those who need to know.

[lister fiend]

my psu died & whilst putting a new one in, thought my airflow would be better with gfx card in slot 2.
been like this for 5 long weeks.
after reading jimmy's post & out of desperation, put it back in slot 1 & hey presto it's all good again :)
i ♥♥♥♥♥ love you jimmy! :D