Thread: BF3, Overclocking and Frames Per Second.

I’ve come to the conclusion that my am2+ Phenom II 940 BE, overclocked to 3.4ghz, is bottlenecking my ATI HD 6970 2gb. I prefer to play BF3 around 60 fps; any thing below 45 fps seems unplayable to me. My BF3 video settings are set on medium to achieve 60 fps range. I was sure my 6970 could handle high settings at 60 fps.

I started by investigating my CPU and GPU usage while playing BF3 on medium video settings. BF3 pushed my CPU while in game to 92-98% usage and my GPU to 65-75% usage only. Also like to add, ram usage remains at or below 3.0gb.

Now I have a choice upgrade my CPU, motherboard and ram at the minimum or push my current CPU higher. I chose to overclock my CPU to 3.6ghz. Previously I have only OC’ed my CPU through CCC to 3.4ghz. CCC could not take it any higher, so I tried through my bois. My bois on the motherboard was less than adequate for OC’ing. I choose AOD software from AMD. AOD met all my needs to take my CPU to 3.6ghz.

Upped my video setting to high, CPU usage creeps down abit to 90-96% and my GPU usage raises to 80-90%. Frame rates at high settings fall slightly below my expected range of around 60 fps.

In conclusion, hoping to raise my fps by adjusting my video settings or OC’ing my CPU to 3.7ghz. CPU temps maxes out at 55 degree C and my GPU stays around 70 degree C during 1 hour stress test (OCCT).

Specs:
Phenom II 940 BE 3.6ghz OC’ed with after market cooler.
4gb Gskill 800mhz
Sapphire HD 6970 2gb
PC Power Cooling 650 watts

I’d like to hear what other players are getting for frames per second and experience.

BL

I clocked my CPU to 3.7ghz, but is unstable after 10 minutes of testing with OCCT. Tried 3.7ghz out in BF3, results were my CPU usage dropped to 87-92% and noticed slightly higher GPU 87-96% usage. Frame rates readily above 60 fps.

My CPU overclocked better matches my GPU.

BL

P.S.
I am no expert on overclocking by any means and understand that I could be damaging my hardware. I took care in researching my CPU max's and limit's, before i started.

It sounds like you are nearing your max on BF3 with that hardware. CPU and GPU around 90-95%.

I'm not sure what fps I get but I'm running everything on ultra settings with an i7-950, 24 gig ram, and a 570GTX. It's smooth, but I can get actual fps if you really want them.

Even if you did get it stable. you are not going to notice any difference between 3.4 and 3.6. Maybe 1-2 framrate better. But you will not see the gains you are expecting. I have a i7 920 that I have OC'ed from 2.6 to 3.8 and I saw 5-6 better. I get aound 80-120 with duel 5870, which is your 6970. You might want to turn a little candy off. Motion blur - off and a few others i have turned off that I never noticed any better of a picture with them on but slows the system when they are on.

I've come to the realization that my Athlon II 945BE is the limiting factor in my rig as well. I'm likely to invest in a i7-2500k and motherboard here soon.

Psst.. WileE... 2500k is an i5. 2600k is an i7.

My rig:
i5 2500k @ stock speeds
ATI 6950 2 gb
8 gb Ram


In BF3, I have all settings on high, AF at 8x, no motion blur (because I hate it), no AO, and no MSAA.

I never dropped below 60 fps while I had the counter on. All I can really say, as I didn't leave the FPS counter on for very long. I'll leave it on for now on and report back.

Though to be honest, I would much prefer MSAA over the post process AA, but it hurts my fps too much. I am definitely GPU bound.

Originally Posted by Kanati8869

Psst.. WileE... 2500k is an i5. 2600k is an i7.

I meant the 2600k. If I'm upgrading, it'll be to an i7. $279.99 at Microcenter. Not a bad deal.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by REMY

Even if you did get it stable. you are not going to notice any difference between 3.4 and 3.6. Maybe 1-2 framrate better. But you will not see the gains you are expecting. I have a i7 920 that I have OC'ed from 2.6 to 3.8 and I saw 5-6 better. I get aound 80-120 with duel 5870, which is your 6970. You might want to turn a little candy off. Motion blur - off and a few others i have turned off that I never noticed any better of a picture with them on but slows the system when they are on.

From 3.4 to 3.6, I saw the largest increase in my GPU usage on High settings, because my CPU wasn't holding back my GPU anymore From 3.6 to 3.7, I saw a drop in CPU and little difference in GPU usage on high settings.

AMD AOD software is flexible, I can create a profile to OC my CPU when BF3 is launched. It will detect bf3.exe and adjust my CPU voltage's and multiplier's. When BF3 closes AMD AOD will adjust them all back to default.

I have had little time in a full server or experienced all the maps to evaluate my OC yet.

BL

Hopefully you got a nice SSD to compliment that. That's a steal for the i7 though!