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Intermittent massive GPU slow-down?
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2016 12:45 pm
by ttjph
Has anyone else experienced this?
Just recently, on occasion when I've launched TS and loaded a scenario, I've found that it's chugging along at 3-6 fps (totally unplayable) with the GPU usage at 100%. (Normally the GPU is good for about 30 fps before it saturates.)
Rebooting and starting again invariably seems to fix it.
I'm not sure what's changed: it could be the recent TS update; it could have been a new video driver (will check what I currently have tonight - Windoze 10 has a nasty habit of updating without telling me); it could even be when the PC has been used for playing a different game last, or a different Steam login (my wife's been playing Bioshock Infinite of late). I've just discovered Steam's command line switches to load using a specified user - perhaps it could even be related to that?
Nvidia GTX 580.
Thanks!
Re: Intermittent massive GPU slow-down?
Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2016 12:58 am
by blade2014
ttjph wrote:Has anyone else experienced this?
Just recently, on occasion when I've launched TS and loaded a scenario, I've found that it's chugging along at 3-6 fps (totally unplayable) with the GPU usage at 100%. (Normally the GPU is good for about 30 fps before it saturates.)
Rebooting and starting again invariably seems to fix it.
I'm not sure what's changed: it could be the recent TS update; it could have been a new video driver (will check what I currently have tonight - Windoze 10 has a nasty habit of updating without telling me); it could even be when the PC has been used for playing a different game last, or a different Steam login (my wife's been playing Bioshock Infinite of late). I've just discovered Steam's command line switches to load using a specified user - perhaps it could even be related to that?
Nvidia GTX 580.
Thanks!
GPU usage at 100% load task manager and see what programs are runing make sure ts is in window mode
Re: Intermittent massive GPU slow-down?
Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2016 3:08 pm
by RichDawson
ttjph wrote:Has anyone else experienced this?
Just recently, on occasion when I've launched TS and loaded a scenario, I've found that it's chugging along at 3-6 fps (totally unplayable) with the GPU usage at 100%. (Normally the GPU is good for about 30 fps before it saturates.)
Rebooting and starting again invariably seems to fix it.
I'm not sure what's changed: it could be the recent TS update; it could have been a new video driver (will check what I currently have tonight - Windoze 10 has a nasty habit of updating without telling me); it could even be when the PC has been used for playing a different game last, or a different Steam login (my wife's been playing Bioshock Infinite of late). I've just discovered Steam's command line switches to load using a specified user - perhaps it could even be related to that?
Nvidia GTX 580.
Thanks!
Yes, I've had exactly the same experience over the last few weeks or so. I've tried updating\rolling back the graphics card drivers, updating various drivers and even checking my hard drives for faults...all to no avail. I've read on other forums the same thing happening to other users with different games\simulators.
I think I may have found the issue. What I think is causing the issue is Microsoft Security Essentials constantly scanning my PC and taking up CPU usage. I've told MSE to exclude my Steam folder from the scans and reduced it's CPU level right down to 10%. The interesting thing is I'm still on Windows 7, so I can't be certain that this is the cause of your issue but my FPS has definitely increased to a playable level now.
Re: Intermittent massive GPU slow-down?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 1:03 pm
by ttjph
But it's my GPU loading up, not the CPU...
(No MSE on my system AFAIK - I'm on Windoze 10 with AVG Free.)
Re: Intermittent massive GPU slow-down?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 2:02 pm
by TransportSteve
My Dad now has Windows Defender, which WAS Microsoft Security Essentials, and it's built-in to WIN10, have a look for it, ttjph, you never know what you might uncover in this new OS.
Cheerz. Transport Steve.
Re: Intermittent massive GPU slow-down?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 2:20 pm
by ashgray
ttjph wrote:But it's my GPU loading up, not the CPU...
(No MSE on my system AFAIK - I'm on Windoze 10 with AVG Free.)
Hi
Just a thought - if your graphics card has its own dedicated fan, just check to make sure it's not blocked up with dust. Every so often, this happens with mine and I have to remove the card and give the fan a good clean before my system will behave normally.
Ash
Re: Intermittent massive GPU slow-down?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 3:58 pm
by gptech
TransportSteve wrote:My Dad now has Windows Defender, which WAS Microsoft Security Essentials
Not exactly Steve; MSE and Defender are two separate products, but starting with Windows 8 Defender was built in rather than being an optional add-on. MSE will not run on Win 8 onwards.
Defender is, or at least was, a little reluctant to stay turned off in Windows 10 if you want to use an alternative:
http://www.ghacks.net/2015/10/25/how-to ... rmanently/
Re: Intermittent massive GPU slow-down?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 8:16 pm
by TransportSteve
Yes, my apologies, I should have typed - My Dad now has Windows Defender, and it's built-in to WIN10, which REPLACED Microsoft Security Essentials, after WIN 8.
Cheerz. Steve.
Re: Intermittent massive GPU slow-down?
Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 10:04 pm
by peterfhayes
Gary
You can now set windows Defender (Win 10 AU) to run alongside your third party AV/MW package -its called "periodic scanning" and seems to work very well.
So it still may be useful.
pH
Re: Intermittent massive GPU slow-down?
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 12:55 pm
by ttjph
ashgray wrote:ttjph wrote:But it's my GPU loading up, not the CPU...
(No MSE on my system AFAIK - I'm on Windoze 10 with AVG Free.)
Hi
Just a thought - if your graphics card has its own dedicated fan, just check to make sure it's not blocked up with dust. Every so often, this happens with mine and I have to remove the card and give the fan a good clean before my system will behave normally.
Ash
Thanks Ash - temps are fine though; I watch them pretty closely

Re: Intermittent massive GPU slow-down?
Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 8:10 pm
by Trev123
Your graphics card could be on the way out. They don't last forever. I had a GTX 560TI stop working. Before it stopped I was getting lots of messages, Nvidia display driver has stopped working and well recover. One day it didn't recover and the card stopped working.