Strange performance degradation on 5080

[GrimReaper801]

So I finally managed to get my hands on a 5080 before they sold out.

I figured I'd finally try CP2077 with PT on since my 3080ti couldn't handle it and I'm running into the strangest issue. Game starts fine, I go through the Dorset rescue just fine, solid performance maxed out at 4k. Go back to the apartment, sleep, wake up do the side objectives and then..... I open the door and performance TANKS. Goes from 110+ FPS to lows 30s in a second and never goes back up.

I only upgraded my GPU since I'm switching to AMD for the first time (cause F Intel for hiding a major defect for two gens) and still looking into their CPUs options. In other words I'm still running my 12900k that was getting me a constant 80-90 with my 3080ti.

I already ruled out faulty hardware. Everything is fine on any game I throw at this. Today's Clair Obscur, FF7 rebirth, I got a month of gamepass just to try Indianna Jones since it's notoriously demanding on the GPU, MH: Wilds, got a month of Ubi+ for AC: Shadows and more. You name it, it plays perfectly while maxed out.

I also used various software to stress test my GPU, RAM and CPU. Everything is always perfect.

Only CP2077 is having issues.

I have tried everything I can think of. Even those that are typically only associated with crashes, not performance.

I tried every version of my GPU's drivers going back to it's release. Cleaning them out thoroughly using DDU in safe mode everytime I rolledback/updated them.

The latest Windows update had some issues with very specific games but I figured I might as well try rolling back to a previous update. No dice.

Temperatures are fine throughout. CPU stays in the in 50s, GPU stays in the 60s. No throttling.

Re-installed the C++ redistributable.

Overlays, gone.

XMP, disabled.

Various clean installs. No mods installed. As vanilla as it gets.

With each clean install, I started a new character. Same problem every single time. Monitoring during gameplay shows hardware is being used as it should and remains the same even when performance tanks.

I looked at every setting in-game, nvidia pannel and Windows.... There is just no reason to what I'm seeing.

So I'm trying here. Wondering if anyone else experienced this or something along those lines and, hopefully, found a solution.

I'll reach out to CDPR next but I don't hold much hope on that front since it seems this is VERY specific to my system. Then I'll nuke the whole PC, re-install everything and hope for the best I guess.

Of course, I am open to any suggestion as nuking is time consuming.

 

[jacklk85]

Yeah I've got similar issues. Will be running fine for a while and then the FPS crashes, seems most noticeable when driving. I think it's something to
do with the latest patches because the game used to run buttery smooth for me.

I'm not tech savvy enough to give any solutions but please let me know if you find one. I've also tried disabling overlays and updating drivers.

 

[GrimReaper801]

Yeah I've got similar issues. Will be running fine for a while and then the FPS crashes, seems most noticeable when driving. I think it's something to
do with the latest patches because the game used to run buttery smooth for me.

I'm not tech savvy enough to give any solutions but please let me know if you find one. I've also tried disabling overlays and updating drivers.

Our two situations are vastly different.

Firstly, yours happens over time and, from what I understand, seemingly randomly. Whereas mine happens at the exact same spot regardless of playtime.

Secondly, my issue didn't start until I changed my hardware. Which is indicative of a problem on my end.

What you are describing sounds much more like a typical memory leak. Many others have had issues similar to yours since release. I've personally never played long enough sessions to experience it.

I took a brief look at your posts since you only have 14 and I see you never made a detailed post about your issue. I would suggest doing so, you may get some help in identifying the issue more specifically. Which may help lead to a solution if one exists.

But please do so in your own thread as I'd rather not hijack my own thread further than this.

 

[SigilFey]

XMP, disabled.

I'd switch that back on. It only affects system RAM. Disabling it may actually be exacerbating the GPU issue.

In general, I've been seeing a rash of this sort of thing over several titles (Stalker 2, Oblivion Remaster, Star Citizen, etc.) I'm not really sure where the problem lies at it source, but I'd put chips on it being something that's changed on either Windows OS, DirectX, or some other API. Seems weird that 5000 series cards are the ones mostly reporting sudden loss of performance in one fashion or another over such disparate titles.

Another thing to possibly try -- disable any and all CPU "boost" tech in BIOS. XMP seems to work just fine if the RAM is configured properly, but the constant shifting of CPU voltage and clock speeds through these boost, overdrive, dynamic overclock, whatever things are just...strange. And all for probably a handful of extra FPS at the most.

 

[GrimReaper801]

I'd switch that back on. It only affects system RAM. Disabling it may actually be exacerbating the GPU issue.

Already did that. I failed to mention it in my original post but every thing I turned off, has been turned back on at various points to cover a wider amount of configurations.

In general, I've been seeing a rash of this sort of thing over several titles (Stalker 2, Oblivion Remaster, Star Citizen, etc.) I'm not really sure where the problem lies at it source, but I'd put chips on it being something that's changed on either Windows OS, DirectX, or some other API. Seems weird that 5000 series cards are the ones mostly reporting sudden loss of performance in one fashion or another over such disparate titles.

Another thing to possibly try -- disable any and all CPU "boost" tech in BIOS. XMP seems to work just fine if the RAM is configured properly, but the constant shifting of CPU voltage and clock speeds through these boost, overdrive, dynamic overclock, whatever things are just...strange. And all for probably a handful of extra FPS at the most.

I was monitoring my CPU/GPU/RAM throughout every time I reproduced the issue. It wasn't boosting. That's the weirdest part of all of this IMO. Usage remained steady, and normal, throughout.

With that said, if anyone else experiences something similar (however unlikely it is since this was clearly specific to my system config) I nuked the whole PC over the weekend. Re-installed everything, started a new game and got to the same point. Went smoothly. No drop whatsoever. Went to Vik, drove around for a while. Seems "fixed".

"Fixed" because I have no clue what was happening or why so I can't really claim I fixed anything. There was just something not playing nice between my system, my 5080 and CP2077 specifically since every other game works like a charm.

All of that trouble and I can't think of playing anything else than Clair Obscur right now. Oh well, it'll be fixed for when I eventually go back.

 

[northwold]

Something really weird has been happening with nvidia's recent driver updates (or direct x) as @sigilfey says, across all sorts of games. It's getting really difficult to understand what is going on and from what source. I'm on a 4000 series.