It sounds like a problem with drivers more then cpu.
Check all your drivers and make sure you don't have any nvidia drivers interfering.
with my 460 I get constant 300 fps in css (300 is my cap)

 

I've never installed any nVidia drivers on this PC so I really don't think that is the problem. Where would I find them incase there were any?

 

I'd use driver sweeper I'm pretty sure it automatically updates your ati drivers as well

 

An Athlon X3 445 should be more than enough for an HD6850, I'd be confident to stay it is not a bottleneck issue, but more like a driver problem.

I'd try uninstalling your current drivers via the Control Panel, then boot the PC in Safe Mode (F8) to run Driver Sweeper and clean all ATI drivers.

Once that is done, restart, and install these;

http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/AMDCatalyst115ahotfix.aspx

Once you're done installing and restarted the computer, try gaming again, and report back to this thread to tell us if it's any better.

 

Ok, i used it and no other nVidia drivers were on the PC, just my ATI drivers. The games still run the same.

EDIT: I will try what kcuestag said

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manooloo Ok, i used it and no other nVidia drivers were on the PC, just my ATI drivers. The games still run the same.

Are you on the 11.5a Hotfix now?

 

Hmm is the graphics card in the top pci express slot? The bottom one is only x4 speed.
If not move it to the top slot and should be good

 

Run down:

1. Check if the GPU is on the top PCI Slot, closet to the CPU

2. Check for bad drivers

3. Uninstall all of your graphic card drivers and reinstall them

4. Check to see if there is any programs running in the background when you are gaming

5. Make sure there is no Antivirus scanning, that goes hand and hand with 4. hat includes protection software with it that scans files in real time.

6. Make sure your computer is on High Performance mode in the Power Settings. You can find it in the Control Panel, it's a big green battery icon.

7. Do some cleaning, sometimes junk builds up in the computer and causes file access to be slow.

Download CCleaner [Download Page]

Download Auslogics' Defrag [Download Page]

Run the file cleaner and the registry cleaner in CCleaner and check start up items and disable ones you know you don't need. The start up items are in the Tools tab.

Run Auslogics and check the settings before you run it.

Set defrag priority to High (option in the SETTINGS DROPDOWN Menu)

Go to the PROGRAM SETTINGS in the SETTINGS Dropdown menu

Go to the Algorithm tab. Everything should be check marked, if not, check them. Set the fragment sizes to 100MB instead of 10MB.

8. Make sure you're not using ReadyBoost USB's. I've tried, they make FPS worse in games, at least for me it did.

9. Your motherboard is a 870 AMD chipset, have you considered using AMD's Overdrive and doing a small overclock on your CPU if you're worried it's a bottle neck?

Those are tips from everyone in this thread and many from my personal experience from trying to squeeze as much FPS out of TF2 as I can on my poor pc

 

I did what you said and the same thing still occurs in Black Ops and CS:S.
And yes I am using the 11.5a hotfix. GTA IV used to run perfectly for me but it now lags like a piece of ****. Should i revert back to older drivers?

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manooloo I did what you said and the same thing still occurs in Black Ops and CS:S. And yes I am using the 11.5a hotfix. GTA IV used to run perfectly for me but it now lags like a piece of ****. Should i revert back to older drivers?

Have you looked at my post?

(I'm assuming you haven't yet since it was only 15 mins ago)

 

I deleted the drivers and am going to restart the PC and install them again, but after my Defrag completes. I am using the top PCI slot. My antivirus is not scanning or anything in the background. I do not run any other programs in the background apart from Steam. I always have my PC on Hih Power mode. Have't got a clue what Readyboost is. Will it be OK to apply a small overclock with the Stock Cooler?

 

You could do a small OC but keep a eye on your temps.

 

No difference at all after performing those steps. Anyway, i plan on upgrading soon so hopefully these problems won't continue

 

I can definitely assure you THAT is not a bottleneck. -.-

 

While I don't think you are running into a bottleneck(something is wrong with your system), an Athlon II x3 can easily limit a 6850/460, without question. Both my 460 and 6850 were horrible on my 3.5Ghz x3.

Did Black ops ever run good on it? I didn't try it on my old x3 because I got the game after replacing it with an x4. The x4 ran it ok.

 

I'm pretty sure it was never as bad as it is now.

 

Try deleting the config file. Had that problem.

If all else fails, try a system restore or format.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horsemama1956 Try deleting the config file. Had that problem. If all else fails, try a system restore or format.

^Try to format once or twice a year maybe. Invest in a backup drive.

 

The game seems to be running much better since i maxed out every setting. I qas running at lower settings and the frames were much lower, around 80FPS which constantly dropped to 30.
Now i get 90FPS which, when in a lot of action drops to 50FPs. Is this normal for a game to perform better when the settings are maxed out?

NVM, the frames seemed to have dropped again, down to 30-50

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manooloo The game seems to be running much better since i maxed out every setting. I qas running at lower settings and the frames were much lower, around 80FPS which constantly dropped to 30. Now i get 90FPS which, when in a lot of action drops to 50FPs. Is this normal for a game to perform better when the settings are maxed out? NVM, the frames seemed to have dropped again, down to 30-50

I think that you may have settings enabled that you shouldn't or maybe worst your hardware could be damaged or aging which is unlikely.

have you messed with the voltages?

 

Nope, never messed with anything other than in-game settings.