Running great, now running very poorly? PLEASE HELP

[iidk4me 10]

So literally 2 days ago I built a new custom computer so that I was able to comfortably play Arma 3. The night I got the computer I installed arma 3 and it was running AMAZING on my 32in LED TV with atleast 30 or more frames on high/very high. The next morning I had a bunch of windows updates, and I also had to reapply some more thermal paste to my processor. I tried playing arma 3 later that day and the frames were horrible. They stay at 5-30 and constantly jump back and forth. These frames stayed the same whether I was on Low, Standard, High, Very High, or Ultra. I system restored to see if it was the windows updates but it wasnt. I also tried playing on a small 19in screen and the frames were exactlly the same. It doesn't matter if I'm in multi, single, or even the editor with nothing spawned. Along with these frames is also constant stuttering of the gameplay every couple seconds. I know it's not my computer because I can play shogun 2 on high/ultra with no problem. Anyone have any suggestions? My system specs are:

i7-4770K 3.5 GHz

GTX 770

16 GB RAM

750W Power Supply

[Tyl3r99 41]

hmmmmm as soon as i saw "you applied more thermal paste" that made me think.

are you sure you used the correct ammount?

if not the CPU can get quite hot and this could be the cause?

make sure all of your GPU drivers are up to date.

sounds like the thermal paste or your drivers are missing an update.

could you comment why you had to use more thermal paste?

didnt you do it right the first time?

what cooling method are you using? fan or liquid.

[iidk4me 10]

I applied the correct amount. If anything a tad bit too much but that's if anything. My GPU drivers are all up to date. I had to apply more thermal paste because when I picked up the heatsink while putting it together, I accidently touched the stuff that was on there and I wanted to be safe. I'm using fan. But what I don't understand is why would it run the first night awesome and the next day like shit? I just don't get it.

[Furret 0]

The game might have defaulted to using your CPUs integrated GPU instead of your 770. See if you can disable the integrated GPU in your BIOS.

[iidk4me 10]

Do I have an integrated GPU with my processor or something? I didn't think I had one. I'll check it out once I get off of work and give it a try.

[iidk4me 10]

Also I don't know if it helps but even in the main menu my frames jump around. Like if I sit in the menu on the high setting the frames go up and down from 5-40 constantly.

[chrisb 196]

Is the bad fps in both sp/mp, also are you online most of the time even when playing sp, i.e. always online ?

What type of mouse you using ?

Are you allowing anti-virus to run during sp/offline ?

Have you tried other games, after you re-did part of the paste, or just A3 ?

[jiltedjock 10]

Do I have an integrated GPU with my processor or something? I didn't think I had one. I'll check it out once I get off of work and give it a try.

Yes you do. When you had it apart to re-apply the thermal paste, could you have plugged your HDMI back into the wrong port? ie not into your GTX 770

Edit: if Shogun is still ok this is very unlikely.

Is your Arma install on the same disk as Shogun ?

Have you updated your Nvidia drivers recently? Although the process is painless these days and can be done without using safe mode etc etc, sometimes it can go wrong. This happened to me with a new 680, the only way to resolve it was to revert to onboard video, use a driver cleaner to wipe Nvidia drivers, re-install. I was experiencing everything from widely oscillating FPS to complete system lock ups.

Edited August 1, 2013 by jiltedjock

[Furret 0]

Also I don't know if it helps but even in the main menu my frames jump around. Like if I sit in the menu on the high setting the frames go up and down from 5-40 constantly.

That could indicate throttling related to thermal issues. Are you sure the GPU isn't overheating?

Edit:

Or overzealous antivirus/firewall software.

Edited August 2, 2013 by Furret

[Booyaah 10]

Yeah I've been having a few random problems as well, not as bad as yours though.

[Ezcoo 47]

Are you using the default fan that came with the i7-4770k? There have been reports by trustable sites that i7-4770k might reach potentially dangerous temps with the default cooler when the CPU is stressed (up to 100°C!), thus causing the CPU to throttle and damage it in long run.

Arma 2 made the CPU of my previous, old and crappy build, to heat up to 102°C, and made it throttle. That resulted in same kind of behaviour like you describe, FPS going up and down like crazy.

I'm almost sure that your CPU is overheating. Get a program that monitors and records the temps of the parts of PC (and records them into plot that you can view afterwards). Eg. OpenHardwareMonitor or CPU-Z. The temps shouldn't go over 80°C, especially because your CPU is not overclocked.