I need some help about a new GPU I bought.

My current system specs:

• CPU : AMD PHENOM II X6 1055T @ 2.8Ghz
• GPU : NVIDIA GTX 970 4GB
• RAM : CORSAIR XMS3 8GB
• MB : GIGABYTE 880GM-UD2H
• HDD : SEAGATE BARRACUDA 3TB
• OS : WINDOWS 7 64bit
• MONITOR : BENQ XL2420T 24" 120Hz
• PC CASE : NZXT PHANTOM ENTHUSIAST

I had a GTX 570 previously, but decided to get a GTX 970. The problem is that my system is running games worse now. Here's an example, Counter Strike Source (with GTX 570) would never drop below 300FPS, but with the GTX 970 it jumps up and down between 100FPS - 240FPS.

I also randomly get BSOD while playing The Witcher 3 and GTA V and my system reboots.

I don't know if this is useful information, but for CSS and TF2, my CPU useage is almost maxed while my GPU useage is around 30% - 50%.

Is the card compatible with your Motherboard ?

I'm moving this to Hardware discussion

The 570 can draw more power than the 970, so if you had no issues running the 570 then your PSU shouldn't be the culprit.

Just start from scratch.

1) Get the latest WHQL driver for the 970 (353.06) if you don't already have it. Next, uninstall the driver for your GPU with DDU. I would suggest doing so through Safe Mode, though you don't have to - it's just habitual on my part to do it while in Safe Mode.

2) Power the system down and reseat the GPU - make sure it's in the PCI-E slot all the way and double check the power cables are connected nice and tight.

3) Power the system back on and install the video driver and test things out.

Check for temperatures of both CPU and GPU, most likely your CPU started to overheat, it shouldn't run at 100%.

@PredatorRules:

My stats at the desktop are:

• CPU : 65c (58% utilisation)
• GPU : 43c (26% utilisation)

Playing Team Fortress 2:

• CPU : 68c (80% utilisation)
• GPU : 61c (40% utilisation)

Playing The Witcher 3:

• CPU : 68c (99% utilisation)
• GPU : 70c (99% utilisation)

Playing Counter Strike Source (With FPS drops to under 20):

• CPU : 69c (99% utilisation)
• GPU : 70c (99% utilisation)

@neatfeatguy:I've done a clean install of Windows 7 and I updated the drivers to (353.06).

Your cpu temp is too high, AMD cpu's shouldn't go past 60C after that they become unstable. Clean out the dust and make sure the cpu fan is working. But chances are that the thermal compound is dried up. You need to clean off the old and reapply new. Or buy an aftermarket cooler since you have to take it apart anyways.

From what I heard you shouldn't allow your CPU go beyond 65C.

Did a little research on my own and from guru3d review: "This is one other thing we really have to complement AMD on, the temperatures of the Phenom II X6 processors are just phenomenal. Even overclocked (over 4 GHz) we keep really acceptable temperatures below 45 Degrees C based on a 25 USD Heatpipe based CPU cooler."

Reapply thermal paste, make sure the cooler sits well on the CPU.

In addition to cooling your CPU down (my Phenom II X4 965BE never crosses 50c even overclocked with a CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Evo, which is not an expensive cooler), check if your MOBO bios is up-to-date to see if you are having trouble with GPU compatibility... I too am running an GTX970 on an older system, and my old MOBO (BIOSTAR A880GZ) wouldn't boot up with the 970. I went through the newest bios updates, and suddenly it would work. Funny enough, the newest bios update was from a long time ago, and the revision notes just listed something about compatibility with an older radeon card - yet clearly some facet of whatever they changed was also needed for the 970. Beats me, but it worked.

Cleaned out my case and put new thermal paste on CPU. My CPU never goes above 43c while in game, and my PC hasn't crashed so far + performance seems better.

Thanks all.

Hmmm, good suggestions! I also basically have the same setup, but I'll be buying the new GTX 970. I gotta reapply my thermal paste on mine as well.