New System Frame drops?

[5yn7h371c]

System Specs:

Mobo: Asus Sabertooth x58
CPU: Intel Core i7 950 3.07GHz
RAM: G-Skill 12GB
GFX: Sapphire Radeon HD 6950
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64

I recently built this pc as my new gaming rig. I ran it through Mard3D and got a score of P4791. I had no problems at first running all of my games (Dirt 2, Starcraft 2, Dead Space 2, Dragon Age: Origins) on the highest settings.

Suddenly, I noticed FPS drops in Dirt 2, so I ran the benchmark test on Dirt 2 and was only getting a max of 31 FPS.

Can anybody explain why this is happening?

 

[MindoverMaster]

Try lowering your settings? That RAM is overkill, btw. Could be a heating issue...

 

[5yn7h371c]

But it ran smoothly before on Ultra and the case I'm using has 2 140mm fans in the front, a 80mm in the back, a 230mm on top and one on the side.

 

[bentobaku]

I guess start with the basics... Did you update your gfx drivers? how is your temps? Does your psu have enough power? is your gfx cards power connected? is the fan working on your gfx card?

 

[5yn7h371c]

Yes. 1000W PSU. Yes. Yes.

I'm not sure on the temps.

 

[MindoverMaster]

Get HWMonitor, run it while you play your game, show us a screenshot of it after 30 minutes or so of playing. That will tell us the max and min temps.

 

[Digerati]

I'm using has 2 140mm fans in the front, a 80mm in the back, a 230mm on top and one on the side.

You still have to make sure there is no heat trapping blanket of dust on the inside.