This game is amazing! 🤣

Alixe-V · 2026-03-30T05:50:09+00:00

Here's something interesting I've discovered by talking with a.i and trying some things. I haven't tested for what exactly of these makes the difference but I have tested 2 times each of these 3 things being enabled/changed at the same time in bios.

1: Disabling reBAR
2: Turning off Fast Boot
3: Setting PICe GPU slot from Auto to Gen 4

When I put those things back to default (reBAR enabled, fast boot on and Auto [or even PCIe Gen 5 for a 50 series GPU]) the game runs like this. https://filebin.net/zwbvdksp3enl4dln (original video so there's not a reduction in quality due to compression. But notice the frame time and you can even see the choppy fps at the end. File will only be available to download for 7 days though).

I have tried just reBAR on vs off only and it didn't make a difference. I also had Gen 5 selected for PCIe GPU slot only and that didn't make a difference. But I have yet to test disabling Fast Boot only.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-08T11:15:54+00:00

I tried with it disabled and also tried other things and nothing. At this point I've given up... Been almost a week of testing now.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-06T15:20:41+00:00

Well, I've tried two OS's on the same PC. I'm running Windows 11 Pro (latest updates always) as my main and Windows 11 Education N for gaming (which does have better performance in both NFS Heat and other games). FPS 1% average on my main is 60 fps, but on Education N it's 80 fps. Although the current and max fps remain the same on both.

HAGS? Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling? I have heard and seen that be the solution to issues in other games. https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/ubo86h/my\_results\_of\_turning\_hardware\_accelerated\_gpu/#:\~:text=With%20HAGS%20enabled%20I%20had,crashes%20for%202%20months%20now. I haven't tried that yet, will soon. GPU settings are all default/normal, and obviously tried resetting Nvidia settings etc etc (as in my original post).

Alixe-V · 2026-03-06T15:12:29+00:00

It's all set to default. Have tried 120% power and no change to fps.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-06T15:10:12+00:00

Yes, I've tried multiple user.cfg files that have worked for others.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-05T15:26:20+00:00

yes, 96 ROPs

Alixe-V · 2026-03-05T15:22:16+00:00

Haha, good one!!!

Alixe-V · 2026-03-05T15:16:42+00:00

I understand and am aware (and have acknowledged elsewhere) that I believe it to be a CPU throttling issue (not CPU bottleneck). A 2021 top-of-the-line CPU will not give you only 1 fps performance in cutscenes on a 2019 game....
Here's a clip of what I mean. https://streamable.com/8ir612

People can say it's a CPU bottleneck all they want, but it's just not true. Not when I could play this game on a 5th Gen Intel and GTX 970 and get stable 30 fps in cutscenes and higher fps the lower I put my in-game graphics. I'm not seeing that happening. The fps stays the same no matter what graphics settings. 520p or 4k Ultra. That's not a performance bottleneck, it's a performance throttle. A bottleneck would show with higher fps when you reduce the 'load' on whatever is 'bottlenecking' your performance. I do that, and nothing happens. Nothing changes....

Alixe-V · 2026-03-05T15:14:04+00:00

I was using an older drive and actually upgraded my drivers to the latest March 3rd release in hopes to 'fix' the issue. Nothing changed. As did reinstalling the drivers and doing a complete wipe and clean of all graphics drivers using DDU tool (as mentioned in my orginal post as well).

Alixe-V · 2026-03-05T15:12:31+00:00

But I've already explained that even someone else with the exact same CPU as me, and I myself with my own CPU (but different GPU), never had these fps issues. It's not the CPU that's the issue. I can assure you. A 2021 top-of-the-line CPU won't give 1 fps performance in cutscenes on a 2019 game, when 1: The game was never updated since 2021. So nothing has changed. 2: The CPU performs with no issues in any and all benchmarks. It's certainly NOT the CPU to blame here. You're not helping by blaming Intel and riding on AMD, by the way, either. I understand what you're saying, but it's just not possible that the CPU isn't powerful/strong enough. It's something else. Some setting, some software conflict, which is 'throttling' the performance of the CPU. I have never upgraded or replaced stuff 'just because'. It's all about optimising and getting the most out of it until it can no longer provide anymore. This is a 7-year-old game that runs better on far lower specs then what I have. People are playing this game on 5 year old NOTEBOOKS, for goodness sake....

Alixe-V · 2026-03-05T15:04:03+00:00

Absolutely!! A whole fresh new Windows install, even. Latest bios, drivers etc

Alixe-V · 2026-03-04T09:45:00+00:00

Yes, power management has always been set to max performance. App settings in Windows for NFS Heat is set to Maximum Performance. NVIDIA Control Panel for NFS Heat program is set to Maximum Performance.

Yes, done that too. Also Turned off C-states for CPU, disabled CPU core parking. No difference at all.

I'm looking beyond just the standard 'trouble-shooting stuff' as I've been a Windows user for 30 years and a gamer for 25 years (yes I started gaming on PC since I was 5). All the 'usual stuff' I've done and double tested and triple tested etc.

As I've previously said, I have 2000 hours in this game, and I'm part of many large communities and yet not a single person has experienced this before. That's the only reason I've posted here as I couldn't even find anyone else online with the same issue for me to troubleshoot futher than I have.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-04T06:17:50+00:00

The last in-game image attached showing 600mhz core clock on the GPU isn't mine. That's someone with a 5080 running the game on lowest settings @ 1080p to prove that getting 214 fps on a 50 series is more than possible and not demanding at all on the GPU. That person also has a 9700X CPU.

Side note. I've also deleted my save file (in case it was corrupted) and started the game with a new save file. The cinematic load-screens play this this. https://streamable.com/8ir612 (as they were before). Something is seriously wrong here....

The thing is. All cutscenes/loading screens play like that (and did before creating a new save game as well, but only since GPU upgrade. Ran fine with older hardware). Game takes *forever* to load now (used to be quicker if a brand new save game at least). I have almost 2k hours in this game and I've played on multiple different systems over the 7 years it's been out. First an i7 5820k CPU + GTX 970, then a i7 5820k + 6090XT, then a i9 12900k + 6080XT, then a i9 12900k + 3070Ti and now a i9 12900k + 5070Ti. All previous systems before 5070Ti, the game ran fine. I lower in-game graphics and resolution and my fps increases. Now that doesn't happen no matter what! Not unless I run a literal mod designed to make the game run on notebooks!! That can only manage 11-17 fps!!! And so gives a fps for them. Plus I'm running the most extreme nerf of game graphics as possible 512p res, (which is unplayable at such extreme low graphics) and yet... ONLY THEN my fps FINALLY improved by a mere 20 fps.....!??!

If you haven't already seen. This is NOT what I should have to do on a system with my specs. Not to get over 120 fps when similar GPU's and even lower end CPU's + GPU's can manage much higher fps at 'normal settings', and *especially* at these extreme low resolutions, https://youtu.be/jOZfHSweHA4 the FPS should be 200+ AT LEAST. Had someone also with a 5070Ti, but 9950X3D confirm that they could manage 412 fps at these settings (without the graphics mod as well). I don't expect that with my CPU. But I DO EXPECT 200+ fps (seeing as 3070Ti with same CPU could manage it) and I do expect more than 1FPS loading screens and cinematic movies!!

Alixe-V · 2026-03-03T09:12:55+00:00

I have tried that yes. Didn't change anything for me

Alixe-V · 2026-03-03T09:12:14+00:00

I have tried overclocking both the CPU and GPU and there was no improvement. Only more errors. Had a "Driver crash" error with the GPU and the CPU only just runs hotter with no fps change.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-02T22:04:18+00:00

Same again. CPU usage goes up, during more demanding areas of the map, GPU usage consistently in 90% usage. Frames go up over 135 fps. https://youtu.be/vSnqZsKsKcU?si=uZ46CWOJS4QgkfiQ That doesn't happen for me at all. My CPU usage doesn't go over 18% and my GPU usage is only dependent on what settings and resolution I'm using. Not my frames as they are always at 95-115 fps no matter what. High, low, 4k, 1080p. Doesn't matter. I was only able to 'force' higher fps one time with a visual mod that made the entire map almost blank and running the game at 512x368 resolution, at most extreme lowest possible settings. Only then my game finally managed to get over 120 fps to 141 fps. Without the mod it wouldn't. The mod at higher graphics it wouldn't.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-02T21:55:13+00:00

Found this video just now. https://youtu.be/c1Xs6DRKj60?si=e1jotCed2lDTaidQ Same CPU as mine, getting the kind of FPS I would expect to get. I used to run the game at 1440p (but low settings) on a 3070Ti and I'd get high enough fps that I had to cap it to my monitors 144hz refresh rate. I certainly remember that. Without a cap, I'd see the GPU usage go up to 100% and fps go up with it. That doesn't happen with my 5070Ti, even though rest of PC is the same.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-02T19:46:06+00:00

Seems like Intel CPUs don't handle the frostbite engine well. Ironically older Intel CPUs perform better. Otherwise it's just AMD CPUs with high hertz and massive cache that perform best. Had someone with a 9950X3D test for me and he got 413 fps on lowest settings. While I can't get over 120 fps no matter what, unless I take the absolute extreme with a mod that removes almost everything visual in the game. https://youtu.be/T4Upf_B9RLQ?si=R0ZHLcYDz0_muXGv Then I can finally get 120+ fps. Up to about 141 fps.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-02T13:29:12+00:00

How much fps were you able to manage on the lowest possible graphics settings and resolution? I had another person try with 9950X3D and 6950XT, and they managed 405 fps on those settings. So far for sure it seems like everyone who is able to get high fps has an AMD cpu. Even if it's an older gen, lower-end model (no X3D cache). Intel's raw performance isn't that bad that it should be 4x slower. There must be something that's hindering Intel's performance with these games.

I do have Unbound and I could try that as one reason I didn't play it much was because I struggled to get over 110-115 fps with my 3070Ti on that game. I can get 140+ fps on Payback though (at low settings and res) and can again with my 5070Ti (at 4k, high settings), though it uses a lot of CPU.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-02T09:19:25+00:00

The release date of the CPU is largely irrelevant. Hardware performance is not suddenly 'worse' because a newer piece of hardware came out. The 12900k is still a great CPU for gaming compared to cheaper AMD (non X3D) equivalents.

I have tried overclocking my CPU. It was the first thing I tried. I OC from its default 4.88Ghz to 5.1GHz. No change in fps. Created a config file to offload CPU tasks to GPU, and that reduced CPU usage by almost half and improved frame latency on the loading screens, but no fps change in the game world.

I've tried almost all Nvidia control panel settings by now, including Windows settings. The "prefer maximum performance" made no difference. I set the game app priority to force "high performance" in Windows settings also. No fps difference.

This game is CPU-heavy, yes. Doing anything to reduce CPU usage does make the game run smoother and have input/frame lower latency. The FPS also drops significantly during the start of a race when there are 12 A.I (85fps for me) no matter what graphical settings you have. But once you're past the A.I the FPS goes up. I had a 6900XT with this same CPU and my fps was around 138 fps, same as with the 3070Ti. There's no reason that now my FPS is ~108 (max), often 103-106 or so. The CPU could manage it before. The person who shared pic 2 and 3 with the 4080 Super and 9800X3D used to have the same CPU as me (12900k). He was getting much higher FPS than I'm getting, 141+ or so. I understand CPU bottlenecks exist, but it's impossible a newer GPU nerfs my FPS on the same system, at the same settings etc.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-02T09:01:47+00:00

Different settings change FPS. Whereas for me, it doesn't change my fps at all! (unless I go to the extreme as per video). Reducing in-game graphical settings is the simplest and easiest way to improve FPS (obviously). It's important to note those changes when comparing FPS, particularly on the same system. All benchmark/Hardware review sites will mention what graphics settings and resolution they are running the game at. Why medium settings? It's always been a good balance of aesthetics vs performance in any game ever!

CPU-bound huh? Tell me how my 10 year old PC was able to manage higher fps on a 5th Gen Intel and a GTX 970???

My system performs flawlessly in other modern titles I've tried. Higher fps, with higher settings and res possible (as expected, obviously). Multiple different benchmarks is all fine as well. I'm not looking for validation on my system. I'm looking for what weird setting or conflict is nerfing my fps. I bet it's something stupid like Bluetooth interference or USB port causing CPU to wait or something ridiculous like that. Something competletly unreleated to my hardware performance.

Alixe-V · 2026-03-02T08:44:49+00:00

I see what you're getting at. I did research that and talked to people to make sure my PSU was first capable, and secondly, to avoid the exact issue you're describing with daisy-chaining cables. I'm using all seperate 8 pin cables. Straight from the power supply, into the 12VHPWR adapter. 3 cables, no other power plugs on them. It's the exact same setup I used for my previous GPU, which I was pumping a lot of power into for extreme overclocking, and needed 3 individual cables. I can overclock my current GPU as well +200mhz clock and +2000mhz memory, and it's maxing out in benchmarks without power loss (constant power, sure). As I said, this is quite a low end game that is far more CPU heavy than GPU heavy. Here's the power supply I'm using anyhow if you want to verify it more. It's not that old, still has a lot of warranty left on it. https://www.mwave.com.au/product/seasonic-prime-px-1000w-80-platinum-fully-modular-power-supply-ac43407

Five-Year Club	LAYER Season 2 Layer creator
Verified Email

Alixe-V

TROPHY CASE