I've recently upgraded my GPU from NVIDIA to an AMD RX 580 2048SP (4GB), but I've been running into some issues on my system. My setup includes an i5-3570 CPU, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, and I'm booting from an SSD. Since the swap, I've noticed significant microstutter, bad frame pacing, and an overall jittery experience in games, even though the average FPS appears fine. I did some research and found that the RX 580 2048SP is similar in performance to an RX 570, so I expected decent performance. However, my previous NVIDIA GPUs provided a smoother gameplay experience.
In addition to the stutters, I'm dealing with:
1. Worse stutter issues in DX11,
2. Inconsistent frame times,
3. Odd brightness changes in dark scenes (like my desktop wallpaper turning dark until a bright object shows up), which I didn't experience with NVIDIA. I'm using the same HDMI cable and monitor for both setups.
4. Longer shader compilation times and loading times (it's going from 1 minute to 3-5 minutes).
Now I'm curious if these problems stem from AMD's driver overhead on an older CPU like my i5-3570, or if my CPU is just not powerful enough for this GPU. Would I see improvements switching to a GTX 1060 6GB, or should I consider upgrading to an i7-3770 instead?
2 Answers
Definitely sounds like the RX 580 isn't pulling its weight with your current setup. If you're not experiencing these brightness issues with NVIDIA, it might be worth it to switch back to a GTX 1060 to see if that solves both the stuttering and brightness problems. The GTX 1060 tends to handle titles better with older CPUs, so you might find a more stable experience overall. If you're leaning towards a CPU upgrade, the i7-3770 would be a good choice for general gaming too, so you can't go wrong there either!
It sounds like your RX 580 2048SP might be struggling a bit, especially considering how old your CPU is. That combo could lead to driver overhead and performance issues. Upgrading to a GTX 1060 could certainly help with frametimes and smoothness since NVIDIA generally has better optimization for older hardware. Alternatively, going for the i7-3770 would also give you a solid performance boost across the board, so it really depends on your budget and what kind of upgrade you're looking for. If you can swing it, consider the CPU upgrade; a better CPU can make a significant difference in overall performance.
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