PCSX2 runs slow but idk why

[ranger1230]

ok I have pcsx2 on my computer and sometimes it gets slow and the frame rate drops. yet both my graphics card and cpu are at 15% usage. why would it get slow if my hardware isn't even maxed out?

my computer has:

CPU: Intel i7 950
Motherboard: ASUS P6X58D-E
Memory: Corsair XMS3 12GB
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 580
Hard Drive: 2x WD Blue 1TB
Sound Card: Realtek High Definition Audio
Power Supply: Corsair AX1200
Windows 7 Home Premium x64 Monitor

[jesalvein]

what do the EE % and GS % say when you get those slowdowns ?
which game ?
which pcsx2 version ?

[ranger1230]

I can't see the EE % or GS % in pcsx2.
one of the games that has the bigest slowdowns is FFX-2 on the highroad.
anouther is Darkcloud 2 when there are more then 5 characters on the screen
I'm using pcsx2 0.9.6

[tuanming]

Overclock your cpu and the slowdown will go away

[jesalvein]

you'll find them in the gsdx window's titlebar
moreover, better try latest beta instead of 0.9.6

[ranger1230]

While I'm upgradeing are my plugins ok?

Graphics: GSdx 890 (MSVC 15.00, SSE2) 0.1.14
Sound: SPU2-X 1.1.0
Controller: LilyPad 0.9.9
Cdvdrom: Linz Iso CDVD 0.8.0

figured if I upgrade the program I should upgrade the plugins.

EDIT: nvm I just noticed the beta has new plugins

[hallmark]

try activating speedhacks, but I am sure if you have a proper cooling & overclock your cpu you will get full fps without speedhacks ...

I have I7 870 and I was getting some slowdowns on stock now with 3.8 GHz most slowdowns vanished

also If you are wondering why your cpu usage is 15% and you get slowdows ... thats because pcsx2 will recognize only 2 cores out of your 4 core processor.

[ranger1230]

ok I haven't seen it slowdown yet. but the EE is getting up to about 96% is that bad?

[hallmark]

thats means your cpu is using the full power of its used cores

[ranger1230]

OK thanks for your guys help!