Troubleshooting Low GPU Utilization on My RTX 3080 FTW3: A Gamer’s Dilemma
Introduction
After a long wait, I finally secured an EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 through their queue system. As an avid gamer, I was eager to put this graphics powerhouse to the test. However, I’ve encountered a frustrating issue: despite having a capable setup, GPU utilization remains consistently low across many games. Today, I’ll share my system specifications and gameplay observations, and hopefully, together we can find solutions to this perplexing problem.
My System Specifications
- CPU: Ryzen 5 3600
- GPU: RTX 3080 FTW3
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 3600MHz
- Power Supply: Corsair RM750x
- Storage: NVMe and SATA SSDs
I primarily game on a 1440p monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz, which should provide an optimal experience for the RTX 3080. However, what I’ve encountered so far during gameplay has left me disappointed.
Observations from Gameplay
In the few titles I’ve tested—namely, Control and Monster Hunter World—the GPU utilization strived for a perfect 99%. Unfortunately, most other games fall short. Here are some of the GPU usage metrics from my testing:
- Horizon: Zero Dawn: 60-70%
- Jedi: Fallen Order: 50%
- Witcher 3: 50-70% (varying between urban and outdoor settings)
- Baldur’s Gate 3: 78%
- GTA V: 55-90%
- Sea of Thieves: 75%
- Red Dead Redemption 2: 70-90%
- Assassin’s Creed: Origins: 75-95%
Despite the lofty expectations set by benchmark results, my gameplay performance is underwhelming. For instance, in Jedi: Fallen Order, my frame rates oscillate between 70 to 110 FPS—miles away from the expected 140 FPS or more. Similarly, in Witcher 3, the performance mirrors that of my previous RTX 2070 Super.
A Closer Look at Performance Metrics
Interestingly, synthetic benchmarks using Furmark are performing as expected. Tests like Time Spy and Fire Strike Ultra recorded
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