Troubleshooting Low GPU Utilization with the RTX 3080 FTW3: A Comprehensive Guide

Updates at the end of this article.

Recently, I acquired my EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 through their queue system and of course, like anyone passionate about gaming, I was eager to test its performance. However, to my surprise, I encountered consistently low GPU usage across a variety of titles, despite my CPU usage not hitting maximum levels.

System Specifications

For reference, here are my system specifications:

• CPU: Ryzen 3600
• GPU: RTX 3080 FTW3
• RAM: 16GB at 3600MHz
• Power Supply: Corsair RM750x
• Storage: NVMe SSD and SATA SSDs

I game on a 1440p monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz. Throughout my testing, the performance has been underwhelming. Only the games Control and Monster Hunter World consistently pushed my GPU usage to 99%. Below is a summary of various titles along with their GPU utilizations during gameplay:

• Horizon: Zero Dawn: 60-70%
• Jedi: Fallen Order: 50%
• Witcher 3: 50-60% (70% in open areas)
• 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%

This situation has been quite disappointing, as the performance of the RTX 3080 does not align with the benchmarks I had anticipated. For instance, Jedi: Fallen Order peaks at around 110 FPS in specific areas, far below the expected 140 FPS+ that many players report. In some cases, my previous RTX 2070 Super delivered similar or even better performance.

Performance Observations

Interestingly, the results from the Furmark benchmarks have been outstanding:
– Time Spy Graphics Score: 17,456
– Fire Strike Ultra Graphics Score: 10,729
– Port Royal Graphics Score: 11,144

During these tests, my GPU was consistently under heavy load.

Installation Steps

To ensure a hassle-free installation, I meticulously followed these steps:
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