Troubleshooting Low GPU Utilization with the RTX 3080 FTW3: Solutions and Insights

Introduction

Recently, I acquired an EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 GPU through their queue system and have been evaluating its performance in various games. However, I’ve encountered a puzzling issue: the GPU utilization remains consistently low, even though my CPU usage is not maxed out. In this post, I’ll share my system specifications, outline my findings, and seek advice from the community on potential fixes.

System Specifications

Before diving into the details, here’s a quick look at my hardware setup:

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

I game on a 1440p monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz, and my expectations for performance were understandably high based on benchmark tests. Unfortunately, real-world results have been rather disappointing.

Performance Observations

The games I’ve tested show significant discrepancies in GPU usage. Only Control and Monster Hunter World have consistently hit 99% utilization during gameplay. Below are the GPU usage figures for other titles I’ve played:

• Horizon: Zero Dawn: 60-70%
• Jedi: Fallen Order: 50%
• Witcher 3: 50-60% (70% in wilderness)
• 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 having a high-performing GPU, my frame rates have not matched my expectations. For instance, Jedi: Fallen Order typically runs at 70-85 FPS, peaking at 110 FPS—far below the anticipated 140 FPS+ based on benchmarks. The same holds for Witcher 3, where my FPS numbers mirror those from my previous RTX 2070 Super, indicating the new GPU isn’t operating to its full potential.

Interestingly, Furmark benchmarks appear to be working as intended, with expected performance metrics: Time Spy at 17,456, Fire Strike Ultra at 10,729, and Port