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

Introduction

Recently, I upgraded to an EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3, eagerly anticipating enhanced gaming performance. However, I encountered an unexpected issue: my GPU usage consistently hovers at low levels throughout various games, even though my CPU does not appear to be fully utilized. Below, I will outline my system specifications, gaming experiences, and potential solutions to this perplexing problem.

System Specifications

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 3600
• GPU: EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3
• RAM: 16GB DDR4 3600MHz
• Power Supply: Corsair RM750x
• Storage: NVMe SSD and SATA SSDs

I am gaming on a 1440p monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz. Throughout my testing, I’ve noted that only a couple of titles, specifically Control and Monster Hunter World, consistently push my GPU usage to near 99%. Below is a summary of GPU usage across the games I’ve evaluated:

• Horizon: Zero Dawn: 60-70%
• Jedi: Fallen Order: 50%
• Witcher 3: 50-60% (Novigrad), 70% (open world)
• 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%

While these numbers are decent, they fall short of my expectations based on benchmark data. For example, Jedi: Fallen Order generally reaches 70 to 85 FPS in compact areas, occasionally spiking to 110 FPS, but I was anticipating frame rates closer to 140 FPS or above. Even Witcher 3, which I’ve slightly modded, shows similar FPS results as my previous GPU, the RTX 2070 Super, in urban settings.

Benchmarking Insight

In contrast, my Furmark benchmarks indicate otherwise: results like 17,456 in Time Spy and 10,729 in Fire Strike Ultra demonstrate that the GPU performs well under controlled conditions, consistently achieving 99% utilization. This discrepancy raises questions about my performance in actual gameplay scenarios.

**Troubles