Troubleshooting Low GPU Utilization on My New RTX 3080 FTW3: Seeking Solutions

Introduction

As a recent recipient of an EVGA RTX 3080 through their queue system, I’ve been eager to dive into gaming and evaluate the performance. However, I’ve encountered a puzzling issue: my GPU usage remains consistently low across various titles, while my CPU doesn’t appear to be maxing out either. In this post, I’ll share my system specifications, the games I’ve tested, and seek your insights on potential solutions.

System Specifications

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

I use a 1440p resolution monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz, and I anticipated that my gaming experience would reach new heights. However, that’s not quite what’s happening.

Observations and Performance Metrics

During gameplay, only a couple of titles—Control and Monster Hunter World—achieve a steady 99% GPU utilization. The other games I’ve tested show significantly lower usage, which is disappointing considering the high expectations surrounding the RTX 3080. Below are the observed GPU usage percentages for various titles:

• Horizon: Zero Dawn (60-70%)
• Jedi: Fallen Order (50%)
• Witcher 3 (50-60% in Novigrad, 70% outdoors)
• Baldur’s Gate 3 (78%)
• GTA5 (55-90%)
• Sea of Thieves (75%)
• RDR2 (70-90%)
• AC: Origins (75-95%)

While my GPU appeared to be underutilized, my CPU usage remained well below its limits, rarely exceeding 85% on any given thread, and often hovering between 40-60%. For instance, in Jedi: Fallen Order, I’m only seeing frame rates between 70 and 85 FPS, far from the 140 FPS+ benchmarks suggest I should expect.

Interestingly, synthetic benchmarks using Furmark yielded satisfactory results. Tests like Time Spy and Fire Strike Ultra recorded a solid GPU load of 99%, with scores significantly higher