Troubleshooting Low GPU Utilization with the RTX 3080 FTW3: Solutions to Consider

Date: [Insert Date]

Having recently acquired the highly anticipated RTX 3080 FTW3 through EVGA’s queue system, I embarked on an exploration of its gaming performance. However, I’ve encountered a perplexing issue: my GPU usage remains consistently low across various titles, even though my CPU does not appear to be maxed out. Below, I’ll detail my system specifications, share my findings, and seek your insights for potential solutions.

System Specifications

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 3600
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3080 FTW3
• RAM: 16GB DDR4 3600MHz
• PSU: Corsair RM750x
• Storage: NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs

Testing Results

I game at a resolution of 1440p with a refresh rate of 144Hz and have put several popular games through their paces. Surprisingly, only Control and Monster Hunter World have managed to utilize the GPU at a constant 99% during gameplay. Here’s a brief overview of the GPU utilization I’ve noticed in several other titles:

• Horizon: Zero Dawn: 60-70%
• Jedi: Fallen Order: 50%
• Witcher 3: 50-60% in Novigrad, 70% in the wilderness
• Baldur’s Gate 3: 78%
• GTA 5: 55-90%
• Sea of Thieves: 75%
• Red Dead Redemption 2: 70-90%
• Assassin’s Creed: Origins: 75-95%

These results are disappointing given the benchmarks for the RTX 3080. For instance, Jedi: Fallen Order runs at only 70-85 FPS in complex areas instead of the expected 140 FPS+, and Witcher 3 shows no significant improvement compared to my previous GPU, the 2070 Super.

Benchmark Performance

Interestingly, synthetic benchmarks like Furmark perform as anticipated, including Time Spy and Fire Strike Ultra, where the GPU consistently showcases 99% load throughout the test. This indicates that the card itself is capable but seems to falter in real-world gaming scenarios.

Installation Process

When setting up the 3080, I