Power restrictions on the RTX3070ti appear without apparent cause, occurring specifically with Steam games running DX11.
Power restrictions on the RTX3070ti appear without apparent cause, occurring specifically with Steam games running DX11.
I've been dealing with this problem for four days now. It has completely taken up my three-day weekend. This message is a bit lengthy, so please be patient and stay calm.
My RTX3070ti has started throttling power without any clear reason. Playing any DX11 titles from Steam leads to a steady drop in performance until the frame rate hits around 10-20fps. DX12 or Vulkan games are unaffected. I haven't tried running DX10, DX9, or OpenGL titles. Games that use DX11 from other sources like GamePass or Origin are not impacted. Restarting my computer improves performance, but it eventually drops again.
Using MSI Afterburner shows the GPU temperatures reaching up to about 60°C, while the power usage drops from around 95% to 30-40%. The temperature stabilizes near 40°C, and the fans run at their lowest setting. I notice a noticeable shift from warm to cool air as the game starts at full rendering before the throttling begins. This restriction is permanent and impacts all DX11 games on Steam until I restart the machine. It doesn't matter what resolution or graphics settings I use for any games. The issue clearly points to a power throttling problem. Task Manager and Resource Monitor don't indicate any resource being overused or restricted.
Only two changes have occurred on my system, both happening five days ago:
1) I accidentally created a second Steam library folder on a drive that already had one, using the LostDragonists tool from GitHub. I don't remember why I was doing this. Since my issue only appears with Steam games, I suspect this is the cause. Reversing the action didn't resolve the problem. Please feel free to suggest alternatives. I simply deleted the new folders, restarted Steam, and verified that only libraries on my C and D drives were visible.
2) I updated Windows, still on version 10.
I've gone through all standard troubleshooting steps: reinstalled the latest NVIDIA drivers (version 581.42), double-checked all settings in the nVidia Control Panel regarding power preferences. I also noticed that Windows Power Plan might have been set to conserve power, so I switched it back to prioritize maximum performance. Additionally, I ran Steam's library repair. None of these actions helped. MSI Afterburner is only used for monitoring, not power limiting.
I've excluded GPU and PSU issues or any system bottlenecks from the above factors. So what are everyone's opinions on this?
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.
Since you stated Windows 10, what version(not edition) are you on?
I've cleanly reinstalled nVidia drivers (latest, 581.42), double checked all settings in nVidia Control Panel related to power preference.
Ideally, you use DDU to remove all GPU drivers(intel, AMD and Nvidia) in Safe Mode, then reboot, then manually install the latest GPU driver sourced from Nvidia's support site in an elevated command, i.e, Right click installer>Run as Administrator.
Thank you for the warm welcome! I followed your advice and reinstalled the driver completely, using DDU and even entering safe mode to complete the process.
CPU: Rzyen 7 5800x
CPU Cooler: (Air) Cooler Master EVO 212
Motherboard: ASUS Rog Strix BF550-something (exact model not remembered)
BIOS Version: 3.3?
RAM: Giel Orion 32GB DDR4, PC425600
SSD: Samsung M.2 1TB (137GB available)
HDD: Seagate 2TB (214GB available)
GPU: ASUS RTX3070ti 8GB
PSU: ASUS ROG Strix 750w Fully Modular ATX, Gold rated
PSU Age: 3 years
Chassis: Mid tower, 5 fans, 2 intake, 3 exhaust; case is currently open after checking connections
OS: Windows 10 Home 64-bit, version 22H2
Monitor: Gigabyte 32" 165hz 2560x1440
Initially, I would remove and then reinstall Steam. It’s possible you made a mistake with this software from Github. I don’t really get why it’s necessary to have two Steam folders on the same drive. Also, could you tell me your CPU usage and temperature during this issue versus normal times? And what is the power supply model? The Asus 700 W specs aren’t very detailed, and the same goes for the RAM.
I've made some changes to the PSU and RAM details in my post, as much as I understand them.
I realized it was foolish of me to handle the library folder that way. The problem actually came from misunderstanding some Wabbajack instructions (I was attempting to build a modded Oblivion). I thought it required installation through Steam, but it only needed to be placed in a folder outside Program Files—where my Steam is stored.
CPU usage remains low, around 20%, and stays between 75-80°C, which seems to be the expected range. This isn't important because the issue started only in the past five days and hasn't affected the system for over four years.
Steam was uninstalled and then reinstalled without success. I tried using Expeditions: A Mudrunner Game, which confirmed the issue. The game initially runs smoothly at 120fps, but after about four minutes it drops to around 20fps. The GPU temperature stays below 60°C throughout, indicating no thermal throttling.
Right after, I opened InZoi, which runs on DX12. The GPU reactivated, fans increased, temperatures rose, and the game stabilized at 50-60fps on all ultra settings without using ray tracing.
Next, I closed InZoi and played Fallout 4 (heavily modded, no ENB), which uses DX11. It consistently ran at 80-100fps, but during the problematic period it dropped below 40fps. This game also behaved similarly to Expeditions, starting strong but degrading after a few minutes.
After restarting the PC and repeating the process, the outcomes matched exactly. This suggests the problem may relate to Steam's compatibility with DX11 games. I’m unsure if the latest Windows 10 update is responsible, but no one else has reported this issue.
Asking fellow gamers in the forums about this person's problems in the Steam Game Environment. Is the problem related to Steam itself or their PC setup? Does this issue occur in Windows 11 in the same way as on Windows 10? If they have DirectX 12 enabled, do they need to run the DirectX Installer to include older DX11 files? Would that help? DX12 supports both DX 11 and DX 12, allowing compatibility with games from both versions. I use a rig configured this way for gaming on Windows 10 22H2, which is fully updated and has received all updates through October 14th 2025 on Steam without any issues.
I’m not sure exactly what’s happening, but here’s what might help. Was the fake lost and retrieved Steam folder on your "C" drive? The games that function properly are in the "C" Steam, the standard game folder, or another drive. Are the problematic games installed in the "C" drive or elsewhere? When you activated the fake Steam folder, were there already games in your other regular pre-fake Steam folders? That can cause confusion for Steam. I’m aware you’ve removed the fake folder, but have you checked the game files in those other folders through Steam? As a precaution, if you’re stuck, I’d suggest using a spare SSD. If you’re still on Windows 10, consider a clean installation with full updates immediately—do it now, as the EOL for Windows 10 ends on October 14th, 2025. Take that backup and store it safely before returning to your Steam troubleshooting on the current version.
Yes, the folder I made is also on C.
Yes, the problematic games are also located there.
I haven't checked any game files yet; I'll do that soon.
Unfortunately, I don't have the funds to buy any hardware, so I can't carry out that last suggestion. It was something I considered before, but not possible right now. >.
Guys... the issue is with my Xbox One gamepad... You remember how I mentioned that DX12 games and others on different clients like GamePass don't have this problem? Well... I realized I wasn't using the gamepad for those games, and the issue only appeared when I did use it. So I came home, started playing FO4 with the controller unplugged, switched to god mode, and ran around a busy, decorated settlement. There was no drop in performance or power usage. After plugging the controller back in, the same problem happened again. I unplugged it and... FRAME RATE RESTORED INSTANTLY... GPU power draw back to around 95%/280W. 😵
I tried the same with another game I was testing, and the same thing happened. Played with the controller until it slowed down to an unplayable slide show, then unplugged it and the frame rate returned to 120fps. The GPU fans started spinning again.
I'm pretty sure no one will reply to this thread—everyone seems to be avoiding it. 😛
But since I found out the controller is definitely the culprit, now I need to figure out why. Maybe it's not just the controller, but the cable or the USB port it's been plugged into. I don’t have another controller right now, but it looks like I might need to spend about $40 to get one. Hard times, I guess.