Question 4090 is not performing well, and I'm uncertain about the best way to address it.
Question 4090 is not performing well, and I'm uncertain about the best way to address it.
Hello!
I've been using this build for about two years. The GPU has consistently underperformed in benchmark tests, especially on UserBenchmark. I've attempted to overclock it via MSI Afterburner with some results, but it still lags significantly—often below the 18th percentile compared to other GPUs tested. I'm certain I didn't acquire one of the less favorable Gigabyte 4090 models and have a 512 TMU and 176 rops setup.
I'm eager to maximize the performance I've invested in, but I'm unsure where to start troubleshooting. The persistent low scores suggest there might be an issue with my build or overclocking process. It could be a problem with the settings, silicon compatibility, or something else entirely. I don’t have much expertise in GPUs to guide me effectively.
Could someone review my configuration and help identify any obvious mistakes or recommend further tests?
Thank you!
reset and remove afterburner
re-run userbenchmark
monitor GPU-Z during the test, verify if the PCIe slot displays PCIe 4.0 x16 or another version
possibly the M.2 SSD in slot M.2_1 is causing interference with the lanes from your PCIe slot, though it should not since the M.2 uses 4 lanes and the GPU has 16 of the 20 available lanes from the CPU
I once shared a similar build with you; it’s now your wife’s PC. Her system had an i9-13900k with 64 GB of Corsair 5200 MHz CL40 RAM, matching your setup exactly.
In short, the rendering process follows SSD → RAM → CPU → GPU. Each part can support the one before it. If you use an HDD instead of an SSD, loading games or levels becomes extremely slow. A sluggish CPU will also hurt performance, and many people overlook how closely RAM ties into CPU and GPU speed.
I found out that the RAM I own (and used to own) creates a CPU bottleneck. It’s accurate. The large latency and moderate speed of the CL40 slow down the rendering chain for the CPU, and when your CPU is hindered by the RAM, the GPU can freeze because it can’t process frames while waiting.
The fix? Upgrade your RAM, just like I did. Switching from a 5200 MHz CL40 to a 6000 MHz CL30 restored performance in cases where my CPU was the limiting factor.
I can’t promise your 4090 will now deliver noticeably better results, but based on what I’ve experienced, you likely face a RAM-driven CPU limitation. If you want to maximize your RTX 4090’s potential, start by addressing that.
I attempted this and noticed nothing changed regarding the PCIE slot, ty for the advice!
Thank you! I tried this and it definitely improved my CPU performance. I chose the Corsair Vengeance DDR5 6000MHz CL30. The RAM and GPU are now underperforming a lot together, even with XMP enabled. Would this suggest an SSD problem based on the render pipeline you mentioned? I have my OS on an EVO 990 and the drives seem fine. The only thing I changed was setting the BIOS to CSM mode so the drive would be found during boot, but I’m not sure if that matters. I’m not sure about bigger issues like cooling or power, but my temperatures are stable in tests and I recently upgraded my cooler. Here’s my updated benchmark (New RAM, Afterburner settings above, MSI CPU boost on): https://www.userbenchmark.com/UserRun/71516111
Setting the CSM off disables Rebar, which lets the CPU access the GPU VRAM directly. Could you tell me your Windows version and the specific ISO you used during installation? I noticed an unusual situation where a regional ISO paired with Rufus created a USB installer that failed to recognize a Samsung 990 Pro on a US/International English ISO, unlike the standard English one.
You might consider building an installer using the media creation utility. It seems you have several drives available for storing important files.
If your partition remains in MBR mode, convert it to GPT:
Check DISKPART (a command-line tool) to see the active partition scheme. Type CMD in the search bar, run Command Prompt, press Enter, then type diskpart and hit Enter. This will list the GPT-formatted disks. After that, type exit and close the window.
If you need to convert:
Switch to UEFI Mode and disable CSM for ReBAR:
Boot into Windows, open Command Prompt as Administrator, and execute: mbr2gpt /validate /disk:0 (assuming your boot drive is Disk 0—verify in Disk Management).
If successful, run: mbr2gpt /convert /disk:0. This changes the MBR to GPT without data loss.
Reboot into BIOS (press Del), turn off CSM under the Boot tab, enable ReBAR/Above 4G Decoding if available, and set boot mode to UEFI.
Save or exit. If it boots, verify ReBAR in the NVIDIA Control Panel (System Info) or GPU-Z. Retest performance—expect a clear improvement in GPU speed.
If you previously had
clean installed Windows 11, I would have expected a GPT partition or EFI Secure Boot already set up.
During setup, it's best to use only one drive for the installation process, since Windows often places the bootloader on the wrong disk. I’m unsure if your BIOS has any options to temporarily disable individual drives so they don’t appear during setup—this can be confusing. It’s a hassle to unplug all drives just for this step. Only disconnect drives when the system and power are off.
I don’t know how you managed your Windows license—please remember your key, notes, or any documentation about the MS account you created. I’m not interested in consumers who don’t realize they need to keep it permanently.
Your GPU overclock is too high. Lower it slightly and run a standard benchmark first. Avoid exceeding +1000-1500mhz for RAM or power limits; gains beyond that diminish.
Reset and Test Stock Configuration:
- Uninstall Afterburner.
- Reset BIOS to defaults (using the jumper or button).
- Disable XMP/CPU Boost initially.
- Run 3DMark Time Spy: aim for roughly 22,000–25,000 on a stock 4090 (values may vary).
If it’s low, check HWInfo for CPU/GPU utilization—GPU should be at 90–99% usage; otherwise, it’s the bottleneck.
Further Checks:
- Update BIOS to the latest version from MSI (use M-Flash in BIOS).
- Update VBIOS for GPU via Gigabyte’s utility.
Warning: Performing these actions can cause issues, so if you need assistance, please ask.
It seems like a promising direction to explore, thanks!
I'm using Windows 10 and believe I installed from an outdated version stored on a USB from my original purchase in 2016.
I plan to transfer everything off the boot drive, reformat it, and attempt a fresh installation this time. This setup will have just that one drive installed, unlike before when I had all four drives during my last fresh install about a year ago.
The HDD/SSD mainly affects the rendering pipeline by influencing load times; after data is stored in RAM, you no longer need to interact with the HDD/SSD directly, and it only starts affecting the pipeline when a new game level or asset is loaded.
Given that the rest of your rendering process works well, it seems unlikely there’s anything wrong with your RTX 4090. You might be experiencing slightly below-average performance from a lucky sample, not a hardware issue. As long as your GPU isn’t limiting you, benchmark results are more important than raw numbers.
My advice is to employ different tools to assess system performance. Utilize Task Manager, Resource Monitor, Performance Monitor, and Process Explorer. Run all tools individually but focus on one at a time. Maintain the tool window visible while working or observing changes in performance. Define what constitutes underperformance yourself. It’s important to stay methodical, consistent, and adjust only one aspect at a time during the tests. Also consider the possible error margins and ranges that are always present. Some observations might not matter based on these factors alone.