RTX 3080 TI runs efficiently with minimal GPU load and steady frame rates.
RTX 3080 TI runs efficiently with minimal GPU load and steady frame rates.
I plan to test it right after returning from work. Still, I think I can safely say my GPU and CPU seem fine, unless there’s anything wrong with them. Otherwise, I could return the card without questions for another two weeks and get a replacement. If the issue is with the CPU, I’d need to buy a new one. I’d prefer neither option, of course... I just don’t want a faulty GPU costing me 1,400€.
In gaming at 4K, the GPU usage stays at 100% in many games and performance matches online videos. I notice the FPS and GPU load drop significantly at 1080p, which is quite noticeable compared to other content. It’s hard not to think something might be limiting my experience.
I also read about possible RAM problems. Right now, my RAM is installed in slots A2 and B2. When I tried booting with the RAM in A1 and B1 (with XMP enabled), the system wouldn’t start and would bring me back to BIOS. Swapping the slots resolved the issue.
Could this indicate a problem with the RAM or the motherboard?
They’re both keeping up with the latest updates. Focus on other aspects. Prime stands out as a top choice for budget motherboards. I’ve accidentally adjusted BIOS settings before, so sometimes I revert to defaults just in case. My power supply isn’t ideal—I struggled with 850 watts with my EVGA FTW3 Ultra 2080, which only handles 372 watts max. I swapped it for a 1000-watt unit, and the EVGA XC 2080 performed well at 850 watts but used 25 watts less. The XC3 3080 Ti ran at 350 watts stock and 366 watts when overclocked. The issue with insufficient power shows up as the GPU failing to turn on unless the PSU is off and then restarted. On SSDs, games run smoothly; on HDDs, some lag occurs and performance looks like the CPU. For reference, Assassin's Creed Odyssey averaged 64fps at 4k ultra on an HDD, but hit 88fps on a SATA SSD. That was the only test I ran, but it convinced me to avoid HDDs. Internet speed matters—those games that seem okay aren’t. Try single-player titles to see if they match expectations like CP2077 or CS:GO. For security, I stick to Windows Defender on my gaming PC and disable antivirus during online sessions. If RAM isn’t using XMP in slots A1 and B1, the board likely needs replacement. This happened with my first Hero XII Z490; one model couldn’t handle XMP and was swapped for a Hero VIII. The problem stemmed from Windows writing errors to RAM, risking crashes and eventual system damage. I never played online games on that board for nearly two years before it became nonfunctional. I now avoid attempting repairs myself. Returns happen about every third purchase. Low CPU usage at 1080p is typical. On my i7 8086k/2080 Ti setup, GTA5 ran at 45% at 1080p and 63% at 1440p, with only 4K fully utilizing the GPU. Frames stayed steady across resolutions. RDR 2 behaved similarly. Some engines are consistent; I use GeForce to log benchmarks for comparison.
In reality it goes beyond what we see. Even the 3080ti FE can exceed 350 in gaming with spikes over 400 watts. It’s safe to believe the XC3 likely performs similarly or better. Based on ASUS guidelines, you should place RAM in A2 and B2 if you have just two modules. Are your slots A1 and B1 recognized by the board? Can you start without XMP enabled in those slots? I believe your GPU is okay. If it only occurs when CPU-bound, it may point to a CPU issue, suggesting the motherboard and RAM could also be involved.
I think I'll buy a 1000Watt PSU right now. I managed to get a new motherboard and some RAM to check if that might be the issue. The new board supports PCIe-4, and I read that the upgrade from 3 to 4 isn't too big now, so it shouldn't affect performance much. I'm open to trying anything. If the problem persists after this, the only good thing is saving some money. Probably I'll also get a 1000Watt PSU later this week. At the moment, I'm just using SSDs on my system, so I expect no issues there. I don't know if internet speed is the problem—I have a 300Mbits connection and haven't had any issues with it yet. I also played singleplayer games like Horizon Zero Dawn, Far Cry 5, and Death Stranding. The FPS differences were quite noticeable in 1080p. For example, Horizon went from around 70 to 110 FPS at 1080p, dropped to 75-85 in 4K, and fell to 90-140 in a video with similar setup. I always test in the same conditions as in those videos. I tried overclocking my GPU, but only saw a slight improvement—about 5 extra frames in 4K Horizon. In 1080p it didn't really matter. The system has stayed stable so far. For antivirus, I'm using just Windows Defender. I'll see how it works with the new RAM and board. If nothing changes, I'll send them back. The odd thing that happened yesterday was switching from my 4K TV to a 1080p monitor in Horizon to compare FPS and GPU usage. I used the in-game monitor option, turned off my TV, switched to my monitor, and got a black screen with small colored blocks or pixels. I had to restart my PC because nothing responded. Was this just a coincidence? Did it happen only when I switched screens to fast and turned off the TV midway, or could this be a sign something's wrong?
The Ram was found I managed to start without XMP on A1 and B1 I’m hoping it’s just the RAM or the motherboard, not the CPU