RTX 4090 continues to operate smoothly on x16 Gen 1 platform
RTX 4090 continues to operate smoothly on x16 Gen 1 platform
I've noticed some inconsistencies with my PC setup. After upgrading from the RTX 3070 Ti to the RTX 4090, I still see it running in Gen 1 according to GPU-Z and showing a speed of around 2.5 GT/s via HWinfo. It seems normal for the GPU to switch to Gen 1 when idle to conserve power. However, when under load, both tools report it staying in Gen 1 without any noticeable change. Benchmarks reveal lower performance—around 5-10 FPS in Speedway 3D Mark and 60 FPS in Heaven Benchmark on Ultra graphics. Despite testing, the issue persists even after updating the motherboard firmware and using different OS partitions. I've also tried resetting drivers, reinstalling Windows, and even removed display software, but nothing resolved the problem. My motherboard runs the latest firmware, and I'm certain the hardware specs match what's listed. Could another factor be influencing these readings? Any insights would be appreciated.
You need to ensure PCIe 4.0 is enabled on your RTX 4090 because it appears to reject lower versions like PCIe 5.0. This issue might prevent display output until after the login or during UEFI boot, suggesting a negotiation bug. Try setting it to force PCIe 4.0 in the UEFI settings of the top PCIe slot and check if it works.
I handled that. It's not working yet. I also tried Heaven Benchmark in windowed mode; the screenshot is shown below. Fullscreen runs at about 60-70 fps. The tool ran with GPU-Z, indicating it shouldn't be idle. Still stuck at x16 1.1. If the power supply is bad, could that affect generation to level 1?
I'm not sure, unfortunately this could point to a hardware problem if it persists. If you have another setup to test, try getting at least 16x 3.0, then I'd suggest reaching out to Gigabyte. If the same problem appears in another system running at 1.1, it's likely the card itself is faulty. If it works on another system, your motherboard or operating system might be the issue.
Have you attempted to set the bifurcation configuration on that slot to 16x and/or 8x? I'm dealing with a similar problem with my friend's RTX 4090 and 7800x3D setup. I've faced challenges with the RTX 4090 starting up properly on BOOT, but forcing PCIe 4.0 resolved that. His motherboard seems to be the culprit, though results vary—some boot successfully while others don't. He also experiences trouble with M.2 drives not recognizing, which adds weight to suspect the motherboard or I/O dies on his 7800x3D. He's using a similar board with the B650e Asus Strix and has tried multiple BIOS updates. It might be the Thermalright contact frame causing pressure issues, which I've advised him to avoid. However, this is unlikely with AM4's PGA unless the CPU was resoldered and possibly damaged. If your 3070ti operates at full 4.0 16x and the RTX 4090 only achieves 16x at 1.1, it could point to a vBIOS problem with the RTX 4090 or a hardware failure on the graphics card.
The bifurcation setup allows only "Auto Mode" or "PCIe Mode." In the details, "Auto Mode" means configuring it for x16. I believe I'm facing the same issue as your friend, but with PCIe Gen 3. I attempted to switch it to PCIe Gen 3, but most times it defaults to Gen 1. After a few restarts, it occasionally reaches Gen 3 again. While upgrading my GPU, I also moved the whole system into a new case. During that transition, I replaced the cooler and removed the processor temporarily. I've also tried updating the vBIOS on the 4090, but it hasn't resolved the problem.
Updating on the situation, I suspect compatibility problems are the root cause. My AM4 board still functions with GPUs like the 3070 TI, indicating it hasn't been harmed. The issue likely stems from the motherboard not being fully compatible with the newer AM5 setup, even though it works with older components. No physical damage appears to be present. This could be a useful consideration for anyone trying to resolve the matter.