100% GPU Usage normal? R9 390

[SteWoo]

Hey guys. Bit confused at what should be 'normal' behavior from my R9 390 which I received as a replacement from my RMA'd R9 290X.

I gave it a test run on BF4 and Sniper Elite V3 but notice on MSI Afterburner that the GPU usage is constantly 100% in game. The temps are fine, sitting at around 56c, but sitting at 100% GPU usage doesn't seem right to me?

However I read this reddit post and this post which both seem to say that 100% GPU usage is expected behaviour during game play for the 390?

Can anyone enlighten me as to what expected behavior should be for a 390 in game with regards to GPU usgae, core clock etc?

 

[SteWoo]

Core clock is sitting at 1040. Resolution is 1920 x 1080.

I just found it a little odd as I've never experienced any GPU I've had sitting at 100% usage on most games. So the long and short of it is 100% usage isn't a bad thing?

I know my CPU is a little out of date; your saying this would usually bottle neck the GPU usage? Potentially why on previous cards I've never seen usage continually at 100%?

 

[SteWoo]

Thanks guys. Enlightened me as to what's expected from a GPU. I was always under the misconception that the more powerful the GPU the less usage it should show. I was wrongly thinking high GPU usage means the card can't cope with the load it's under.

 

[SteWoo]

Thats not a great replacement card. You should have got a 390x if anything.

Probably gave me a 390 instead of a 390X because a 390 is similar to the 290X price? Or should I have received a 390X because it's the same family as I had previously?