Underperforming 3080 OC - Please help

[Nicolaj]

I just bought a Asus Strix 3080 OC - And was curios why it underperformed, I then found out it was because of low GPU usage. Below is some of the things i tried to fix it without luck..

- DDU´ed and reinstalled newest driver
- Installed MSI afterburner set power limit to max - Core 60+ Mem 200+
- Put power managment to Ultimate performance
- Nvidia control panel ´´prefer maximal performance´´
- made sure bios was set to Performance mode and NOT Quiet mode
- OC CPU 5.0 GHZ all cores
- Put XMP on ram 3600mhz
- Turned off HPET
- Game Mode ON
- Downloaded newest win update
- Made sure there is no G-sync or FPS limiter enabled
- Disabled all overlays, gamebar etc
- turned Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling ON
- Installed newest Chipset drivers + Intel ME + Lan drivers
- Made sure i was using a Display Port NOT Hdmi
- NO running Backgrounds apps
- Checked all power connections
- tried to optimze windows visuals etc

--- SPECS --
Windows 10 - 64 bit - paid version - newest update
Motherboard -- Asus Strix z490 F gaming - Newst Bios update
GPU -- Asus Strix 3080 OC 10 GB
CPU -- Intel i7 10700k
RAM -- Kingston 2x8 - 3600mhz cl 17 Dual Channel
Cooler -- Corsair H100i rgb Pro XT
Screen - ZOWIE XL2546K 240Hz 1080P
PSU -- Corsair 750W gold 80 plus
Nvme SSD

Temps are not an issue as my gpu is around 50 - 60 degress max-
If i run 3D mark and under the graphic stress test its running 100% Gpu usage.
if i run warzone im only running 60%- 80% gpu usage. unlimited fps but stuck on 160+
If i run rust im only using 30% - 35% gpu usage. No fps limiter but stuck on 110+ fps

-- 3D mark Score --
Time Spy score - 16.904
Graphic score - 18.432
CPU score - 11.504

I am hoping there is someone that has any idea what could cause this Low gpu usage in games ??
If you need any information please let me know and i will send.

 

[Nicolaj]

Hello im gaming at 1080 p - 240 hertz

 

[Nicolaj]

Warzone is around 60 - 80 % gpu usage
Rust 30 - 40 gpu usage..

But I made sure there is no fps limiter or g sync and v sync enabled..

Ive seen people on YouTube playing on 3080 getting 95 - 99 gpu usage constantly..

If i test 3D Mark on graphic test it actually runs on 100 gpu usage constantly

 

[Nicolaj]

Forexampel this clip you can see his usage is constantly high, and i know the gam engine in warzone is good and optimized
im running almost the same as him 1080p , same settings, same clocks etc

https://youtu.be/iUhdNqnojq4?t=1243

 

[Nicolaj]

Hey uscool.. Allready got my resizable bar ON.. and triede ddu and installed newest nvidia driver 511.79 .. but it's mabye worth trying again..

 

[Nicolaj]

That fps seems normal for 3080 @ 1080p

You said you getting 160+ which seems normal and these 2 have faster CPUs

https://youtu.be/IISAwD_2e8M

https://youtu.be/d9rEQ7RcN_w

The Bottom video you sent, he has some good GPU usage around the 90+

 

[Nicolaj]

i said cpu usage not gpu usage, low res gaming taxes cpu and your honkin gpu sits there with nothing to do

Ooh sorry i totally misread the question --
my cpu usage is around 40%- 50%

if this overlay helps, mabye there is some information there you can use
https://imgur.com/gallery/NRCw1UP

 

[Nicolaj]

Hoof your 10700k up to 5ghz to reduce any bottlenecks.

As you can read i in the description above, ive allready OC the CPU to 5ghz all cores with watercooling, temps is not the issue..

 

[Nicolaj]

3D Mark scores appear to be normal, would suggest you try some game based benchmarks.

Unfortunatley i only have Warzone, rust and Cs go.. But in rust is way worse my Gpu usage is around 20% - 35% usage and only 110+ fps,, No fps limiter no v sync or g sync.. ive turned the fps limiter to max ( 240 ) and shoud be able hit that easily

 

[Nicolaj]

Probably need to OC the 10700K and push the RAM if you want to reduce the CPU bottlenecks

And the frame chasers guy uses extremely well tuned/clocked systems

Allready OC the CPU to 5ghz all cores and ram is running on XMP 3600mhz cl17.
Do you think i would be able to pull more gpu usage out if i bought 2x8 4600mhz, as thats is max for my mobo

 

[Nicolaj]

Search 1080p 3080 warzone on YouTube , 160+ FPS what you get is normal

That one you linked is highly tuned or something

Ye the frame chaser guy really knows how to tune computer.. But im only interrested in high GPU usage so that i actually use the full potentiale of my gpu..
He has a consult where he tunes your computer but for 500 dollars.. ive spent 1 year to save up for a 3080 OC as they are extremly expensive in denmark, so unfortunatley i cant afford to pay 500 dollars for the help.. Thats why i try everything to get help atm.. Really appreciate alle the ansewers

 

[Nicolaj]

I would be gaming at 1440P or even 4K with that rig such a waste running at 1080P, 160 fps is really low need to upgrade lol.

Who are you trying to beat....

Im not trying to beat anyone at all, before i had a 2070 super and it basicly ran almost the same numbers as my new 3080 OC. My goal is basicly just to get as high gpu usage so i get what i paid for.. i have a 240hz screen so if i could get as close to 240 FPS that would be my dream..

If i forexampel push the render resolution to 140% (1440p) instead of 100% i get a bit higher GPU usage, but i rather get more fps with the same settings.
If i watch other peopel on youtube playing different games their gpu is like 98+ constantly

 

[Nicolaj]

If the CPU is at 100% load then that will lower the GPU usage.

That irrelevant though because you have a huge 160 FPS! If that doesn't make you happy then nothing will.

My CPU is only at around 40% - 50% usage -- overlay pic below with CPU and GPU times etc..

https://imgur.com/gallery/NRCw1UP
https://imgur.com/gallery/JSTv1eb
https://imgur.com/gallery/Jb5A0Ko

i know the fps is a but high but im standing still but the CPU and GPU usage is low..
Normally i get around 140 - 160+ while moving around

Temps is not an issue as im only hitting 60 degress at max

 

[Nicolaj]

What RAM do you have, can it not pushed anymore? I think pushing the RAM (timings as well as speed) or having better stuff will increase your minimum FPS in Warzone but probably not much else. Personally I do not think it's worth buying a new kit if you are already getting 160+

Some games, probably a lot in fact just won't have their engine set up to be able to use the CPU threaded well enough to max out a really powerful GPU at 1080p. You could up the render scale a bit to improve visuals instead?

I have kingston 3600 mhz cl17 XMP ON - https://www.kingston.com/dataSheets/KF436C17BBK2_16.pdf

Honestly i have never learned how to manual push timings etc on memory, always just turned XMP on to avoid any stability issues, since i have no knowlegde other than XMP

 

[Nicolaj]

The overlay doesn't show all the CPU cores so it doesn't mean anything. Can you show the utilisation of all 8 cores to see if any are at 100%?

Yes ofc.. here is 2 taking on different times ingame..The dip at the end is when i tab out to print screen.. since i only got 1 monitor..
https://imgur.com/gallery/87Zxza0
https://imgur.com/gallery/JHvQsWd

Hmm am i doing this correctly cause this seems to be my threads or ?
Please tell me if you need another pic or this is correct..

 

[Nicolaj]

Enable Dynamic super resolution scaling in the Nvidia control panel (3D settings > DSR factors > tick the boxes (or up the resolution scale in game if supported) and try running the same games with these revised settings (DSR will basically make higher resolutions available in game, i.e. DSR of 4x will allow for 3840x2160 to be selectable within the games resolutions options).

If your GPU usage goes up and/or you see no change in framerate it confirms it is just the CPU being the bottleneck at 1080p.

Should also be noted that CPU usage of 40-50% could still mean individual cores are being maxed out even if the whole CPU is not being used - essentially highlighting the single core performance is holding things back. A 5Ghz 10700K is in no way a bad CPU, but it may be holding back a 3080 in certain scenarios - such as 1080p.

This actually might be really good explanation.. since i just took these 2 screenshots.
https://imgur.com/gallery/87Zxza0
https://imgur.com/gallery/JHvQsWd

These are taken while playing on 1080p tho.. Just got home from work. tomorrow i will try upscale to 2k and 4k to see the difference and upload..
I have tried to upscale to 1440p and the GPU usage goes up a bit, but no difference on FPS..

So a possibility is that i might need a better CPU to utilize more performance of the GPU, since 1 of my threads seems to be at almost 100% while gaming.. therefore the GPU is holding back because the CPU cant process anymore data (bottleneck)

 

[Nicolaj]

The reason I say to use a benchmark, is because you often get a number that you can compare to other users, comparing FPS and usage is really not an exact science, as already said above. Also note that some engines actually have an FPS limit.

I know the Warzone game have a fps limiter at 300 FPS.. ive seen some big streamers pushing stable 260+ fps at good resolution and settings..
i only benchmarked with 3D mark..

Do you by any chance know some game benchmarks i could have any benefit from ?

 

[Nicolaj]

I meant like you did in the overlay in the screenshot below. You should be able to configure the options to add CPU core so you can see the usage while playing games.

https://imgur.com/gallery/NRCw1UP

Anyway, the first thread in your task manager is hitting 100% so that's a CPU bottleneck.

Ive tried multiple stuff the last couple os days to try spread the load on the other threads
And by going from 7 to 8 on rendered workercount ive managed to spread the load a bit, but no gain in fps or GPU usage

https://imgur.com/gallery/PqOxHur -- workercount 8 Normally set to 7 by default, not maxing out on thread 1
https://imgur.com/gallery/FFPTpG5 -- Adv file warzone

https://imgur.com/gallery/CGn4tw1-- Benchmark test shadow of the tomb
https://imgur.com/gallery/r3rZVvh -- Gpu usage while benching shadow of the tomb
https://imgur.com/gallery/gBlG889 -- Thread usage while benching shadow of the tomb

https://imgur.com/gallery/CPajMPm -- While playing rust, but im guessing since the thread is 100% its a cpu bottleneck, but only because of poor game engine..

https://imgur.com/gallery/PiVPePy -- This is in standby mode doing nothing. i have no backgrounds apps running to at. so no unnecessary cpu usage..

So you would say to get more Gpu usage i should upgrade CPU to an 12900k or wait for the new 13700k + buy some better ram, lower timings + higher mhz ?

 

[Nicolaj]

while I dont think you will gain anything with 240 fps I cant for the life Of me understand why you stayed at 1080p and not 1440p changed last year and its just better

i just bought a new screen a year ago, and indeed 1440p it better, I can always upscale in render resolution from 1080p to 1440p..
but yes would deffnetley be better to upgrade the screen at some point..

 

[Nicolaj]

--- SPECS --
Windows 10 - 64 bit - paid version - newest update
Motherboard -- Asus Strix z490 F gaming - Newst Bios update
GPU -- Asus Strix 3080 OC 10 GB
CPU -- Intel i7 10700k
RAM -- Kingston 2x8 - 3600mhz cl 17 Dual Channel
Cooler -- Corsair H100i rgb Pro XT
Screen - ZOWIE XL2546K 240Hz 1080P
PSU -- Corsair 750W gold 80 plus



You only have a 10700k and 3600mhz memory friend.. don't expect miracles.

Ofc not, i just didnt thoud i would be CPU bottlenecked on this cpu running on 5,0 ghz all cores.. But seems to be the issue..
So you would say to get more Gpu usage i should upgrade CPU to an 12900k or wait for the new 13700k + buy some better ram, lower timings + higher mhz ?

Or any ideas to future upgrade to gain some higher fps and more GPU usage..

in my mind running 70% gpu usage is like buying a VERY expensive snickers bar but only eating 70% of it and throwing the rest away, if you get my point