I recently upgraded my graphics card from an RTX 2060 to a used RTX 3070 EVGA, expecting to see a performance boost. However, since the swap, my system feels significantly slower and games are barely running. I have an Intel i7-9700F CPU, a 750W PSU (brand forgotten), an Asus Z730-A motherboard, and 32GB DDR4 RAM. After installing the 3070, I made sure to DDU reinstall the Nvidia drivers, used the first PCIe slot, connected two separate PCIe power cables for the GPU, and updated the BIOS. Despite all this, I'm confused as to why this supposedly better GPU is underperforming compared to my old card. The seller provided videos showing it running fine before I bought it. Is there something critical I'm missing? Any advice would be welcomed!
5 Answers
Let me guess, you got this card for a suspiciously cheap price? That's often a red flag! Make sure it's actually what you think it is before going down the diagnostics rabbit hole.
Finally, check your cable management. If the GPU fans are blocked by cables, it could cause overheating and bottlenecks. Always a good practice to ensure proper airflow!
Have you tried running GPU-Z to check the actual specifications of the card? It might help identify if you really got the RTX 3070 you thought you bought. Sometimes, the card's performance can be a big mystery until you check its details!
Yeah, you might be surprised by what it reveals!
What's the temperature and clock speed while you're gaming? If temperatures are too high, it could be throttling the performance down. Make sure the fans are working properly and that there isn't any blockage affecting airflow.
Good point! Keeping an eye on those temps is crucial.
For sure! It can make a huge difference.
If you've checked the temperatures and everything looks normal, there could be software conflicts at play. Have you tried the card in a different PC to see if the performance issues continue? This could help narrow down whether the problem is with your setup or the GPU itself.
That's a solid suggestion! Testing it elsewhere can really pinpoint the issue.
Absolutely! Also, check your PCIe lane settings. Sometimes that can be a game-changer.
Agreed! GPU-Z is definitely the way to start—let's see what this card is really doing.