I recently upgraded my PC, and I'm concerned about its performance. Here are my specs:
- **CPU:** Intel i9 14900K, undervolted by 25mV, power limited to 225W, with IccMax set to 307A to manage temperatures using a 360mm AIO cooler.
- **GPU:** RTX 5090 Aorus Extreme Waterforce, which has an AIO attached.
- **RAM:** 32GB DDR5 (XMP enabled).
I'm gaming at 4K with all settings maxed out, including path tracing where possible, yet I'm not getting the performance I expected. My CPU temps are between 65-70°C, and the GPU sits around 60°C.
The games I've tested:
- **Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (opening mission):** Doesn't exceed 35 fps without frame generation.
- **Cyberpunk 2077:** Also around 35 fps.
- **Helldivers 2:** Never breaks 60 fps.
I'm using a high-quality DisplayPort cable, not limiting fps, and my drivers are up to date. The GPU is drawing about 550W. I'm puzzled because I see others achieving significantly better performance online. What might be causing this issue?
5 Answers
You might want to check the game settings. Many games set a default 60fps cap, which can hold back performance for high-end builds.
Given your current benchmarks, it sounds like you might be experiencing a CPU bottleneck. The undervolt and power limit might be affecting the CPU's performance, especially with demanding games at 4K. Just keep in mind that others may be using upscaling technology like DLSS to enhance their performance.
What monitor are you using? Is it connected to the graphics card? Sometimes the cable or the port can really affect performance.
Make sure your DisplayPort cable is plugged into the GPU and not the motherboard. If that is fine, consider trying a different DP cable to rule out any issues. Also, double-check that there are no fps limits in the game settings or the Nvidia control panel.
Did the performance drop happen after you started undervolting? Try going back to stock settings at first so you have a baseline to compare. Also, check what your CPU and GPU clocks are reaching while gaming — they might not be hitting the expected levels. Use HWMonitor for detailed stats.
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