I recently built a new PC with a Ryzen 7 9700X and a Radeon 9700XT, but I'm really disappointed with the GPU's performance. I initially had a 4060 and a Ryzen 5 7600, and after swapping for these components, I expected a significant boost—but that's not happening. My specs include 32GB of Corsair RAM running at 6000 MHz, and I set up the XMP profile to enable that speed (it was initially detected as 4800 MHz). While the CPU and RAM seem to be working fine now, I'm struggling to get satisfactory performance from the GPU. I tried overclocking via Afterburner but only saw a small increase. I know UserBenchmark isn't the most reliable, but it's alarming to see how low the performance is. Any advice on how to troubleshoot this would be hugely appreciated!
5 Answers
Did you use DDU to remove your old GPU drivers? Sometimes leftover drivers can mess with new installations and lead to poor performance. Make sure you completely uninstall anything related to the previous GPU before installing the new ones again!
Is your real-world gaming performance as low as the benchmarks suggest? Sometimes benchmarks can be misleading. You mentioned running Marvel's Avengers at 160 FPS on low settings, which seems decent for a 9700XT. Have you tested other games to see if they perform better?
Keep in mind that the Radeon 9700XT isn't on the same level as the latest GPUs like the 4090. But if you meant a 4060, that's still a big step. You might also want to check your RAM settings; the Corsair RAM can be a little finicky, especially if it was initially running at 4800 MHz. Make sure XMP is enabled, or it might slow down your performance.
Yeah, it was a typo on my part; I meant 4060. No way I’m affording a 4090!
First, try using 3DMark for benchmarking instead of UserBenchmark. It's generally seen as more reliable for newer GPUs. You can download the free demo to see how your GPU stacks up. This will help confirm if there's a deeper issue with your system.
I did the 3DMark test, and my score was 6903, while the average for the 9700XT is around 7243. I'm still below average, but I'll check temps during my next run.
Good call! Just keep an eye on your GPU temperatures during that test. Overheating could be a hidden problem.
UserBenchmark can be a bit of a mixed bag. It compares your hardware to others and can highlight potential issues. Your RAM might be holding you back since it's rated as 6000CL36, which isn't great performance-wise. If you're serious about boosting your performance, consider getting lower latency RAM instead. Also, check that XMP/EXPO is properly set in your BIOS to get the best speeds out of your setup!
I’ll check the settings again and think about upgrading my RAM if necessary.
I haven't tried many other games yet, but the frames feel a bit sluggish for the GPU's power. I’ll explore more titles soon.