Why isn't my RTX 3070 performing as expected?
Asked by
TechieTurtle79
Hey everyone! I recently picked up a used RTX 3070 and installed it alongside my Ryzen 5 3400G, B450M Max motherboard, 16GB of RAM, and a 600W power supply. Initially, I ran a benchmark and everything seemed great, with no overheating and about 98% usage. However, when I started playing games, the performance was disappointing—Minecraft capped at about 80-100 FPS, CS2 around 140 FPS with under 50% usage, and Hogwarts Legacy running at 60 FPS on ultra settings. Even after cleaning the PCIe slot and getting it to run at 8x 3.0, it's still far from the expected performance. I've seen benchmarks suggesting I could hit over 360 FPS in CS and 400 in Minecraft. I even checked the card on another motherboard where it performed better. I'm wondering if this CPU issue is a bottleneck and what solutions I might have before the return window closes. Appreciate any help!
Answers
It looks like your CPU is really bottlenecking your GPU. The Ryzen 5 3400G has limited PCIe lanes, which can hinder performance. It's generally considered slower than even the Ryzen 3 3300X, so it's worth considering an upgrade to something like a Ryzen 5 5600X or Ryzen 7 5700X for better gaming performance. If you're on a budget, a Ryzen 7 3700X can sometimes be found for a good deal. Just be sure to update your motherboard's BIOS to make it compatible with newer CPUs!
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Yeah, definitely check your BIOS as well! If you switch to a 5000 series CPU, you’ll need to enable XMP/EXPO again. Just a heads-up, if it doesn’t boot after the swap, try resetting the CMOS by unplugging the PSU and removing the battery for a bit—this helps clear any issues.
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It really sounds like a CPU bottleneck based on your descriptions. Your GPU is likely fine; the fact that you're tweaking settings and still seeing low usage indicates that your CPU can't keep up. So, swapping it out will make a huge difference!
TechieTurtle79: Thanks for confirming! Sounds like I need to prioritize that upgrade.
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GamerGuy22: Thanks for the advice, I'll look into those options!