Editing Openai/69553fe0-f62c-8009-9ba9-7e41adbbee9d


{{DISPLAYTITLE:Low FPS and GPU Utilization}}

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== gpt-5-2 ==
=== User: My fps seems to be stuck in the 20's. ===
My fps seems to be stuck in the 20's. My gpu drivers have been installed and uninstalled. I'm not using more then 30% of graphics card regardless of setting. WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

PC specs

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT

RAM: 64gb 2133mt

Disk: Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 2tb

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900x 12-core

Please help, I bought this game months ago and have been dying to play it. My pc runs Zero dawn gorgeously and Id hate to platy FW on 20 fps.

=== Assistant: You’re describing a classic low-GPU-usage / low-FPS lock, and the fact that it sits in the 20s regardless of settings i… ===
You’re describing a classic low-GPU-usage / low-FPS lock, and the fact that it sits in the 20s regardless of settings is the biggest clue. This is not a raw GPU power issue.

I’ll break this down from most likely → least likely, and I’ll focus on things that specifically cause ~20–30 FPS caps with low GPU utilization.

==== 🚨 #1 Likely culprit: RAM speed bottleneck (this is huge) ====

You listed:

64 GB @ 2133 MT/s

On a Ryzen 9 5900X, that is extremely slow.

===== Why this matters =====

Ryzen CPUs are very sensitive to memory speed because:
* Infinity Fabric (FCLK) is tied to RAM speed
* Low RAM speed = massive CPU stalls
* The GPU sits idle waiting for the CPU → low GPU usage

This can absolutely lock you into the 20–40 FPS range, especially in CPU-heavy open-world games like Horizon Forbidden West.

===== What should happen =====

Most 5900X systems run:
* 3200–3600 MT/s (sweet spot)
* FCLK at 1600–1800 MHz

===== What to do right now =====
# Go into BIOS
# Enable XMP / DOCP
# Make sure memory is actually running at its rated speed

If your RAM is only rated for 2133:
👉 That alone can explain your issue.

⚠️ Zero Dawn is far less CPU-heavy than Forbidden West — that’s why it runs fine.

==== 🚨 #2 In-driver FPS limiters (very common on AMD) ====

AMD drivers have multiple ways to cap FPS without being obvious.

===== Check ALL of these in Adrenalin: =====
* Radeon Chill → OFF
* Frame Rate Target Control (FRTC) → OFF
* Enhanced Sync → OFF (for now)
* Wait for Vertical Refresh (V-Sync) → Always Off

Also check:
* Game profile vs Global profile (they override each other)

A 30 FPS Chill minimum will look exactly like what you’re describing.

==== 🚨 #3 Windows power & CPU parking ====

Windows loves to kneecap Ryzen CPUs.

===== Do this: =====
* Set Power Plan → AMD High Performance
* Or Ultimate Performance (if available)

Then check:
* CPU clocks during gameplay (HWInfo) - If cores aren’t boosting past ~4.5 GHz → that’s a problem

Low CPU boost = low GPU usage.

==== 🚨 #4 Fullscreen mode & Windows optimizations ====

Forbidden West hates certain Windows settings.

===== Try: =====
* Exclusive Fullscreen (not borderless)
* Disable Fullscreen Optimizations - Right click exe → Properties → Compatibility
* Disable Windows Game Bar
* Disable Xbox Game DVR

These can hard-cap FPS in DX12 games.

==== 🚨 #5 Shader compilation (especially first launch) ====

HFW compiles shaders during gameplay, not all upfront.

Symptoms:
* Low GPU usage
* Massive FPS drops
* Improves after 20–60 minutes

Fix:
* Let it sit in one area for a bit
* Restart after first long play session

==== 🚨 #6 Smart Access Memory (Resizable BAR) ====

On AMD this matters a lot.

Check in Adrenalin:
* Smart Access Memory → Enabled

If disabled, performance tanks in newer titles.

==== 🚨 #7 Verify this one thing (important) ====

You wrote:

: RX 9070 XT

That GPU does not officially exist (as of now).

If you meant:
* RX 7900 XT / XTX
* RX 7800 XT

Double-check:
* Device Manager → Display Adapters
* Adrenalin → Hardware Info

If Windows is misidentifying the GPU or using a fallback driver → FPS tanks.

==== 🔍 Why Zero Dawn runs great but Forbidden West doesn’t ====

| Game           | CPU Demand | RAM Sensitivity |
| -------------- | ---------- | --------------- |
| Zero Dawn      | Moderate   | Low             |
| Forbidden West | Very High  | Very High       |

This perfectly matches your symptoms.

==== ✅ Most likely fix order (do this in order) ====
# Enable XMP / DOCP (or upgrade RAM if truly 2133)
# Disable all AMD FPS limiters
# Set AMD High Performance power plan
# Enable SAM
# Exclusive fullscreen + disable Windows optimizations

If you want, tell me:
* Exact GPU model
* RAM brand & rated speed
* Current FPS + CPU/GPU clocks during gameplay

I can pinpoint the exact choke point and get you out of the 20s.

== References ==
<references />


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