Question:

What could be the reason for the sudden increase in framerate on my RTX 4070 Super? >
> I have a new PC with the following specs: RTX 4070 Super, 32 GB DDR5, Ryzen 5 7600X, 750 W PSU, 980 Pro SSD, B650 chipset. I noticed that the framerate on two games (GTA 5 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands) jumped from around 60 FPS to over 100 FPS at 4K resolution and ultra settings. This happened without any driver updates or changes in the GPU software settings. The only thing I did was adjust the fan profiles to eliminate a vibration noise. Is there a break-in period for the GPU or any other components that could explain this performance boost? I have been working on and building PCs for a long time and I have never seen this happen before.

Answer:

Why did my RTX 4070 Super suddenly double its framerate?

If you have recently bought a new PC with a powerful graphics card like the RTX 4070 Super, you might be surprised to see a huge increase in the framerate of some games. This is what happened to me when I played GTA 5 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands on my new PC. I was getting around 60 FPS at 4K resolution and ultra settings, which is already impressive, but then the next day I was getting over 100 FPS on the same games and settings. I did not update any drivers or change any settings on the GPU software. The only thing I did was tweak the fan profiles to reduce a vibration noise in the case. So what could be the reason for this performance boost?

One possible explanation is that the GPU has a break-in period, which means that it needs some time to reach its optimal performance. This could be due to the thermal paste, which is a substance that helps transfer heat from the GPU to the cooler, needing some time to settle and spread evenly. This could improve the cooling efficiency and allow the GPU to run at higher clock speeds and voltages without overheating. However, this is not a very likely scenario, as most modern GPUs come with pre-applied thermal paste that does not require a break-in period. Moreover, the difference in performance due to thermal paste is usually not very significant, and certainly not enough to double the framerate.

Is there a dynamic performance adjustment feature?

Another possible explanation is that the GPU has a dynamic performance adjustment feature, which means that it can automatically adjust its clock speeds and voltages based on the workload and the temperature. This could explain why the framerate increased on the same games and settings, as the GPU might have detected that it can handle more load and increased its performance accordingly. This feature is usually enabled by default on most GPUs, and it can be controlled by the GPU software or the BIOS. However, this is also not a very likely scenario, as the difference in performance due to dynamic performance adjustment is usually not very drastic, and certainly not enough to double the framerate.

Is there a hidden performance mode?

A more plausible explanation is that the GPU has a hidden performance mode, which means that it can unlock more power and performance by changing some settings that are not normally accessible to the user. This could explain why the framerate increased without any driver updates or changes in the GPU software, as the GPU might have activated this mode by itself or by some external trigger. This feature is usually disabled by default on most GPUs, and it can be enabled by using some third-party tools or hacks. However, this is also not a very safe scenario, as the hidden performance mode might cause instability, overheating, or damage to the GPU or other components.

What is the most likely reason?

The most likely reason for the sudden increase in framerate on the RTX 4070 Super is that there was a glitch or a bug in the GPU software or the game settings that caused the GPU to run at lower performance than it should. This could explain why the framerate was around 60 FPS at 4K resolution and ultra settings, which is below the expected performance of the RTX 4070 Super. This glitch or bug might have been fixed by itself or by some external factor, such as a reboot, a system update, or a game patch. This could explain why the framerate jumped to over 100 FPS on the same games and settings, which is closer to the expected performance of the RTX 4070 Super.

How can I verify the reason?

The best way to verify the reason for the sudden increase in framerate on the RTX 4070 Super is to run some benchmarks and tests on the GPU and the games. This can help you determine the actual performance of the GPU and compare it with the expected performance based on the specifications and reviews. You can also monitor the temperature, clock speed, voltage, and fan speed of the GPU and see if they change significantly between different games and settings. You can also check the GPU software and the game settings and see if there are any options that can affect the performance of the GPU, such as power limit, temperature limit, overclocking, or resolution scaling. You can also try to reproduce the glitch or bug that caused the lower performance and see if you can fix it or avoid it.

Conclusion

The RTX 4070 Super is a powerful graphics card that can deliver high performance on most games at 4K resolution and ultra settings. However, sometimes the performance might vary due to various factors, such as glitches, bugs, features, or settings. If you notice a sudden increase or decrease in framerate on your RTX 4070 Super, you should try to find out the reason and verify it with some benchmarks and tests. This can help you optimize the performance of your GPU and enjoy the best gaming experience possible.