Free kernel module makes RTX 3090 55% faster and 40% more efficient, bit-identical
esequiel378 · reddit · 2026-10-29
A user benchmarked GPU Unlock, an open-source Linux kernel module that lifts NVIDIA's FP16/BF16 tensor-core throttle on RTX 30 GeForce cards, in ComfyUI:
- Z-Image Turbo BF16 1024², 8 steps: 7.46 → 4.95 s/img (+51%), +55% with undervolt; SD 1.5 FP16: +38–41%; vLLM prefill (Qwen3-8B BF16) up to +68%
- Bit-identical outputs: SHA-256-verified pixels at fixed seeds, plus a 2-hour/540-batch soak test
- Energy per image down 40% (2,369 J → 1,410 J)
- Counterintuitive: undervolting slowed the stock card but sped it up unlocked, since the card then hits its power limit
- Avoid ComfyUI's --fast (switches to FP16 accumulation, which was never throttled); Linux only, and only a full power-off reverts it
Related event: Open kernel module unlocks hidden AI power on GeForce cards(3 posts)→
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