Unlocking framerate is possible in GOI, however it's a "use at your own risk" option and was preceded by a warning. Unlocking framerate uses more power, which may reduce the lifespan of components. Unlocked framerate in GOI was removed after complaints of overheating, and my tests revealed high GPU power spikes on a gtx 1070
Note: if you're using a 60 hz monitor, there's little or no benefit from unlocking framerate. While above 60 fps can appear smoother on 60 hz, you will only see 60fps. Wildly fluctuating frames, which are common in GOI, don't appear smooth. If you're able to push 80 fps in some places but frequently jump from 80 to 60, it may be smoother to simply stay at 60
If you're interested in unlocking framerate and are confident in your PC, download a tool like
HWMonitor. Use this to monitor your CPU and GPU temps, as well as GPU power. Power use is a percentage of the base TDP. 70°C is safe for most components, but check online for your specific hardware tolerances. GPU-Z is another useful tool
I used the Ashes of the Singularity DX12 benchmark as comparison because it's good at fully utilizing CPU and GPU to 100%. In your tests, pick a couple graphics intensive games and play for at least 10 mins. GOI may require longer testing. Max values will be recorded in HWM
AoS GPU focused, Ultra:CPU 62°C GPU 63, power 86%
GOI @ 120 fps, 1440p Max graphics:CPU 52 GPU 62, power 107%
AoS max GPU power use was 86% - which is normal for my 1070 FTW at stock boost, and similar to three other games: Battlefield 1, Far Cry Primal, Watch Dogs 2 as well as Fire Strike Ultra (88%)
GOI power use was typically around 72% but
spiked at 107% in one test and frequently spiked above 97% - a bit high but not dangerous. Testing GOI at 90 fps, max power use was 90% - which occurred in spikes and was usually closer to 65%. These are the highest values I've seen at my stock GPU settings. I'll continue to play GOI at 90fps
Important: your power use will vary, and above 100% is usually safe
depending on the card and GPU settings. My previous Asus gtx 970 exceeded 100% due to a moderate overclock. Every GPU is different, even those of the same model. Most modern GPUs limit voltage and prevent damage from spikes, but prolonged use will reduce lifespan. As always, check online for your specific hardware
My specs:
i5 6600k @ 4.6 GHz (1.34v adaptive)
EVGA 1070 FTW @ stock boost 2012 MHz core + mem
Cooler Master Scout 2 case with 7 PWM case fans, 4 of which are controlled based on GPU temp
1440p 120Hz monitor
If you'd like to unlock framerate, add "--maxFps N" (without quotes) to the Steam launch options, and change N to desired framerate. Vsync must be disabled in game
