I'm struggling with low GPU usage in games, usually around 40–60%, which is disappointing given my hardware specs. My CPU usage, on the other hand, tends to be much higher, leading to lower FPS than expected according to benchmarks for similar builds. Here's what I'm working with:
- **CPU:** i5-12400F
- **GPU:** RTX 5060
- **RAM:** 32GB 3200MHz
I've tried playing at different settings (both low and high) but the GPU usage remains low instead of hitting the 90–100% range like I expected. While my CPU usage spikes to 70–90%, my FPS is underwhelming compared to what I see in YouTube benchmarks. I've already updated my GPU drivers, adjusted in-game settings, and checked the temperatures—they're all fine. I enabled XMP for my RAM, but that hasn't helped either.
5 Answers
It sounds like your CPU might be bottlenecking your GPU. What kind of FPS are you getting, and at what resolution? If your GPU usage is really low while your CPU is high, there's definitely something off.
Have you checked your display connection? Make sure your HDMI or DisplayPort is plugged into your GPU and not the motherboard. If you’re seeing such low GPU usage, there’s likely an issue.
Actually, I checked that, and since I don’t have an integrated GPU with my CPU, it’s all good on that front.
Sometimes, it’s not just about the numbers. As long as you're getting solid performance while playing, it might not be a huge issue if the FPS isn’t as high as those benchmarks. A stable 60 FPS is considered good for many gamers!
You're probably looking at a CPU bottleneck. Check if your CPU power cables are securely connected; I've had that cause throttling before. Also, consider tweaking your power settings in Windows to maximize performance—sometimes it makes all the difference.
I stress-checked the power on Cinebench, and it's all running fine. I’ll look into the power settings, though!
Have you looked into your Nvidia control panel settings? Some specific features may be limiting your GPU usage. Additionally, if you have any background processes hogging CPU cycles, that can affect performance too. It's worth diving into.
For PUBG at 1080p low, I’m getting about 120 FPS, while at high settings, it’s still around 120 FPS. For CS2 on the lowest settings, I get around 140 FPS.