I need help figuring out why my CPU usage is much higher than my GPU usage while gaming. My GeForce 9600 GT shows 0% utilization and 0/0 GB of VRAM in the monitoring software. I'm powering it with a SATA-to-6-pin adapter, so I'm also wondering whether the power supply or the graphics card could be the problem. The card is very old, but I'm trying to run Need for Speed: Most Wanted (2012). My processor does not have integrated graphics, and the monitor is connected to the graphics card rather than the motherboard.
2 Answers
First, make sure the monitor cable is connected directly to the 9600 GT. If it is, the game should not be using integrated graphics, especially since your processor has no iGPU. The 9600 GT is also around 18 years old, and newer monitoring programs may not report its usage or VRAM correctly. Check whether the game actually runs normally and try an older or compatible driver-monitoring tool.
A CPU-heavy reading does not automatically mean the GPU is broken. An old or low-end graphics card can be fully loaded while the CPU percentage still appears higher, and some monitoring software may display 0% for older cards. Also be cautious with a SATA-to-6-pin power adapter; those connectors were not designed to supply much GPU power, so a proper PCIe power cable or a suitable power supply would be safer.
Since the processor has no integrated graphics and the monitor is connected to the card, the motherboard video output is probably not the issue. I’d verify the card and driver in Device Manager, then test with another monitoring utility or game.