I’ve noticed my GPU is hitting 99% while my CPU usage seems pretty low, between 30-50%. Is this expected or should I be worried?
Yeah, that’s pretty common with newer games. They tend to demand a lot from your GPU, maxing it out, while not using much CPU power. Some games are the opposite though, like R6 Siege, which can be more CPU-heavy.
This is typical for most games since they rely heavily on the GPU. Out of curiosity, what game are you playing?
Hayden said:
This is typical for most games since they rely heavily on the GPU. Out of curiosity, what game are you playing?
Just guessing… but is it Ark? Those ferns and rocks look familiar.
@Dex
Actually, it’s Far Cry 3.
Clove said:
@Dex
Actually, it’s Far Cry 3.
Oh, I thought it might be Crysis since it uses the same type of foliage… both games use similar engines.
Clove said:
@Dex
Actually, it’s Far Cry 3.
Haha, Far Cry 3 was my second guess! Those jagged ferns definitely have a unique look. I just thought it might be Ark on low settings.
Yep, that’s pretty standard.
Yes, that’s exactly how you’d want it to be. If it were reversed and your CPU was maxed out, then it would mean your CPU is holding your GPU back. You’re good!
It’s normal in most games. However, if you’re in a CPU-heavy game and your GPU is at 100% while the CPU is only at 50%, there might be some bottlenecking.
Jamie said:
It’s normal in most games. However, if you’re in a CPU-heavy game and your GPU is at 100% while the CPU is only at 50%, there might be some bottlenecking.
Wait, what? In a CPU bottleneck, the GPU can’t reach 100% because the CPU can’t send commands fast enough. Are you sure you’ve got that right?
@Galen
I get what you’re saying. When the CPU is too slow for the GPU, it can hold it back. But when the GPU is the weaker link, then it’s the one maxing out.
Jamie said:
@Galen
I get what you’re saying. When the CPU is too slow for the GPU, it can hold it back. But when the GPU is the weaker link, then it’s the one maxing out.
It sounds like there’s a misunderstanding. The CPU gives commands to the GPU, not the other way around. In an ideal setup, the CPU won’t be at max capacity while the GPU is fully utilized. It’s a balanced situation when it’s like that.
@Galen
I know what I’m talking about, just not interested in explaining further. Let’s leave it there.
The game might only be running a few threads, so it’s not using all your CPU cores. If you have 8 cores but the game is designed for just a few, then 50% usage is expected.
Happens to me all the time on my school laptop. Don’t ask why I have my Steam library on there.
Yeah, the GPU is doing a lot of calculations to create what you see on screen. It’s like a huge calculator.
Depends on the game. Some rely more on the GPU, others on the CPU. For example, the pcsx2 emulator tends to be CPU-dependent.
Many misunderstand what bottlenecking really is. Bottlenecks happen when you’re not hitting the target FPS you want for a game. If your GPU is at 100% and the CPU is low, it means you’re using your GPU fully, which is ideal unless you’re not hitting your FPS goal. If not, you’ve got a GPU bottleneck.
The main point is that if you’re not reaching your FPS goal, that’s when you’ve got a bottleneck. Some games could have a CPU bottleneck, some a GPU one, and sometimes neither if everything is optimized and hitting your target FPS.
It’s normal for games to use more GPU than CPU. That’s why gamers spend more on GPUs for high-res visuals and better graphics.