Graphics cards are the core component that a gamer wants.
Along with a high-end CPU and RAM GPU is a must for gamers and professionals who do graphics-related work.
Low GPU usage may occur by a faulty PSU or bottlenecking CPU.
This article is for you if you face a low GPU usage problem.
What are the Reasons Behind Low GPU Usage?
For gamers, the GPU is like their second lungs; without it, they cant breathe a bit.
So, what are the reasons behind low GPU usage?
Lets point them out.
Here are the reasons behind low GPU usage:
For these reasons, you might face low GPU usage.
Try identifying which one is blocking your GPUs performance.
After identifying the main culprit, dont worry about fixing it.
I will show you the easiest way to fix that particular issue.
Do check our latest post on theCan Motherboard Bottleneck GPU.
Do you read the upper section thoroughly?
I hope you read and identified the main reason for a GPUs low usage problem.
Now, lets jump into the fixing part.
Issues like this are common after replacing the old GPU with a new one.
When your system chooses the integrated graphics over the dedicated one, your dedicated GPU will literally do nothing.
Meanwhile, you will see your GPU usage is low, like 0-10% from the task manager.
Sometimes your system can choose the integrated graphics if it is more powerful than the dedicated one.
Here are the steps to shut down the integrated GPU:
Note:Your screen might flash several times.
you could also fire up the integrated GPU when you need it.
After enabling it, check that both of them are running smoothly.
Also, check out our separate post onMotherboard not detecting GPU.
Outdated or Corrupted GPU Drivers
Forget to upgrade your GPU drivers?
Backdated drivers can be the reason you face low GPU usage.
Updated drivers can boost your GPUs performance by fixing bugs or tweaking the parameters.
After updating the GPU driver, your low GPU problem might not solve.
A corrupted driver can slow down your GPUs performance.
So, try uninstalling the GPU drives first and delete all the left-over files if any remain.
Then installing the driver will solve your problem.
Here are the steps to update GPU drivers:
Now, you have successfully installed the latest driver.
Always take a stab at uninstall the driver first to remove any corrupted driver.
Note:Dont roll out the beta version of the driver.
have a go at download the final released version.
Heres a complete guide on how tofix a suddenly loud GPU fan.
Outdated Chipset Drivers
The chipset on the motherboard is the central brain of the mobo.
If your chipset driver got outdated, it might cause low GPU usage.
The chipset driver maintains the communication between the motherboard and the GPU.
So, an obsolete driver might not utilize the GPU properly.
Then restart the PC to take effect.
You have updated your chipset driver.
It would fix the low GPU usage if this was creating the issue.
Also, Check out how you canremove the thermal paste from the motherboard PCB.
Disable Third-Party Programs
Sometimes third-party programs can clog up the GPU and CPU.
CPU wont be able to utilize the GPU power if it gets too much processed.
Malicious software or a bug program can cause this low GPU usage problem.
Here are the steps to disable third-party programs:
Disabling third-party programs will fix the problem.
Set your GPU to the Performance Mode
The graphics card has various modes to set its performance.
you’ve got the option to change things like anti-aliasing, anisotropic filtering, and so on.
Performance mode will improve the overall performance and fix low GPU usage problems.
Fix CPU or RAM Bottlenecking Issue
CPU or RAM bottlenecking can cause a low GPU usage problem.
The CPU provides all the data to the GPU.
Bottleneck on the CPU only happens when you use a powerful GPU with a low-end CPU.
The RAM bottleneck is also the same.
When you dont have enough RAM to handle all the tasks and processes, it causes a RAM bottleneck.
As a result, you will see low GPU usage.
attempt to change or upgrade your CPU to fix this CPU bottlenecking issue.
Upgrading the CPU will solve the GPU low usage problem and boost the overall performance.
To fix the RAM bottleneck problem, attempt to run your system with a dual-channel memory configuration.
If you have only one RAM stick installed in your system, try buying one with the same specs.
It will speed up your entire system.
Its a feature by Intel.
AMD also has the same feature, and its called RAMP.
Try this method only when a registry error is causing the low GPU usage problem.
Change controls in the Antivirus
Antivirus is a must when you need complete protection from malicious viruses.
The firewall feature in the antivirus allows you to block or allow any app to enter the internet.
Antivirus runs in the background all the time.
When the program detects any threat, it blocks that immediately.
But, this antivirus can slow down your PC.
Suppose you are in the middle of a game, and the antivirus starts the scanning process.
It will draw out more CPU power for scanning, and this can cause low GPU usage.
So, you may need to shut down the antiviruss real-time protection and scanning.
But you should disable those only when you are in the game.
However, a third-party antivirus program comes with a Gaming Mode option.
But Windows Defender doesnt have any.
However, a PSU with a faulty 6-pin or 8-pin PCIe connector wont provide enough power to the GPU.
The CPU and GPU will not work to their full potential if they dont get enough power.
You should buy a power supply with high watts to get the full performance from the GPU.
So, Check your PSUs maximum wattage supply capability and the minimum watt requirements of your GPU.
Check for faulty wires and connectors of your PSU.
you might get a multimeter to check for PSU faults.
Fix GPU Overheating Problem
Excessive heat is not good for any electrical hardware components.
So, overheating will cause GPU throttling and lower your GPU clock speeds.
Your GPU will overheat if you overclock it all time.
Your GPU cooler wont be able to keep up with the temperature.
As a result, the VRAM of the GPU might be damaged.
So, my suggestion is not to overclock the GPU when it is not necessary.
attempt to keep the temperature minimum by making all the GPU fans spin to the fullest.
Check whether your GPUs fan is working properly or not.
A faulty fan could be a problem for a GPU.
The fan is the main thing that helps cool down the GPU by dissipating the heat.
Replacing a faulty fan can fix lower GPU usage problems.
see to it your PC casing has perfect airflow.
You must implement the fans by maintaining a perfect airflow balance.
Inadequate airflow will overheat your entire system along with the GPU.
Fix Game Related Issue
Games require a high amount of GPU processing power to render all the games graphics.
However, many games depend on the CPU for bad game optimization, which leads to low GPU usage.
To fix the issue, you may venture to install patches or fixes provided by the game developers.
If the game is not causing a lower GPU usage problem, make a run at upgrade your CPU.
Wrapping Up
Countless reasons can cause a low GPU usage.
For gamers, its like living in a hell-like situation because the GPU is the main for gaming.
First, know the main cause and then go for fixing it.
I have mentioned all the possible solutions to this problem in this article.
