How to Fix High GPU Usage: In 6 Easy Steps [Video]

Learning how to fix high GPU usage is important because this type of usage can increase when you mine, play a game, or render various types of data on your computer.

The above activities are everyday things that we all do on our computers every day, and if any of them is likely to cause GPU usage to increase, then a skill like how to fix that rise should be counted as important.

Watch Video on How to Fix High GPU Usage

The Graphics Processing Unit commonly called the  GPU is the component of the computer used for processing graphics. When it is not in use, the size is often normal, but even the smallest activity involving data processing can cause that to change.

Frequent computer usage can result in higher GPU usage, and knowing how to fix high GPU usage can sometimes be the only way to keep this under control.

How to Fix High GPU Usage

How to Fix High GPU Usage
How to Fix High GPU Usage

It can be annoying and even a little concerning to see your computer with an increased GPU usage, especially because this can cause the fans to spin at full speed, making your device excessively loud and difficult to work with.

Aside from that, you won’t be able to play games well because another service uses the GPU’s resources.

Here’s how to fix the GPU’s high usage. Keep in mind that a large GPU space can be beneficial when playing a hefty video game.

Process Hacker can diagnose and fix high GPU usage if nothing is done on the computer. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Install and run Process Hacker

Start by uninstalling the driver, then reinstall it again. Ensure you have updated the graphics card driver.

Step 2: Select any column header (top row) and select “Choose Columns”

Try running all high-end games at low settings instead of high or ultra to see if it helps. A window will appear. The left side will feature “Inactive columns.” Select GPU to move it to the right.

Step 3: Turn off background apps to reduce GPU usage

Be sure to turn off any high-performance power plans and only use the balanced or power saver modes.

Step 4: Click “OK”

Choose OK

Step 5: Arrange the GPU columns by CPU.

Next, check your system for malware and remove it if you find any. The GPU column should now appear at the end.

Next, click on the column header to arrange the GPU columns next to the CPU.

Step 6: Run the Test

Test the graphics card in safe mode, as this will allow you to see which processes are using the most of your GPU (if any).

What Is a High GPU?

How to Fix High GPU Usage
How to Fix High GPU Usage

High GPU usage indicates utilizing your graphics card to its full potential. The fact that the GPU card is working at its best without any hiccups should make you happy. This card is designed to provide the highest frame rates and best gaming views.

It is designed to run at capacity for many years at 98% to 100%, especially if you’re doing some GPU-intensive tasks.

A high GPU usage means your GPU is working overtime with so much of its space in usage, and while this may be normal sometimes, it can easily become a challenge.

Gaming GPUs can last a long time when used above 90%, which is expected in gaming.

Your GPU usage is typically high for any of those higher-demanding tasks because it’s supposed to be that way, even 100%.

However, if you are doing nothing serious or demanding with your computer, then something might be using your graphics card in the background, and you can only remedy this if you know how to fix high GPU usage.

While watching YouTube, your GPU is often used for decoding video information. The higher the resolution, the more GPU will be used. Using a GTX 1060 or higher shouldn’t be above 3 to 4% for YouTube on 1080p video.

Hence, if it’s high, there may be something wrong with the drivers or in the background. Lower-end GPUs will also be used more if paired with lower-end CPUs.

Fixing GPU Over-Use

If you suspect that more GPU space is being used than what is normal, you can follow the steps and processes described below to fix this problem:

Step 1: Measure GPU, CPU, and all other components with HWiNFO Software.

With the HWiNFO Software, you can perform measurements on GPU, CPU, and every other component and set up alerts. The software is excellent. With this feature, you can see how the GPU usage was in the past and have it on your tray at all times. You can extend the life of your CPU by keeping temperatures below 85 °C (185 °F).

Step 2: Check your GPU’s performance

And the last step on how to fix high GPU usage is to use a GPU benchmark to get a broader idea of how your GPU performs.

A great tool for measuring and comparing gaming performance is 3DMark Time Spy or Firestrike, which is included in the Basic edition. You can choose between GPU, CPU, and combined tests in this software.

Finally, to check whether your GPU is performing as intended, compare the scores you get with what you see online.

Low CPU and GPU Usage Fix

How to Fix High GPU Usage
How to Fix High GPU Usage

While some people’s issue is how to fix high GPU usage, there are also those whose quest is to find ways to fix low GPU usage because their processing unit is underused.

The GPU may experience low usage because you’re using the integrated graphics, there’s a driver issue, you have a CPU bottleneck, or the game you’re playing isn’t optimized.

And there are several options for fixes, including reinstalling drivers, upgrading or overclocking your CPU, and adjusting certain game settings.

The graphics chip always causes stuttering or poor performance more than insufficient RAM or a struggling CPU. Boost your graphics card’s performance by overclocking it beyond its default speed setting.

There are several ways to fix this challenge, including the following:

Turn on Game Mode in Windows

Whether gaming on a prehistoric museum antique or a customized, bleeding-edge supercomputer, Game Mode optimizes Windows 10 to maximize gaming performance.

In In-Game Mode, background activities such as Windows updates and app notifications are disabled so that the computer can play your favorite games at a higher frame rate.

Below are the steps to using Game Mode:

Step 1: Open the Settings Menu

Go to the Start menu and tap on the cog icon to open your settings.

Step 2: Click Gaming Category

Select a gaming category.

 Step 3: Select a Game Mode and Turn It On

Select “Game Mode” from the menu on the left and ensure the “Game Mode” switch is on.

Upgrade Your Graphics Card

Gaming stutters or feels unresponsive more often due to your graphics chip than your RAM or CPU. Boost your graphics card’s performance by overclocking it. Overclocking increases frame rates and improves performance.

Reduce your resolution

A typical computer can’t run modern games with ultra-high resolutions and 60 frames per second.

The screen’s pixels increase with increasing resolutions, as does the strain on the graphics card. A lower resolution can improve your game’s FPS and make your GPU’s job easier as the unit will no longer have to support as many pixels with every frame. You can adjust the display settings so that the graphics won’t look as clear, but the game will run more smoothly.

Modify the video settings of the game

If you’re fiddling with your game’s resolution, you may want to adjust the other video settings for an additional FPS boost. Some games have simple settings you can change by level: ultra, high, medium, low, etc. Some games will also have sliders, numerical settings, or more nuanced controls.

Here is a list of settings you can try to get better FPS out of your game.

  • Graphical details:Shadows, lighting, textures, and reflections: This reduces the quality of these elements. As a result, the game will look less lifelike, but it should run more smoothly.
  • Anti-aliasing:Anti-aliasing can help smooth out the edges of objects in your game. Initially, please turn it off and slowly increase it until it makes a difference to your graphics without negatively affecting your frame rate.

Try each anti-aliasing technique offered by the game and see what happens.

  • Draw distance: If you can, reduce the draw distance so that the game does not render far-off objects. If your GPU has fewer things to render at once, it can focus its resources on your immediate environment.
  • Graphical effects: To reduce or eliminate motion blur, lens flares, and other types of visual flare. Your GPU will have one less thing to worry about.
  • VSync: This feature synchronizes the game’s frame rate with the refresh rate of your monitor to prevent screen tearing. It sounds helpful and often is, but it can sometimes reduce FPS. Attempt turning it off and see what happens. If screen tearing occurs, turn it back on.

Install the latest graphics card drivers

If you want your graphics card to perform at its best, you need the graphics driver. Updating your graphics card driver can significantly boost your FPS.

Here’s how to update the drivers for your Nvidia GeForce, ATI Radeon, and Intel HD graphics cards:

  1. Nvidia GeForce: Go to the GeForce driver website, select the graphics card and Windows version you have, and click “Start Search.” Although the beta drivers aren’t quite ready, they should all run as smoothly as the final version, and they will likely increase FPS even more. If you have the GeForce Experience tool installed, you’ll get notified whenever Nvidia releases a new driver.
  2. ATI Radeon: Visit AMD’s software downloads page and choose the appropriate driver. With this link, you can download and install the latest official driver. A beta driver is also available for those looking for additional performance improvements.
  3. Intel HD Graphics: The Intel HD Graphics chipsets are found on ultrabooks and tablets and are the weakest. It is not to play games on the HD 3000 or earlier, but Intel’s latest graphics chips can run current games, though not at the highest resolution or with all the bells and whistles.

Is 70 degrees hot for a GPU?

One crucial matter to note when looking for how to fix high GPU usage is the temperature under which your device works. What temperature is normal and which is not.

Generally, GPUs run between 70 and 80 degrees Celsius when fully loaded. Anything over 80 degrees can be considered a problem, while any temperature below 80 degrees is acceptable.

Hence, the GPU should run at around 75-80 degrees Celsius when gaming. Computers should be kept between 45° Celsius and a little over 60 degrees Celsius when doing small processes or in idle mode.

This will help keep the computer and its component in perfect condition for a long time.

How many years does GPU last?

How to Fix High GPU Usage

GPUs (graphics cards) tend to last 5-7 years, but GPUs may last just 3-5 years under extreme overclocking conditions. However, most of the GPUs got replaced not because of a hardware failure but because they were becoming outdated and unable to run the latest software.

GPUs are generally designed to last a long time; they are designed to perform well with the least amount of power consumption, be as cool as possible, and last for many years without breaking.

GPUs can last up to 10 years if maintained properly and can continue working after that.

Every electronic item or thing in the world comes with a caveat: they’re prone to fail at any moment without a solid reason or warning signs. Graphics cards are no exception. The same as any electrical component, they can fail at any time without any advance notice, whether it’s one year or 10. In general, you can expect a graphics chip to last around five years with proper care, but it may likely become outdated before eventually dying.

Conclusion

Gaming is an interesting activity, and there are more games and gamers today than ever. Some do it for fun, while others make money out of this activity.

But regardless of why you play video games, there are some issues with the computer that can make the experience less appealing.

One of these problems has been identified as high GPU usage. And we have prepared this article with steps on how to fix high GPU usage because this problem is commonplace, and we want you to have a ready solution anytime it happens.

Leave a Comment