Your GPU usage is low because something else in your system is limiting how much work your graphics card can do. In most cases, this means your CPU cannot send data fast enough, a frame rate cap is in place, or your drivers need updating. When your graphics card sits at 40-60% while gaming, you are leaving performance on the table.
During games or heavy graphics work, healthy GPU usage should be 90-100%. Anything below 80% means your system has untapped power that something is blocking. The good news is that most causes are easy to fix without spending money.
For more GPU troubleshooting, the Hardware section keeps the main guides in one place.
The most common causes of low GPU usage are:
- CPU Bottleneck Your processor cannot keep up with your graphics card
- Frame Rate Caps VSync, in-game limits, or monitor refresh rate restrictions
- Driver Problems Old or broken graphics drivers
- Power Settings Windows power saving modes throttling performance
- Wrong GPU Selected System using integrated graphics instead of your dedicated card
What GPU Utilization Numbers Mean
The percentage you see in Task Manager or monitoring tools shows how much of your graphics card's processing power is being used right now. Think of it like a car's speedometer, except instead of speed, it shows how hard your GPU is working.
According to testing by Tom's Hardware, a GPU running at 95-99% during gaming is performing as expected. Lower numbers suggest that the graphics card is waiting for something else, which wastes the power you paid for.
| Usage Level | What It Means | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| 90-100% | Ideal, GPU working at full power | Nothing, this is perfect |
| 70-89% | Mild bottleneck somewhere | Check for frame caps or CPU load |
| 50-69% | Significant bottleneck | Likely CPU limited, check settings |
| Below 50% | Severe issue present | Follow troubleshooting steps below |
CPU Bottleneck: The Number One Cause
A CPU bottleneck happens when your processor cannot crunch game data fast enough to feed your graphics card. Your GPU ends up waiting with nothing to do, showing low usage even though it could handle more.
If you want to verify the processor side, see CPU diagnostics and tests.
According to Intel's gaming resources, bottlenecks are especially common when pairing a powerful new graphics card with an older CPU. The processor becomes the traffic jam that stops frames from getting to your screen.
How to Spot a CPU Bottleneck
- CPU usage at 90-100% while GPU stays below 80%
- Lowering graphics settings does not improve frame rates
- Performance drops in CPU-heavy games like strategy or simulation titles
- Stuttering and frame drops in busy areas with lots of characters or objects
- Higher resolutions (like 4K) improve GPU usage compared to 1080p
How to Fix a CPU Bottleneck
- Close background programs Browsers, Discord, and other apps use CPU resources
- Raise your resolution Higher resolutions shift more work to the GPU
- Increase graphics settings Ultra textures and effects push the GPU harder
- Turn off Xbox Game Bar Windows Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar > Off
- Disable Game Mode Windows Settings > Gaming > Game Mode > Off
- Overclock your CPU Only if your cooling supports it
It sounds backwards, but increasing resolution or graphics settings can actually boost frame rates in CPU-bottlenecked systems. Here is why: at low settings, your GPU finishes each frame almost instantly and then waits for the CPU to prepare the next one. By cranking up the visuals, you make each frame take longer to render, giving your CPU time to catch up. The result is better GPU usage and smoother gameplay. This trick works especially well when playing at 1080p on a high-end graphics card paired with a mid-range processor.
Use our bottleneck calculator to check how well your CPU and GPU work together.
Frame Rate Caps Holding You Back
Frame rate limiters tell your GPU to stop working once it hits a certain FPS. If your card can easily hit 144 frames per second but VSync caps it at 60, utilization will drop because there is no reason to work harder.
VSync and How It Affects Usage
VSync locks your frame rate to your monitor's refresh rate to prevent screen tearing. On a 60Hz monitor, your GPU will aim for exactly 60 FPS and no more. This means a powerful graphics card will show low utilization because it is purposely being held back.
According to Nvidia's G-Sync documentation, traditional VSync adds up to 50 milliseconds of input lag in some cases. Variable refresh rate technologies like G-Sync and FreeSync solve this by letting your monitor match the GPU's output instead of forcing the GPU to match the monitor.
Other Frame Limiting Factors
- In-game FPS caps Many games have frame limiters in their settings menus
- Nvidia Control Panel Max Frame Rate setting under Manage 3D Settings
- AMD Radeon Software Frame Rate Target Control (FRTC) feature
- Monitor refresh rate A 60Hz display caps what you can actually see
- RTSS (RivaTuner) Third-party frame limiter often installed with MSI Afterburner
Quick Test
Turn off VSync in both your game settings and graphics driver. Also check for any FPS limit settings. If your GPU usage jumps up, you found the cause. You can then decide whether smooth visuals or maximum performance matters more for that game.
Graphics Driver Problems
Drivers act as the translator between your operating system and your graphics card. When drivers are outdated, corrupted, or installed wrong, your GPU may not receive proper instructions, leading to low utilization and poor performance.
Both Nvidia and AMD release driver updates regularly that can improve performance by 5-15% in newer games, according to their release notes. Missing these updates means missing free performance.
How to Do a Clean Driver Install
- Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU)
- Get DDU from Guru3D (official source)
- Also download the latest driver from Nvidia or AMD before starting
- Boot into Safe Mode
- Hold Shift while clicking Restart
- Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart
- Press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode
- Run DDU and remove old drivers
- Select your GPU brand (Nvidia or AMD)
- Click "Clean and restart"
- Install fresh drivers
- Run the driver installer you downloaded earlier
- Choose "Custom" installation and check "Clean install" if offered
Power Settings Limiting Performance
Windows and your graphics card both have power management features that can throttle performance to save energy. This is especially common on laptops, but desktop systems can be affected too if settings were changed.
Windows Power Settings
- Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options
- Select "High Performance" or "Ultimate Performance" (if available)
- Click "Change plan settings" then "Change advanced power settings"
- Set "PCI Express" > "Link State Power Management" to "Off"
Graphics Card Power Settings
For Nvidia cards:
- Right-click desktop > Nvidia Control Panel
- Go to Manage 3D Settings > Global Settings
- Set "Power management mode" to "Prefer maximum performance"
For AMD cards:
- Right-click desktop > AMD Radeon Software
- Go to Performance > Tuning
- Make sure "Radeon Chill" is disabled
- Check that power settings are not limiting the card
System Using the Wrong Graphics Card
If your computer has both integrated graphics (built into the CPU) and a dedicated graphics card, Windows might pick the wrong one for certain games. This is a common problem on laptops and some prebuilt desktops, resulting in extremely low dedicated GPU usage.
If you are unsure whether your system needs one, see dedicated graphics card guidance.
How to Force Your Dedicated GPU
Windows Graphics Settings (easiest method):
- Press Windows key and type "Graphics settings"
- Click "Browse" and find your game's .exe file
- Click "Options" and select "High performance"
- Click "Save"
Nvidia Control Panel:
- Right-click desktop > Nvidia Control Panel
- Go to Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings
- Add your game and select "High-performance Nvidia processor"
Check your cable connection:
- Your monitor cable must plug into your graphics card, not the motherboard
- Graphics card ports are lower on the back of the case, separate from the USB ports
- Motherboard ports are higher up, near the USB and audio jacks
When Low Usage Is Normal
Not every situation with low GPU usage is a problem. Some games and programs simply do not need much graphics power, and that is okay.
Normal Low Usage Scenarios
- Older games Titles from before 2015 often cannot use modern GPU power
- Esports games Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and League of Legends prioritize high frame rates over graphics quality
- Strategy games Civilization, Total War, and similar games stress the CPU more than GPU
- Menu screens and loading Low usage here is completely normal
- Turn-based games These do not need constant rendering
- Web browsers and office apps Not designed to use GPU power
How to Monitor GPU Usage Correctly
Different monitoring tools can show different numbers. Using the right software helps you get accurate readings and properly diagnose issues.
Recommended Monitoring Tools
- MSI Afterburner Most complete option with on-screen overlay during games
- GPU-Z Detailed sensor data and specifications
- Task Manager Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc, go to Performance tab, click GPU
- HWiNFO64 Detailed system-wide monitoring
Monitoring Tips
Always check utilization during actual gameplay, not in menus or loading screens. Test during intense action scenes for accurate readings. Also compare CPU usage at the same time, since a maxed-out CPU paired with a low-usage GPU is a clear sign of a bottleneck.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Follow these steps in order to find and fix your low GPU usage problem:
- Verify the problem exists
- Monitor GPU and CPU usage during intensive gameplay
- Note your frame rates and whether they feel smooth
- Check if CPU is maxed out while GPU is low
- Remove frame rate limits
- Turn off VSync in game settings
- Disable VSync in Nvidia Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software
- Check for and remove any FPS caps
- Update or reinstall drivers
- Use DDU for a clean installation
- Install the latest version from Nvidia or AMD
- Restart your computer after installing
- Fix Windows settings
- Set power plan to High Performance
- Disable Xbox Game Bar and Game Mode
- Force your game to use the dedicated GPU in Graphics Settings
- Address CPU bottlenecks
- Close unnecessary background programs
- Try increasing resolution or graphics quality
- Consider a CPU upgrade if bottleneck is severe
When You Need a Hardware Upgrade
Sometimes software fixes cannot solve the problem. Here are the hardware issues that cause low GPU usage and what to upgrade:
| Problem | Solution | Expected Result |
|---|---|---|
| Severe CPU bottleneck | Upgrade processor | GPU usage rises to 90%+ |
| Slow RAM (under 16GB or single channel) | Add more RAM or enable dual channel | Smoother frame times |
| Weak power supply | Upgrade PSU wattage | Stable performance under load |
| Thermal throttling | Improve cooling or clean dust | Consistent high usage |
| 60Hz monitor with powerful GPU | Upgrade to 144Hz+ monitor | GPU can work harder |
Getting the Most From Your Graphics Card
Low GPU usage means you are not getting the performance you paid for. In most cases, the fix is free: remove frame rate caps, update drivers, adjust power settings, or close background programs. CPU bottlenecks are harder to solve but can be worked around by raising resolution or graphics quality.
The goal is seeing 90-100% GPU utilization during gaming. Once you hit those numbers, your graphics card is doing its job and giving you the best frame rates your system can deliver.
For more help balancing your system, check out our FPS calculator and upgrade planning tool.
