Counter Strike: GO isn't utilizing my GPU at full capacity.
Counter Strike: GO isn't utilizing my GPU at full capacity.
My CPU is a Core 2 Quad Q8200 and I recently added an AMD 6870 to the system. It’s causing a significant limitation for the GPU in other titles. Games like Watch Dogs, Assassin's Creed 4 and Battlefield 3 show this clearly—the CPU stays at 90-100% while the GPU operates between 30-55%. This makes it evident that the CPU is the main constraint. Yet, in CS: GO there’s no such issue. The average usage is around 68% overall, with each core handling between 50-80%. Sometimes all cores together drop to just 45%. My CPU seems capable of handling the latest Source engine version, but the GPU still lags around 45-55%. Why isn’t it utilizing its full potential?
Turn on V-Sync for smoother performance. Your GPU usage drops lower. I’m not sure why this happens, but would you like to go beyond 100 FPS?
Check the GPU you're using and note the current FPS of the game. This information should help with troubleshooting on the forum.
CS:GO isn't super tough on your graphics card—it just indicates it can handle the game at full performance.
With a 144Hz display, 100fps feels too slow. The GPU seems stuck at around 48% usage, even though the CPU isn’t limiting performance. Definitely, shooting for 200fps at high utilization would be a better choice than 100fps at half capacity.
If that were true, it would be a major design mistake. Buying a 144Hz monitor wouldn't let you enjoy the advantages of a high refresh rate, even though my GPU can handle much more than 144fps when it runs at higher efficiency (90-99%). However, I don't think this is happening. The GPU model is 6870. I shared that information in the earlier post. The game runs between 80-120fps, and at the time of the photo, "D3D9" was showing 101.6 FPS.
I've noticed the frame rate can reach up to 140fps on my GPU, which means the game engine isn't limited. Higher frame rates also cut down input lag. Even with 60Hz displays, it matters whether your game runs at 60 or 200 fps. As far as I understand, CS:GO is restricted to around 300fps. So I'm well beyond the cap.