Game CPU Usage: Seeking Advice
Game CPU Usage: Seeking Advice
My GTX 1050 consistently operates at approximately 60% utilization when running GTA V with a vsync limit of 60fps, while my Ryzen 3 1200 processor reaches 100% and the game experiences stuttering. When I disable vsync, I achieve approximately 85 fps with my GPU peaking at 80%, though the CPU remains fully utilized, resulting in more stable frame rates.
Do these belong to you? Thank you for sharing them!! They clearly illustrate the severity of the problem. Origins would be acceptable, but once you reach the first city (Iwsa?) CPU usage spikes dramatically. Division, as you noted, is problematic along with other PvP games where high frame rates are a significant advantage. Stuttering isn’t my primary concern; excessive CPU usage is, leaving insufficient resources for other demanding processes. If I stream or record using x264 encoding, stuttering frequently occurs. Switching to a GPU encoder would be necessary, though the quality is noticeably improved with x264. It was worse on an i5, but I initially believed that the increased cores and IPC of the 8700k would mitigate this issue. I suspect that those with 9900k processors do not encounter this problem, assuming AMD’s 8-core CPUs don't either.
GTA feels like a problematic child. Similar games with PvP don’t require extensive tweaking; I prioritize maximum frame rate over visual quality. Siege is an example. While CPU load might decrease, it’s not as severe as in Division or WD2.
I found your suggestions helpful and restored faith in humanity—seriously, I implemented both recommendations. I disabled HPET, although its effectiveness is uncertain due to a lack of substantial improvement. However, I adjusted graphical settings in several games to shift the workload towards the GPU:
AC Origins: I maximized everything at 1440p, emphasizing full GPU load. CPU usage improved slightly. Then, I utilized the maximum preset (removing motion blur) and observed that CPU utilization remained below 66%. It’s still somewhat high, but a noticeable improvement compared to TerryLaze's benchmarks. GPU load fluctuated between 78-100% while moving, while CPU usage stayed below 66%. I plan to continue testing. I also experimented with 4K resolution, though CPU load was reduced further and frame rates were unacceptably low (30-45fps, with 65-70 fps).
Division: This game initiated the process. I applied similar adjustments to visual settings, resulting in CPU usage consistently below 63% with occasional stuttering. Enabling/disabling VSync, enabling/disabling reduce latency settings, and adjusting other game-specific settings resolved the stuttering. The frame rate averaged 80-90 fps.
Far Cry Primal/Far Cry 5: These games exhibited relatively modest CPU load reductions compared to the other titles.
WatchDogs 2: This game’s optimization is especially problematic, which is disappointing given my enjoyment of the game. I cycled between 4K and 1440p resolutions, adjusted presets, enabled/disabled VSync, maximized shadows, and lowered other settings. Each time, the CPU load spiked to 96% for approximately 5-7 seconds before returning to 75-78%, resulting in a frame rate of 53-61 fps. The engine demands excessive CPU resources.
Further testing is required for certain games, but these initial findings represent a significant advancement. It’s encouraging to see a viable solution presented for the first time, and I extend my gratitude to you and all contributors. Any additional suggestions are welcome; I’d appreciate hearing from others! Thank you!!