GPU/CPU Load
GPU/CPU Load
I have a 3060ti with an i7 8700k OC to 4.7ghz and 16GB DDR4 RAM. When playing certain games at 1080p, my GPU usage drops to around 60-80%, depending on the location and CPU performance. At higher resolutions like 1440p, the GPU stays above the CPU but usually hovers between 80-100%. After switching to 1660p, my GPU usage stays in the 90s while CPU usage is 70-80%. This behavior seems normal for those settings. Red Dead Redemption 2 and Rocket League are running smoothly at 1080p with fluctuating usage, which is typical. It’s possible you’re not hitting a bottleneck, or the settings are just matching your hardware efficiently.
CPU → Engine GPU → Monitor → Tires. The engine can deliver a lot, but if the transmissions are bad, the tires won’t get the power or move efficiently. Transmission can be tricky, but if the engine isn’t strong, it just handles whatever it gets. If the tires are poor, even a great engine and transmission won’t do much.
It looks like you're facing a CPU limitation at high resolutions. Most of the processing is handled by the GPU, so the CPU usage shouldn't be a major issue. How much CPU are your background programs consuming? Are you using dual or single-channel RAM? I recommend trying to overclock the CPU, aiming for higher speeds. Consider replacing the existing thermal paste with Delid and switching to liquid metal if you haven't already. Upgrading the cooler might be necessary, but if you already have a solid air or AIO cooler, you probably don't need it. Regarding voltages, Intel's 14nm spec allows up to 1.52V, so you can generally ignore voltage risks until you reach around 5GHz, provided your cooling and CPU support it. Keep temperatures below 80°C, but aim for under 75°C at voltages above 1.45V or 70°C for stability reasons.
You can keep your settings as they are. The GPUZ monitor shows normal behavior, and the dips you see are likely due to game loading or performance spikes rather than hardware issues. No need to adjust voltage or LLC unless you notice consistent problems.
You don’t need to stress about it—everything seems typical. Just let it pass without overthinking, as it’s just a normal occurrence now and then.
IMO yeah just play and don't worry about it. Some games are gonna just stutter; other times it can be memory related, or others it can be frame caps, it really depends. There's also always going to be a small amount of low fps....it just happens on every system. It's why reviewers include 1% and .1% lows in their metrics. Do you have a specific game where it happens?
It's true, performance varies based on location and situation. Sometimes I encounter towns, other times I don’t, usually landing in Saint Denis, the main city. Rocket League happens occasionally but it rarely impacts gameplay. I’m currently playing on dx11 with 3000mhz DDR4 RAM, so it seems like a stable setup. During Heaven Benchmark tests, my GPU usage stays near 100% until it drops to around 80% when the view zooms out, showing many islands. I’m confident this is just my CPU limiting things rather than the hardware itself.