High CPU activity on your GTX 1660 Ti device
High CPU activity on your GTX 1660 Ti device
Hello everyone, I just upgraded my system with a NVIDIA gtx 1660 ti from the 970 model. It’s functioning properly, but I’ve noticed the CPU is handling more load than expected. While most games run smoothly, there are some problems (see below). I’m concerned that putting all the strain on the CPU could damage it. My CPU is an i7-4790. Should I revert to the 970 and save the 1660 for a more powerful CPU? GTA V works well, but it lags noticeably during intense GPU usage—around 40-50 seconds at high settings, and CPU spikes to 70s-80s during gameplay. Hitman 2 stutters with the GPU at 98% on the title screen, and both high and medium settings cause GPU usage in the 90s while CPU usage dips to 50-60 during gameplay. Watchdogs 2 shows high GPU and CPU activity, often reaching 90s or higher.
Possible reasons might include your game configurations. Avoid setting them to Ultra. Med/High on Triple AAA titles if your CPU is outdated.
It seems the Maxwell drivers might not have been fully removed. I performed a nearly the same upgrade—switching from an i7-4790 (after removing 200 MHz) with a GTX 970 to the same CPU paired with a GTX 1660 Super. Although performance gains weren’t dramatic, it still improved the system by about 40% to 50%. Probably wasn’t worth such a minor CPU change, but the GTX 970 failed. The power supply also might be the issue, as the GTX 1660 Ti consumes less power than the GTX 970.
Your processor is quite outdated now, which explains why the games you mentioned are running a bit slowly. It’s only a quad-core machine with a lower clock speed and older design. Still, for GTA V it’s best to lower all the "Advanced Graphics" settings to minimum or off. These options can significantly reduce performance. Also, share your full system details—it might be that you lack sufficient RAM (like 8 gigabytes or more is ideal)—or your mechanical hard drive is causing delays in loading game files, leading to occasional stutters. This is just an educated guess; I’d say it’s likely a mix of a weaker CPU, insufficient memory, and/or slower storage. Please send the rest of your system specs so we can get a clearer understanding.
Hello once more, everyone. Appreciate all your feedback. To address some of your comments, I’ll ensure my games run at lower settings—primarily the three titles that seem affected. I performed a fresh installation of the drivers, though I’m unsure if other adjustments are needed. My overall PC setup includes 16 GB RAM (ADATA XPG), an 850W power supply (Thermallake ToughPower Grand), and a Corsair H57 CPU cooler.
It seems you experienced a stable setup before, possibly with some GPU limitations. With the new GPU, the main constraint has moved more to the CPU side, mainly affecting performance in lower details or reduced gaming resolution. To improve things, adjust settings to reduce the workload on the CPU—focus on lowering effects that draw more resources before those adding textures, shadows, reflections, and lighting.
It seems like the problem might have been resolved with my 970, but I thought it was time to upgrade after five years of using this PC. I plan to check my games and adjust some settings.