F5F Stay Refreshed Software PC Gaming Playing games with constant zero usage

Playing games with constant zero usage

Playing games with constant zero usage

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AlphaKitty2000
Junior Member
48
05-20-2026, 01:19 PM
#1
I have a problem when I play games my graphics card shows up as having no usage. This started after I cleaned it out. I checked all the connections and they look fine, but I don't know what's wrong. My computer specs are: CPU is an Intel i3 10100, GPU is a GT 1030, the motherboard is GIGABYTE B460M DS3H, and I have 8GB of RAM.
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AlphaKitty2000
05-20-2026, 01:19 PM #1

I have a problem when I play games my graphics card shows up as having no usage. This started after I cleaned it out. I checked all the connections and they look fine, but I don't know what's wrong. My computer specs are: CPU is an Intel i3 10100, GPU is a GT 1030, the motherboard is GIGABYTE B460M DS3H, and I have 8GB of RAM.

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MineWorst
Junior Member
22
05-20-2026, 10:46 PM
#2
which graphics card has zero percent of the igpu or the gt 1030?
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MineWorst
05-20-2026, 10:46 PM #2

which graphics card has zero percent of the igpu or the gt 1030?

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_Ninguem_
Member
140
05-22-2026, 09:24 PM
#3
if something goes wrong just a little bit, that's not a big deal. if you don't see any graphics coming out at all, that means the specific video card you think works isn't turned on. right now nvidia doesn't decide which one gets picked. actually click this menu inside the graphics settings and it will say windows controls who is in charge. just go to the application list there and move it to use your dedicated or your integrated card instead.
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_Ninguem_
05-22-2026, 09:24 PM #3

if something goes wrong just a little bit, that's not a big deal. if you don't see any graphics coming out at all, that means the specific video card you think works isn't turned on. right now nvidia doesn't decide which one gets picked. actually click this menu inside the graphics settings and it will say windows controls who is in charge. just go to the application list there and move it to use your dedicated or your integrated card instead.

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Taybaybay
Posting Freak
850
05-22-2026, 10:43 PM
#4
I don't know if I need to pick a specific GPU. But after updating my drivers, the problem is still there.
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Taybaybay
05-22-2026, 10:43 PM #4

I don't know if I need to pick a specific GPU. But after updating my drivers, the problem is still there.

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valkyrie115
Member
65
05-29-2026, 11:54 PM
#5
You probably turned off the built-in graphics for some reason. Some folks like that. Do you like it, or not? If you don't like it, you'll have to open up the BIOS and tweak a few settings.
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valkyrie115
05-29-2026, 11:54 PM #5

You probably turned off the built-in graphics for some reason. Some folks like that. Do you like it, or not? If you don't like it, you'll have to open up the BIOS and tweak a few settings.

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warriorcat812
Junior Member
2
06-17-2026, 02:38 AM
#6
Yeah, does that sound better to you?
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warriorcat812
06-17-2026, 02:38 AM #6

Yeah, does that sound better to you?

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ZombieBoss7
Member
77
06-24-2026, 04:19 PM
#7
You use up way more power than other people. New games look super smooth now, but old graphics cards are getting pretty good too. You can actually play Witcher 3 on those built-in graphics. Back when, you could run higher resolutions on them, but today the dedicated ones have gotten a lot better at that. You still get 4K with a new integrated GPU, though if you want to play recent games they're basically the same speed either way. 1080p looks good low power and 1080p runs high power with DLSS.
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ZombieBoss7
06-24-2026, 04:19 PM #7

You use up way more power than other people. New games look super smooth now, but old graphics cards are getting pretty good too. You can actually play Witcher 3 on those built-in graphics. Back when, you could run higher resolutions on them, but today the dedicated ones have gotten a lot better at that. You still get 4K with a new integrated GPU, though if you want to play recent games they're basically the same speed either way. 1080p looks good low power and 1080p runs high power with DLSS.

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Ankkuli_
Member
157
06-24-2026, 06:57 PM
#8
With only 8gb of memory, the RTX 1030 is actually better for newer games. If you have a 12th Gen Intel chip with integrated graphics, they are much better than that 1030 card, especially if you bought the older DDR3 version. The GDDR5 version is great because it uses less power and stays cool. But unfortunately, when you have lots of RAM, your built-in graphics can run old games at high resolutions while the 1030 can't. So there are upsides and downsides to choosing a discrete card like the 1030 if you don't care about playing Witcher 3 or newer titles. But now that 12th Gen chips can do that too, you would need to really think twice before turning on the graphics chip on your 12th Gen computer.
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Ankkuli_
06-24-2026, 06:57 PM #8

With only 8gb of memory, the RTX 1030 is actually better for newer games. If you have a 12th Gen Intel chip with integrated graphics, they are much better than that 1030 card, especially if you bought the older DDR3 version. The GDDR5 version is great because it uses less power and stays cool. But unfortunately, when you have lots of RAM, your built-in graphics can run old games at high resolutions while the 1030 can't. So there are upsides and downsides to choosing a discrete card like the 1030 if you don't care about playing Witcher 3 or newer titles. But now that 12th Gen chips can do that too, you would need to really think twice before turning on the graphics chip on your 12th Gen computer.

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alone_me
Member
180
06-24-2026, 07:09 PM
#9
So, I'll leave it like that right now, but just leaving it doesn't really solve the problem of not enough people using it.
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alone_me
06-24-2026, 07:09 PM #9

So, I'll leave it like that right now, but just leaving it doesn't really solve the problem of not enough people using it.

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226
07-05-2026, 02:17 AM
#10
Try playing a game. If you aren't using much, having it low usage isn't bad as long as you don't need to use it right now. Are you saying the microsoft basic display adapter is on? Check in device manager. Your CPU should be doing more work than usual if that were happening.
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n_tiffanyblue_
07-05-2026, 02:17 AM #10

Try playing a game. If you aren't using much, having it low usage isn't bad as long as you don't need to use it right now. Are you saying the microsoft basic display adapter is on? Check in device manager. Your CPU should be doing more work than usual if that were happening.