Reduce CPU Usage while Gaming
How to Reduce CPU Usage while Gaming?
If you are also one of those gamers who are facing bottlenecking issues, then, just like them, you might also want to know the proper and most authentic way of reducing the CPU usage while gaming. This is a very common problem among gamers that their computer utilizes almost 90-95% of CPU while, on the other hand, the GPU (Keep your GPU cool) is barely used up to 40%.
Related: Reduce CPU Usage
So, if you are stuck with the problem and don’t know how to reduce CPU usage while gaming, then probably the most helpful thing for you is reading this article carefully as it demonstrates how you can do it most conveniently.
Reasons that a Computer has High CPU Usage
Well! There can be many reasons behind this issue. It would be helpful if your first lookout for various reasons and then move ahead to find the solution based upon the issue. Following are some reasons that bottleneck your gaming platform.
Unnecessary 3rd Party Applications
There might be chances that various unnecessary 3rd party applications are running in the background while you are gaming. These applications hog your CPU and interrupt greatly with your gaming experience.
In-Game Settings
Several in-game settings can cause enormous problems for your CPU, and among which this one is the most prominent. If you have set the FPS cap to unlimited while your CPU is not manufactured to handle the high FPS, then this probably can cause the CPU over-usage issue.
Problematic Graphic Drivers
There are chances that you have installed a problematic graphic driver, which is causing this issue in your CPU.
Power-preserving Modes
Check whether the power-saving mode is on in your computer or not. If these modes are enabled, they can cause significant problems in your CPU, especially if you are a hard-core gamer and love to play a lot of games.
Related: Enable Avast Gaming Mode
Corrupted Games
There may also arise the chances that there is no issue at all with your platform’s hardware, but the game you have turned on for playing is corrupted. This corrupted game can cause severe problems in your CPU, and over-usage is one of them.
So, these were some common possible reasons which might bottleneck your CPU while you are gaming. Based on these reasons, you can try out some simple solutions that can make you get rid of the issue most conveniently. Following are some solutions that you can try.
Problem-solving; Reducing the CPU usage While Gaming
Now that you know what reasons might get your CPU to over-usage, you can try out some following solutions to get rid of the problem.
Disable Unnecessary Background Applications
The first important thing that you have to make sure to do is that before you start playing your game on the gaming device, disable all the unnecessary applications that are running in the background of your game.
By doing this, you will relieve the CPU of much burden that it has if running both the applications and your game simultaneously. If you don’t know how to disable unnecessary applications, follow these below-given simple steps:
- Type msconfig and then press Enter after pressing the Windows + R. This will open the System Configuration.
- Select the Service tab to check all Hide all Microsoft services box
- Click on the “Disable” option that you will see there.
- Open Task Manager by pressing the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys.
- Choose all the unnecessary programs that you find running and End tasks by right-clicking on them all.
Solution 2: Uninstall GPU Drivers
Sometimes when the CPU is bottlenecking (Calculate Bottleneck), it can be caused by faulty graphics drivers. You can fix it by uninstalling the faulty drivers (AMD or Nvidia) from your computer and then downloading the drivers from the manufacturer’s website and reinstalling them.
To uninstall the GPU driver, follow the steps given below:
- Open the Run utility again.
- Type devmgmt.msc and then click on OK.
- This will open the Device Manager on your screen.
- Navigate the GPU driver and right-click on it. Then, click on the Uninstall Device option to uninstall the driver.
Once the driver is uninstalled, visit the graphics card’s manufacturer’s website and download the latest available drivers. You now should know how to lower CPU usage in games after this solution.
Solution 3: Change The In-Game Settings
This problem is also known to be caused by the in-game settings not being compatible with your computer’s specifications.
Check if the in-game FPS cap is set to unlimited or set to a higher FPS cap than your CPU can handle. Many gamers have reported that capping the FPS as per the computer system specifications can reduce CPU usage significantly.
Also, if your CPU usage is high, but your GPU usage is low, then try playing at higher graphics settings like High or Ultra. Playing at higher graphics settings pushes the usage load on your GPU from your CPU.
If none of the above settings work, try to play at low graphics settings and see if it does any help.
Solution 4: Disable All Power Preserving Modes
The power preserving modes are useless when your CPU is already getting bottlenecked, and for a gamer, these settings will only hold the CPU’s performance back. So, how to reduce CPU usage while gaming, you ask? Well, by disabling these settings, of course.
To turn off Power preserving modes, follow the given steps:
- First, type cmd in the Windows search bar and right-click on the Command Prompt option that will appear.
- Click on the Run as administrator option from the pop-up menu to open an elevated Command Prompt.
- Now, type shutdown /r /fw in the command prompt and press Enter. Your computer will now restart and then boot into the UEFI Firmware Settings.Command_prompt_Shutdown_boot_into_uefi_firmware
- Turn off any options that are related to power saving, and then again restart your computer normally.
- After the Windows starts up completely, type Power & sleep settings in the Windows search bar and select the appropriate option.
- Click on the Additional power settings below the Related settings section.\ Additional_power_settings_power_and_sleep
- Click on the Change plan settings beside the Balanced (recommended) section.\ Change_blanced_plan_settings
- Now, select the Change advanced power settings option.
- Finally, select the High-performance option from the drop-down menu, and then click on OK.\ High_performance_power_optionsDisabling the power preservation settings should fix the issue of high CPU usage while gaming.
Solution 5: Reinstall The Game That Is Causing The Issue
It may be the case that the issue is with the game installation itself. Sometimes a game can become corrupted and thus cause various problems, including high CPU usage. So, how to reduce CPU usage in games? Reinstalling the game should fix this issue. Follow the steps given below to uninstall the game:
Launch the Run utility again and type appwiz.cpl and then press Enter.
The Program and Features application will open on your screen.
Now, locate your game and right-click on it. Click on the Uninstall option and follow the instructions given to complete the uninstallation process.
Once the game is uninstalled, download it again from official sources and reinstall it. Check if the game is still using a high CPU
Solution 6: Upgrade your Hardware
If none of the above solutions were able to help you, then it is probably time that you upgrade your hardware to a newer edition. Sometimes whatever you may try, it can just come to your hardware not compatible enough to run the game. Sadly when that’s the case, then there is no other option other than to upgrade the hardware.
Wrapping Up
So, now you know how to reduce CPU usage while gaming. Carefully execute the solutions given above, and it should help you with this problem. As always, feel free to leave your thoughts on this article in the comment section below.
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FAQ
What is CPU utilization rate?
CPU utilization rate is a measure of how much of the CPU’s processing power is being used at a given time. It is expressed as a percentage of the CPU’s total capacity.
What are common causes of high CPU utilization rate?
There are several common causes of high CPU utilization rate, including:
1- Running too many programs at once: If you are running a lot of programs or processes simultaneously, it can lead to high CPU utilization.
2- Running resource-intensive programs: Some programs, such as video editing or 3D rendering software, are more resource-intensive and can cause the CPU to work harder.
3- Malware or viruses: Malware or viruses can run in the background and use up CPU resources, leading to high utilization.
4-Overheating: If the CPU is overheating, it may slow down or become less efficient, leading to higher utilization.
How can I reduce my CPU utilization rate?
Here are some ways to reduce your CPU utilization rate:
1- Close unnecessary programs: If you are running a lot of programs that you don’t need, close them to free up CPU resources.
2- Upgrade your hardware: If your CPU is old or underpowered, upgrading to a newer or more powerful CPU can help reduce utilization.
3-Use task manager: Use the task manager in your operating system to see which programs or processes are using the most CPU resources and consider closing or reducing the priority of those that are not essential.
4- Check for malware: Run a malware scan to check for any malicious software that may be using CPU resources.
5- Check for overheating: Make sure your computer is properly cooled and the CPU is not overheating. This may involve cleaning the computer’s fans or adding additional cooling.
Last update on 2023-07-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API Gaming techies is supported by it's awesome community, using the amazon affiliate links on our website helps keeps the lights on! at no additional cost to you.