GPU Usage Drops 100% to 0% – How to Stop Your GPU From Dropping to 0% Usage?

There’re many users around the world who’re facing a problem with GPU usage. According to their opinion while heavy tasking or gaming, all of a sudden the GPU usage drops 100% to 0%.

This is quite abnormal because when you’re doing any critical task or playing intensive games, the GPU usage has to remain at the top or higher level. 

When GPU usage is at a low percentage that indicates the GPU isn’t performing at its best. Overall it’s not a good sign.

If you’re also a victim of this problem, then don’t worry. We’re here to suggest you some effective solutions to get out of this annoyance.

Why the GPU Usage Drops from 100% to 0%?

GPU plays an important role while performing graphics-concentrated tasks by increasing FPS. Such as gaming or media editing etc. 

So, when the GPU fails to support, the CPU has to take the processing load. That’s when the performance becomes poor or unstable. 

There’re a number of possible reasons that are to blame for this occurrence. They can be related to software or hardware or both. Have a look –

• Overclocking
• Active unnecessary services
• Improper GPU setting
• Defective CrossFire / SLI
• CPU bottleneck
• Faulty video driver
• Power-saving mode
• Antivirus Background Activity
• Use of integrated GPU
• Improper game settings, etc.

How Do I Bring Back GPU Usage to 100%?

As you’ve got a basic idea about the causes behind the problem, now it’s high time to know about the related solutions. Applying them should result in fixing all the causes and getting rid of this issue.  

So, without any further ado, keep reading.

1. Avoid Using Integrated GPU

It’s the GPU that comes with the motherboard. It’s usually not as much power as a dedicated GPU. So, you need to disable the integrated GPU from BIOS.

In order to do so, start by going to the BIOS. If you don’t know how to go there, click here. Now,

Step 1: Search for the option Graphics Device / Internal Graphics.

Step 2: It should remain as Auto / Integrated. 

Step 3: Alter the setting to Dedicated Graphics / Disable.

2. Disable Unnecessary Services

It’ll help to prevent unnecessary services from interfering.

Step 1: Search for System Configuration in the search bar and open it.

Step 2: Go to the Services tab and mark the box for Hide all Microsoft services.

Step 3: Select the Disable all option.

Step 4: Now, go to the Startup tab and go for Open Task Manager.

Step 5: Disable the programs by right-clicking on them.

3. Reinstall Video Driver

Whether your video driver is outdated or faulty, the perfect solution is to reinstall it. 

Step 1: Right-click on the Start menu.

Step 2: Select Device Manager.

Step 3: Expand the Display adapters section.

Step 4: Now, right-click on the graphics/video driver to uninstall it. 

Step 5: Then, mark the Delete the driver software for this device option and also uninstall it.

Step 6: Close Device Manager and restart the computer.

The operating system will install the latest driver update for you.

4. Maintain Default Clock Rate

It’s undeniable that if the clock rate is higher then the system performance becomes better. But eventually, it’ll overheat the CPU, which can harm the GPU. So, in order to default it –

Step 1: Open the BIOS setting and go to the setup utilities.

Step 2: To set the clock rate as Factory Default, press the F9 key.

Step 3: Save the setting and restart your computer.

5. Disable Antivirus Protection

Sometimes antivirus programs are intended to perform full system scanning in the background. When you’re doing demanding tasks and it starts in the background, then it can lower the GPU usage. 

If you’re using any third-party antivirus then you can disable the background scanning according to your antivirus setting. Check on the internet if you don’t know how to do that from its official page or forum.

Or if you’re using the Windows Defender, then –

Step 1: Search for Windows Security in the search bar and open it.

Step 2: Go to the Virus & threat protection section.

Step 3: Scroll down a little bit and select Manage settings.

Step 4: Now, toggle off the Real-time protection to disable it.

Otherwise, you can –

Step 1: Search for Windows PowerShell.

Step 2: When it appears in the search result, right-click on it and choose Run as administrator.

Step 3: Now, put the command Set-MpPreference-DisableRealtimeMonitoring 1 and hit Enter.

NOTE: When you want to enable it, just type the command and replace the 1 with 0.

6. Enable GPU Performance Mode

Based on NVIDIA and AMD, the procedures are different in two ways. Here’re them one by one –

For AMD,

Step 1: Go to the search bar and search AMD Radeon Software.

Step 2: Select Gaming and then Global Graphics.

Step 3: Disable Radeon Chill.

Step 4: Select Advanced.

Step 5: Now, disable all these functions –

• 10-Bit Pixel Format
• OpenGL Triple Buffering
• Anisotropic Filtering
• Morphological Anti-Aliasing
• Frame rate target control

Step 5: Set it to Performance at Texture Filtering Quality.

Step 6: Now, enable Surface Format Optimization.

Step 7: Set it to Graphics at GPU Workload.

For NVIDIA,

Step 1: Right-click on your desktop and go for NVIDIA Control Panel.

Step 2: Locate and click on Use the advanced 3D image settings.

Step 3: After that, go for Take me there.

Step 4: Now, change the setting as instructed below –

• CUDA – GPUs -> All
• Low Latency Mode -> On
• GPU -> OpenGL Rendering GPU
• Power Management Mode -> Prefer Maximum Performance
• Shader Cache -> On
• Texture filtering – Quality -> High Performance
• Threaded optimization -> Auto

Step 5: Finally click Apply to save it.

7. Optimize Game Settings

That’s an easy task to do.

Step 1: Go to the Game Settings.

Step 2: Select Display Settings.

Step 3: Set it to Windowed borderless or Windowed mode in gaming mode.

Moreover, disable the graphical utilities that are based on CPU along with CPU Antialiasing and VSync.

8. Disable Power-saving Mode

Try disabling the power-saving modes to ensure higher GPU usage. To do so –

Step 1: Press and hold down Win + R and open the Run window.

Step 2: Then, type powercfg.cpl and go for it to bring up Power Options.

Step 3: Now, select High Performance from the Preferred plans.

It’ll automatically disable the power-saving mode.

9. Upgrade the CPU

Basically, in case of a CPU bottleneck, the best solution is to upgrade your CPU with the best and upgraded components. Though it can be pretty expensive in a way, it’ll be worth it by giving you extreme performance.

10. Recover CrossFire / SLI Issue

When there’s a fault in the HB Bridge, this issue occurs. Even if you’re using several graphics cards on AMD CrossFire or NVIDIA SLI, you’ll still face lower GPU usage.

You can restore the HB Bridge by resetting it or try updating the video driver to the latest version.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is GPU usage 100% considered normal?

Yes, of course. Actually, it’s a good sign. It means that your GPU is performing at its highest level and supporting you at its best. That’s why you can play games faster and smoother.

What is the fix for 100% GPU usage in idle status?

You can fix this error by taking these steps –

• Boot your PC in Safe Mode.
• Update the video driver.
• Reinstall the video driver.
• Disable unwanted background programs.

How much time a GPU can perform at 100%?

There’s no specific or certain period for this. It can run longer or shorter according to your GPU model and components. But it can be suggested that it’ll run until there’s any kind of component failure such as thermal compound, fan, voltage regulator, etc.

What is the average lifespan of a GPU?

Generally, an average GPU can last for approximately 7 years if you use it moderately or 5 years if you use it intensively. If it’s a stronger GPU and it’ll last a few more years. Else, it can be decreased in less than 5 years.

Conclusion

So far, we’ve tried to provide you with overall information about this issue. If you can successfully execute the aforementioned methods, then they’ll surely help you to get out of this mess. Hope that you find this article useful.