It can feel like a mystery when your GPU and CPU aren’t 100% usable but still experiencing low FPS.
If your GPU and CPU aren’t at 100% but you’re getting low FPS, it could be due to outdated BIOS, bottlenecks, or poor optimization. Update your motherboard BIOS, check for driver updates, and balance in-game settings for better performance.
This guide will break down the common causes and provide simple, actionable solutions to help you fix the problem. These tips will help you get the most out of your system, whether gaming or working.
Understanding the Basics: GPU, CPU, and FPS
Before diving into the causes and fixes, it’s essential to understand the roles of the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), CPU (Central Processing Unit), and FPS in your system’s performance.
- GPU: The GPU is responsible for rendering graphics and handling tasks like shading, texturing, and rendering frames. In gaming, a powerful GPU ensures smooth visuals and high frame rates.
- CPU: The CPU manages general computing tasks, including game logic, physics calculations, and AI processing. It also coordinates communication between the GPU and other components.
- FPS: Frames per second (FPS) measures how many frames your system can render and display in one second. Higher FPS results in smoother gameplay, while low FPS can cause stuttering and lag.
Ideally, during intensive tasks like gaming, your GPU and CPU should work together efficiently, with one or both nearing 100% usage. However, if you’re experiencing low FPS despite low GPU and CPU usage, your system likely has a bottleneck or misconfiguration.
Common Causes of Low FPS Despite Low GPU and CPU Usage
After analyzing the top 10 Google SERP results and user discussions, here are the most common reasons for this issue:
1. CPU or GPU Bottleneck
- A bottleneck occurs when one component limits the performance of another. For example, if your CPU is too weak to keep up with your GPU, the GPU won’t be fully utilized, resulting in low FPS.
- Similarly, if your GPU is underpowered compared to your CPU, the CPU won’t have enough work to do, leading to low usage and low FPS.
2. Driver Issues
- Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers can prevent your hardware from functioning optimally. This can lead to low FPS even if your GPU and CPU aren’t fully utilized.
3. Background Processes and Software
- Background applications, such as antivirus software, browser tabs, or streaming services, can consume system resources and reduce available power for gaming or other tasks.
4. Thermal Throttling
- Overheating can cause your CPU or GPU to throttle their performance to prevent damage. This results in lower usage and reduced FPS.
5. Power Settings
- Incorrect power settings in your operating system or BIOS can limit the performance of your CPU and GPU, causing low usage and low FPS.
6. Game or Application Optimization
- Poorly optimized games or applications may not fully utilize your hardware, leading to low FPS despite low GPU and CPU usage.
7. RAM or Storage Bottlenecks
- Insufficient RAM or slow storage (e.g., HDD instead of SSD) can cause performance issues as your system struggles to load assets and data quickly.
8. Resolution and Graphics Settings
- Running games at extremely high resolutions or with demanding graphics settings can strain your GPU, while low settings may not provide enough work for your CPU.
9. VSync and Frame Rate Limiters
- VSync and frame rate limiters can cap your FPS to match your monitor’s refresh rate, resulting in lower GPU and CPU usage.
10. Hardware Compatibility Issues
- Incompatible or outdated hardware components can cause performance issues, even if your GPU and CPU are not fully utilized.
How to Fix Low FPS Despite Low GPU and CPU Usage
Now that we’ve identified the potential causes let’s explore the solutions to fix low FPS and optimize your system.
1. Check for Bottlenecks
- Use monitoring tools like MSI Afterburner, HWMonitor, or Task Manager to identify bottlenecks. If your CPU usage is consistently high while GPU usage is low, your CPU may be the bottleneck. Conversely, if GPU usage is high and CPU usage is low, your GPU may be the bottleneck.
- Upgrade the bottlenecked component if necessary. For example, consider upgrading to a faster processor if your CPU is the bottleneck.
2. Update Drivers
- Ensure your GPU drivers are up to date. Visit the official website of your GPU manufacturer (e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) to download the latest drivers.
- Also, update your chipset and other system drivers to ensure optimal performance.
3. Close Background Processes
- Use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to identify and close unnecessary background processes. Disable startup programs that consume resources.
- Consider using a dedicated gaming mode or software to prioritize gaming performance.
4. Monitor Temperatures
- Use tools like HWMonitor or Core Temp to check your CPU and GPU temperatures. If temperatures are too high, clean your system’s cooling components, reapply thermal paste, or upgrade your cooling solution.
5. Adjust Power Settings
- In Windows, go to Control Panel > Power Options and select the High Performance Power Plan.
- In your BIOS, ensure that power-saving features like Intel SpeedStep or AMD Cool’n’Quiet are disabled.
6. Optimize Game Settings
- Adjust in-game graphics settings to balance performance and visual quality. Lower settings like shadows, anti-aliasing, and texture quality can significantly improve FPS.
- Experiment with resolution scaling to reduce the load on your GPU.
7. Upgrade RAM and Storage
- Ensure you have at least 16GB of RAM for modern gaming. If you’re using an HDD, consider upgrading to an SSD for faster load times and improved performance.
8. Disable VSync and Frame Rate Limiters
- Disable VSync and frame rate limiters in your game settings or GPU control panel to allow your GPU to render frames freely.
9. Check for Hardware Compatibility
- Ensure all your hardware components are compatible and up to date. Check for BIOS updates for your motherboard and firmware updates for your GPU.
10. Reinstall or Repair Games
- If the issue is specific to a particular game, try reinstalling or repairing it. Corrupted game files can cause performance issues.
Advanced Optimization Tips
For users who want to squeeze every bit of performance out of their system, here are some advanced tips:
1. Overclocking
- Overclock your CPU and GPU to increase their performance. Use tools like MSI Afterburner for GPU overclocking and BIOS settings for CPU overclocking. Be cautious and monitor temperatures to avoid damage.
2. Enable XMP/DOCP
- Enable XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) or DOCP (Direct Overclock Profile) in your BIOS to optimize your RAM’s performance.
3. Use Game Mode in Windows
- Enable Game Mode in Windows by going to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. This prioritizes gaming performance and reduces background activity.
4. Optimize NVIDIA/AMD Control Panel Settings
- Adjust settings like texture filtering, power management mode, and shader cache in your GPU control panel for better performance.
5. Clean Install Windows
- A clean installation of Windows can resolve deep-seated software issues and improve overall performance.
GPU and CPU Not at 100 but Low FPS Gaming
If your GPU and CPU aren’t 100%, but you still get low FPS in games, it could be due to bottlenecks, outdated drivers, or poor game optimization. Check for background apps, update drivers, and adjust in-game settings to fix the issue.
GPU and CPU Not at 100 but Low FPS Laptop
Laptops often experience low FPS issues due to power-saving modes, overheating, or weak hardware. To improve gaming performance, ensure your laptop is set to high-performance mode, clean the cooling system, and close unnecessary apps.
CPU and GPU Not Fully Utilized
When your CPU and GPU aren’t fully used, it may be because of bottlenecks, software limits, or incorrect settings. To maximize performance, check for driver updates, adjust power plans, and ensure your hardware is compatible.
Low CPU and GPU Usage in Games
Frame limiters, poor optimization, or background tasks can cause low CPU and GPU game usage. To ensure your hardware is working efficiently, disable VSync, update drivers, and tweak game settings.
Why Is My CPU Usage So Low When Gaming
Low CPU usage during gaming can occur if the game relies more on the GPU or has optimization issues. Check for bottlenecks, update drivers, and adjust game settings to balance your CPU and GPU load.
Low FPS/Not Maxed Out with Low CPU and GPU Usage
If your FPS is low but CPU and GPU usage isn’t maxed out, it could be due to bottlenecks, background apps, or poor game optimization. Update drivers, close unnecessary programs, and adjust game settings to fix the issue.
CPU/GPU Not at 100% Utilization, Getting FPS Drops
FPS drops with low CPU/GPU usage often occur because of thermal throttling, power settings, or software limits. To stabilize your FPS, check temperatures, set your system to high-performance mode, and disable frame limiters.
FPS Below 60, and CPU/GPU Not Reaching 100% in Games
When FPS stays below 60, and CPU/GPU usage is low, it might be due to VSync, outdated drivers, or weak hardware. Disable VSync, update drivers and ensure your system meets the game’s requirements for better performance.
Low GPU and CPU Usage Yet Low-ish Frames and Major FPS Stutters
Background processes, driver issues, or game bugs can cause low GPU/CPU usage with stutters and low frames. To reduce stutters and improve FPS, close background apps, update drivers, and verify game files.
FAQs
1. Why Am I Getting Low FPS with Low GPU and CPU Usage?
Low FPS with low usage can be caused by bottlenecks, background apps, or poor optimization. To fix this, update drivers, close unnecessary programs, and adjust game settings.
2. Why Is My GPU and CPU Usage Not 100%?
Your GPU and CPU may not hit 100% due to bottlenecks, power limits, or software caps. Check for outdated drivers, adjust power settings, and balance your hardware.
3. Why Is My FPS So Low Even Though I Have a Good Graphics Card?
Low FPS with a good GPU can be caused by CPU bottlenecks, outdated drivers, or high in-game settings. Lower settings, update drivers and check for background apps.
4. Should My CPU and GPU Be at 100%?
Not always. Ideally, one should be near 100% during gaming, but both don’t need to be. If neither is maxed out, there may be a bottleneck or optimization issue.
5. How to Know If CPU Is Bottlenecking GPU?
If your CPU usage is high while GPU usage is low, your CPU is likely bottlenecking. Upgrade your CPU or lower CPU-intensive settings to balance performance.
6. Why Is My PC Good but Low FPS?
Even with a good PC, low FPS can occur due to outdated drivers, background apps, or poor game optimization. Update drivers, close unnecessary programs, and tweak game settings.
7. Why Is My PC Not Getting Full FPS?
Your PC may not reach full FPS due to VSync, frame limiters, or bottlenecks. To improve performance, disable VSync, update drivers, and ensure your hardware is properly balanced.
8. Why Is Only 30% of My GPU Being Used?
Low GPU usage can result from CPU bottlenecks, power settings, or software limits. Check for outdated drivers, adjust power plans, and ensure your CPU isn’t holding back the GPU.
Conclusion
If your GPU and CPU aren’t at 100% but experiencing low FPS, the issue often lies in bottlenecks, outdated drivers, or poor optimization. Update drivers, adjust settings, and ensure hardware compatibility to fix the problem and enjoy smoother performance in games and applications.
