GPU utilization/bottleneck question.

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Pavel Pokidaylo

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Hey guys. I've been monitoring my GPU usage in a number of games and some games I see it at 99% or 100%. It drops sometimes but then goes back up. However, in other games, I don't see it hit 99% or 100%. It will get to like 70% or 80%. Here are a few examples. I usually see 100% in Crysis 3 with ocassional dips but for the most part it's at 100%. Witcher 2 usually gets to 100% but there are areas where it just wont go that high. It can be an area where I am at 60fps so it doesn't need to be at 100%? Or it can be in an area where I'm at 45fps and the usage is at say 60%. I'll need to check again but I'm pretty sure there were some games that just wouldn't reach 100% and the fps was not at 60.
 
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burdenbound


Not every part of the game requires the same amount of resources. Depending on your location, field of view, number of enemies on screen/other players will require more or less CPU and or GPU power. I wouldn't worry about it too much, your CPU and GPU usage is going to fluctuate as you play, it will never stay constant throughout your entire play time.
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burdenbound

burdenbound

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If you have vsync turned on and your at 60 fps your GPU may not be under full load because it doesn't need to be to maintain the 60fps. If your GPU is at full load but your not at your vsync cap it is usually because your CPU is not able to provide the GPU the data quick enough i.e. CPU maxed out/bottlenecking the GPU.
 
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Pavel Pokidaylo

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Hey thanks for the reply. In regards to your first answer that's exactly what I thought it was.

For the second part of your answer. I thought that if my GPU usage was at 100% it meant that it wasn't being bottlenecked even if it wasn't at the vsync cap. I mean I was told that if the GPU usage is at or near 100% then there is no bottleneck.

Also what about when I'm not at the vsync cap and the GPU is not at 100% usage?
 
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burdenbound

burdenbound

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You are correct. If you are at the vsync cap and GPU is not at 100% that means your system is strong enough to hit the 60fps and beyond but since it doesn't need to go beyond it doesn't go up to 100%. It's like a speed limit on the road, once you hit the 75mph your car doesn't need to use all it's power to maintain that speed.
 
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burdenbound

burdenbound

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If your GPU is at 100% but you are not at your vsync cap it means your GPU just isn't strong enough to get you any more fps. If your gpu is not at 100% and you are not at your vsync cap it means your CPU is limiting you.
 
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Pavel Pokidaylo

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THanks for the replys guys.

Burden- Again, in regards to the first part of your answer, my thoughts exactly. As for the second part of your answer, the reason I'm so confused is that the GPU reaches 100% in some games or some parts of games but then in other games or other parts of the same games it does not reach 100%.
 
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Pavel Pokidaylo

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I mean when I play Crysis 3 for example, I do see 100% usage on the GPU but it does drop sometimes. What does this mean? Is there absolutely no bottleneck in my rig? Or does this mean that sometimes it bottlenecks and other times it does not? I'm so confused =/
 
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burdenbound

burdenbound

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Not every part of the game requires the same amount of resources. Depending on your location, field of view, number of enemies on screen/other players will require more or less CPU and or GPU power. I wouldn't worry about it too much, your CPU and GPU usage is going to fluctuate as you play, it will never stay constant throughout your entire play time.
 
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