how to force GPU usage to 100%

Avinoam73 · Oct 8, 2014

hi there!
i've bought an R9-290 a few months ago and whenever i try to play games to GPU usage goes up and down like crazy, and the temps is the same no matter what (63). it doesn't move from there as if the card is programmed to stay on that temp no matter what and that causes the usage to go up and down like crazy. this causes my FPS to be low and unstable. i've been all over the internet looking for a fix for that and even bought a higher res screen (1080p) which didn't help. the only time i see a stable 100% is when the res scale in BF4 is on 200%, and that's unplayable.
can someone please help me????????

hang-the-9 · Oct 8, 2014

The GPU usage will vary depending on what the card is doing. Did you install newer drivers or just use the ones from the box?

SInce you got the 290 I'm guessing your CPU and RAM are also good enough for smooth gaming correct? Power supply is good enough for the 290?

ifreestylin · Oct 8, 2014

What CPU you using?

Avinoam73 · Oct 8, 2014

i'm running the 14.4 driver, FX-8350 stock, 8GB ram and windows 8.1. does the fact that i'm connected via DVI changes anything? also, i was wrong about the temps. it locks it at 72. if there's a way to disable the temp lock i think that'll fix the problem.

ifreestylin · Oct 8, 2014

Avinoam73 :

At 72C your GPU temp is fine and i had fps drops and stuttering when i had my FX 6300. DVI or HDMI wont change anything. Try overclocking your CPU and see if that helps. AMD CPU's have much more FPS drops and stuttering than Intel CPU's.

Avinoam73 · Oct 8, 2014

i'll try OCing the card a bit. also, the 72 temp is LOCKED. it doesn't move from there to anywhere. i'm almost certain that the card locks itself to this temp and makes the usage go up and down to achieve it. if i could find a way to unlock higher temperatures (BTW, on CCC the target GPU temp is set to 95) i'm pretty sure it'll fix the problem.

Ragez234 · Oct 8, 2014

I've never heard of a card that locks the GPU temp. Do you have an article that you read, that is supporting your theory?

Avinoam73 · Oct 8, 2014

no i don't, just the way it looks and by the fact AMD offers this mechanic that allows you to target the temp you'd want your card to stay at, altough mine's currently on 95. also if you see pictures on the internet it's always a straight line on the temp side and spikes on the usage.

for some reason, on single player, the GPU usage is a lot steadier. it pretty much sticks to 97-98-99 and the temp is "locked" on 82.
no idea why.

Ragez234 · Oct 8, 2014

My guess is the driver or AMD software is jacked up. I would try running http://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html in Safe Mode and completely re install your driver software package.

ifreestylin · Oct 8, 2014

Avinoam73 :

97-98-99 is that GPU usage in single player? if so than your CPU is holding back your GPU in multiplayer. Overclock your CPU to lower bottleneck.

Avinoam73 · Oct 8, 2014

yes it is the performance i get on single player. are you sure it's bottlenecking me? i mean i've read about this CPU online and everybody says there's no bottlencek what so ever. also it's not on 100% when i'm playing... anyway i'm downloading the newest driver (14.9) so i'll keep you posted.

ifreestylin · Oct 8, 2014

Avinoam73 :

Try joining an empty maps and run around and see if you get spikes and stuttering if not join a 64 player server on the same map and test again.

Avinoam73 · Oct 8, 2014

ok i joined an empty server, the FPS was high, 61 was the minimum. GPU usage was steady at around 50%. that means it was 48-49-50. CPU usage was at around 74%
switched to a 64 man server, FPS plummeted, GPU usage was jumping from 40's to 70's. CPU usage was around 74%.
updated the driver and i think the performance actually went down a bit but i'm not sure.

Ragez234 · Oct 8, 2014

Try this tool out, http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/. This will stress your GPU, let us know the results of temps and GPU/CPU usage.

Avinoam73 · Oct 8, 2014

ok. what settings should i put in it?

Ragez234 · Oct 8, 2014

Try Benchmark preset 1080 just so it doesn't damage the card.

frag06 · Oct 8, 2014

Avinoam73 :

Make sure you have your computer set to High Performance mode. Also, try unparking your cores with this tool.

Download Core Temp. It will give you the load on each core, which is better than just looking at overall CPU usage.

Avinoam73 · Oct 8, 2014

Fur mark score: 5597 points
resolution: 1080p, FS, AA:0 samples.
55681 frames, 61 FPS, 84°C

the core unpark app only showed number 0 and 1 and both were unparked.
i've downloaded core temp as well.

Avinoam73 · Oct 8, 2014

ok that's odd: i've played BL2 and the usage was going pretty wild as always between 40-66% and so, but whenever i presses Esc and went to the menu, the usage jumped straight to 96% and stayed there. i closed the menu, went back to going wild. same on the main menu: over 95% usage and stable.
this is by far the weirdest problem i went trough.
also, i checked Core temp, only core 0 is under load (88-90%). all of the rest are on 1-10% on BF4 the CPU usage was divided equally between cores and was on about 70%.

definitely lost some frames since the driver update so i think i'll revert back to 14.4

ifreestylin · Oct 8, 2014

Avinoam73 :

Hmm that's weird, have you tried any other games? do you have BF3? if single player works fine i dont see why MP shouldn't.

Avinoam73 · Oct 8, 2014

ok first thing: the GPU usage doesn't go crazy anymore, it stays low and steady, like around 40-60%. BF3 is the same, with an avg of 66%, and bf3's campaign is 100%.

also, the thing with the menus is in BF4 as well: opening the menu (pressing Esc) made the usage go up to a steady 70.
i'm really really confused.

dominirican3351 · Oct 8, 2014

When playing bf4 and testing your gpu load are you by chance using mantle or are you using direct x

ifreestylin · Oct 8, 2014

Avinoam73 :

This is pointing to your CPU Since your GPU is working fine in single player. What settings do you game on?

Avinoam73 · Oct 8, 2014

i game on the highest settings, everything on ultra, FoV on 90, 1080p res. dominirican3351 i test using mantle, but i will try using direct x.
it might be a CPU problem but i don't know how to check. it's not supposed to happen at all, my CPU is VERY powerful, but i guess i've got nothing to lose.
it's not on 100% i'll give you that.

ifreestylin · Oct 8, 2014

Avinoam73 :

Try direct x and let us know. i know you CPU is powerful (had one). On ultra settings your GPU should be around 80-99%.

My 7870 on ultra with AA and Ambient occlusion turned off, GPU is around 80-99% 97-98% most of the time on 64 player siege of shanghai and CPU 70-95% (cores) with fps 60+ most of the time

how to force GPU usage to 100%

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