High CPU usage low GPU usage i5 6600k gtx 1070

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RAYG11

Commendable
Oct 10, 2016
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I am using an i5 6600k @4.5Ghz and a gtx 1070, stock to play games such as overwatch and r6 siege. According to msi afterburner, I have high CPU usage (80% to 99%) and low , fluctuating GPU usage (20% to 60%). Both games I am running at the low settings, 1440p (turning down res made no difference to fps). I am normally getting around 100fps in both games. I would assume this is some kind of CPU bottleneck/throttling issue however from what I've heard this CPU is fine with this GPU. Any help to get more fps in game would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :)
Note: Before anyone asks, yes it's a 144hz monitor.
 
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In a lot of modern titles, the i5, having 4 cores and 1 thread per core, is seeing very high CPU usage. This is normal and to be expected. Titles that are well threaded can use more than 4 cores and as such will benefit from more CPU resources being available.

In your situation, it sounds like your CPU is the limiting factor. You can either upgrade it to an i7 which will give you Hyperthreading, doubling your usable thread count, or see if your i5 will clock higher. The only other option is to switch platforms to AMD, which would yield essentially the same result as upgrading to the i7, by increasing your core count. I would personally consider the i7 upgrade after exhausting any further overclocking headroom, as it appears to be the...
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bigpinkdragon286

Splendid
Oct 3, 2012
4,648
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In a lot of modern titles, the i5, having 4 cores and 1 thread per core, is seeing very high CPU usage. This is normal and to be expected. Titles that are well threaded can use more than 4 cores and as such will benefit from more CPU resources being available.

In your situation, it sounds like your CPU is the limiting factor. You can either upgrade it to an i7 which will give you Hyperthreading, doubling your usable thread count, or see if your i5 will clock higher. The only other option is to switch platforms to AMD, which would yield essentially the same result as upgrading to the i7, by increasing your core count. I would personally consider the i7 upgrade after exhausting any further overclocking headroom, as it appears to be the best value available in your given situation.
 
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jakubek160

jakubek160

Respectable
May 22, 2017
634
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Try to reinstall your system it helps with the drivers , if you don't want to do it yet try DDU program to uninstall drivers and install latest ones from the nvidia site (this program is crucial , it deletes all files from the drivers). If it doesn't helps set the power limit as high as you can.
 
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jakubek160

jakubek160

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May 22, 2017
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This guys tells you some bullcrap. i5 6600k on stock is capable of running it way beyond what you really need for gaming. 99% cpu usage is not telling you that there is something wrong with your cpu , but it should be both 99% usage cpu and gpu. Problem is with your gpu , especially if it happens in r6 siege. It seems like there is a driver problem. Try doing what I suggested.
 
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bystander

Champion
Dec 9, 2009
15,141
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This is clearly an issue with you wanting more FPS than possible with your CPU. Stop using low settings. Turn them up to high or ultra. At that point, your FPS may drop, and your GPU usage will go up.

Playing at low settings lower the load on the GPU, but you are still limited to what ever the CPU is capable of. Getting an i7 might help in a few games, but it won't help a lot in most cases. Raise your settings, and enjoy the higher visual quality.

When people tell you that a GTX 1070 is good with your system, they are assuming you are using high/ultra settings. Not low settings.
 
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bigpinkdragon286

Splendid
Oct 3, 2012
4,648
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I have to assume you're referring to one of my posts. In theory, getting 99% usage out of both CPU and GPU at the same time would be wonderful, but in reality, that rarely happens. In cases where you can come close, it's still not constant, as software code imposes variable loads, especially when there is human input involved, such as gaming.

If the OP is CPU bound, no amount of graphics driver replacement is going to help.

Furthermore, nobody has claimed that either the OP's CPU or GPU were in any way malfunctioning. In fact, from his description, they both appear to be working just fine. I'll say it again. Because i5 processors have 4 cores and 4 threads, they tend to show high CPU usage in well threaded games. This is just a matter of fact, not a malfunction or declaration that there is anything at all wrong.

As bystander pointed out, since the GPU is not the bottleneck, turning settings down is pointless, except to decrease image quality. The GPU clearly has the horsepower to render more demanding settings, past what the OP has stated to be using, without affecting frame rate in a significant fashion.

I stand behind my original answer. The only other option would be to turn down in-game settings that cause higher CPU usage, freeing up resources for the rest of the game engine to put toward the in-game render thread(s). Most games don't offer up much, if any, in the way of settings that will reduce CPU overhead, only GPU, so that is where the OP has flexibility with his current setup. If the OP wants to achieve a higher frame rate, since his GPU is being underutilized by his current CPU arrangement, he can either coax more speed from his current CPU or replace it with a CPU that has more resources and therefore in some games can provide more frame data for his GPU to render.
 
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