An official release of one of the most anticipated action-adventure video games, Grand Theft Auto V, is now available for the Xbox One Series X and Xbox One Series S consoles. Although it is one of the open-world games that has received widespread critical acclaim, and players are generally pleased with the game, some of them are encountering a couple of issues regardless. One of the issues that we’re going to discuss here is how Grand Theft Auto 5 doesn’t make use of GPU.
Why is GTA not using my GPU or only using it so low? It is because you’re using the integrated graphics, there’s a driver problem, you have a CPU bottleneck, or the game you’re playing isn’t optimized. It may be possible to fix the issue by reinstalling the game’s drivers, upgrading or overclocking your CPU, or modifying certain game settings.
Nothing is more aggravating when you want to play a game than when there is a problem with the hardware. This article covers all of the potential reasons for GPU usage, as well as the solutions to each of those reasons.
Why Is Gta Not Using My Gpu Or Using So Low? How To Fix?
Suppose the game does not use a separate or external graphics card on your personal computer but instead uses the integrated GPU into the system. In that case, there is a significant increase in the likelihood that it may start having problems when it is launched or when it is being played. The game not only has a stuttering problem, but it also has graphical flaws, frame drops, crashes, and other problems. Now, if you are also experiencing the same problem or if the game lags so much and keeps stuttering, you need to try to fix it so that it works properly.
We have provided you with some possible reasons as well as solutions that we hope will be of great use to you. So, without wasting any more time, let’s get started.
1. GTA V using integrated graphics
If your CPU has an integrated GPU, that GPU can be used instead of your graphics card. This is a common issue when upgrading from an older graphics card. This can happen to most laptops.
When the computer uses its built-in GPU, the graphics card is idle. It is still visible in the Task Manager and other tools that track performance.
If something like this occurs, the graphs will show usage of 0% to 1% of the GPU.
How to fix
A quick fix is to disable the GPU throughout the BIOS. To access the BIOS, you should consult the documentation that comes with your device, as the process varies slightly between models.
Try to find a setting labeled “Internal Graphics” or “Graphics device” or something similar in the menu. Alter the graphics settings to Disabled/Dedicated graphics rather than Integrated/Auto.
Note: After this, your screen might not show anything. If this is the case, then you will need to make sure that it is plugged into the graphics card and not the monitor output connection on the motherboard. After that, you will need to shut down your device and then turn it on back.
2. The GPU drivers are out of date or corrupted
In most cases, an outdated or corrupted graphics card driver can be the source of many problems with the system’s performance or games. Checking for graphics driver updates is something that should definitely be done.
How to fix
You can check for graphics driver updates by taking these steps:
- Open the Quick Link Menu by pressing the Windows + X keys.
- Click on Device Manager from the menu > Double-click on Display adapters.
- Make a right mouse click on the dedicated graphics card that you are presently employing on your computer.
- Click on Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers. If a newer version is available, it will download and install it immediately.
- When you are finished, restart the computer so that the changes take effect instantly.
You can also go to the manufacturer’s website and manually download and install the most recent version of the graphics driver on the computer. Ensure you get the graphics driver file corresponding to your graphics card’s model and manufacturer.
3. The chipset drivers are outdated
Thanks to a group of chips called the chipset, your computer’s central processing unit (CPU) and motherboard can communicate with one another. Low GPU use may occur on your personal computer if the chipset drivers have never been installed or updated.
How to fix
You may check the model of your motherboard by going to the Start menu, and typing System Information. The model is located next to the Baseboard Product.
Next, go to the website of AMD or Intel (depending on what CPU your computer uses). Then, type in the model of your motherboard’s chipset (e.g., X570). Get the drivers downloaded, and then install them.
4. Low GPU usage is caused by a third-party program
Some third-party programs can take up a lot of CPU usage. This results in low GPU utilization because the CPU has no spare processing capacity for other tasks, such as playing video games.
This shouldn’t happen by default in most apps, although bugs do occur. It’s also possible for this to occur if malicious software is actively executing in the background.
How to fix
The best approach is to temporarily deactivate all the programs that start when the computer is turned on. After that, you can start turning them on one at a time in order to figure out which application was causing low GPU usage.
This is the procedure to follow:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager window.
- Get to the Startup tab.
- Select a program, then click the Disable button. Continue these steps for each of the programs on the list.
- Restart your computer.
You can enable your startup programs again if you are still experiencing low GPU use. They didn’t make the problem happen.
5. Your antivirus software is slowing down your computer
Installing software on your computer that protects against viruses and other forms of harmful software is an excellent method to keep your computer safe.
But antivirus programs do full system scans that take a long time and run in the background.
If the antivirus program starts scanning while you’re in the middle of a game, it will use up all of the processing power available on your CPU. This may result in a low percentage of GPU usage.
How to fix
Turning off real-time protection and scanning is the best way to go about it. You won’t put yourself in danger so long as you avoid downloading random files from the internet.
Look for an option labeled “Gaming Mode” if you have a third-party program installed.
There is also a real-time protection feature built into Windows Defender; you need to disable it. How to do it:
- Typing Windows Security on the Start menu
- Click on Virus & threat protection > Virus & threat protection settings >press on Manage settings.
- Disable Real-time protection.
6. Your computer has a CPU bottleneck
In eSports games, it’s not unusual to see very low GPU utilization, but in the most recent AAA games, that number should be closer to 95–100%.
When playing demanding games, if your GPU is being used at less than 80–90% of its capacity, you most certainly have a CPU bottleneck.
The data must be sent from the CPU to the GPU. If your CPU is unable to provide enough data, your graphics processing unit (GPU) won’t have anything to work on. This issue arises when a strong graphics card is combined with a low-end CPU.
You can check for bottlenecks by using the Bottleneck Calculator, even if its level of accuracy is not particularly high. When the CPU is causing a bottleneck of 20% or more, it is time to upgrade.
How to fix
The most effective and expensive solution is to upgrade your CPU. In most cases, it is well worth upgrading because you will notice a significant performance improvement.
However, that choice is not accessible to everyone in every situation.
You could have better luck trying to overclock your CPU. I won’t go into details because there is a wide range of variability in overclocking depending on the hardware and cooling system you employ.
If you are not completely familiar with what you are doing, you are not recommended to overclock your computer. You risk damaging the CPU or the motherboard.
One last option is to use this trick: raise the graphics settings of any of the games you are playing. This results in an increased load on your GPU and an increased level of GPU usage.
Some frames will be lost. However, you will get a significantly more fluid experience due to the increased consistency of the frame timings.
7. Your computer has a RAM bottleneck
You will see a low percentage of GPU usage if you only have one stick of RAM or if your computer RAM does not have enough capacity.
How to fix
Dual-channel RAM is a bare minimum. This means that you need to place two identical sticks into the appropriate slots on your motherboard.
If you already have two sticks, check to see that the slots in which they are placed are colored the same as one another.
I have personal experience to attest to the fact that having a single stick of RAM results in decreased GPU use, decreased frame rates, and overall stuttering. Therefore, get another stick of the same kind, and you will observe an immediate increase in the usage of your GPU.
You could also try increasing the speed of your RAM by increasing its overclocking. However, this will only raise GPU usage by a few percent and is a relatively difficult process.
8. The BIOS on your used graphics card has been changed
You don’t know what a used graphics card was used for before you bought it.
GPU-Z can be used to check the version of your GPU BIOS. Check your graphics card’s stock BIOS version online. If they don’t match, you have a customized BIOS.
How to fix
To restore your graphics card to factory settings, you must flash its BIOS. If your GPU includes a BIOS switch, you will need to flip it over to the opposite side in order to flash the stock firmware. If it doesn’t have, you’ll have to do it manually.
9. The game isn’t well-optimized
When a game isn’t optimized, it can’t take full advantage of your CPU and GPU.
Try searching online for the name of the game followed by the word “optimization.” You’ll be able to get an idea of whether or not the optimization of the game is poor if there are a lot of articles and user complaints about it on online discussion forums.
How to fix
Regrettably, not many things can be done to improve the insufficient game optimization. The developers are the ones that are responsible for optimizing their games.
If it’s a newly released game, check that the most recent drivers for your graphics card are installed. NVIDIA and AMD always provide “game-ready” drivers for their graphics cards to ensure that their products work efficiently.
Changing the API in the game’s graphics options is another option available to you.
In most cases, DirectX 11, DirectX 12, and Vulkan will be shown to you. Experiment with all three to determine which one makes the greatest use of your GPU. It is important to note that only certain games allow you to change the API.
FAQs
Is GTA 5 CPU or GPU intensive?
GTA 5 is mostly made up of scenes and characters that look like they are from real life. Playing Grand Theft Auto 5 at a high resolution will necessitate a significant investment in GPU resources, far outstripping those required by the CPU.
In a nutshell, most of the work is handled by the GPU in situations where the CPU is not required to process many frames. When the resolution is increased, the number of frames typically produced decreases. Therefore, increasing the graphics settings in Grand Theft Auto 5 places a greater strain on your graphics processing unit (GPU).
Which GPU is best for GTA 5?
If you have an RTX 2080 or a better graphics card, you can play GTA 5 at a smooth 60 frames per second at both 4K and lower resolutions. However, graphics cards of this are not only pricey but also difficult to come by. At 1440p, you will get smooth graphics if you have an RTX 2070. You can get by with a Radeon RX 570 even if you’re playing at 1080p resolution.
Why is my GTA so laggy?
Players have reported that Grand Theft Auto V stutters and frequently lags when playing. There are a number of potential causes for this issue, including faulty hardware, incorrect in-game settings, a corrupted graphics driver, and so on.
It’s me, Leo B. Hurdle. I’ve always loved video games since I was a kid. Since I love writing as well, I knew I must pursue this combination when I realized I could combine both.
I graduated from Cornell University in 2012. Initially, I worked in game design, but eventually became a game writer. Since about five years, I’ve been writing games. My experience ranges from first-person shooters to puzzle games, and I’ve loved every minute of it.
I spend too much time playing online games. Roleplaying games are also my favorite. It’s fun to get lost in another world and become someone else. Playing it is a great way to escape reality.