GPU And CPU Not At 100 But Low Fps

When gaming or running a graphics-intensive application, you expect your hardware to work hard to deliver smooth performance.

It could be a bottleneck or optimization issue. Update your motherboard BIOS, check CPU single-core usage, and ensure drivers are current to effectively balance the load and boost FPS.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore why this happens, how to diagnose it, and actionable steps to fix it—so you can get back to enjoying your games or workflows without lag.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Problem: Low FPS with Idle Hardware

Low FPS, despite low GPU and CPU usage, is a counterintuitive problem. If your system struggles to maintain a decent frame rate, you’d expect one of these components to be maxed out—indicating a bottleneck.

For example, a GPU at 100% might mean it’s overwhelmed by high-resolution textures, while a CPU at full tilt could be choking on game logic or AI calculations. But something else is amiss when both are lounging below 50–70% usage and your FPS still tanks.

This scenario suggests your system isn’t fully utilizing its resources. It’s like having a sports car stuck in traffic—plenty of power under the hood but no way to use it.

The culprits could range from software misconfigurations to hidden bottlenecks in your setup. Let’s break it down step by step.

Common Causes of Low FPS with Underutilized GPU and CPU

1. Software Optimization Issues

Games and applications aren’t always coded to leverage modern multi-core CPUs or powerful GPUs fully.

Older titles, in particular, might rely heavily on single-threaded performance, leaving most of your CPU cores idle. If the game isn’t pushing enough work to your GPU, you’ll see low usage and stuttering or low FPS.

For instance, a game like The Witcher 3 might run fine in open fields but stutter in dense cities like Novigrad—not because your hardware can’t handle it, but because the engine isn’t distributing the load efficiently across your CPU’s cores or GPU’s capabilities.

2. RAM Bottlenecks

Your RAM (Random Access Memory) is critical in feeding your CPU and GPU data. It can create a bottleneck if your RAM is too slow, small, or improperly configured (e.g., single-channel instead of dual-channel).

When this happens, your CPU and GPU might be waiting for data rather than processing it, resulting in low usage and poor FPS.

Slow RAM speeds (e.g., 2133 MHz DDR4 on a modern system) or insufficient capacity (e.g., 8GB in 2025 for AAA games) can exacerbate this issue, especially in memory-hungry titles like Cyberpunk 2077.

3. Storage Speed Limitations

A sluggish hard drive or an overloaded SSD can also cause low FPS. Games often stream assets (textures, models, etc.) from storage in real time.

If your drive can’t keep up—say, an old 5400 RPM HDD instead of an NVMe SSD—your GPU and CPU might sit idle while waiting for data, leading to frame drops.

4. Driver or Settings Misconfigurations

Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers can prevent your graphics card from performing at its peak. Similarly, in-game settings like V-Sync, FPS caps, or resolution mismatches might artificially limit performance, keeping usage low while tanking FPS.

For example, if your NVIDIA Control Panel is set to “Power Saving” mode instead of “High Performance,” your GPU might throttle itself unnecessarily.

5. Background Processes or Thermal Throttling

Even if your CPU and GPU aren’t at 100%, background apps (e.g., Discord, browser tabs) could be hogging resources elsewhere—like RAM or disk I/O—indirectly slowing your game.

Alternatively, if your components are overheating, they might throttle performance to stay cool, reducing usage without hitting maximum capacity.

6. Game-specific bugs or Engine Limitations

Some games have inherent bugs or poor optimization that cause FPS drops regardless of your hardware’s potential.

For example, Battlefield 4 or Minecraft with heavy shaders might exhibit erratic performance due to how they handle resource allocation, not because your GPU or CPU is weak.

7. Resolution and Hardware Mismatch

If you’re gaming at a low resolution (e.g., 1080p) with a high-end GPU like an RTX 4080, your GPU might not be fully utilized because it’s overkill for the workload.

Meanwhile, your CPU could become the limiting factor, but not enough to hit 100% usage, resulting in uneven FPS.

How to Diagnose the Issue

Before jumping to solutions, you need to pinpoint the cause. Here’s how to investigate:

Step 1: Monitor Usage in Real-Time

Tools: Use MSI Afterburner, Task Manager, or HWMonitor to track CPU, GPU, RAM, and disk usage while gaming.
What to Look For: Note the usage percentages, clock speeds, temperatures, and FPS during drops. If GPU and CPU are below 70% but FPS tanks, check RAM and disk activity.

Step 2: Check Single-Core CPU Usage

Open Task Manager or a tool like Process Explorer to see per-core usage. If one core is maxed out (e.g., 100% on a single thread) while others are idle, you’re hitting a single-threaded bottleneck—common in older games.

Step 3: Test Different Games

Run a variety of games. If the issue persists across all titles, it’s likely a system-wide problem (e.g., drivers, RAM). If it’s specific to one game, it could be optimization-related.

Step 4: Inspect Hardware Specs

Verify your RAM speed and configuration (dual-channel vs. single-channel) using CPU-Z. Check your storage type and health with CrystalDiskInfo.

Step 5: Review Settings

Look at in-game graphics settings, NVIDIA/AMD control panel options, and Windows power plans. Ensure nothing is capping performance artificially.

Solutions to Fix Low FPS with Low GPU and CPU Usage

Now that you’ve got a sense of what’s wrong, here are actionable fixes tailored to the most likely causes.

1. Optimize Game Settings

Action: Increase resolution or graphics settings (e.g., textures, shadows) to push more work to your GPU. If it’s underutilized, lower CPU-intensive settings like draw distance or NPC density.
Why It Works: Balancing the load between GPU and CPU can maximize usage and stabilize FPS.
Example: In Minecraft, manually disable V-Sync and cap FPS via NVIDIA Control Panel to avoid engine quirks.

2. Update Drivers and Software

Action: Download the latest GPU drivers from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel’s website (not just through Windows Update). Update your motherboard BIOS and chipset drivers, too.
Why It Works: Fresh drivers fix bugs and improve hardware communication, potentially unlocking better resource utilization.
Tip: Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) for a clean driver reinstall if issues persist.

3. Upgrade or Optimize RAM

Action: Upgrade to faster RAM (e.g., 3200 MHz or higher) and ensure dual-channel configuration (two sticks instead of one). Aim for 16GB minimum, 32GB for modern AAA titles.
Why It Works: Faster RAM reduces data wait times, letting your CPU and GPU work harder and boosting FPS.
Example: Switching from 2133 MHz to 3600 MHz can yield 10–20% FPS gains in games like Warzone.

4. Switch to a Faster Storage Drive

Action: Move your game to an NVMe SSD if it’s on an HDD or SATA SSD. Ensure your drive isn’t near full capacity (keep 20% free space).
Why It Works: Faster asset loading prevents stutters and keeps your GPU/CPU fed with data.
Test: Compare loading times and FPS in GTA V on an HDD vs. SSD—night and day difference.

5. Adjust Windows and Power Settings

Action: Set Windows Power Plan to “High Performance” (Control Panel > Power Options). In the NVIDIA Control Panel, set “Power Management Mode” to “Prefer Maximum Performance.”
Why It Works: Prevents artificial throttling, ensuring your hardware runs at full potential.

6. Close Background Applications

Action: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), sort by CPU/RAM usage, and end unnecessary processes (e.g., Chrome, antivirus scans).
Why It Works: Frees up system resources, reducing indirect bottlenecks.

7. Address Thermal Throttling

Action: Check temps with HWMonitor. Clean dust from your PC, reapply thermal paste if needed, and improve airflow with better fans or case positioning.
Why It Works: Keeps clock speeds high, preventing performance dips that lower usage and FPS.

8. Overclock Your Hardware (Advanced)

Action: Use MSI Afterburner to overclock your GPU or BIOS to boost your CPU (if supported). Increase RAM speed via XMP profiles.
Why It Works: Forces higher performance, potentially pushing usage closer to 100% and raising FPS.
Caution: Monitor temps and stability—don’t exceed 80–85°C.

9. Upgrade Your Hardware

Action: If all else fails, consider a CPU with better single-threaded performance (e.g., Ryzen 7 5800X3D) or a GPU better matches your resolution.
Why It Works: Modern hardware handles unoptimized games better and scales with higher workloads.

Real-World Examples and Benchmarks

Let’s ground this in reality with a hypothetical setup:

Specs: Ryzen 5 3600, RTX 3060, 16GB 3200 MHz RAM, 1080p monitor.
Problem: In Apex Legends, FPS drops to 40–50 in fights, but GPU is 60% and CPU is 50%.
Diagnosis: Task Manager shows one CPU core at 100%, RAM usage spikes to 90%, and disk activity jumps.
Fixes Applied: Updated GPU drivers, closed Discord, moved the game to SSD, and enabled XMP for RAM.
Result: FPS stabilizes at 100–120, GPU hits 85%, CPU averages 70%.

In another case:

Specs: i7-6700, GTX 1070, 16GB 2133 MHz RAM, 1080p.
Problem: Witcher 3 stutters in Novigrad, 45 FPS, GPU at 40%, CPU at 60%.
Fixes: Increased resolution to 1440p, upgraded RAM to 3200 MHz, disabled V-Sync.
Result: 60 FPS, GPU at 80%, CPU at 65%.

These examples show how tweaking settings or hardware can resolve the issue, depending on the root cause.

Preventing the Problem in the Future

Stay Updated: Regularly update drivers, Windows, and games.
Monitor Performance: Keep tools like MSI Afterburner handy to catch issues early.
Match Hardware to Goals: Pair your GPU and CPU appropriately for your target resolution and refresh rate (e.g., 1440p 144Hz needs more grunt than 1080p 60Hz).
Invest in Quality: Opt for fast RAM and SSDs from the start—cheap upgrades with significant impacts.

GPU and CPU Not at 100 but Low FPS Gaming

Hey, if your FPS is low, but your GPU and CPU aren’t maxed out, it’s weird, right? Check your game settings, update drivers, or your RAM’s slow. It’s like your PC’s lazy—let’s wake it up!

GPU and CPU Not at 100 but Low FPS Laptop

Laptops can be tricky. Low FPS with chill GPU and CPU? Maybe it’s on power-saving mode. Switch to high performance, update drivers, or clean the fans—overheating might be sneaky, slowing things down.

Low CPU and GPU Usage Fix

Do you have low usage and laggy games? Try updating your graphics drivers, closing background apps, or tweaking game settings. It’s like giving your PC a pep talk—make it use its full power!

Why Is My CPU Usage So Low When Gaming

Wondering why your CPU’s taking it easy during games? Older games might not use all cores. Check if one core’s maxed out, update your BIOS, or tweak settings to push it harder.

Low CPU and GPU Usage in Games

Low usage and choppy FPS in games? It’s frustrating! Update drivers, boost RAM speed, or turn up graphics settings. Your PC has power—let’s ensure it’s not slacking off.

Low CPU and GPU Usage Tarkov

Playing Tarkov with low CPU and GPU usage? Laggy raids suck. Update drivers, switch to an SSD, or check if RAM’s slow. It’s like your rig’s half-asleep—time to kick it into gear!

FAQs

1. Why Is My CPU and GPU Not 100% but Low FPS?

Check drivers or RAM—your PC’s not working hard enough!

2. Why Is My GPU and CPU Usage Not 100%?

Maybe game settings or slow RAM are holding them back—let’s fix it!

3. Why Is My FPS So Low Even Though I Have a Good Graphics Card?

It could be CPU lag or old drivers—your card’s ready, but something’s off!

4. Should My CPU and GPU Be at 100%?

Not always! 100% means max effort, but low usage with lag? Settings or bottlenecks might be sneaky.

5. How to Know If CPU Is Bottlenecking GPU?

Check if one CPU core’s maxed out while the GPU’s lazy—tools like MSI Afterburner help!

Conclusion

Low FPS with GPU and CPU not at 100% can frustrate anyone. Update drivers, tweak settings, or upgrade RAM to fix it. Your PC’s got potential—let’s unlock it for smooth gaming without the lag!