How to Fix Low CPU Usage

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-12-22 18:38:42

You've built or purchased a powerful gaming PC, expecting your high-core-count Intel Core i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 7/9 CPU to unleash its full potential. But when you load up your favorite game or demanding application, you open Task Manager and see a perplexing sight: your CPU usage is stuck at 30%, 40%, or 50%, while your GPU is maxed out at 99%. You're experiencing a CPU bottleneck, but not in the traditional sense—your processor isn't weak; it's being underutilized. This low CPU usage often translates to lower-than-expected frame rates, stuttering, and a feeling that your expensive hardware is being wasted.Low CPU usage in games is a complex issue with roots in software, settings, and hardware configuration. It can occur on any modern Windows 10 or 11 PC and is commonly reported in popular titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and Elden Ring. This isn't about an old CPU struggling to keep up; it's about a modern CPU being held back from contributing its full power. This guide will help you diagnose the specific cause and provide a systematic fix to get your CPU working properly and your performance back on track.

Understanding the Problem: Why Low CPU Usage Happens

Before diving into fixes, understand the two primary scenarios:

The Normal GPU Bottleneck (The Good Kind): In a perfectly balanced system running a graphically intense game, the GPU should be at or near 100% usage, while the CPU usage is lower. This means the GPU is the limiting factor, which is ideal. Your CPU has headroom for background tasks, streaming, or higher framerates if you upgrade your GPU.

The Problematic Low CPU Usage (The Bad Kind): This is when both CPU and GPU usage are low (e.g., GPU at 60%, CPU at 40%), yet your framerate is also low and unstable. This indicates a software-level bottleneck. The game or system is not efficiently feeding work to the hardware. This guide focuses on fixing this scenario.

Common Causes of Problematic Low CPU Usage

Game Engine or API Limitations: The game may not be optimized to use more than a few CPU cores effectively (poor multi-threading), leaving powerful cores idle.
Outdated or Corrupted Drivers: Chipset, GPU, and BIOS drivers are critical for CPU scheduling and power management.
Incorrect Windows Power Plan: Your PC may be set to a power-saving mode that prevents the CPU from boosting to its full potential.
Background Process Interference: A single rogue background task can monopolize a CPU thread or cause scheduling conflicts.
In-Game Settings: Certain settings like Frame Rate Caps, V-Sync, or overly conservative Renderer Worker Count can artificially limit CPU workload.
Thermal Throttling: If your CPU is overheating, it will drastically reduce its clock speed to protect itself, leading to low usage as it becomes incapable of doing more work.
Memory (RAM) Bottleneck: Slow RAM or incorrect XMP/DOCP settings can starve the CPU of data, causing it to wait idly.

Step-by-Step Diagnostic & Fix Guide

Follow these steps in order. Start with the simplest software fixes before moving to hardware and BIOS.

Step 1: Establish a Baseline & Monitor Correctly

Download HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner (with RivaTuner Statistics Server).

Launch your game and reproduce the low-usage scenario.

Monitor these key metrics:

CPU Usage (Overall and Per-Core): Is one core at 100% while others are idle? This points to a single-threaded bottleneck.
CPU Clock Speed: Is it running at its base speed (e.g., 3.6 GHz) instead of its boost speed (e.g., 5.0 GHz)?
CPU Temperature: Is it above 90-95°C? This indicates throttling.
GPU Usage: Is it also low?
RAM Usage: Are you near capacity?

Step 2: Apply Foundational Software Fixes

Update Your Drivers:
- Chipset Drivers: Go to your motherboard manufacturer's website (ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, ASRock) or AMD/Intel's site and download/install the latest chipset drivers. This is often the most impactful fix.
- GPU Drivers: Use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Safe Mode to perform a clean install of the latest graphics drivers.
Set Windows Power Plan to High Performance:
Open Windows Settings > System > Power & battery.
Set Power mode to "Best performance."
In the classic Control Panel (Edit Power Plan), ensure the minimum and maximum processor state are set to 100%.
Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs & Services:
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Go to the Startup tab and disable everything non-essential (e.g., cloud storage, peripheral software).
Type "msconfig" in Windows Search, go to Services, check "Hide all Microsoft services," and disable non-essential third-party services. (Be cautious; research if unsure).

Step 3: Optimize In-Game Settings

Disable All Framerate Limiters & V-Sync: Remove any artificial caps in the game's settings. Let the hardware run freely to see its true utilization.
Increase Graphical Load: If your GPU usage is also low, try increasing resolution scaling, texture quality, or enabling Ray Tracing. This puts more load on the GPU, which can in turn demand more work from the CPU to prepare frames.
Adjust "Renderer Worker Count" (If Available): Some games (like Elden Ring, Unity Engine games) have a hidden or config file setting that controls how many CPUthreads the renderer uses. Setting this incorrectly (too high or toolow) can cause low usage. Research the optimal setting for your specific CPU (often logical cores or threads).

Step 4: Advanced Windows & BIOS Tweaks

Enable XMP/DOCP in BIOS: Reboot, enter your BIOS (Del/F2 key), and enable the XMP (Intel) or DOCP (AMD) profile for your RAM. This ensures your RAM runs at its advertised speed, eliminating a major potential bottleneck.
Check CPU Affinity & Priority (Temporary Test):
1. In Task Manager, go to the Details tab while the game is running.
2. Right-click the game's .exe process, select "Set priority" and try "High." (This resets on restart).
3. You can also try "Set affinity" and ensure all CPU cores are checked. Note: This is a diagnostic step, not a permanent fix.
Perform a Clean Boot: To rule out software conflicts, perform a full clean boot (instructions from Microsoft). If CPU usage normalizes, a background service is theculprit.

Step 5: Address Hardware & Thermal Issues

Repaste Your CPU: If your CPU temperatures are consistently above 85°C under load, your thermal paste may have dried out. Replacing it with ahigh-quality paste can lower temperatures by 10-20°C, preventingthrottling.
Ensure Adequate Cooling: Clean dust from CPU cooler fins and case fans. Make sure your CPUcooler is mounted properly and is adequate for your chip's TDP.
Test Your RAM: Use Windows Memory Diagnostic or MemTest86 to rule out faulty RAM causing system instability.

Game-Specific & Engine-Specific Notes

Unreal Engine 4 Games: Known to sometimes have poor multi-core scaling. Look for engine .ini tweaks specific to the game.
Microsoft Flight Simulator: This game is heavily dependent on single-core CPU performance and fast RAM. Don't expect high overall CPU usage; watch per-core usage instead.
Older or Poorly Optimized Games: They may simply not be programmed to use more than 2-4 cores. In thiscase, high per-core speed (IPC) is more important than core count.

How to Prevent Low CPU Usage in the Future

Keep Your System Clean: Regularly update drivers (especially chipset) and manage startup programs.
Monitor Temperatures: Use a lightweight monitoring tool to keep an eye on CPU/GPU temps during gaming sessions.
Research Before You Buy: Understand the single-threaded vs. multi-threaded performance profileof games you play. A CPU with a high boost clock may be better for somegames than one with more cores.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is it bad if my CPU usage is low while gaming?
A: Not necessarily. If your GPU is at 99%, low CPU usage is normal and indicates a GPU-bound scenario, which is optimal. The problem is when both are low and performance is poor.

Q: Will overclocking my CPU fix low usage?
A: No. Overclocking makes each CPU core faster. If the game isn't giving yourCPU enough work to do (a software bottleneck), making the cores fasterwon't create more work. It can help in per-core bottleneck scenarios,but not in overall low-utilization scenarios.

Q: I have a high-core-count CPU (e.g., Ryzen 9 7950X). Will games ever use 100% of it?
A: Almost never. Most games are optimized for 4-8 cores. Your overall usage may be low,but if 6-8 cores are near 100%, you are fully utilizing what the gamecan offer. Focus on per-core usage, not overall percentage.

Q: Could this be a virus or malware?
A: Yes, it's possible. Crypto-mining malware can hijack your GPU, causing strange usage patterns. Run a full scan with Malwarebytes and Windows Security to rule this out.

Q: I've tried everything and my CPU usage is still low. What now?
A: You may have hit the engine limitation for that specific game. Research online forums for that particulartitle—there may be a specific config file tweak, launch command (like -USEALLAVAILABLECORES in some older games), or mod that improves CPU threading. Sometimes, you must wait for a game patch from the developer.

Low CPU usage is a frustrating puzzle, but it's almost always solvable with methodical troubleshooting. By starting with chipset drivers and powersettings, then moving to in-game configurations and finally hardwarechecks, you can identify and eliminate the bottleneck that's holdingyour system back.

Have you battled and conquered low CPU usage in a specific game? What was the ultimate fix that worked for you—was it a forgottenchipset driver, a BIOS setting, or a specific .ini tweak? Share yoursuccess story in the comments to help others. If you're still stuck,post your full specs (CPU, GPU, RAM), the game, and what you've tried,and our community can offer targeted advice. For more deep dives intofixing GPU bottlenecks, RAM tuning, and Windows optimization, explore our full PC performance tuning library. Now, go unlock that hidden performance.

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