Fix Stalker 2 Not Using GPU and Crashing at 100% CPU Usage

How to Fix Stalker 2 Not Using GPU and Crashing at 100% CPU Usage

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-02-03 10:13:47
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the long-awaited sequel in the iconic survival horror FPS series, has finally arrived. While the game's stunning visuals and immersive atmosphere are undeniable, some players have encountered performance hiccups, particularly low GPU utilization and crashes when CPU usage spikes to 100%. These issues can disrupt the experience, especially for gamers with powerful hardware. This comprehensive guide offers a range of troubleshooting steps to help you maximize your system's performance and enjoy a smooth, uninterrupted journey through the Zone.

Understanding the Performance Challenges:

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's ambitious scope and detailed environments can push even high-end PCs to their limits. Low GPU usage often translates to low FPS, stuttering, and graphical glitches. Conversely, 100% CPU usage can lead to system instability, game crashes, and overall poor performance. These issues can stem from various factors, including outdated drivers, background processes, incorrect graphics settings, or even game file corruption.

Addressing Low GPU Usage:

One of the most frustrating issues is when S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 fails to fully utilize your dedicated graphics card. This can result in significantly reduced performance, regardless of your GPU's capabilities. Here are some methods to rectify this:

1. Force Game to Use Dedicated GPU:

This method ensures that the game prioritizes your powerful dedicated GPU over the integrated graphics.
  • NVIDIA GPUs:
  • Right-click on your desktop and select "NVIDIA Control Panel."
  • Navigate to "Manage 3D settings" in the left pane.
  • In the "Program Settings" tab, select S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 from the dropdown menu. If it's not listed, you might need to add the game's executable file manually.
  • Choose "High-performance NVIDIA processor" from the dropdown menu.
  • Save the changes and reboot your PC.
  • AMD GPUs:
  • Right-click on your desktop and select "AMD Radeon Settings."
  • Go to the "System" tab and select "Switchable Graphics."
  • Choose "High Performance" for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
  • Save the changes and reboot your PC.

2. Update Graphics Drivers:

Outdated graphics drivers are a common culprit for performance issues. Keeping your drivers up to date is crucial for optimal game performance.
  • Press Win + X and select "Device Manager."
  • Expand "Display adapters," right-click on your dedicated graphics card, and select "Update driver."
  • Choose "Search automatically for drivers." Windows will download and install the latest drivers if available.
  • Restart your PC after the update. You can also download the latest drivers directly from the NVIDIA or AMD websites.

    • 3. Close Background Processes:

    Unnecessary background applications can consume valuable system resources, including GPU memory. Closing these processes can free up resources for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  • Go to the "Processes" tab.
  • Identify and close any unnecessary applications that are consuming significant CPU, memory, or GPU resources. Be careful not to close essential system processes.

    • 4. Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings:

    Lowering the game's graphics settings can significantly improve performance, especially if your system is struggling to keep up.
  • Launch S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
  • Go to the game's settings menu and find the graphics options.
  • Disable V-Sync.
  • Lower or disable settings like shadows, anti-aliasing, texture quality, and draw distance. Experiment to find a balance between visual quality and performance.

    • 5. Reinstall S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2:

    If all else fails, reinstalling the game can sometimes resolve underlying issues related to corrupted game files or installation errors.
  • Open your game client (Steam or Epic Games Launcher).
  • Find S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 in your library.
  • Uninstall the game.
  • Manually delete any remaining game files in the installation directory.
  • Reinstall the game.
    • Addressing 100% CPU Usage and Crashes:When your CPU is maxed out, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 can become unstable and crash. Here's how to address this:

    1. Optimize Background Processes (Revisited):

    As mentioned earlier, background processes can put a strain on your CPU. Make sure you've closed any unnecessary applications.

    2. Prioritize S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 in Task Manager:

    Giving the game higher priority can allocate more CPU resources to it.
  • Launch S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  • Go to the "Details" tab.
  • Find the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 executable file (usually named something like "Stalker2.exe").
  • Right-click on it and select "Set priority" -> "High" or "Above normal." Be cautious, setting it to "Realtime" can cause system instability.

    • 3. Update Chipset Drivers:

    Outdated chipset drivers can sometimes contribute to CPU-related performance issues. Check your motherboard manufacturer's website for the latest chipset drivers.

    4. Overheating:

    Ensure your CPU is not overheating. Use monitoring software like HWMonitor to check your CPU temperature under load. If it's excessively high, consider improving your cooling solution.

    Taming the Beast: Optimizing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl for Peak Performance

    S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the long-awaited sequel in the iconic survivalhorror FPS series, has finally arrived. While the game's stunningvisuals and immersive atmosphere are undeniable, some players haveencountered performance hiccups, particularly low GPU utilization andcrashes when CPU usage spikes to 100%. These issues can disrupt theexperience, especially for gamers with powerful hardware. Thiscomprehensive guide offers a range of troubleshooting steps to help youmaximize your system's performance and enjoy a smooth, uninterruptedjourney through the Zone.

    Understanding the Performance Challenges:

    S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's ambitious scope and detailed environments can push even high-endPCs to their limits. Low GPU usage often translates to low FPS,stuttering, and graphical glitches. Conversely, 100% CPU usage can lead to system instability, game crashes, and overall poor performance.These issues can stem from various factors, including outdated drivers,background processes, incorrect graphics settings, or even game filecorruption.

    Addressing Low GPU Usage:

    One of the most frustrating issues is when S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 fails to fullyutilize your dedicated graphics card. This can result in significantlyreduced performance, regardless of your GPU's capabilities. Here aresome methods to rectify this:

    1. Force Game to Use Dedicated GPU:

    This method ensures that the game prioritizes your powerful dedicated GPU over the integrated graphics.

    • NVIDIA GPUs:

    • Right-click on your desktop and select "NVIDIA Control Panel."
    • Navigate to "Manage 3D settings" in the left pane.
    • In the "Program Settings" tab, select S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 from the dropdownmenu. If it's not listed, you might need to add the game's executablefile manually.
    • Choose "High-performance NVIDIA processor" from the dropdown menu.
    • Save the changes and reboot your PC.
    • AMD GPUs:

    • Right-click on your desktop and select "AMD Radeon Settings."
    • Go to the "System" tab and select "Switchable Graphics."
    • Choose "High Performance" for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
    • Save the changes and reboot your PC.

    2. Update Graphics Drivers:

    Outdated graphics drivers are a common culprit for performance issues. Keepingyour drivers up to date is crucial for optimal game performance.

  • Press Win + X and select "Device Manager."
  • Expand "Display adapters," right-click on your dedicated graphics card, and select "Update driver."
  • Choose "Search automatically for drivers." Windows will download and install the latest drivers if available.
  • Restart your PC after the update. You can also download the latest drivers directly from the NVIDIA or AMD websites.

    • 3. Close Background Processes:

    Unnecessary background applications can consume valuable system resources,including GPU memory. Closing these processes can free up resources forS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  • Go to the "Processes" tab.
  • Identify and close any unnecessary applications that are consuming significantCPU, memory, or GPU resources. Be careful not to close essential systemprocesses.

    • 4. Adjust In-Game Graphics Settings:

    Lowering the game's graphics settings can significantly improve performance, especially if your system is struggling to keep up.

  • Launch S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
  • Go to the game's settings menu and find the graphics options.
  • Disable V-Sync.
  • Lower or disable settings like shadows, anti-aliasing, texture quality, anddraw distance. Experiment to find a balance between visual quality andperformance.

    • 5. Reinstall S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2:

    If all else fails, reinstalling the game can sometimes resolve underlyingissues related to corrupted game files or installation errors.

  • Open your game client (Steam or Epic Games Launcher).
  • Find S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 in your library.
  • Uninstall the game.
  • Manually delete any remaining game files in the installation directory.
  • Reinstall the game.

    • Addressing 100% CPU Usage and Crashes:

    When your CPU is maxed out, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 can become unstable and crash. Here's how to address this:

    1. Optimize Background Processes (Revisited):

    As mentioned earlier, background processes can put a strain on your CPU. Make sure you've closed any unnecessary applications.

    2. Prioritize S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 in Task Manager:

    Giving the game higher priority can allocate more CPU resources to it.

  • Launch S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  • Go to the "Details" tab.
  • Find the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 executable file (usually named something like "Stalker2.exe").
  • Right-click on it and select "Set priority" -> "High" or "Above normal." Becautious, setting it to "Realtime" can cause system instability.

    • 3. Update Chipset Drivers:

    Outdated chipset drivers can sometimes contribute to CPU-related performanceissues. Check your motherboard manufacturer's website for the latestchipset drivers.

    4. Overheating:

    Ensure your CPU is not overheating. Use monitoring software like HWMonitor tocheck your CPU temperature under load. If it's excessively high,consider improving your cooling solution.

    5. Verify Game Files (Steam):

    If you're playing on Steam, verifying the game files can detect and repair any corrupted files.

  • In your Steam library, right-click on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
  • Select "Properties."
  • Go to the "Local Files" tab.
  • Click "Verify integrity of game files."

    • 6. Consider Upgrading Hardware:

    If you've tried all the software optimizations and are still experiencingperformance issues, your system might be struggling to handle the game's demands. In this case, upgrading your CPU or RAM could be necessary.

    By systematically working through these troubleshooting steps, you shouldbe able to significantly improve S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's performance andenjoy a more stable and immersive experience in the heart of Chornobyl.Remember to test the game after each adjustment to pinpoint the mosteffective solutions for your specific system.

    If you're playing on Steam, verifying the game files can detect and repair any corrupted files.

  • In your Steam library, right-click on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
  • Select "Properties."
  • Go to the "Local Files" tab.
  • Click "Verify integrity of game files."

    • 6. Consider Upgrading Hardware:

    If you've tried all the software optimizations and are still experiencingperformance issues, your system might be struggling to handle the game's demands. In this case, upgrading your CPU or RAM could be necessary.

    By systematically working through these troubleshooting steps, you shouldbe able to significantly improve S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's performance andenjoy a more stable and immersive experience in the heart of Chornobyl.Remember to test the game after each adjustment to pinpoint the mosteffective solutions for your specific system.

    Platform(s): Windows PC, Xbox Series X/S
    Genre(s): First-person shooter, survival horror
    Developer(s): GSC Game World
    Publisher(s): GSC Game World
    Engine: Unreal Engine 5
    Release date: 20 November 2024
    Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
    Age rating (PEGI): +18
    Video preview▶


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