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High CPU Usage but Low GPU Usage

Content Type: Compatibility | Article ID: 000092878 | Last Reviewed: 09/04/2024

Description Resolution Additional information

Description

Why does the CPU use 100% utilization while GPU uses very little, like 5%?

Resolution

When, for example, a CPU has higher utilization than the GPU, it means that the system is experiencing bottleneck.

Bottleneck refers to a component that limits the potential of other hardware due to differences in their maximum capabilities. The quality or age of components doesn’t necessarily cause it; rather, their performance. Bottlenecks aren’t unique to high-end systems either. Balance is equally important in systems with entry-level hardware.

Here are different ways to check the utilization of your system:

Use a third-party application, such as CPU-Z, to check CPU utilization, or simply use the Task Manager Performance Tab.
Use Intel® Processor Diagnostic Tool to test CPU health.
Check compatibility between CPU, motherboard, and GPU. Make sure that the CPU is more powerful than the GPU.
Check if the motherboard PCIe version is higher or at the same version as the GPU. If the PCIe version on the motherboard is running at a lower version than the GPU PCIe version, it will only run under the motherboard's specified PCIe version, which causes the GPU not to utilize its maximum performance.
Use a third-party calculator, such as the Bottleneck Calculator*, which will describe how a PC bottleneck affects the system.

Additional information

Reach L2 if not sure what components should work for the system to avoid bottleneck.

Related Information

What Is Bottlenecking My PC?

Related Products

This article applies to 131 products.

Intel® HD Graphics 5300 Other Graphics Intel® Arc™ A370M Graphics Intel® Arc™ B-Series Graphics Intel® HD Graphics 5500 Intel® UHD Graphics Family Intel® UHD Graphics for 11th Gen Intel® Processors Data Center GPU Intel® UHD Graphics 770 Intel® UHD Graphics 610 Intel® HD Graphics 6000 Intel® Graphics for Intel® Core™ Ultra processors (Series 2) Intel® UHD Graphics 630 Intel® UHD Graphics 710 Intel® Iris® Graphics 6100 Legacy Graphics Intel® Arc™ A770 Graphics (16GB) Intel® Arc™ Pro A60M Graphics Intel® UHD Graphics P750 Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics Family Intel® Arc™ A350M Graphics Intel® Data Center GPU Max 1100 Intel® Arc™ A-Series Graphics Intel® HD Graphics 505 Intel® Arc™ A570M Graphics Intel® Iris® Xe MAX Dedicated Graphics Family Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 6200 Intel® Arc™ Pro A40 Graphics Intel® Arc™ Graphics Intel® Arc™ 140V GPU Intel® UHD Graphics 605 Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 645 Radeon™ RX Vega M GH Graphics Intel® UHD Graphics for 10th Gen Intel® Processors Intel® Iris® Xe Dedicated Graphics Family Intel® Arc™ graphics for Intel® Core™ Ultra processors (Series 1) Intel® Arc™ 130V GPU Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics Family Intel® Arc™ Pro A30M Graphics Graphics Intel® Arc™ A530M Graphics Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics eligible Intel® UHD Graphics 615 Intel® Arc™ Pro A50 Graphics Intel® UHD Graphics 750 Intel® Arc™ A380 Graphics Intel® Graphics Intel® Data Center GPU Max Series Radeon™ RX Vega M GL Graphics Intel® Iris® Graphics Family Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 655 Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors Intel® Data Center GPU Flex Series Intel® Arc™ Pro B-Series Graphics Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics Intel® HD Graphics Family Intel® UHD Graphics 620 Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics Family Intel® UHD Graphics 617 Intel® HD Graphics 510 Intel® Arc™ Pro A-Series Graphics Intel® Arc™ B570 Graphics Intel® Arc™ Pro A60 Graphics Intel® Arc™ A750 Graphics Intel® Arc™ Dedicated Graphics Family Processor Graphics Intel® Iris® Xe MAX Graphics Intel® UHD Graphics 730 Intel® Arc™ B580 Graphics Intel® Arc™ Pro Dedicated Graphics Family Intel® Arc™ A580 Graphics Intel® Arc™ A770 Graphics (8GB) Intel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® Processors Intel® HD Graphics 500 Intel® Graphics for Intel® Core™ Ultra processors (Series 1)

Discontinued Products

Intel® HD Graphics 4000 Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82845G Graphics Controller Graphics Drivers for Intel® Q43 Express Chipset Intel® HD Graphics 520 Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82865G Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 640 Graphics Drivers for Mobile Intel® 915GM/GMS, 910GML Express Chipset Family Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82915G/82910GL Express Chipset Family Intel® HD Graphics 4200 Graphics Drivers for Mobile Intel® 965 Express Chipset Family Intel® HD Graphics 615 Intel® HD Graphics 630 Graphics Drivers for Mobile Intel® 4 Series Express Chipset Family Intel® HD Graphics 4400 Intel® HD Graphics 515 Graphics Drivers for Intel® Q35 Express Chipset Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 650 Intel® Data Center GPU Flex 140 Intel® HD Graphics 4600 Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 600 (Intel® GMA 600) Graphics Drivers for Intel® Q33 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82Q963 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Intel® Iris® Graphics 550 Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82945G Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® G41 Express Chipset Intel® HD Graphics P630 Intel® HD Graphics 610 Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82852/82855 Graphics Controller Family Graphics Drivers for Intel® Q45 Express Chipset Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 5200 Intel® HD Graphics 2000 Intel® HD Graphics 2500 Graphics Drivers for Intel® G35 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® G31 Express Chipset Intel® HD Graphics 530 Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82Q965 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Intel® HD Graphics 3000 Intel® Data Center GPU Flex 170 Intel® HD Graphics 620 Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82810 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Intel® Iris® Graphics 5100 Intel® Iris® Graphics 540 Graphics Drivers for Intel® B43 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® G43 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® G33 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® G45 Express Chipset Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3600 Series Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82946GZ Graphics Controller Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82G965 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Intel® HD Graphics 5000 Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 (Intel® GMA 3150) Graphics Drivers for Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset Family Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82830M Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 580 Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 500 (Intel® GMA 500) Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82815 Graphics Controller

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