Question High CPU Usage in games

[sxnnermane]

I got a Intel I5-4670K, also a GTX1650, and 500W power supply but I'm not sure if its full 500w, anyway, in some games like more demanding ones usually the graphics card sits at low usage and the CPU is always high, plus the temps go high as well if its on 70% usage it gets to like 70-75c at 100% usage it goes to 80c, I'm very confused about all of this, what can I do to lower the CPU usage?

 

[sizzling]

What games? I had that cpu several years ago and the 4 cores and 4 threads were limiting back then. If trying to play cpu heavy games from that last 3-4 years then that cpu will struggle. Really 4 threads isn’t enough for more cpu demanding games.

 

[logainofhades]

4c/4t gaming is effectively dead. It appears what you are trying to play, is wanting more cores/threads, than your i5 can provide. Your only option is a platform upgrade.

 

[norcalsc]

as mentioned, it is to be expected with games pushing more than 4cores. what games are you playing?

 

[geofelt]

Some cpu limited games lack for processing threads.
Multiplayer for one.
Your i5-4670K has 4
Others lack single thread performance.
What to do?
Since you have a 4670K added cpu performance can come from overclocking if you have a suitable Z motherboard.
Or, the I7-4790K with 8 threads will cost you about $100 on ebay.
As a check on your single thread performance, run the cpu-z bench and look at the single thread rating.
You should be seeing around 460
http://valid.x86.fr/bench/mi9llw

 

[sxnnermane]

What games? I had that cpu several years ago and the 4 cores and 4 threads were limiting back then. If trying to play cpu heavy games from that last 3-4 years then that cpu will struggle. Really 4 threads isn’t enough for more cpu demanding games.

Battlefield 5
Witcher 3
Hunt Showdown
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts
Doom (2016)

 

[sxnnermane]

as mentioned, it is to be expected with games pushing more than 4cores. what games are you playing?

I've seen videos that run way more demanding games and the temps are very low, 50-60c max.

These are the games I run (demanding ones)

Battlefield 5
Witcher 3
Hunt Showdown
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts
Doom (2016)

and It goes on 80-85 on full load, plus when its on 100% usage I get a bit of stutters and the FPS drops as well.
also worth mentioning, when I don't cap the FPS in for example Valorant the cpu goes 100% usage and the temps go high as well.

 

[Bob.B]

I got a Intel I5-4670K, also a GTX1650, and 500W power supply but I'm not sure if its full 500w, anyway, in some games like more demanding ones usually the graphics card sits at low usage and the CPU is always high, plus the temps go high as well if its on 70% usage it gets to like 70-75c at 100% usage it goes to 80c, I'm very confused about all of this, what can I do to lower the CPU usage?

Try turning off unneeded background stuff see if it makes a diff.

 

[sxnnermane]

Try turning off unneeded background stuff see if it makes a diff.

Now that I think about it, I have a stock Intel Cooler like a tiny one, I think I should get a better one no?
and add thermal paste?
Because on Idle my CPU temps are hovering around 50-60c and that's not normal

 

[geofelt]

The Intel stock cooler is ok, up to a point.
I might suggest that it has somehow come loose.
Try remounting it.
Tun hwmonitor.
It will give you the current, minimum, and maximum core temperatures.
If you see 100c, that is the throttle point and a better cooler is in order.

For now:
----------------how to mount the stock Intel cooler--------------

The stock Intel cooler can be tricky to install.
A poor installation will result in higher cpu temperatures.
If properly mounted, you should expect temperatures at idle to be 10-15c. over ambient.

To mount the Intel stock cooler properly, place the motherboard on top of the foam or cardboard backing that was packed with the motherboard.
The stock cooler will come with paste pre applied, it looks like three grey strips.
The 4 push pins should come in the proper position for installation, that is with the pins rotated in the opposite direction of the arrow,(clockwise)
and pulled up as far as they can go.
Take the time to play with the pushpin mechanism until you know how they work.
Orient the 4 pins so that they are exactly over the motherboard holes.
If one is out of place, you will damage the pins which are delicate.
Push down on a DIAGONAL pair of pins at the same time. Then the other pair.
When you push down on the top black pins, it expands the white plastic pins to fix the cooler in place.
If you do them one at a time, you will not get the cooler on straight.
Lastly, look at the back of the motherboard to verify that all 4 pins are equally through the motherboard, and that the cooler is on firmly.
This last step must be done, which is why the motherboard should be out of the case to do the job. Or you need a case with a opening that lets you see the pins.
It is possible to mount the cooler with the motherboard mounted in the case, but you can then never be certain that the push pins are inserted properly
unless you can verify that the pins are through the motherboard and locked.

If you should need to remove the cooler, first run the cpu to heat it up and soften the paste before shutting down and powering off the pc. That makes it easy to unstick the old cooler.
Turn the pins counter clockwise to unlock them.
You will need to clean off the old paste and reapply new if you ever take the cooler off.
Clean off old paste with alcohol and a lint free paper like a coffee filter.
Apply new paste sparingly. A small rice sized drop in the center will spread our under heat and pressure.

It is hard to use too little.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[ak47jar3d]

It's an old cpu. You want to reduce usage. You will have to buy a cpu made in last 5 years. Hassell based processors just can't handle modern games without producing stutters and bottlenecks.....

 

[sxnnermane]

The Intel stock cooler is ok, up to a point.
I might suggest that it has somehow come loose.
Try remounting it.
Tun hwmonitor.
It will give you the current, minimum, and maximum core temperatures.
If you see 100c, that is the throttle point and a better cooler is in order.

For now:
----------------how to mount the stock Intel cooler--------------

The stock Intel cooler can be tricky to install.
A poor installation will result in higher cpu temperatures.
If properly mounted, you should expect temperatures at idle to be 10-15c. over ambient.

To mount the Intel stock cooler properly, place the motherboard on top of the foam or cardboard backing that was packed with the motherboard.
The stock cooler will come with paste pre applied, it looks like three grey strips.
The 4 push pins should come in the proper position for installation, that is with the pins rotated in the opposite direction of the arrow,(clockwise)
and pulled up as far as they can go.
Take the time to play with the pushpin mechanism until you know how they work.
Orient the 4 pins so that they are exactly over the motherboard holes.
If one is out of place, you will damage the pins which are delicate.
Push down on a DIAGONAL pair of pins at the same time. Then the other pair.
When you push down on the top black pins, it expands the white plastic pins to fix the cooler in place.
If you do them one at a time, you will not get the cooler on straight.
Lastly, look at the back of the motherboard to verify that all 4 pins are equally through the motherboard, and that the cooler is on firmly.
This last step must be done, which is why the motherboard should be out of the case to do the job. Or you need a case with a opening that lets you see the pins.
It is possible to mount the cooler with the motherboard mounted in the case, but you can then never be certain that the push pins are inserted properly
unless you can verify that the pins are through the motherboard and locked.

If you should need to remove the cooler, first run the cpu to heat it up and soften the paste before shutting down and powering off the pc. That makes it easy to unstick the old cooler.
Turn the pins counter clockwise to unlock them.
You will need to clean off the old paste and reapply new if you ever take the cooler off.
Clean off old paste with alcohol and a lint free paper like a coffee filter.
Apply new paste sparingly. A small rice sized drop in the center will spread our under heat and pressure.

It is hard to use too little.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was very helpful thanks, I opened up my PC and cleaned the heat sink it was dusty, then cleaned the fans, there was thermal paste already on there and didn't need replacing so I left that, and now the temps are better.

 

[logainofhades]

BFV is very cpu heavy, especially if you do multiplayer. Your temps are now better, but that CPU is still going to hold you back. A 4790k, for $100, might help, but with the IPC gains of modern CPU's, even a 12100f would walk all over it.

 

[sizzling]

Battlefield 5
Witcher 3

I know these 2 are cpu heavy games, not sure about the others. Unfortunately a 9 1/2 year old cpu is going to struggle in these newer games.