Question High GPU usage on MSI Afterburner on Idle(on desktop)

[rscheetah30]

Whenever I open Opera or Potplayer, MSI Afterburner shows high vram and core clock usage for some reason.
I've tried updating the gpu drivers but it's still the same.

Is this normal?

My specs:

Windows 7 Ultimate

CPU:FX6300
MB: Asus M5A78L-M LX V2
RAM: 16GB DDR3
GPU: GTX 1060 6GB MSI
3 HD + 1 SSD
PSU: Gamemax GP 650

 

[Aeacus]

GPU: GTX 1060 6GB MSI

Which model exactly, since there are 14 different SKUs from MSI.

MSI Afterburner shows high vram and core clock usage

Well, it is either due to the GPU, CPU or OS.

GPU is actually decent. Good enough for ~60 FPS 1080p gameplay. CPU is way too old and obsolete. And OS is even worse off, since it is both outdated and obsolete as well. Win 7 support ended 9 years ago. So, why you haven't moved on to Win 10? 🤔 Any system that can run Win 7, can run Win 10 too. Or switch to any GNU/Linux distro.

But the worst off is PSU. A complete crap of a unit. It's a miracle that it still, somehow works.

I'd replace the PSU ASAP.
Good PSUs to go for, are: Seasonic Focus/Vertex/PRIME, Corsair RMx/RMi/HXi/AXi, Super Flower Leadex Gold/Platinum/Titanium.
550W unit will do just fine. 650W unit wouldn't hurt either.

(My 3x PCs are also powered by Seasonic. I have 2x PRIME TX-650 units and one Focus PX-550 unit. Full specs with pics in my sig.)


Going with completely new system would benefit too since CPU and MoBo are 12 years old (and can die at any given moment, especially when powered by that firecracker of a PSU). Less headache and more satisfaction this way.

Is this normal?

Given that you're running 9 years outdated OS + crap quality PSU, i'd say anything is possible.

 

[rscheetah30]

Even on Windows 10 and 11 I have the same issue. As for my psu, I know it's far from ideal but I don't see how it could be causing this problem of high gpu usage at idle(desktop usage).

I guess browsing and video playing has to use some of the gpu resources, but not as much as it is displaying on MSI Afterburner.

 

[rscheetah30]

OK, I've found out what was causing the high gpu usage, it was hardware-acceleration. As soon as I turn it off
on Opera, the gpu usage drops 90%. The problem now is that without hardware acceleration Opera lags/tears a lot, so I can't really use it properly and have to turn H/W back on.