Question My GPU's utilization is almost always at 100% for no reason. Is this normal?

[Daniel9923]

I have been experiencing some issues with my GPU lately. It runs at 0% or 100% and spikes quickly and dramatically. I have already run an antivirus that came up empty, so I don't think I have any viruses. When idling, it spikes between 0% and 80%, and running any game keeps it at 100%.
My specs are AMD Ryzen 5 5600G CPU
B55-A Pro Micro-Star International Motherboard
32 Gig DDR4 4 sticks RAM
Radeon RX 580 Series GPU
All components are brand new except for the GPU and 2 sticks of RAM, which were tested/used by the tech report. If anyone has an answer or solution to this issue, I would appreciate a response as soon as possible. This problem has been quite frustrating for me.

 

[Daniel9923]

You might have something running in the background that you are not aware of that is using the GPU. You should do a malware scan.

I already tried that

 

[Daniel9923]

Task manager is awful for checking GPU usage.

GPU-Z is a good program to use as it doesn't integrate with anything and just polls the sensors.

MSI Afterburner is also very good, but it has many GPU controls so for troubleshooting I'd lean towards GPU-Z.

HWInfo and HWMonitor are good general use monitoring software.

GPU-Z shows the same thing, My GPU is spiking between 0% and 100% rapidly

 

[COLGeek]

For some reason the system won't let me put a list of games without it saying it's spam like content sooooo I can't give a list of games, sorry :/
The resolution is 2560 x 1440 I usually have my graphics as high as possible while still keeping the game running 60+ FPS so I either have it at the highest graphic setting or one or two notches down
My CPU is running at 15% the highest I've seen it go (besides booting up the game) is 40%

1440 and high graphics settings is quite high for a RX580. As an experiment, lower your resolution to 1920x1080. What happens then?

 

[COLGeek]

For some reason the system won't let me put a list of games without it saying it's spam like content sooooo I can't give a list of games, sorry :/
The resolution is 2560 x 1440 I usually have my graphics as high as possible while still keeping the game running 60+ FPS so I either have it at the highest graphic setting or one or two notches down
My CPU is running at 15% the highest I've seen it go (besides booting up the game) is 40%

For your list of games, abbreviate them. Like FN, RBLX, etc. We'll figure it out.

 

[thestryker]

GPU-Z shows the same thing, My GPU is spiking between 0% and 100% rapidly

What is the power consumption doing when it does this?

In doing some searching there is a windows setting that seems to have an impact for some systems you could try turning it off if it's on to see if anything changes: hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (it's in the windows settings under display > graphics).

 

[Daniel9923]

1440 and high graphics settings is quite high for a RX580. As an experiment, lower your resolution to 1920x1080. What happens then?

Didn't help

 

[Daniel9923]

For your list of games, abbreviate them. Like FN, RBLX, etc. We'll figure it out.

ACO, Hgwrts Lgcy, Fctrio, Mc, BeamN.G

 

[Daniel9923]

What is the power consumption doing when it does this?

In doing some searching there is a windows setting that seems to have an impact for some systems you could try turning it off if it's on to see if anything changes: hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling (it's in the windows settings under display > graphics).

160W is the power consumption
Also, I coun't find accelerated GPU scheduling. Is this setting in windows 11?

 

[COLGeek]

When gaming, you certainly want to max out use of your GPU. In your case, it seems you are doing that. Your CPU is more capable (performance potential-wise) than your GPU. That is why you see the levels you do.

Lowering graphics settings may help lower GPU utilization.

However, are you actually having any performance issues? Is the GPU getting too hot and throttling?

 

[finkle]

You want your GPU to run at 100% in games. That means it's being fully utilized. If your GPU runs less than 100% in games, then your CPU is holding it back. temps look fine.

 

[thestryker]

160W is the power consumption

Well something is definitely hitting your video card if the 100% spikes correlate to 160W power. This is the sort of power draw I would expect under load in a game not on the desktop.

Also, I coun't find accelerated GPU scheduling. Is this setting in windows 11?

It is, but it looks like there's another menu I missed Change default graphics settings.

As far as I'm aware cards that old don't support it, but that doesn't necessarily change the option showing up. They may have hidden the toggle entirely for w11 if it isn't supported though. I don't have w11 on anything with an older video card to check.

 

[COLGeek]

Are all games from legitimate sources?

 

[Daniel9923]

When gaming, you certainly want to max out use of your GPU. In your case, it seems you are doing that. Your CPU is more capable (performance potential-wise) than your GPU. That is why you see the levels you do.

Lowering graphics settings may help lower GPU utilization.

However, are you actually having any performance issues? Is the GPU getting too hot and throttling?

Some games will freeze up every 30ish seconds and others will occasionally crash when a screen recorder is on. This wouldn't be as much of an issue but when the game crashes my PC also crashes and on reboot AMD adrenaline says that there were multiple graphics errors

 

[Daniel9923]

Well something is definitely hitting your video card if the 100% spikes correlate to 160W power. This is the sort of power draw I would expect under load in a game not on the desktop.

It is, but it looks like there's another menu I missed Change default graphics settings.

As far as I'm aware cards that old don't support it, but that doesn't necessarily change the option showing up. They may have hidden the toggle entirely for w11 if it isn't supported though. I don't have w11 on anything with an older video card to check.

Yeah I think it's hidden for me

 

[Daniel9923]

Are all games from legitimate sources?

Steam, EG Store, mc.com, so yeah

 

[Daniel9923]

You want your GPU to run at 100% in games. That means it's being fully utilized. If your GPU runs less than 100% in games, then your CPU is holding it back. temps look fine.

I don't think my GPU should be running 100% in MC.... It's just cubes

 

[COLGeek]

As an experiment, if you remove the RX580 and use the 5600G's integrated video adapter, what happens to the GPU utilization rate?

 

[Daniel9923]

Spiking goes away and on most games the utilization goes down

 

[scout_03]

you have latest amd driver for gpu did you try to lowest gaming settings first to see how it goes you could also try to remove amd driver and use os generic to see if it does the same what is the brand and full name of this gpu .

 

[Daniel9923]

nothing helped
GPU: AMD Radion RX 580 Series

 

[COLGeek]

Spiking goes away and on most games the utilization goes down

This suggests an issue with the RX580 if the integrated controller did not experience the same. Do you have access to another GPU (like from another PC) that you could swap for testing (or your GPU in another system)?

 

[Daniel9923]

Yes but it is ancient and hasn't been used in close to 15 years

 

[COLGeek]

Swap just for the sake of seeing if the problem goes away (or try your GPU in another rig).

 

[Daniel9923]

Swap just for the sake of seeing if the problem goes away (or try your GPU in another rig).

I'll try idk if it compatible tho

 

[thestryker]

The only other things I can think of doing at all would be to use DDU to completely purge and then reinstall your video drivers. If that still does nothing you could take the card apart, repaste the GPU and potentially replace any thermal pads just in case there's a problem with power delivery thermals.