Very Low GPU Usage on my GTX 970

[LoneSurvivor]

This has been happening for a long while now. The GPU usually hovers around 30-45%. When I lower the settings to its lowest, the GPU actually uses more of itself compared to when I slide the settings to the max.

I'm unsure whether or not I should just replace the 970, please help.

 

[SPgamer007]

What are your specs? Please provide us the name of games you tested it with, along with FPS in ultra,could help much.

 

[LoneSurvivor]

What are your specs? Please provide us the name of games you tested it with, along with FPS in ultra,could help much.

Sorry for late reply.

SPECS:
GTX 970
MSI Gaming 5
i5 4690k
1TB HDD

Tested on Total War Attila, Blacklight Retribution, and Fallout 4. All of those games never used 100% of the GPU (sometimes it was close like 80% for a second). Typically getting fps as low as 20-40fps. In Total War Attila, it's like 10-30fps. Lowering it down does improve fps on certain games. Blacklight Retribution gets better fps when lowered but Total War Attila gets worse when lowered.

 

[jediTT]

edit:
do you know what your cpu/gpu temps are while gaming?

 

[LoneSurvivor]

edit:
do you know what your cpu/gpu temps are while gaming?

Around 65-73C for both when play games, which is weird because the GPU never gets to 100%. I have the stock CPU cooler and I guess alright PC ventilation fans.

 

[SPgamer007]

With powerful CPU like the 4690k having only 30-45% of GPU usage on triple A titles sounds strange, there is not much one can do about this itself rather than updating GPU drivers, disabling antivirus.

One simple way to find out weather your GPU is capable to run at 100% or not is benchmarking.
Download Furmark : http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/

In furmark,you just want to know your full GPU usage,it's a pretty intensive program so just keep it at default settings and hit the " GPU Stress Test" Button

You can monitor the Temperature of card in the program,just near it is the GPU usage information,see if it is at 99% .

 

[LoneSurvivor]

With powerful CPU like the 4690k having only 30-45% of GPU usage on triple A titles sounds strange, there is not much one can do about this itself rather than updating GPU drivers, disabling antivirus.

One simple way to find out weather your GPU is capable to run at 100% or not is benchmarking.
Download Furmark : http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/

In furmark,you just want to know your full GPU usage,it's a pretty intensive program so just keep it at default settings and hit the " GPU Stress Test" Button

You can monitor the Temperature of card in the program,just near it is the GPU usage information,see if it is at 99% .

Looks pretty old. Any newer benchmarks you could recommend me?

 

[SPgamer007]

I'm not saying to benchmark it,this is to just let know the card is even capable of using its full power or not.

 

[LoneSurvivor]

I'm not saying to benchmark it,this is to just let know the card is even capable of using its full power or not.

Okay just did, and I still never saw it use 100%. I saw it hover to the 90s but not 100. Even when I compared the score to other GPUs it flopped with only 3168. But the temperature was consistently around 78-80C. Maybe the card is holding back to not overheat? I don't know if that even makes sense.

 

[SPgamer007]

Temperature is not an issue, GPU usage never goes to 99% is. These problems have no accurate solution, if drivers at up to date, you pretty much can not try anything else effective though, replacement is the only option.

BTW what PSU and RAM you have ? if they are plenty might go ahead and RMA the card.
BUT if i can,i'd check the card in any different PC though before sending it.

 

[LoneSurvivor]

Temperature is not an issue, GPU usage never goes to 99% is. These problems have no accurate solution, if drivers at up to date, you pretty much can not try anything else effective though, replacement is the only option.

BTW what PSU and RAM you have ? if they are plenty might go ahead and RMA the card.
BUT if i can,i'd check the card in any different PC though before sending it.

I have a Corsair CX 750M. I should RMA the card, but I rather not since it would be my 3rd time doing an RMA for this card. The first two didn't even operate.

 

[SPgamer007]

Rather directly asking the company for RMA,tell them briefly what is going on with your card, tell them you are having very low GPU usage without any bottleneck.

What else could be the reason? all your GPU drivers are to latest, you have a good CPU, Ram is also 8gb or more (?)

Like i said if you can,might check the card in different System to actually make everything sure.

 

[LoneSurvivor]

Rather directly asking the company for RMA,tell them briefly what is going on with your card, tell them you are having very low GPU usage without any bottleneck.

What else could be the reason? all your GPU drivers are to latest, you have a good CPU, Ram is also 8gb or more (?)

Like i said if you can,might check the card in different System to actually make everything sure.

Guess there really isn't much else to do besides talk with them. There's no other possible problem, but I really don't want to jump the gun again and request yet another RMA. Thanks for the help though.