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Loading a video card in games: how to check why it is not loaded at 100%, what is disclosure

 

Loading a video card in games: how to check why it is not loaded at 100%, what is disclosure

In this guide, we will talk about loading a video card. Many are worried about the question of what kind of load a video card should have in games. Is it normal that the video card is loaded at 100% or, for example, only at 60%?


How to check how much graphics card and processor are loaded

To generally understand the essence of the problem, you first need to find out what load your video card has in a particular game. To do this, use the free MSI Afterburner software.


The video card is loaded at 100%

If in games your video card is loaded at 100%, then this is absolutely normal. It works at full capacity and there are no problems with the hardware. But if the FPS is low at the same time, then your card simply cannot cope with the game.

The video card is loaded at 100%

If the video card remains under load even in idle time (when you did not start anything) or when performing simple tasks, then this is a bad sign. Probably, a miner virus has entered the system. Using the task manager, identify the process that loads the video card and end it. Next, you will need to clean the system.


The video card is not loaded at 100% (underloaded). Is it okay?

If the video card is underused, then everything is much more complicated. By itself, this still does not mean anything, but you need to figure it out. This happens because there is no load on the video card. This often happens in undemanding games or at low graphics settings, when the application cannot create a serious load on the hardware. But if the game is demanding and modern, there could be several reasons.


The video card is not loaded at 100% (underloaded). Is it okay?

The first thing to look at is the frame rate. If you have a limit, for example, 60 frames and the video card gives them, then there is nothing to worry about. Try raising the quality of the graphics or removing the cap to increase the load. If the video card is underloaded and the FPS is low, the game slows down, then this is a mess.


How to make your graphics card work 100%

If the video card is underloaded and this is a problematic case, then you need to find out why this is happening. The most common reasons are a weak processor or poor game optimization. We will talk about them in more detail.


How to make your graphics card work 100%

Weak processor. There is such a concept as "disclosure of a video card by a processor." Someone thinks that this is a myth, while others take it at face value. In fact, there is a problem of mismatch between the processor and the video card, but it is much more complicated. The point is that one and the same processor can either "open" or not "open" a video card. For example, at 1080p, the video card is underused, but it is worth switching to 4K and the load increases. That's all disclosure.


But the important thing is that if the processor cannot provide a comfortable FPS, then the video card will also be idle. Although it can produce more frames, the processor does not. So instead of smooth gameplay, get a slideshow. In this case, you need to update the processor or overclock it. In the latter case, miracles should not be expected. If the processor is completely outdated, overclocking will not help.

Loading a video card in games: how to check why it is not loaded at 100%, what is disclosure

Bad optimization. If the game is poorly optimized, then it will slow down, regardless of your hardware. The typical bad optimization pattern was at startup Mafia 3 . The developers installed the lock at 30 FPS, which ultimately led to an underload of the video card and the console frame rate.


If you have problems of this kind, then try updating or reinstalling the drivers, Windows system, or the game itself (if it has patches for it). However, when the reason is in the crooked code, no amount of reinstalling the drivers will help until the problem is fixed.

Loading a video card in games: how to check why it is not loaded at 100%, what is disclosure

Other problems. There may be other reasons as well. So, the video card itself may be faulty. In this case, you should test it with another hardware or test it in stress tests like Furmark. In addition, other components can be a bottleneck in the system. Performance may vary depending on RAM. For example, in laptops only one memory strip is often installed and it works in single-channel mode.

Brief FAQ

  • Is it normal that the video card is loaded at 100? If the video card is loaded in games or applications, then yes. If idle, no. The system may be infected with a miner virus.

  • Is it normal that the video card is not loaded at 100? If the frame rate is high, then yes. If the game slows down, then there are problems.

  • What is more important than a video card or processor? It is impossible to answer unequivocally. Both the processor and graphics card are very important for gaming. It is important to strike a balance: the option "weak processor and fast video card" is a failure in advance. If you put an RTX 3070 level card with a Pentium, then the performance will be limited by the processor. But with the mid-budget i5, they work well. If there is still some extra money left, it is always best to invest it in a graphics card.

  • How does a video card affect picture quality and gaming performance? The video card in games is responsible for parameters such as resolution, anti-aliasing, quality of textures, lighting and effects. The processor also affects the complexity of the geometry of the levels, the number of objects, the processing of scripts and AI. Roughly speaking, if you want more crowd density in Cyberpunk 2077, then this is the job of the processor. And if you need to play 4K, then almost everything depends on the video card.

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