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Why is Cyberpunk 2077 Not Utilising My GPU?

Cyberpunk 2077, with its sprawling Night City and demanding graphics, can be a real stress test for your gaming rig. If you’re experiencing low GPU utilisation while playing, it can feel like your high-end graphics card is taking a coffee break while you’re stuck with subpar performance. The culprit is rarely a single issue, but rather a combination of factors that can limit your GPU’s potential. Common causes include a CPU bottleneck, incorrect game settings, outdated drivers, and even background applications hogging resources. Effectively troubleshooting this problem requires understanding how these elements interact and knowing how to tweak them for optimal performance. Let’s dive into the most common reasons and how to resolve them, so you can experience Night City as CD Projekt Red intended.

Understanding GPU Utilisation in Cyberpunk 2077

CPU Bottleneck: The Silent Killer

The CPU bottleneck is arguably the most frequent reason for low GPU utilisation in Cyberpunk 2077. Your CPU is responsible for feeding data to the GPU, telling it what to render and how. If your CPU isn’t fast enough to keep up with the GPU’s rendering capabilities, the GPU sits idle, waiting for instructions. This results in lower frame rates and significantly reduced GPU utilisation, regardless of how powerful your graphics card is.

How to Identify a CPU Bottleneck:

Monitor CPU and GPU Usage: Use tools like MSI Afterburner or the Windows Task Manager (Performance tab) to monitor your CPU and GPU usage while playing Cyberpunk 2077. If your CPU is consistently at or near 100% usage while your GPU is significantly lower (e.g., below 80%), you likely have a CPU bottleneck.
Lower Resolution Test: Lowering your game resolution significantly should theoretically reduce the load on your GPU. If doing so doesn’t drastically increase your frame rate, it points towards the CPU being the limiting factor.

How to Mitigate a CPU Bottleneck:

Lower Graphics Settings: Reduce demanding graphical settings like crowd density, object detail, and shadow quality. These settings often put a heavier load on the CPU.
Overclock Your CPU: If you’re comfortable with overclocking, carefully increasing your CPU’s clock speed can provide a performance boost. However, be cautious and ensure adequate cooling to prevent overheating.
Upgrade Your CPU: If you’re consistently facing a CPU bottleneck, upgrading to a more powerful CPU is the most effective long-term solution. Consider CPUs with more cores and higher clock speeds.
Disable E-cores: Some users have reported improved performance by disabling the “E-cores” or Efficiency cores within their CPU. In the task manager set affinity and uncheck the e-cores.

Incorrect Game Settings: Maximising Visuals at a Cost

Cyberpunk 2077 offers a plethora of graphics settings, allowing you to tailor the game’s visuals to your hardware. However, cranking everything up to “Ultra” without considering your system’s capabilities can lead to performance issues and low GPU utilisation. Some settings are inherently more demanding than others.

Commonly Problematic Settings:

Ray Tracing: While visually stunning, ray tracing significantly increases the load on your GPU. Even high-end GPUs can struggle with ray tracing enabled at higher resolutions.
Ultra Textures: High-resolution textures require a lot of VRAM (video memory). If your GPU doesn’t have enough VRAM, it can lead to stuttering and reduced performance.
Crowd Density: A high crowd density setting increases the number of NPCs and vehicles in the game world, putting a significant strain on both the CPU and GPU.

How to Optimise Game Settings:

Experiment with Presets: Start with a lower preset (e.g., “Medium” or “High”) and gradually increase individual settings until you find a balance between visual quality and performance.
Disable or Lower Ray Tracing: If you’re struggling with low GPU utilisation, try disabling ray tracing entirely or lowering its settings.
Adjust Texture Quality: If you have a GPU with limited VRAM, lower the texture quality to reduce VRAM usage.
Reduce Crowd Density: Lowering the crowd density can significantly improve performance, especially in densely populated areas of Night City.
FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) / Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS): These technologies render the game at a lower resolution and then upscale it, improving performance without sacrificing too much visual fidelity.

Driver Issues: Keep Your System Updated

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can cause a wide range of performance issues, including low GPU utilisation. Drivers are essential software that allows your operating system and games to communicate effectively with your graphics card.

How to Resolve Driver Issues:

Update Your Graphics Drivers: Regularly check for and install the latest graphics drivers from the NVIDIA or AMD websites. These updates often include performance optimisations and bug fixes specifically for Cyberpunk 2077.
Clean Install Drivers: When updating drivers, consider performing a clean install. This removes all traces of the old drivers, preventing potential conflicts.
Roll Back Drivers: If you experience performance issues after updating to the latest drivers, try rolling back to a previous version that was known to work well.

Background Applications: Resource Hogs

Background applications can consume valuable system resources, including CPU and GPU cycles, reducing the resources available for Cyberpunk 2077.

Identify and Disable Background Applications:

Close Unnecessary Programs: Close any programs that you’re not actively using, such as web browsers, music players, and other applications.
Disable Startup Programs: Prevent unnecessary programs from launching automatically when you start your computer.
Monitor Resource Usage: Use the Windows Task Manager to identify applications that are consuming a significant amount of CPU or GPU resources.

Other Potential Culprits

Overheating: Overheating can cause your CPU and GPU to throttle their performance, resulting in low GPU utilisation. Ensure adequate cooling for your components.
RAM Limitations: While less common, insufficient RAM can also cause performance issues. 16GB is generally recommended for Cyberpunk 2077, and 32GB is ideal for smoother gameplay.
Power Supply Limitations: A weak or failing power supply can prevent your components from receiving the power they need, leading to performance issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is Cyberpunk 2077 CPU or GPU intensive?

Cyberpunk 2077 is a demanding game that taxes both the CPU and GPU. However, it tends to be more GPU intensive at higher resolutions and graphics settings. At lower resolutions, a CPU bottleneck is more likely to occur.

2. How much VRAM is needed for Cyberpunk 2077?

At least 8GB of VRAM is recommended for playing Cyberpunk 2077 at medium to high settings. For ray tracing and higher resolutions, 12GB or more is ideal.

3. What is the recommended CPU for Cyberpunk 2077?

The recommended CPU is an Intel Core i7-4790 or AMD Ryzen 3 3200G or better. However, for smoother gameplay and to avoid bottlenecks, a more modern and powerful CPU is recommended, especially when paired with a high-end GPU.

4. Can my RAM bottleneck my GPU in Cyberpunk 2077?

Yes, if you don’t have enough RAM, it can limit your GPU’s performance. 16GB of RAM is generally considered the minimum for a smooth experience, and 32GB is preferable, especially with higher settings and mods.

5. How do I know if my CPU is bottlenecking my GPU in Cyberpunk 2077?

Monitor your CPU and GPU usage using tools like MSI Afterburner or the Windows Task Manager. If your CPU is consistently near 100% while your GPU is significantly lower (e.g., below 80%), you likely have a CPU bottleneck.

6. How do I get Cyberpunk 2077 to use my GPU?

Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date, and the game is set to use your dedicated GPU in your system’s graphics settings. Also, ensure your game settings are optimized for your hardware configuration, which will allow your GPU to work as expected. Some users have seen improvement by disabling CPU E-cores in the task manager.

7. Is Cyberpunk 2077 GPU bound?

Generally, most players will be GPU bound in Cyberpunk 2077, especially at higher resolutions and settings. However, at lower resolutions or with a very high-end GPU, a CPU bottleneck can occur.

8. Should I enable DLSS in Cyberpunk 2077?

Yes, if you have an NVIDIA RTX graphics card, enabling DLSS can significantly improve performance without sacrificing too much visual quality. DLSS uses AI to upscale the game from a lower resolution, resulting in higher frame rates.

9. What GPU will run Cyberpunk 2077?

The minimum GPU for Cyberpunk 2077 is an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB or AMD Radeon R9 Fury. However, for a better experience, a more powerful GPU like an RTX 2060 or higher is recommended.

10. Is RTX 3060 good for Cyberpunk 2077?

Yes, an RTX 3060 can run Cyberpunk 2077 at reasonable settings and resolutions. You should be able to achieve playable frame rates at 1080p or 1440p with medium to high settings, especially with DLSS enabled.

11. Is RTX 3070 enough for Cyberpunk 2077?

Yes, an RTX 3070 is capable of running Cyberpunk 2077 at high settings at 1440p, and potentially even at 4K with some settings adjustments and DLSS enabled.

12. How do I enable ray tracing in Cyberpunk 2077?

In the game’s graphics settings, navigate to the “Quick Preset” option and select “Ray Tracing: Overdrive” or a lower ray tracing preset. Ensure you have an RTX graphics card that supports ray tracing.

13. What is the optimal FPS for Cyberpunk 2077?

While personal preference varies, a stable 60 FPS is generally considered a good target for Cyberpunk 2077. However, even a frame rate in the 45-60 FPS range can be enjoyable with the proper settings and technology like DLSS.

14. Does Cyberpunk 2077 need 8 cores?

Cyberpunk 2077 can benefit from CPUs with 8 cores or more. The game is designed to utilize multiple cores effectively, so having a CPU with more cores can lead to better performance.

15. Can I improve my Cyberpunk experience by contributing to game-based learning?

Absolutely! Exploring and understanding complex game mechanics can spark interest in learning and problem-solving. The Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org explores how games can be used for educational purposes, fostering critical thinking and collaboration skills. By engaging with game-based learning initiatives, you can contribute to making education more engaging and effective.

By systematically addressing each of these potential causes and experimenting with different settings, you can optimise your system for Cyberpunk 2077 and enjoy a smoother, more immersive experience in Night City. Good luck, choomba!

Why is Cyberpunk 2077 not utilising my GPU?