Is 95% GPU usage good?

Hi,

it is only question. I have i5-2500k @4.4 Ghz, 16 Gb RAM, GTX 1660 Super 6 GB, SSD drive and when I start game, GPU usage is between 95-100% nonstop. I use ultra graphic settings, 400% scale, but I am playing on older TV with HD ready resolution 1366x768 px. In game I have stable 120 fps in open country, in cities around 70-90 fps. CPU usage is around 50-60%, VRAM cca 3000-3500 Mb, but GPU is on 95-100% at @1830 mhz. Due this is temperature above 80 degrees and fans are on very high speed.

I tried many other games but there is GPU usage to 80% and temps minus 20 degrees - for example - GTA 5, BF5, Dirt Rally 2, etc - all on max settings.

Yes, I am using mods, but without them is situation same.

Do anyone same problem? It is problem? Or I have to find error on my side?

usage and temps with alternative fans on GPU. Stock fans were around 83 degrees and around 2200 rpm

PS: I had same problem with Radeon RX470 4 GB

Last edited by vanhouten_cz on 28 Jan 2021 16:09, edited 1 time in total.

400% scaling can have something to do with it
Nice CPU / clock speed, the game will benefit

plykkegaard wrote: 400% scaling can have something to do with it

I am using scaling almost in all games (there where is scaling available) - FS19, ARMA3 etc. and I haven´t these problems.

btw: I can overclocked this CPU to stable 5.1 Ghzgood piece of silicon

wato wrote: Sounds like the GPU is fully utilized to be able to run 70 fps at effectively 4K resolution (due to scaling).

Would you rather have the GPU not working to its full potential (like possibly in the other games you mention)?

I am playing on TV @1366*768 px, so due scaling I am at QHD (2720*1440) not at 4K. I want to understand WHY ETS is using so much GPU. Because it isnt only on my GPU. I had same problem on older RX470, my friends have same problem on GPUs like GTX1080, or RTX2080. Do you think that ETS2 is so hardware intensive? Isnt it only bad optimalisation?

I really never had 90%+ GPU usage and temperature above 85°C in any other game. Working on full potential is good, but temperature is so high, that GPU is automatically underclocking to lower frequency. I would understand that GPU do this when settings are too high for this GPU, but on ultra settings + 400% scaling I have average more than 100 fps. If GPU is too weak for this setting, so FPS will be much lower.

I want to say - game is using GPU more than is needed - my opinion.

Funny side of this: I buy better GPU (GTX 1660 Super instead of RX 470), because I need silent PC (I have ultra low noise computer - big tower from Fractal, many 140mm Noctua case fans, huge CPU cooler, HDD on rubber slings in 5,25" positions etc and ultra high noise GPU). I think that RX470 is to weak for my settings. I change GPU and situation is same85 degrees and 3000 rpms on GPU fansSo only solution is use own GPU fans, but I lost my warranty on GPU :-/

vanhouten_cz wrote: I am playing on TV @1366*768 px, so due scaling I am at QHD (2720*1440) not at 4K.

Right, I assumed it scales each axis x4 but it seems that 400% refers to the total amount of pixels as you say.

vanhouten_cz wrote: Do you think that ETS2 is so hardware intensive? Isnt it only bad optimalisation?

Hm, the combination of QHD, GTX 1660 Super, > 100 FPS, and 100% GPU utilization makes sense to me but I don't have deeper insight into the graphics pipeline.
And 100% utilization speaks for good optimization or what would be your expectation for better optimization?

vanhouten_cz wrote: I really never had 90%+ GPU usage and temperature above 85°C in any other game. Working on full potential is good, but temperature is so high, that GPU is automatically underclocking to lower frequency. I would understand that GPU do this when settings are too high for this GPU, but on ultra settings + 400% scaling I have average more than 100 fps. If GPU is too weak for this setting, so FPS will be much lower.

Well, you can test it. Lowering the settings should increase FPS until you're CPU limited (easiest test would be to lower scaling). Once CPU limited, GPU load should decrease. Capping the FPS should also lower GPU load, e.g., by enabling V-Sync at 60 FPS.
But the balance you describe sounds plausible, as I said. 70 - 90°C is usually the designed temperature for GPUs these days and will be reached if it's fully utilized.

I don't quite understand what you are trying to achieve though? Less load at the cost of lower quality or lower FPS?

vanhouten_cz wrote: I want to say - game is using GPU more than is needed - my opinion.

In what sense? How do you come to that conclusion?

wato wrote: 70 - 90°C is usually the designed temperature for GPUs these days and will be reached if it's fully utilized.

Yes, 70-75 °C is good, but not 85°C, where GPU is self underclocking from 1830 MHz to 1500 Mhz because temperature is too high.

wato wrote: I don't quite understand what you are trying to achieve though? Less load at the cost of lower quality or lower FPS?

I want only the same like in other games - nice graphics, but lower loud - in any other game what I tested, GPU load wasnt pernamentely between 95-100%. 95%+ load=high temp=higest RPMs on fans=extremely loud, because from 80°C fans get over 2200 RPM, at 85°C are on max 3000 RPM.

For example (all games set to ultra + Scaling where is allowed, except MSFS)
BF5 - max 80%, temps to 72°C
Dirt Rally 2.0 - max 75%, temps to 70°C
New MS Flight Simulator - 85%, temps to 75°C
ARMA3 (all max) - 65%, temps to 68°C
Fallout 4 - 75%, temps to 70°C
ETS2 - 95-100%, temps above 82°C

Next thing - I noticed this problem after version 1.38 (when came SSAO). But on GPU load isnt difference with SSAO ON and SSAO OFF.

wato wrote: In what sense? How do you come to that conclusion?

Look above. Much newer games than ETS, but GPU isnt loaded to 100%

From now, it is only discusion about it. My problem is solved with active VSync and better GPU fans. I only try to understand this GPU behaviour. Why is in ETS sooooo different to other games. When I play any other game, I almost dont hear if PC is ON or OFF. Only when I play ETS (on stock GPU fans), is same like JumboJet starting from airport - regardless of used GPU - RX470 4 GB or GTX 1660 Super 6 GB. But on our local FB page, many people wrote that they have same problem like me. First I think, that I have some problem with my PC.