Why Your CPU Never Reaches 100% While Gaming, and Why That's a Good Sign
You may have noticed that your processor isn't affected while playing some games. In other words, it's still operating at a minimum. This could suggest a monitoring error or that your computer is experiencing a glitch, but the truth is, it's good news.
Most games today tend to overload the graphics card. This card is responsible for processing graphics, textures, and everything else. Therefore, your CPU power level may be between 20% and 60%, or even between 1% and 5%. The graphics card is the one that bears the real load of the game. But this isn't necessarily the reason.
Sometimes, if you have options like vertical sync enabled or a maximum frame rate capped, the processor waits for the display to respond. Meanwhile, the computer remains "quiet." However, it could also be that your computer is in power-saving mode or that your drivers are outdated. In this case, CPU power is often not being used properly.
In many games today, especially those with ultra-realistic graphics, the burden and potential bottlenecks fall on the graphics card. This particular "board" is where the game writes everything down. Therefore, it's not uncommon for the CPU to be very quiet while the graphics card operates at 90-100% of its capacity. The microprocessor, in this case, acts as a auxiliary device, so it only works when the GPU asks it to.
- The main reasons for a "quiet" CPU
You may also have V-Sync enabled or limiting the frame rate. In this case, the CPU doesn't have to work as hard, as the game uses the GPU first, then the display. This keeps the processor cool and efficient at all times.
But it's not all good news. Your microprocessor may be very powerful, while your graphics card isn't (or vice versa). In these cases, the processor has no problem performing adequately in games, while the central processor (CPU) performs at its best.
On the other hand, if you have applications running in the background, or if you're using the operating system's "Power Saving" mode, this significantly limits CPU performance. In this case, you can use "High Performance" mode or similar and close unused programs to balance the load between the CPU and graphics card.
If the microprocessor overheats, its efficiency will significantly decrease, and the overall performance of the computer will slow down. Therefore, it is extremely important to keep your system clean, both software and hardware-wise. Ensure smooth airflow through the case, and regularly check the thermal paste . And, of course, check for and update drivers to avoid overworking the CPU.