Games using CPU instead of GPU

[Mightytoro]

Hey so I've had my computer for a pretty long time at this point, and had the same processor and motherboard since I built it 5 years ago, these are my specs;

 

Intel Core i5 4590

MSI H97 PC MATE(MS-7850)

24g of ram

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 Ti (not overclocked)

Also using a BenQ XR3501 monitor (34in, 144hz)

 

Recently I have stumbled into a problem, but this has probably been going on for quite a while I just didn't realize what it was until now. Basically, most games don't use my GPU at ALL, when i check task manager my GPU usage is listed at 0%, while my CPU usage is 70-80%, this of course also results in much lower framerates than i should be getting (Battlefield 1 at medium settings with 30fps, with lagspikes)

A few games are able to use my GPU, for example DOOM and benchmark programs like Heaven Benchmark are able to use my gpu to the fullest, but most games don't. When the GPU does get used, i get much higher FPS (140fps at max settings in DOOM)

I have the latest graphics drivers (downloaded from GeForce experience) 431.60. Some people reccomend setting the power management mode in nvidia control panel to "prefer maximum preformance" which I have tried but it did not work. My power management plan is high performance and I never use vsync. Could the problem be that my processor is too old, motherboard is too old or something? Not great at computers so I may have left something out but just tell me and I'll try. 

[Streetguru]

7 minutes ago, Mightytoro said:

 

Reinstalling windows is the quickest solution to potential software issues.

[Mightytoro]

Just now, Streetguru said:

Reinstalling windows is the quickest solution to potential software issues.

What makes you think it's a software issue? Just curious, although that does seem like a good idea.

[ZeouLs]

Go to device manager and disable the iGPU and check the performance again

[Mightytoro]

4 minutes ago, ZeouLs said:

Go to device manager and disable the iGPU and check the performance again

Sorry, I don't really understand. Under which tab in device manager will I find the iGPU? I'm looking around and can't find anything like that. 

[ZeouLs]

3 minutes ago, Mightytoro said:

Sorry, I don't really understand. Under which tab in device manager will I find the iGPU? I'm looking around and can't find anything like that. 

Should be under display adapters. Its the Intel HD Graphics 4600.

[Mightytoro]

4 minutes ago, ZeouLs said:

Should be under display adapters. Its the Intel HD Graphics 4600.

All there is at the display adaptor tab is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti and Radmin Mirror Driver v3, I've looked through the entire device manager and I do not have the Intel HD Graphics 4600 anywhere

[wojtepanik]

maybe... you plugged your monitor into IGPU not your gpu?

[Mightytoro]

Just now, wojtepanik said:

maybe... you plugged your monitor into IGPU not you gpu?

Well, I considered that initially, but as I pointed out in my original post, the graphics card DOES work in some games like DOOM and it does work in benchmarks, i get high GPU usage and i get much higher FPS. 

[wojtepanik]

reinstall windows, fresh new driver, that's all in terms of software

 

[SOLO_AVENGER]

Don't use task manager to check you usage, use msi afterburner or something similar.

[Mightytoro]

Just now, SOLO_AVENGER said:

Don't use task manager to check you usage, use msi afterburner or something similar.

Well, fair, I've seen others say the same and I'll give it a go but it simply doesn't make sense for my FPS to be as low as it is considering I'm using a 1070 Ti

[SOLO_AVENGER]

8 hours ago, Mightytoro said:

Well, fair, I've seen others say the same and I'll give it a go but it simply doesn't make sense for my FPS to be as low as it is considering I'm using a 1070 Ti

If msi afterburner shows that the gpu isn't being used then we can look at other options. By the way, does task manager show the igpu being used when you get low fps?

[Reznik]

I've definitely seen Windows task manager report 0% usage when my GPU is pegged at 100%.  It's not reporting correctly.  You can use software called HWInfo 64 and if will show you what your GPU is actually doing.