Is _summer showing low GPU usage on your PC while FPS remains low or the game stutters? This can happen even with a powerful graphics card.
Low GPU utilization doesn’t always mean that _summer is ignoring your dedicated GPU. The game could be CPU-limited, capped by V-Sync or an FPS setting, using integrated graphics, or affected by drivers, background applications, or corrupted files.
Try the following fixes to identify and resolve the problem.
Common causes include:
Before changing anything, open Task Manager > Performance while _summer is running and check your CPU and GPU usage. This helps determine whether the GPU is actually being underused or the CPU is limiting performance.
If your PC has integrated and dedicated graphics, Windows may assign the game to the integrated GPU.
If _summer isn’t listed, use Browse to add its executable file.
Open NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D settings > Program Settings.
Select _summer and choose the high-performance NVIDIA processor. Apply the setting and restart the game.
Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and add _summer to your game profile. Make sure the dedicated Radeon GPU is selected where the available options allow it.
Low GPU usage with high CPU usage often means the CPU is the bottleneck, not that the GPU is broken.
Open Task Manager > Performance while playing _summer.
If CPU usage stays very high while GPU usage remains relatively low, try:
If GPU usage increases after reducing the CPU workload, the GPU was probably waiting for the CPU.
A frame-rate limit can intentionally prevent your GPU from running at full capacity.
Open _summer’s graphics settings and check for:
Temporarily disable V-Sync and remove the FPS limit to test GPU utilization.
If GPU usage increases and FPS improves, one of these settings was limiting performance.
You can re-enable V-Sync or set a suitable FPS limit afterward if you prefer smoother, controlled performance.
A faulty or outdated driver can cause poor performance, graphical problems, and game crashes.
For the newest driver, check the official support software or website for your GPU manufacturer.
If the problem started immediately after a driver update, testing the previous stable driver can also help.
This may sound unusual, but very low graphics settings can sometimes make a game more CPU-limited.
If your CPU is the bottleneck, lowering every graphics setting may not increase FPS and can leave the GPU underutilized.
Try increasing GPU-heavy settings gradually, such as:
Monitor FPS and GPU usage after each change.
Don’t increase settings beyond what your GPU can handle. The goal is to determine whether the system is CPU-limited.
Third-party overlays can occasionally interfere with games.
Temporarily disable features such as:
Restart _summer after disabling them and check GPU usage again.
If the problem disappears, enable the overlays individually to find the one causing the conflict.
Background applications can consume CPU, RAM, GPU resources, or disk bandwidth.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and check the Processes tab.
Close applications you don’t need while gaming, particularly demanding browsers, recording software, launchers, and other resource-heavy programs.
Avoid ending Windows system processes unless you know what they do.
Damaged or missing files can cause performance and stability problems.
If the GPU gets too hot, it can reduce its clock speed to protect itself. This can lead to inconsistent performance and lower GPU utilization.
While playing _summer, monitor:
If temperatures are unusually high, check that the PC has adequate airflow and that the fans and cooling system are working properly.
If you’ve recently updated Windows, GPU drivers, Steam, or other gaming software, restart your PC before testing _summer again.
A restart clears temporary processes and ensures driver and system changes are properly loaded.
Don’t rely on GPU usage alone.
A better way to diagnose the problem is to monitor:
| What you see | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| High CPU + Low GPU | CPU bottleneck |
| Low CPU + Low GPU | FPS cap, V-Sync, or other limitation |
| High GPU + Low FPS | GPU limitation or graphics settings |
| GPU temperature very high | Possible thermal throttling |
| Integrated GPU active instead of dedicated GPU | Incorrect GPU selection |
| GPU usage constantly changing | Normal in many gaming scenarios |
This can help you identify the real bottleneck before changing settings unnecessarily.
Low GPU usage can be caused by a CPU bottleneck, FPS limit, V-Sync, low graphics settings, background processes, or incorrect GPU selection.
Open Windows Settings > System > Display > Graphics, select _summer, choose Options, select High performance, and save the setting.
No. High GPU usage is normal when a game is fully utilizing the graphics card. It can actually indicate that the GPU is the current performance limit.
Yes. V-Sync can limit the game’s frame rate, which may leave the GPU with less work to perform.
This often indicates another bottleneck, particularly the CPU. Check CPU usage, temperatures, FPS limits, and background applications before assuming the GPU is the problem.
Reinstalling should be a last resort. First update the GPU driver, check GPU selection, disable FPS limits temporarily, close background applications, and verify the game files.
If _summer isn’t using your GPU properly, don’t assume that low GPU usage automatically means there’s a GPU problem.
Start by checking whether Windows is using the dedicated graphics card, then investigate CPU usage, FPS limits, V-Sync, drivers, background applications, and game files.
Once you identify the actual bottleneck, you can adjust the relevant setting instead of making unnecessary changes to your entire PC.
Paper jams are one of the most common printer problems, especially when a printer is…
Paper jams are one of the most common printer problems, especially when a printer is…
Paper jams are one of the most common printer problems, especially when a printer is…
Paper jams are one of the most common printer problems, especially when a printer is…
Paper jams are one of the most common printer problems, especially when a printer is…
Paper jams are one of the most common printer problems, especially when a printer is…