If Rayman is running on your integrated graphics instead of the dedicated GPU, you may notice low FPS, stuttering, slow texture loading, or crashes. High CPU usage can make the problem worse, especially when other applications are running in the background.
The good news is that you can usually fix the problem without reinstalling the game. Try the solutions below in order.
Why Is Rayman Not Using the GPU?
The most common causes include:
- Windows selecting the integrated GPU
- Incorrect NVIDIA or AMD graphics settings
- Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers
- Too many background processes
- Incorrect in-game graphics settings
- Damaged game files
- CPU or GPU resource overload
1. Force Rayman to Use the Dedicated GPU
If your PC has both integrated and dedicated graphics, Windows may assign the game to the wrong GPU.
Windows Graphics Settings
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to System > Display > Graphics.
- Find Rayman in the list.
- Select Options.
- Choose High performance.
- Click Save.
- Restart the game.
If Rayman isn’t listed, use Browse to add its executable file manually.
NVIDIA GPUs
Open NVIDIA Control Panel > Manage 3D settings > Program Settings.
Select Rayman, then set the preferred graphics processor to the high-performance NVIDIA processor. Apply the change and restart your PC.
AMD GPUs
Open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition and add Rayman to your gaming profile. Make sure the game is configured to use the dedicated Radeon GPU rather than integrated graphics.
2. Update or Reinstall Your GPU Driver
A faulty or outdated driver can prevent games from properly using the dedicated GPU.
- Press Windows + X and open Device Manager.
- Expand Display adapters.
- Right-click your dedicated GPU.
- Select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- Restart Windows after the installation.
For the best results, you can also install the latest driver directly from your GPU manufacturer’s official software or website.
If the problem started immediately after a driver update, rolling back to the previous stable driver can also help.
3. Close Unnecessary Background Apps
A game can reach very high CPU usage when other programs are competing for system resources.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Under Processes, check which applications are consuming significant CPU, memory, or GPU resources.
Close applications you don’t need while gaming, particularly heavy browsers, launchers, recording software, and other demanding programs.
Don’t end Windows system processes unless you know what they do.
4. Lower the Graphics Settings
If the game is still stuttering or crashing, temporarily reduce its workload.
Open Rayman’s graphics settings and try:
- Lowering texture quality
- Reducing shadows
- Lowering view distance
- Reducing effects quality
- Disabling unnecessary background recording
- Lowering resolution or render scale
- Turning off V-Sync temporarily
Restart Rayman after changing the settings.
If the game becomes stable, gradually increase the settings until you find a good balance between visual quality and performance.
5. Check Whether CPU Usage Is Actually the Problem
Seeing 100% CPU usage doesn’t automatically mean the CPU is faulty. A demanding game can legitimately use nearly all available CPU resources.
The important thing is what happens alongside the 100% usage.
Open Task Manager > Performance > CPU while Rayman is running and check whether:
- CPU usage remains at 100% continuously
- Temperatures become unusually high
- Other applications are consuming significant CPU resources
- The game freezes or crashes
- Memory usage is also close to its limit
If another application is causing the CPU spike, close it before launching Rayman again.
6. Verify the Game Files
If you’re playing Rayman through Steam, corrupted or missing files can cause crashes and performance problems.
- Open Steam.
- Go to Library.
- Right-click Rayman.
- Select Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Click Verify integrity of game files.
- Wait for the process to finish.
- Launch the game again.
Steam will replace files that are missing or corrupted.
7. Restart Windows and Check for Updates
A simple restart can clear temporary resource problems and background processes.
Before launching Rayman again:
- Restart your PC.
- Install pending Windows updates.
- Update your GPU driver.
- Close unnecessary applications.
- Make sure your PC isn’t overheating.
Then test the game again.
8. Reinstall Rayman Only as a Last Resort
If none of the above solutions work, reinstalling the game may help, particularly if its installation is badly corrupted.
Before doing this, verify the game files first. A complete reinstall can take considerable time and may not fix a problem caused by drivers, Windows, overheating, or hardware limitations.
Rayman Still Not Using the GPU?
If Task Manager shows the dedicated GPU at very low usage while the integrated GPU is doing most of the work, check the Windows Graphics settings again and make sure the monitor is connected correctly.
On desktop PCs with a dedicated graphics card, the display cable should normally be connected to the graphics card’s video output, not the motherboard’s display port.
Also check your GPU temperature, CPU temperature, available RAM, and VRAM while playing. These values can help identify whether the problem is actually GPU selection or another performance bottleneck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rayman using my CPU instead of my GPU?
Windows may have assigned the game to integrated graphics, or the game’s workload may be more CPU-heavy than expected. Set Rayman to High performance under Windows Graphics settings and check GPU activity again.
Is 100% CPU usage bad while gaming?
Not necessarily. High CPU usage can be normal in demanding games. It becomes a concern when it is accompanied by overheating, severe stuttering, freezes, or repeated crashes.
How do I force a game to use my dedicated GPU?
Go to Windows Settings > System > Display > Graphics, select the game, choose Options, select High performance, and save the setting.
Can outdated GPU drivers cause game crashes?
Yes. Driver problems can cause crashes, graphical glitches, poor GPU utilization, and unstable performance. Updating or clean-installing the appropriate driver can resolve these issues.
Should I reinstall Rayman if it keeps crashing?
Only after trying simpler fixes such as updating drivers, closing background applications, lowering graphics settings, and verifying the game files.
Final Thoughts
Rayman not using the dedicated GPU or crashing during periods of high CPU usage can usually be traced to GPU selection, drivers, background processes, game files, or system resource limits.
Start by forcing the game to use the high-performance GPU, then update your graphics driver and verify the game files. These steps are faster and safer than immediately reinstalling the entire game.
