GPU usage question

[shankly1985]

When GPU usage hits 100% and frame rate drops does that mean you need more GPU power?
For example
60fps @70% - 50fps @100% a faster GPU needed?

I have always thought we want to see 100% usage from a GPU and less usage from a CPU.. but in my playing experience I get better performance when the GPU isn't under full load?

Game in question here is GTA5...

 

[MrMD]

It always depends
GPU usage is linked your res/ingame settings and if you cap the framerate(Vsync)
I bet what your experiencing is your getting framedrops in the countryside?

The settings i run get me a locked 60fps(I run vsync so framerate is capped) in the city part of the map,Gpu load fluctiates between 70-90%,cpu is usually 90-100%.Turning off the framecap gets more fps,but i hate the tearing.

Moving to the countryside,i dont get a locked 60fps,Gpu load is always at 90%+ and regularly hits 100% this is when i get framedrops,so in effect i become gpu bound.Oddly enough cpu usage in the countryside is usually lower in 80-90% range mostly.

If i unlock the framerate,i can get upto 100fps in some sections of the map,and obviously im always at 100% gpu load.Makes the game feel a bit janky tho as the fps can fluctuate massively at times,even if it doesnt actually drop below 60fps.Plus screen tearing is horrible.

Edit: I always try to set up my games and settings so that im at around 95% gpu load to maintain 60fps,so that when something graphically intense occurs onscreen their is little chance of the card not being able to render a full 60fps.Vysnc a game and being at 100% load will mean your not getting 60fps and your game will feel janky.

With any modern I5/I7 its extremely rare to find yourself CPU bound
I dont know if this makes sense lol

 

[shankly1985]

I run a solid 60fps with my custom settings. but when I turn up the advanced draw distance my GPU hits 100% but frame rate drops.. Now is this telling me you need extra GPU power to bring frame rate back up or is something else needed like better CPU etc

 

[Heisenberg]

My understanding is 100% usage but under 60fps, more gpu grunt required. Less than 100% while under 60fps would be showing either a problem with the game engine or a possible cpu bottleneck. Not sure how accurate my understanding is though.

 

[MrMD]

I run a solid 60fps with my custom settings. but when I turn up the advanced draw distance my GPU hits 100% but frame rate drops.. Now is this telling me you need extra GPU power to bring frame rate back up or is something else needed like better CPU etc

You need more GPU grunt.
If your capping a games framerate everytime your GPU hits 100% load your dropping frames and have become gpu bound.

 

[MrMD]

My understanding is 100% usage but under 60fps, more gpu grunt required. Less than 100% while under 60fps would be showing either a problem with the game engine or a possible cpu bottleneck. Not sure how accurate my understanding is though.

Yes,this prob explains it better than me lol

 

[Cooper]

My understanding is 100% usage but under 60fps, more gpu grunt required. Less than 100% while under 60fps would be showing either a problem with the game engine or a possible cpu bottleneck. Not sure how accurate my understanding is though.

There are always weird issues though..a case in point is Project Cars, in some scenarios my GPU usage is less than 60% but I'm still not getting 60fps.

..and just to add to the mystery, CPU usage is only about 70-80%.

So according to the figures, I'm neither CPU or GPU bound but still can't get 60fps..work that one out.

 

[J.D]

There are always weird issues though..a case in point is Project Cars, in some scenarios my GPU usage is less than 60% but I'm still not getting 60fps.

..and just to add to the mystery, CPU usage is only about 70-80%.

So according to the figures, I'm neither CPU or GPU bound but still can't get 60fps..work that one out.

Driver bound?.

 

[Heisenberg]

There are always weird issues though..a case in point is Project Cars, in some scenarios my GPU usage is less than 60% but I'm still not getting 60fps.

..and just to add to the mystery, CPU usage is only about 70-80%.

So according to the figures, I'm neither CPU or GPU bound but still can't get 60fps..work that one out.

Yeah, that's why I said it could also be an engine/driver issue. It's no exact science.

 

[Kelt]

Yeah, that's why I said it could also be an engine/driver issue. It's no exact science.

This.

One of my favourite games, Company of Heroes is engine bound. I only get around 30-40% GPU useage, and it can tank with bigger maps, more units etc, whilst the GPU and CPU are sitting there, twiddling their thumbs, but hey, 2006 game!

Dying Light however, great engine in that, my GPU is maxed out most of the time, while it can dip to 45-50 fps from a mostly 60 fps, so GPU bound.