GPU overloading although barely half VRAM is used

[Archy333]

Hello everyone.

I've properly completed upgrading Skyrim with STEP using mostly 'baseline' and sometimes even 'performance' settings, but as a result I got this problem with GPU staying generally at 90-99% during gameplay (especially on open locations) and quickly heating up to 85-87 C (I guess it's not OVERheating yet, but still disturbing and coolers work like insane). The strangest thing is that there are practically no performance lags whatsoever, the game runs rather smoothly and what's more only half of the GPU's total VRAM is being used. Anyway, that's all on the screenshot.

So, the question is - is it NORMAL? (I'm kind of a noob, duh) And if not, how do I fix it?

 Thanks in advance.

[EssArrBee]

Laptops will always operate at higher temperatures than their desktop counter parts. That's the nature of using one little fan to cool and entire system. In my case the GPU stays at around 70-75 C while the CPU can get around 20 degrees hotter, I guess it's just design choices that have to made in tiny spaces. Maybe try not playing in mid day heat, it is summer after all, also you could try to limit your framerate in nvidia inspector. I believe if you drop to 50-45 FPS you wouldn't really notice to much of difference since it's not a shooter and that will put less demand on the system.

[phazer11]

Try 30 FPS and lower the clock on your GPU using say Afterburner.

[EssArrBee]

Actually never lower it to less than 32 FPS because of some load screen issue I believe. I forget where to find the info on that maybe someone else knows more about it.

[rootsrat]

Hello everyone.

I've properly completed upgrading Skyrim with STEP using mostly 'baseline' and sometimes even 'performance' settings, but as a result I got this problem with GPU staying generally at 90-99% during gameplay (especially on open locations) and quickly heating up to 85-87 C (I guess it's not OVERheating yet, but still disturbing and coolers work like insane). The strangest thing is that there are practically no performance lags whatsoever, the game runs rather smoothly and what's more only half of the GPU's total VRAM is being used. Anyway, that's all on the screenshot.

So, the question is - is it NORMAL? (I'm kind of a noob, duh) And if not, how do I fix it?

 Thanks in advance.

 

First of all and most important - what is your spec?

 

Vague "my GPU is getting hammered" is not enough to give any opinion...

[Aiyen]

Rootsrat: Look at the attached picture, has all the info! :P

 

And yeah for laptops this is sadly normal behavior. Even laptops that say they are designed for gaming are essentially lying. They are only designed for gaming from a specification standpoint, not so much else.

I always recommend that if you only have a laptop and you want to use it for gaming, then also get a cooling pad to place it on while you play. They are not super expensive, and they solve most of the issues. This also allows you to keep using the laptop for school/job whatever if you for some reason have no interest in a stationary rig.

[rootsrat]

Ah, of course. Just being blind... Apologies, kindly ignore me then :)

[Archy333]

Thanks, guys. Limiting the frame rate to 35 actually helped. (At first I tried 30, but the loading screens started taking 2 minutes each).

Btw, your STEP guide is awesome :3

Thanks again and keep up the good work. Cheers!

[EssArrBee]

Yes, please stay over 32 FPS, so 35 is a great choice and you can always go up a few frames if you want to.

 

Also, marked as solved.