10 Ways to Fix CSGO Not Using Dedicated GPU or CPU

Key Takeaways

CSGO, a popular first-person shooter game developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment, is facing issues where it is not utilizing GPU or CPU since a recent update.
To resolve this issue, users can ensure their PC is using a dedicated graphics card, update GPU drivers, terminate unnecessary background tasks, modify power plans, and tweak in-game graphics settings.
Additional steps include updating CSGO, disabling overlay apps, turning off Shader Cache for CSGO, and reinstalling the game if previous solutions do not work.

A first-person shooter video game called “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” (CSGO) was developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment. The fourth Counter-Strike game in the series was launched in 2012 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows, and Macintosh OS. The book has some issues, even though reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. Many reports claim that CSGO is not using GPU or CPU since the most recent update.

No matter how powerful or efficient your system is, a problem of this nature could still arise on a Windows PC. However, most of the time, we assume that the system and game performance will be negatively impacted by graphics or CPU utilization that is either inactive or rarely at 100%. It becomes one of the more common issues encountered by PC gamers over time, and it may occur in some specific games as a result of incorrect settings or PC issues.

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How to Fix CSGO not using GPU or CPU

Additionally, we should note that because these problems could arise on different PCs and for various reasons, they couldn’t be fixed from the developer’s viewpoint. However, if you try any of the manual solutions listed below, you might be able to manually resolve this issue. Fortunately, you may do a few things on your end, such as adjusting or modifying the graphics settings, the in-game settings, fixing game files, updating the game patch version, and more. So let’s investigate.

Make Use of a Dedicated Graphics Card

Furthermore, ensure your PC is running CSGO with an external or dedicated graphics card. Undoubtedly, it will progressively reduce game lags, stutters, and frame drops. If you’re unsure which settings to change, please follow the instructions below.

For Nvidia:

The following could be performed if you’re utilizing an Nvidia graphics card:

Right-click the empty desktop and select the NVIDIA Control Panel option.
In the left pane, click 3D settings and then choose Manage 3D settings.
Select CS: GO from the drop-down list under the Program Settings menu.
Now, select a high-performance NVIDIA processor.
To apply the changes, save the adjustments and restart the computer.

For AMD:

Users using AMD graphics cards can perform the following:

Right-click on the blank desktop screen and select AMD Radeon Settings from the context menu.
To proceed, click System > Switchable Graphics.
Make sure to save your changes and restart your computer for them to take effect.

Update GPU drivers

An out-of-date or corrupted graphics card driver can bring multiple games or system performance issues. It is strongly advised that you upgrade your graphics driver. To do this:

To access the Quick Link Menu, press Windows + X.
Now, Double-click on Display Adapters once selecting Device Manager from the list.
Click the right mouse button on the dedicated graphics card you are currently using.
Choose Update Driver >Select the option to search for drivers automatically.
CSGO is not using GPU or CPU

The most recent version will automatically download and be installed if it is available.

Terminate any background tasks that are running.

Unnecessary background Running tasks or applications can consume a significant amount of system resources, such as CPU or memory utilization, resulting in a real decrease in system performance. Thus, developer difficulties like crashing, lagging, and not loading happen rather frequently. Simply end up with all of the background processes that are not necessary. To do this:

First, open the Task Manager, and press the keys Ctrl, Shift, and Esc.
Now, click on the Processes tab, and then click Pick to select processes that are taking up too many system resources and running in the background.
To finish each one individually, click on “End Task.”
Restart your system after you’re done.

Modify the Power Plan

Because the Windows operating system essentially employs the balanced power plan by default, it is also strongly advised to change the power plan on the computer. However, it decreases performance, which can be improved by changing the power plan. Remember that the performance plan may use more power. To do so:

To open the Run dialogue box, press Windows + R.
To open the Control Panel, enter “Control Panel” in the field and select “OK” from the search result.
Now, look for and open Power Options (Power and Battery).
Choose Best Performance >Reboot your computer to save the changes immediately.
CSGO is not using GPU or CPU

5. Tweak In-Game Graphics Settings

You can also change the game’s graphic settings to see if the issue is still present.

Open CS: GO from the library after starting the Steam client.
To access the Settings menu in CSGO, click the gear symbol inside the game.
Now, be sure to choose “Turn off VSync.”
Next, choose low or medium for each Advanced Settings option.
Now, set the FOV and PhysX options to low.

6. Verify the Game Files on Steam.

The launch or smooth operation of the game may be hampered by corrupted or missing game files. However, make sure to check the game files and fix them through the Steam client by doing the following:

Log into the account by launching the Steam client on a PC and going to the library.
From the left pane, right-click the CS: GO game.
Select Properties > Local Files from the drop-down menu.
then select the game files’ “Verify Integrity” button.
Wait for the process to complete, then shut down the Steam client.
Finally, to apply the changes, restart the computer.

7. Update CS: GO

Even an out-of-date game patch version can cause the gaming device to crash, lag, stutter, have CSGO not using GPU or CPU problems, and more. Occasionally checking for game updates and installing them as soon as they become available is recommended. To perform the same, just follow the guidelines below.

Open the Steam client, then select Library.
From the list of installed games in the left pane, select CS: GO.
The client will now automatically look for any available updates.
You’ll notice an update option if one is available; simply click on it.
Wait until the game update is completed, which should take a few minutes. (This is dependent on available storage space and internet connectivity.)
After finishing, be sure to shut down the Steam client.
Finally, reboot your computer to make the changes before starting the CS: GO game once more.

8. Turn off Shader Cache for CSGO

If you’re using an external Nvidia GTX or RTX graphics card, it appears that the Shader Cache option for CSGO is automatically enabled in the Nvidia Control Panel. It is therefore recommended to manually deactivate the shader cache for the game by using the instructions below.

Right-click the desktop’s empty screen and select NVIDIA Control Panel.
In the left pane, click 3D settings and then choose Manage 3D settings.
Select CS: GO from the drop-down list under the Program Settings menu.
Make sure the shader cache is turned off before saving your changes.

9. Try Disabling Overlay Apps

A few applications occasionally have extra overlay software that helps streamers and gamers greatly. However, over time, these overlay programs may interfere with the game’s ability to function properly, which could result in several problems like FPS drops black screen problems, lags, glitches, etc. Before starting the game again, you should try manually turning off the overlay apps to see if the crashing problem has been resolved. To do so:

Disable the Discord Overlay:

Start the Discord application. At the bottom, Click on the gear icon.
Under “App Settings,” choose “Overlay.” Activate the “Enable in-game overlay” option.
Select CS: GO by clicking the Games tab.
Finally, deactivate the toggle for the in-game overlay.
To apply the changes, make sure to restart your computer.

Turn off the Xbox Game Bar:

To open Windows Settings, press Windows + I.
To turn off the game, select Gaming > Game Bar. Use the Game Bar option to capture screenshots, game clips, and broadcasts.

Turn off Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:

Open the Settings page in the Nvidia GeForce Experience app.
Disable the in-game overlay option by selecting the General tab.
Finally, to apply the changes, restart the computer, then restart the game.

Other overlay programs like MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB software, etc. can also be harmful to you. You also need to turn them off.

Reinstall CSGO

If none of the solutions above worked for you, consider reinstalling the CSGO game on your computer to see if it resolves the lagging or FPS drop problem brought on by not utilizing a dedicated GPU (graphics card).

On your PC, open the Steam client.
Right-click on CSGO by heading to Library.
Click Uninstall. To confirm, press Delete.
Wait till the uninstalling is finished> Exit the Steam client.
To find the location, open File Explorer and paste C: Program Files (x86)Steam\steamapps\common into the address bar. Then press Enter.
Make a full deletion of the CS: GO folder there.
Apply adjustments by restarting the computer, then go to Steam and reinstall CS: GO. Although it may take some time, you should give it a try.

Conclusion

That’s it, guys. We complete our tutorial in this manner, so you know. Enjoy it to the fullest rather than worrying about fixing CSGO not using the dedicated GPU or CPU. We truly hope this guide was useful to you. You can leave a comment below with any further questions.

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How to Fix CSGO Not Using Dedicated GPU or CPU