CPU usage won't go over 50%

I have Intel I7-3930K running at 3.9GHz and I've noticed that my CPU utilization never goes over 50%, even when rendering, or playing cpu demanding games like BF4. It's also causing huge hiccups(CPU spikes) every 2 minutes or so, while playing games. I've installed all windows updates and latest drivers, disabled all unnecessary programs and tasks. Does anyone know what is causing this?

Hi there,

Welcome to the forums.

Some program is limiting the CPU, most likely through software.

First thing to check is the power options.



Make sure the maximum processor state for the active power scheme says 100%.

For instance i've set mine to 80% and it never goes over that line in Task Manager, even when rendering.

Good luck.

Temp throttling ruled out ?

Hopachi said:

Hi there,

Welcome to the forums.

Some program is limiting the CPU, most likely through software.

First thing to check is the power options.

View attachment 50582

Make sure the maximum processor state for the active power scheme says 100%.

For instance i've set mine to 80% and it never goes over that line in Task Manager, even when rendering.

Good luck.

Click to expand...

It's on 100%, temps never go above 50, I've tried prime95 and stress tested cpu for about an hour, everything went fine, and usage went to 100%, but in game it' won't go over 50, I don't get it

If prime95 will use 100% CPU usage that there is no limits on CPU usage. But the I7-3930K CPU has 6 cores and that is more than most applications are capable of using efficiently. Having more cores does not mean that all will be fully utilized, even with demanding games and other applications.

LMiller7 said:

If prime95 will use 100% CPU usage that there is no limits on CPU usage. But the I7-3930K CPU has 6 cores and that is more than most applications are capable of using efficiently. Having more cores does not mean that all will be fully utilized, even with demanding games and other applications.

Click to expand...

But then why I am I having cpu hiccups, I didn't have that problem on windows 7 and cpu usage went above 90% :huh:

ssssilent said:

It's on 100%, temps never go above 50, I've tried prime95 and stress tested cpu for about an hour, everything went fine, and usage went to 100%, but in game it' won't go over 50, I don't get it

Click to expand...

Game you say... that is another thing!
That means game isn't able to utlilise all the cores OR not all cores are needed by that particular game.

Maybe your GPU is bottlenecking your CPU ?

Slow / fragmented HDD ?

Tried different GPU-Drivers ?

Bad I-Net-Connection ?

Which Power-Profile ?

Core-Parking disabled ?

GPU-Driver Settings ?

Windows-8.1 doesn't effect BF4 in a negative way, but you get even a smoother experience with Windows-8.1 .

I play BF4 usually with my 3770k @4200MHz and had never such issues and I paired them with the following GPU's:

- 1x Gigabyte GTX670-OC-2GB
- 2x Gigabyte GTX680-SOC-2GB
- 2x Gigabyte GTX780-Ti-GHz-Edition-3GB

With all Quality-Settings maxed-out I get atm. 140-200fps @1920x1080 on a 64-Player-Server.