Method to Cap GPU Usage?

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FPSMaster
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Method to Cap GPU Usage?

Post by FPSMaster » 14 Oct 2021, 17:53

So, if you are into all the latency stuff, you know high GPU usage will introduce alot of input lag. Especially if your GPU hits those 95-100%.

I did cap my frames for lower GPU usage, but sadly it doesn't help always. Sometimes the GPU still jumps to 90-100%.
It's really difficult to know at which FPS your GPU doesn't go into high utilization. You need to do alot of testing. You need to test all games. Cap frames over and over again until you get under 90% usage. You need to test it at different locations in each game... it's pretty time expensive!

Now I questioned myself, is there actually a way to "cap" your actual gpu usage, instead of your FPS? Just a program like RTSS, where you can just cap your GPU Utikization to 90%, or 80% and so on.

Is this even possible? Does it maybe even introduce more lag?
Please let me know if there is a way how to do it!

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jorimt
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Re: Method to Cap GPU Usage?

Post by jorimt » 14 Oct 2021, 18:06

FPSMaster wrote:
14 Oct 2021, 17:53
Reflex does, and unlike a manually set FPS limit, it does it dynamically, technically with its own FPS limiter as well, but it's automated based on if it detects the GPU would otherwise max out without the limit set.

It's obviously only featured in some games...officially, but SpecialK allows it to function in any DX11 or DX12 game:
https://wiki.special-k.info/en/Advanced/Video
(jorimt: /jor-uhm-tee/)
Author: Blur Busters "G-SYNC 101" Series

Displays: ASUS PG27AQN, LG 48CX VR: Beyond, Quest 3, Reverb G2, Index OS: Windows 11 Pro Case: Fractal Design Torrent PSU: Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 MB: ASUS Z790 Hero CPU: Intel i9-13900k w/Noctua NH-U12A GPU: GIGABYTE RTX 4090 GAMING OC RAM: 32GB G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 6400MHz CL32 SSDs: 2TB WD_BLACK SN850 (OS), 4TB WD_BLACK SN850X (Games) Keyboards: Wooting 60HE, Logitech G915 TKL Mice: Razer Viper Mini SE, Razer Viper 8kHz Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 (speakers/amp/DAC), AFUL Performer 8 (IEMs)

FPSMaster
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Re: Method to Cap GPU Usage?

Post by FPSMaster » 14 Oct 2021, 18:26

jorimt wrote:
14 Oct 2021, 18:06
FPSMaster wrote:
14 Oct 2021, 17:53
Reflex does, and unlike a manually set FPS limit, it does it dynamically, technically with its own FPS limiter as well, but it's automated based on if it detects the GPU would otherwise max out without the limit set.

It's obviously only featured in some games...officially, but SpecialK allows it to function in any DX11 or DX12 game:
https://wiki.special-k.info/en/Advanced/Video
Allright, I didn't knew that. So I just uncap my FPS and turn on nvidia reflex and let the magic work?
At least this will help for my main game (apex legends)...

Thanks for your tip!

FPSMaster
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Re: Method to Cap GPU Usage?

Post by FPSMaster » 14 Oct 2021, 18:29

Does this also work if I set my monitor to let's say 100HZ and the fps are far above 100?

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jorimt
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Re: Method to Cap GPU Usage?

Post by jorimt » 14 Oct 2021, 19:25

FPSMaster wrote:
14 Oct 2021, 18:26
So I just uncap my FPS and turn on nvidia reflex and let the magic work?
FPSMaster wrote:
14 Oct 2021, 18:29
Does this also work if I set my monitor to let's say 100HZ and the fps are far above 100?
Yes, and yes.

If you're using G-SYNC:

- G-SYNC on + V-SYNC + Reflex (it will set it's own auto limit below the max refresh rate when your system isn't GPU bound to keep G-SYNC in range)

If you're using no sync:

- G-SYNC off + V-SYNC off + Reflex + uncapped FPS
(jorimt: /jor-uhm-tee/)
Author: Blur Busters "G-SYNC 101" Series

Displays: ASUS PG27AQN, LG 48CX VR: Beyond, Quest 3, Reverb G2, Index OS: Windows 11 Pro Case: Fractal Design Torrent PSU: Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 MB: ASUS Z790 Hero CPU: Intel i9-13900k w/Noctua NH-U12A GPU: GIGABYTE RTX 4090 GAMING OC RAM: 32GB G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 6400MHz CL32 SSDs: 2TB WD_BLACK SN850 (OS), 4TB WD_BLACK SN850X (Games) Keyboards: Wooting 60HE, Logitech G915 TKL Mice: Razer Viper Mini SE, Razer Viper 8kHz Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 (speakers/amp/DAC), AFUL Performer 8 (IEMs)

greenenemy
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Re: Method to Cap GPU Usage?

Post by greenenemy » 15 Oct 2021, 01:55

Unfortunately it's still better latency wise to cap your fps manually than rely on Reflex.
Clipboard02.png
Clipboard02.png (120.46 KiB) Viewed 2805 times
From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPMHEyz38TM

FPSMaster
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Re: Method to Cap GPU Usage?

Post by FPSMaster » 15 Oct 2021, 06:24

greenenemy wrote:
15 Oct 2021, 01:55
Unfortunately it's still better latency wise to cap your fps manually than rely on Reflex.
Clipboard02.png
From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPMHEyz38TM
I guess it depends on the game? I could definetely feel that it wont help. As soon as the GPU Usage jumps over 95% I feel much more lag, compared to capping your FPS until you never go over that number. Usually, im around 70-90% as a comparison.

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jorimt
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Re: Method to Cap GPU Usage?

Post by jorimt » 15 Oct 2021, 07:55

greenenemy wrote:
15 Oct 2021, 01:55
Unfortunately it's still better latency wise to cap your fps manually than rely on Reflex.
Clipboard02.png
From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPMHEyz38TM
FPSMaster wrote:
15 Oct 2021, 06:24
greenenemy wrote:
15 Oct 2021, 01:55
Unfortunately it's still better latency wise to cap your fps manually than rely on Reflex.
Clipboard02.png
From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPMHEyz38TM
I guess it depends on the game? I could definetely feel that it wont help. As soon as the GPU Usage jumps over 95% I feel much more lag, compared to capping your FPS until you never go over that number. Usually, im around 70-90% as a comparison.
I'll rewatch Battle(non)sense's and a5hun's Reflex videos over the weekend if I get the chance, and see if I can try to contextualize that better.

Off the-top-of-my head, I know that Battle(non)sense found little to no difference between Reflex and the in-game limiters in like-for-like GPU-limited situations, so their test methodology and priorities may differ for this same thing, and a5hun's comment here may suggest as much:

Image

Due to how this sort of testing works, they could both be right for different reasons; context is key...

Finally, I never specified whether Reflex was necessarily the same latency-wise as using a manual FPS limit to prevent GPU-limitation in all possible cases, just that it was the only automatic alternative, and can be used for the same ultimate purpose.
(jorimt: /jor-uhm-tee/)
Author: Blur Busters "G-SYNC 101" Series

Displays: ASUS PG27AQN, LG 48CX VR: Beyond, Quest 3, Reverb G2, Index OS: Windows 11 Pro Case: Fractal Design Torrent PSU: Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 MB: ASUS Z790 Hero CPU: Intel i9-13900k w/Noctua NH-U12A GPU: GIGABYTE RTX 4090 GAMING OC RAM: 32GB G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 6400MHz CL32 SSDs: 2TB WD_BLACK SN850 (OS), 4TB WD_BLACK SN850X (Games) Keyboards: Wooting 60HE, Logitech G915 TKL Mice: Razer Viper Mini SE, Razer Viper 8kHz Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 (speakers/amp/DAC), AFUL Performer 8 (IEMs)

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kyube
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Re: Method to Cap GPU Usage?

Post by kyube » 15 Oct 2021, 08:06

jorimt wrote:
14 Oct 2021, 19:25
FPSMaster wrote:
14 Oct 2021, 18:26
So I just uncap my FPS and turn on nvidia reflex and let the magic work?
FPSMaster wrote:
14 Oct 2021, 18:29
Does this also work if I set my monitor to let's say 100HZ and the fps are far above 100?
Yes, and yes.

If you're using G-SYNC:

- G-SYNC on + V-SYNC + Reflex (it will set it's own auto limit below the max refresh rate when your system isn't GPU bound to keep G-SYNC in range)

If you're using no sync:

- G-SYNC off + V-SYNC off + Reflex + uncapped FPS
G-SYNC and V-SYNC both on gives me a very weird mouse movement delay (on a XG2401 and 1050ti, so Freesync to NV gpu's). It's very apparent when switching back and forth between vsync off gsync off vs vsync on and gsync on (even gsync on feels like dragging mouse thro mud)
Could it be possible that this is caused due to high GPU usage?

A friend of mine with the x25f also reported similar findings, could this be monitor related? Or perhaps the fact we're using NV gpu's on freesync monitors and the implementation is flawed on our monitors?

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jorimt
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Re: Method to Cap GPU Usage?

Post by jorimt » 15 Oct 2021, 08:46

@kyube, if you notice your post is shorter, sorry! I accidentally hit "edit" on your post instead of "quote," and wrote my reply directly in your comment :lol: I think I've only ever made this stupid mistake once before.

I could only restore part of it by re-editing with the portion of your original reply I quoted, so that's why it doesn't include everything you said. If you have the original, please feel free to edit it into your post again.

That ridiculousness aside...
jorimt wrote:
14 Oct 2021, 19:25
G-SYNC and V-SYNC both on gives me a very weird mouse movement delay (on a XG2401 and 1050ti, so Freesync to NV gpu's). It's very apparent when switching back and forth between vsync off gsync off vs vsync on and gsync on (even gsync on feels like dragging mouse thro mud)
Could it be possible that this is caused due to high GPU usage?
Depends on if your GPU usage is above ~99% when you're experiencing it. You can always check with Afterburner while playing.

That, and tear free G-SYNC and no sync don't feel the same, regardless of whether they can have the same average latency in certain scenarios, because they deliver frames differently than each other.

And as I've probably stated a trillion times by now (in my article's comments section and this forum), G-SYNC has the lowest possible latency for tear-free frame delivery. Any lower, and tearing is required on the given monitor, since single frame delivery speed is limited by the max refresh rate of the display.
jorimt wrote:
14 Oct 2021, 19:25
A friend of mine with the x25f also reported similar findings, could this be monitor related? Or perhaps the fact we're using NV gpu's on freesync monitors and the implementation is flawed on our monitors?
Unlikely, unless both are faulty in some way (which is also unlikely). I have a G-SYNC Compatible LG CX, and it behaves pretty much the same as my native 240Hz monitor where fundamental G-SYNC operation is directly concerned.
(jorimt: /jor-uhm-tee/)
Author: Blur Busters "G-SYNC 101" Series

Displays: ASUS PG27AQN, LG 48CX VR: Beyond, Quest 3, Reverb G2, Index OS: Windows 11 Pro Case: Fractal Design Torrent PSU: Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 MB: ASUS Z790 Hero CPU: Intel i9-13900k w/Noctua NH-U12A GPU: GIGABYTE RTX 4090 GAMING OC RAM: 32GB G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 6400MHz CL32 SSDs: 2TB WD_BLACK SN850 (OS), 4TB WD_BLACK SN850X (Games) Keyboards: Wooting 60HE, Logitech G915 TKL Mice: Razer Viper Mini SE, Razer Viper 8kHz Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 (speakers/amp/DAC), AFUL Performer 8 (IEMs)

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