You are launching a game or resource-intensive application, but the laptop suddenly starts to slow down, and the video card operates at 30-50% of its capacity? This problem is familiar to many owners of gaming and multimedia laptops. Instead of the expected 60+ FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 or Assassin’s Creed Valhalla you get jerks, slowdowns and underload of the GPU - despite the fact that the processor is loaded at 100%, and the temperature is normal.

In 80% of cases, it is not hardware faults that are to blame, but software limitations: from incorrect power settings to driver conflicts. In this article we will look at unique reasons for video card underload on laptops (unlike PC), including specific problems with NVIDIA Optimus, AMD SmartShift and mobile versions of GPU. You will learn how to diagnose the problem in 5 minutes and restore performance without calling for service.

1. Why the video card does not load 100%: main reasons

On laptops, the discrete graphics card (dGPU) often works at half capacity due to architectural features. Unlike desktop PCs, where the GPU is connected directly to PCIe, laptops use:

  • 🔌 Multiplexer (MUX) — hardware switch between integrated and discrete graphics. If it is not configured correctly, games may run on the integrated GPU (Intel UHD or AMD Radeon Vega).
  • ⚡ TDP restrictions. Manufacturers (eg ASUS ROG or MSI) artificially reduce GPU power in battery mode or when overheated.
  • 🖥️ Driver conflicts. The system may not “see” the discrete card due to outdated or incompatible drivers (especially after updating Windows).
  • ⚙️ Power settings. The Windows power management plan or BIOS may have a power saving mode enabled for the GPU.

Another common reason is incorrect binding of applications to the GPU. For example, in NVIDIA Control Panel The game runs on integrated graphics by default, even if the settings indicate otherwise. This is typical for laptops with technology Optimus (all laptops with GeForce GTX/RTX).

📊 What video card is installed in your laptop?
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30/40 series
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 16/10 series
  • AMD Radeon RX 6000/7000
  • AMD Radeon RX 5000 or higher
  • Intel Arc A-series
  • Other

2. How to check if the video card is loading at full capacity

Before looking for a solution, you need to confirm that the problem is indeed GPU underutilization. Here 3 reliable diagnostic methods:

  1. Monitoring via GPU-Z or HWInfo:

    Launch the game and open GPU-Z on the tab Sensors. Look at the parameters:

    • GPU Load - should be close to 95-100% in heavy scenes.
    • PerfCap Reason - if indicated there Pwr (power limit) or Thermal, the card is limited by power or temperature.

  • Test in 3DMark or Unigine Heaven:

    Run the benchmark and compare the result with the benchmarks of your GPU model on NotebookCheck. If the difference is more than 20%, there is a problem.

  • Check via Task Manager:

    Open Task Manager → Performance → Graphics. If the list of active GPUs contains only Intel UHD or AMD Radeon Vega, the discrete card is not used.

    • 🔍 Key sign of underload: high CPU Usage (90%+) at low GPU Usage (30-50%). This means that the game is running on the integrated graphics, and the processor is trying to compensate for the lack of power.

    💡

    If in GPU-Z in the field Bus Interface indicated PCIe x8 3.0 @ x4 3.0, your video card is running in reduced mode due to limitations of the laptop chipset. This is normal for most laptops, but can reduce performance by 5-10%.

    3. BIOS and UEFI settings: hidden restrictions

    Many users are unaware that Laptop manufacturers artificially limit GPU power via BIOS. This is done for:

    • 🔋 Extend battery life.
    • 🌡️ Prevent overheating in compact cases.
    • 🛡️ Protection against component degradation (relevant for thin gaming laptops, for example, ASUS Zephyrus or Razer Blade).

    To remove restrictions:

    1. Reboot your laptop and enter the BIOS (usually the F2, Del or Esc).
    2. Find a section Advanced → System Configuration or Graphics Settings.
    3. Check the following settings:
      • Graphics Mode - must be Discrete Graphics or Switchable (not Integrated).
      • Dynamic Graphics Mode - turn it off if there is one.
      • TDP Limit or Power Limit - increase to the maximum value (for example, from 80W to 115W for RTX 3070 Mobile).
  • Save the settings (F10) and reboot.
    • What to do if there are no settings for GPU in the BIOS?

    If your BIOS does not include options to control graphics, this means that the limitations are embedded at the firmware level. In this case, only flashing the BIOS (risky!) or using utilities like ThrottleStop to bypass limits.

    ⚠️ Attention: Changing settings TDP or Power Limit in BIOS can lead to overheating and throttling. After changes, be sure to check temperatures under load (for example, in MSI Afterburner). If the GPU heats up above 90°C, change the settings back.

    4. Driver conflicts: how to cleanly reinstall GPU drivers

    One of the most common sources of problems is incorrectly installed or outdated drivers. This is especially true after updating Windows or replacing the video card (for example, after upgrading from GTX 1650 on RTX 4060 at the service center).

    To completely remove old drivers and install new ones:

    Download Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) from the official site|Load into Safe Mode (click Win + R → msconfig → Boot → Safe Mode)|Launch DDU and select Clean and restart for your GPU|Install the latest drivers from the official website (NVIDIA or AMD)|Reboot the laptop and check performance-->

    🔹 For laptops with NVIDIA Optimus:

    After reinstalling the drivers, be sure to check the settings in NVIDIA Control Panel:

    1. Open Control Panel NVIDIA (right click on the desktop).
    2. Go to Manage 3D Settings → Program Settings.
    3. Select your game from the list or add it manually (Add).
    4. Install High performance NVIDIA processor in the field Select your preferred GPU.

    🔹 For laptops with AMD SmartShift or Hybrid Graphics:

    Use AMD Adrenalin Software:

    1. Open Performance → Graphics settings.
    2. Find your app and set a profile for it High performance.
    3. Activate Radeon Chill only if you observe temperature throttling.

    Symptom Probable Cause Solution
    GPU load is 0-5% in games The game runs on integrated graphics Force dGPU assignment in Control Panel
    GPU loaded at 30-50%, FPS low Power limit (TDP) in BIOS Increase the limits in the BIOS or through MSI Afterburner
    GPU is 99% loaded, but FPS fluctuates Throttling by temperature Cleaning dust, replacing thermal paste, undervolting
    GPU is not detected by the system Driver conflict or hardware failure Clean installation of drivers or diagnostics in the service

    5. Power problems: why the laptop “chokes” the video card

    Laptops often limit GPU power to save battery power or avoid overheating. This appears as:

    • 🔌 Reduced performance when unplugged (even if the battery is charged).
    • ⚡ Sudden FPS drops after 5-10 minutes of play (overheating protection is triggered).
    • 📉 GPU power drops from 100W to 30W in heavy scenes (seen in HWInfo).

    How to remove restrictions:

    1. Windows Power Options:

      Go to Control Panel → Power Options and choose a plan High performance. If it doesn't exist, create a new plan with the following parameters: 

      Минимальное состояние процессора: 100%

      Максимальное состояние процессора: 100%
      

      Режим охлаждения системы: Активный

    2. Disabling energy saving technologies:

      B NVIDIA Control Panel disable:

      • Optimus Battery Boost (in section Managing 3D Settings).
      • Power Management Mode → install Prefer Maximum Performance.

  • Using overclocking utilities:

    Programs like MSI Afterburner or ThrottleStop allow you to manually increase power limits. For example, for RTX 3060 Mobile can be increased Power Limit from 80W to 95W (if cooling allows).

    • 💡

    If your laptop suddenly loses performance when switching to battery power, check your settings in MyASUS (for ASUS), Dragon Center (for MSI) or Armoury Crate (for ROG). These utilities often have additional power restrictions hidden within them.

    6. Overheating and throttling: how to check and fix

    Due to their compact body, laptops are more susceptible to overheating than desktop PCs. If the GPU temperature exceeds 85°C, throttling is triggered—forced reduction of frequencies to protect against damage. This leads to a drop in FPS and underutilization of the video card.

    🔥 Signs of throttling:

    • B HWInfo parameter GPU Core Clock drops sharply from 1500 MHz to 300-500 MHz.
    • FPS is consistently high for 5-10 minutes, then drops sharply by 30-50%.
    • The laptop coolers operate at maximum speed, but the temperature does not decrease.

    🛠️ How to eliminate overheating:

    1. Dust removal:

      Dust in the radiator can increase the temperature by 10-15°C. To clean, use a can of compressed air or contact service.

    2. Replacing thermal paste:

      Old laptops (3+ years old) often suffer from dried out thermal paste. Suitable for replacement Arctic MX-6 or Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut.

    3. Undervolting:

      Reduce GPU voltage without losing performance. For NVIDIA use MSI Afterburner (tab Curve Editor), for AMD — MorePowerTool.

    4. Using a Cooling Pad:

      Fan stands (eg Cooler Master NotePal X3) can reduce the temperature by 5-8°C.

    ⚠️ Attention: If after cleaning and replacing thermal paste the GPU temperature still exceeds 90°C under load, the problem may be degraded cooling system (e.g. cracked heat pipes). In this case, professional repair is required.

    7. Software restrictions: games, antiviruses and background processes

    Sometimes the video card does not load to full capacity due to external programs, which block its work. Common culprits:

    • 🛡️ Antiviruses (For example, Kaspersky or Avast) can block applications from accessing the GPU.
    • 🎮 Overlays (Discord, Steam Overlay, NVIDIA ShadowPlay) sometimes conflict with drivers.
    • 🖥️ Background processes (Windows Update, Dell SupportAssist, Lenovo Vantage) may limit resources.
    • 🔄 Conflicts with overclocking software (RivaTuner, EVGA Precision).

    🔍 How to diagnose and fix:

    1. Launch the game in Safe Mode (network enabled). If FPS has increased, the software is to blame.
    2. Disable overlays:
      • B Steam: Settings → In Game → Disable Steam Overlay.
      • B Discord: Settings → In-game overlay → Disable.
  • Add the game to your antivirus exceptions.
  • Disable unnecessary background processes via Task Manager → Startup.

    • 💡 Advice for laptop owners Lenovo Legion And HP Omen:

    These models have proprietary utilities (Lenovo Vantage, OMEN Gaming Hub), which can block the GPU from loading completely. Try removing them or updating to the latest version.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about underloading of the video card on a laptop

    ❓ Why do only integrated graphics load in games, while discrete graphics are idle?

    This is a typical problem for laptops with NVIDIA Optimus or AMD Hybrid Graphics. Solutions:

    1. B NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Adrenalin manually assign the game to the discrete card.
    2. Check your game launch settings (for example, in Steam maybe a flag -use_radeon or -force_nvidia).
    3. Update your laptop's drivers and BIOS.
    ❓ Could a virus cause GPU underload?

    Theoretically yes, but extremely unlikely. Viruses usually do not target graphics drivers, as this is immediately obvious. However, some mining bots may limit access to the GPU for hidden cryptocurrency mining. Check the system Malwarebytes or Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool.

    ❓ Why did the video card stop working at full capacity after updating Windows?

    Windows often automatically installs generic drivers (Microsoft Basic Display Adapter), which are not optimized for gaming. Solution:

    1. Remove current drivers via DDU (in safe mode).
    2. Disable automatic driver updates: Control Panel → System → Advanced system settings → Hardware → Device installation options → No, select manually.
    3. Install drivers from the official website NVIDIA/AMD.
    ❓ How to check if the motherboard is limiting the GPU power?

    Some laptops (especially thin ones like Dell XPS 15 or MacBook Pro with eGPU) have hardware power limitations. To check:

    1. Run HWInfo and look at the parameter TDP Limit in the tab GPU.
    2. Compare with the passport data of your model (for example, RTX 3060 Mobile usually has a TDP of 80-100W).
    3. If the current limit is lower than the passport limit, try increasing it through the BIOS or MSI Afterburner (if supported).

    If the limit cannot be increased, this is a hardware limitation, and all that remains is to improve the cooling.

    ❓ Is it worth using an external video card (eGPU) if the built-in one doesn’t work?

    External video cards (via Thunderbolt) can give a performance boost, but there are some nuances:

    • ✅ Pros: You can connect a desktop GPU (such as RTX 4070) and get FPS close to desktop PC.
    • ❌ Cons:
      • Lost productivity up to 15-20% due to restrictions Thunderbolt 3/4.
      • Expensive (an eGPU housing costs from RUB 20,000, plus the price of the video card itself).
      • Not all games work well with eGPU (lags and artifacts are possible).

    For most users, it's best to first try overclocking the built-in GPU or improving the laptop's cooling.