Starcraft 2 - low CPU usage

Hi All,

I have G73JH with i5-520M CPU. Today I have noticed strange CPU behavior. CPU is used only in 40-50% for both cores when playing, even if there are a lot of units and CPU should be heavy loaded. Any idea why CPU is not used in 100%?

 

Because its not?

Its never a bad thing to see not 100%, if you saw 100% that would be bad as that means your system is maxed out.

I would check your GPU load also.

But as long as the game is not showing any signs of slowdown your fine.

 

I think the game runs normally. 1600x900 high settings - 30-60 FPS. Only if there are a lot of units ( usually final battle) FPS drops below 20 FPS.

 

That's typically due to GPU and not CPU. I think the Core i architecture is more than adequate to manage any amount of units in SC2.

 

I do not think it is GPU issue. If I change resolution to the lowest 1024x768 FPS remain almost unchanged. Looks like CPU cannot handle it.

 

You do not understand how a cpu works I guess, not being 100% means it CAN handle it.

 

well, Starcraft 2 is incapable of utilizing more than 2 threads, right now. Since his i5 is a dual core with HyperThreading, he could simply be seeing the two threads being loaded, so windows reports "50% overall logical core utilization overall".

 

Hyperthreading helps with multithreaded stuff but it can still fully load with only 2 threads since its only got 2 physical cores.

 

Yes it does. I put the cpu on stock and still low usage. Also there are certain cut scenes where the FPS drops to 15! , But some cutscenes the GPUs are fully maximized at 99% each and im getting wonderful fps. But when you at the actual game i get 30-40% only usage on both gpu and around 20-30% cpu usage

Tried to uninstall then reinstall drivers and still no go. also uninstalled the game then downloaded the official installer and installed the game but still same issue.

Im not having any problems with benchmarks or other games (like Battlefield badcompany 2) I get consistent framerates and bench scores for my rig. So that probably rules out PSU issues,

 

not according to the windows task manager, which is almost simpleton in it's way of displaying CPU load, especially of Intel's SMT implementation. Which is why he will see 50% load overall, even though only two logical cores are maxxed, out of four. Yes it's a dual core, however, we have to account for how Windows measures load as reported by it's own task scheduler, and not how Intel's on die ASIC reports it internally.

EDIT: gkelll, I hate DST.

 

True, but I never heard of using task manager to manage cpu readings in game since you need it to run in the background and log while you play. If you tab out your not playing the game anymore and load will change.

 

that's why there is a convinient time graph so when you tab out, you can see your past CPU useage.

 

Oh, yeah the performance tab. I never go there I just use it to kill processes and it says the current cpu load at the bottom.

Still I like programs that log the info to a file in real time, so you can reference them later and if something happens like the computer crashes even its still there.

 

If I play marine arena (Custom map with lots of units) then my FPS gets crippled with my I7 LM620 (2 / 2.7 Ghz) I think its the CPU thats limiting me because if I move the screen so I am not looking at the action then I still lag and unless the GPU is rendering the whole map all the time then I cant see how it can be the GPU?

Iam currently awaiting to see how Vidock will work with Sandy Bridge Thinkpads and elitebooks

 

Marine area slows down on my i7 860s/GTX570 setup at home, so I forgive my m11x i7 @ 1.2GHz for chocking on that custom game.

 

I think low CPU usage should be a plus in my book lol

 

Yes it should. To be frank , i5 has plenty of CPU power and hey G73JH has a very powerful GPU so it can do much more work than an average GPU so CPU has to do less work if that made any sense..

 

if you see 100% then you are going to lag...

 

Cause that would mean all you have is a dual core with no hyperthreading

 

If there's dx10 in sc2 you could try this GPU PerfStudio 2 | AMD Developer Central It'll analyze cpu and gpu usage and tell you if something's wrong. Sometimes it works and other times you should be prepared to pull your hair.