10 Best Ways to Resolve Helldivers 2 Not Using GPU

10 Best Ways to Resolve Helldivers 2 Not Using GPU: “Helldivers 2, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is a third-person shooter that serves as the follow-up to the 2015 top-down shooter, Helldivers. Released on February 8, 2024, for PlayStation 5 and Windows platforms, the game has garnered attention for its engaging gameplay.

However, some players have encountered issues related to low GPU (graphics processing unit) utilization while gaming on their PCs.

When you start up and play Helldivers 2 on a Windows system, you might notice that the GPU isn’t being fully utilized.

This is a relatively common occurrence with PC gaming, often attributed to various factors such as software bugs, optimization challenges, or system stability.

These complications can result in performance issues, including lag, stuttering, graphical artifacts, frame rate drops, and even excessive CPU usage amidst low GPU activity.

Interestingly, this problem isn’t limited to low-end or mid-range gaming setups; even some high-performance rigs can struggle to effectively harness their graphics card resources while running the game on Windows.

Therefore, it is essential to fine-tune your in-game graphics settings to ensure a smoother gaming experience in Helldivers 2, irrespective of your hardware specifications.”

10 Best Ways to Resolve Helldivers 2 Not Using GPU

Your PC games might not be fully leveraging your GPU for a variety of reasons, and it’s essential to explore these possibilities to effectively address the issue.

Some frequent factors include having V-Sync activated, motion blur turned on, difficulties related to ray tracing, graphic driver malfunctions, not utilizing the dedicated graphics card, missing or corrupt game files, outdated patches, and other processes running in the background.

By following a detailed troubleshooting guide, you’ll be better equipped to resolve these problems. Let’s get started on finding a solution.

1. Check System Requirements

Minimum System Requirements:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i7-4790K or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 470
• Storage: 100 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
• OS: Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600XT
• Storage: 100 GB available space
• Additional Notes: SSD Recommended

2. Use a Dedicated Graphics Card

To enhance your gaming experience in Helldivers 2, it’s important to ensure that your computer utilizes the dedicated or external graphics card. This adjustment can significantly minimize issues such as stuttering, lag, and frame drops. If you’re unsure how to make these changes, follow the instructions below for your specific graphics card.

**For Nvidia Users:

If you have an Nvidia graphics card, follow these steps:

• 1. Right-click on an empty area of your desktop and select **NVIDIA Control Panel** from the menu.
• 2. In the panel, navigate to **3D Settings** and choose **Manage 3D Settings** from the left sidebar.
• 3. Click on the **Program Settings** tab and select **Helldivers 2** from the dropdown menu.
• 4. Choose **High-performance NVIDIA processor** as your preferred graphics processor.
• 5. Remember to save your changes and restart your computer to implement the new settings.

**For AMD Users:

For those using an AMD graphics card, here’s what to do:

• 1. Right-click on the desktop and select **AMD Radeon Settings** from the context menu.
• 2. Click on **System** and then choose **Switchable Graphics**.
• 3. After making your adjustments, ensure you save the changes and reboot your PC to activate them.

Following these steps will help optimize your system for a smoother gameplay experience in Helldivers 2.

3. Update GPU Drivers

An outdated or malfunctioning graphics card driver can lead to various performance problems in games and on your system. To ensure optimal performance, it’s essential to check for updates to your graphics driver. Here’s how you can do that:

• 1. Press the Windows key and the X key simultaneously to open the Quick Link Menu.
• 2. Select Device Manager from the options available, then expand the Display adapters section by double-clicking it.
• 3. Locate your active graphics card, right-click it, and select Update driver.
• 4. Choose the option to Search automatically for updated driver software.
• 5. If a newer version is found, it will automatically download and install on your system.
• 6. After the installation is complete, restart your computer to implement the changes.

Alternatively, you can opt for a manual update by downloading the latest driver directly from the manufacturer’s website. Make sure to select the driver that corresponds to your specific graphics card model and brand.

For users of Nvidia graphics cards, updates can be accessed via the GeForce Experience application available on the Nvidia website. Those with AMD graphics cards can obtain the latest drivers from the official AMD website.

4. Update Helldivers 2

Keeping your game patch up to date is crucial to prevent issues like crashes, lag, stuttering, and problems related to your CPU or GPU. To ensure smooth gameplay, regularly check for updates and install the latest version when it becomes available. Here’s how you can update your game patch:

• 1. Launch the Steam client and navigate to your Library.
• 2. Select Helldivers 2 from your list of installed games on the left side.
• 3. The client will automatically look for any available updates.
• 4. If an update is found, you will see an option to update—click on it.
• 5. Allow a few minutes for the update to download and install, depending on your internet speed and storage capacity.
• 6. After the update is complete, restart your PC to apply the changes.

5. Verify and Repair Game Files

If you are experiencing issues with launching or smoothly running Helldivers 2, it could be due to corrupted or missing game files. To resolve this problem, you can check and repair the game files using the Steam client by following these steps:

• 1. Launch the Steam client on your computer and log into your account.
• 2. Navigate to your Library section.
• 3. Find Helldivers 2 in the list of games and right-click on it.
• 4. Select ‘Properties’ from the context menu.
• 5. Go to the ‘Local Files’ tab within the Properties window.
• 6. Click on ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files…’ and allow the process to complete.
• 7. Once the verification is done, close the Steam client.
• 8. Finally, restart your computer to ensure that all changes take effect.

This process should help you easily fix the issue of Helldivers 2 not utilizing the GPU properly.

6. Try Disabling Overlay Apps

Occasionally, certain applications may include supplementary overlay software that can be beneficial for streamers and gamers. However, these overlay tools can sometimes conflict with game files, resulting in a range of issues such as frame rate drops, black screens, lag, and various glitches. If you encounter crashes or similar problems, it’s advisable to disable these overlay applications manually before restarting the game. This will help you determine if the issue has been resolved. Here’s how to disable some commonly used overlay apps:

**Disabling Discord Overlay:

• 1. Open the Discord application and click the gear icon located at the bottom left.
• 2. Navigate to the Overlay section under App Settings and toggle the “Enable in-game overlay” switch off.
• 3. Go to the Games tab and select Helldivers 2 from the list.
• 4. Ensure the “Enable in-game overlay” option is turned off.
• 5. Restart your computer to implement the changes.

**Turning Off Xbox Game Bar:

• 1. Press the Win + I keys simultaneously to access Windows Settings.
• 2. Click on the Gaming section, then select Game Bar.
• 3. Disable the option for “Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using the Game bar.”

**Disabling Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:

• 1. Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience application and navigate to the Settings menu.
• 2. Click on the General tab and turn off the “In-Game Overlay” feature.
• 3. Restart your computer to apply these changes before relaunching the game.

Additionally, other overlay applications such as MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, and various RGB control software can also cause issues. It is recommended to disable these applications as well to ensure optimal performance while gaming.

7. Close Background Running Tasks

Excessive background processes or applications can significantly drain system resources, such as CPU and memory, leading to degraded performance. This often results in problems like startup crashes, lag, and issues with loading applications. To resolve these issues, it’s advisable to terminate any unnecessary background tasks. Here’s how you can do that:

• 1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch the Task Manager.
• 2. Navigate to the Processes tab, where you’ll find a list of currently active tasks.
• 3. Identify and select any tasks that are running in the background without necessity and consuming substantial resources.
• 4. Click on “End Task” to close these processes individually.
• 5. After completing these steps, restart your computer for optimal performance.

8. Turn Off V-Sync

In Helldivers 2, V-Sync or FreeSync is typically activated by default. However, these features can sometimes create conflicts between the game’s refresh rate and your monitor’s refresh rate. To optimize your gaming experience, it is advisable to disable these settings on your PC. Here’s how to do it for both Nvidia and AMD graphics cards:

**For Nvidia Users:

• 1. Launch the Steam Games Launcher.
• 2. Start Helldivers 2 and navigate to the in-game Settings menu.
• 3. In the Display Options, ensure that V-Sync is turned off.
• 4. Next, access the NVIDIA Control Panel and select “Manage 3D Settings” from the left sidebar.
• 5. In the Global Settings section, locate the Vertical Sync option and turn it off.
• 6. Click “Apply” and then restart your computer to implement the changes.

**For AMD Users:

• 1. Start Helldivers 2 and go to the in-game Settings menu.
• 2. Within the Display Options, make sure V-Sync is disabled.
• 3. Open the AMD Radeon Software and navigate to the Global Settings.
• 4. Under the Global Graphics tab, find the “Wait for Vertical Refresh” option.
• 5. Click the down arrow next to it and select “Always Off” from the dropdown menu to disable VSync or Enhanced Sync.
• 6. Finally, turn off the “Wait for Vertical Refresh” option and restart your PC.

Disabling V-Sync and FreeSync can help enhance your gameplay experience by reducing potential lag and sync issues.

9. Disable Raytracing

To enhance your gaming experience, particularly if you’re using an older or less powerful PC, it’s advisable to disable the Raytracing feature in the game settings.

While Raytracing can provide exceptional visual quality on high-end systems, it may lead to performance issues on less capable setups. Here’s how you can turn it off in Helldivers 2:

• 1. Launch Helldivers 2 through your Steam library.
• 2. Navigate to the in-game Settings menu.
• 3. Within the Graphics options, find the settings for Fidelity and Raytracing.
• 4. Select the Performance option to fully disable Raytracing. Alternatively, you can choose Balanced to minimize its impact.
• 5. After making your adjustments, restart your PC to ensure the changes take effect.

We hope you find this guide useful! If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to leave a comment below.

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