Low GPU Usage in Once Human and Boost Gaming Performance: “Once Human” is an engaging open-world survival game set in a post-apocalyptic landscape, shaped by the devastating event known as Starfall.
Players take on the role of meta-humans, gaining new abilities to confront the unsettling challenges of this transformed environment.
While the game has gained traction on platforms like Steam and Epic Games, some users have reported problems with low GPU utilization on their systems, leading to performance issues such as lag, stuttering, frame rate drops, and other graphical anomalies that can detract from the overall gaming experience.
Low GPU usage is a prevalent challenge in the realm of PC gaming, often stemming from various factors including stability issues, outdated graphics drivers, or incorrect hardware configurations.
To help you maximize your experience in “Once Human,” we will outline a series of troubleshooting steps aimed at resolving these concerns and improving your gaming performance.
Several factors may contribute to your PC not fully harnessing its GPU power while playing “Once Human.” These factors include enabled V-Sync, motion blur settings, problems related to ray tracing, outdated graphics drivers, improper use of the dedicated GPU, missing or corrupted game files, an absence of game updates, and background applications consuming resources.
By addressing these potential issues, you can significantly enhance your gaming experience. Here are the steps to rectify low GPU usage in “Once Human”:
1. Check System Requirements
Prior to engaging in complex troubleshooting, it’s important to verify that your computer fulfills either the minimum or recommended system specifications for the game “Once Human.”
Minimum Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit Operating System
- Processor: Intel Core i5-4460
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GTX 750ti 4G / AMD Radeon RX550
- DirectX: Version 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 55 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD is highly recommended
Recommended Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit Operating System
- Processor: Intel Core i7-7700
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: Nvidia GTX 1060 6G / AMD Radeon RX 580 2304SP / Intel ARC A380
- DirectX: Version 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 55 GB available space
- Additional Notes: SSD is highly recommended
2. Use a Dedicated Graphics Card
Ensure that your computer is utilizing the dedicated GPU rather than the integrated graphics, as this can significantly enhance performance.
For Users with Nvidia Graphics:
- 1. Right-click on your desktop and choose “NVIDIA Control Panel.”
- 2. Go to “Manage 3D Settings” and switch to the “Program Settings” tab.
- 3. From the drop-down menu, select “Once Human.”
- 4. Change the Preferred graphics processor to “High-performance NVIDIA processor.”
- 5. Apply the changes and restart your computer.
Instructions for AMD Users:
- 1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop and choose “AMD Radeon Settings” from the menu.
- 2. Navigate to the “System” section and then click on “Switchable Graphics.”
- 3. Confirm that the game “Once Human” is configured to utilize the High-performance GPU.
- 4. Remember to save your settings and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
3. Update GPU Drivers
Using an old or malfunctioning graphics driver can significantly hinder your GPU’s performance. To maintain optimal performance and ensure compatibility, it’s important to keep your drivers up to date.
Steps to Update Your Graphics Driver:
- 1. Access Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start menu.
- 2. Locate and expand the Display adapters section. Find your dedicated GPU, right-click on it, and select the option to update the driver.
- 3. Opt for “Search automatically for drivers” to allow Windows to locate and install the most recent drivers.
Alternatively, you can go directly to the manufacturer’s website to download the latest drivers, such as those from NVIDIA or AMD.
4. Update Once Human
Maintaining the game with regular updates is essential for preventing performance problems. Developers frequently issue patches that address bugs and enhance overall functionality.
To update the game, follow these steps:
- 1. Launch Steam and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Locate “Once Human” and right-click on it.
- 3. Choose Properties from the dropdown menu.
- 4. Click on the Updates tab and make sure that Automatic updates are activated.
With this setting enabled, Steam will automatically download and install any updates that are available.
5. Verify and Repair Game Files
Issues with low GPU performance or other gameplay problems may arise due to corrupted or missing game files. To address these concerns, verifying the integrity of your game files is a recommended solution.
Here’s how to do it:
- 1. Launch Steam and navigate to your Library.
- 2. Locate “Once Human” in your game list and right-click on it.
- 3. Choose Properties from the context menu.
- 4. Go to the Local Files section and select Verify Integrity of Game Files.
Steam will then scan for any issues and automatically fix any corrupted or missing files it finds.
6. Disable Overlay Apps
Background applications such as Discord and Nvidia GeForce Experience may lead to performance degradation by using system resources while running in the background.
To deactivate the Discord Overlay:
- 1. Launch Discord and navigate to User Settings.
- 2. Click on the Overlay option.
- 3. Toggle off the “Enable in-game overlay” feature.
To turn off the Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:
- 1. Open Nvidia GeForce Experience.
- 2. Access the Settings menu.
- 3. Disable the “In-Game Overlay” option.
By turning off these overlays, you can enhance GPU performance and improve the overall gaming experience.
7. Close Background Running Tasks
Background processes can utilize valuable resources that your game could benefit from, resulting in reduced GPU performance.
To optimize your system, follow these steps:
- 1. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc and navigate to the Processes tab.
- 2. Identify and terminate any unnecessary tasks that are using a significant amount of resources.
- 3. Restart your computer to implement the changes effectively.
8. Turn Off V-Sync
By default, “Once Human” typically has V-Sync or FreeSync enabled, which can lead to conflicts between the game’s refresh rate and your monitor’s refresh rate. To ensure optimal performance, it’s advisable to disable these features on your PC. Here’s a step-by-step guide for both Nvidia and AMD users:
For Nvidia Users:
- 1. Open the Steam Games Launcher.
- 2. Start “Once Human” and navigate to the in-game Settings menu.
- 3. In the Display Options, disable V-Sync.
- 4. Next, access the NVIDIA Control Panel by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting it.
- 5. Within the Control Panel, click on “Manage 3D Settings” from the left sidebar.
- 6. Under the Global Settings tab, locate Vertical Sync and turn it off.
- 7. Click Apply to save your changes, then restart your PC to ensure the settings take effect.
For AMD Users:
- 1. Launch “Once Human” and go to the in-game Settings menu.
- 2. In the Display Options, ensure that V-Sync is disabled.
- 3. Open the AMD Radeon Software and navigate to the Global Settings.
- 4. Under the Global Graphics section, find the “Wait for Vertical Refresh” option.
- 5. Click on the down arrow next to it and choose “Always Off” from the dropdown to disable V-Sync or Enhanced Sync.
- 6. Finally, turn off the “Wait for Vertical Refresh” option and restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Following these steps will help you avoid potential issues with refresh rates and enhance your gaming experience in “Once Human.”
9. Disable Raytracing
To enhance your gaming experience in “Once Human,” I recommend turning off the Raytracing feature in the game settings. Although Raytracing can significantly elevate visual fidelity, it might not perform well on older or lower-spec PCs.
Here’s how to adjust the settings:
- 1. Launch “Once Human” through your Steam library.
- 2. Navigate to the Settings menu within the game.
- 3. In the Graphics settings, look for the options labeled Fidelity and Raytracing.
- 4. To disable Raytracing, select the Performance option. Alternatively, you can choose Balanced to lessen its impact while maintaining some visual enhancements.
- 5. After making these adjustments, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
By following these instructions, you should see an improvement in GPU performance while playing “Once Human.” Keeping your system updated and correctly configured is essential for optimizing gameplay.
If you continue to experience issues, don’t hesitate to seek help from support forums or contact the game developers directly for assistance.