First, it’s important to understand what high CPU usage means. When your computer is working hard to run a program, it uses a lot of resources, including the CPU (central processing unit). When the CPU usage is high, it means that your computer is working harder than it needs to. This can cause the game to run slow, stutter, or even crash.
There are several factors that can cause high CPU usage in Fortnite. Outdated graphics drivers, high in-game settings, and background applications can all contribute to this problem. Luckily, there are several solutions you can try to fix this issue.
In this post, we will cover solutions like updating graphics drivers, lowering in-game settings, closing background applications, disabling windows visual effects, restarting Fortnite and uninstalling and reinstalling Fortnite. By following these steps, you can fix high CPU usage in Fortnite and enjoy a smooth gaming experience.
Let’s dive in and see what you can do to fix high CPU usage in Fortnite!
1 Understanding High CPU Usage in Fortnite
When it comes to playing video games, one of the most important factors is performance. High CPU usage in Fortnite can lead to slow, stuttering, or even crashing gameplay. To ensure a smooth gaming experience, it’s important to understand what high CPU usage means, what causes it, and how to check it.
Explanation of what high CPU usage means
CPU (central processing unit) is the brain of your computer, it handles all the instructions your computer receives and sends out. When a program is running, it uses resources, including the CPU. When the CPU usage is high, it means that your computer is working harder than it needs to. This can cause the game to run slow, stutter, or even crash. A high CPU usage in Fortnite means that the game is consuming more resources than it should, which leads to poor performance.
Factors that can cause high CPU usage in Fortnite
There are several factors that can contribute to high CPU usage in Fortnite. Some of the most common causes include:
– Outdated graphics drivers: If your graphics drivers are outdated, they may not be optimized for the latest version of Fortnite, causing high CPU usage.
– High in-game settings: Running Fortnite on high settings can put a lot of strain on the CPU.
– Background applications: Other programs running in the background can consume CPU resources, leading to high CPU usage in Fortnite.
– Corrupted installation: Sometimes, a corrupted installation of Fortnite can cause high CPU usage.
How to check CPU usage in Fortnite
To check your CPU usage in Fortnite, you can use the built-in task manager on your computer. To access it, press the “Ctrl+Alt+Delete” keys on your keyboard, and then click on “Task Manager”. In the task manager, you can see the usage of your CPU, Memory, Disk and Network. You can also check the usage per process by clicking on the “Details” tab.
It’s important to keep an eye on your CPU usage in Fortnite to ensure that you’re getting the best performance possible. By understanding what causes high CPU usage and how to check it, you can take steps to fix the problem and enjoy a smooth gaming experience.
2 Solutions to Fix High CPU Usage in Fortnite
Updating Drivers:
One of the most common causes of high CPU usage in Fortnite is outdated drivers. It’s important to make sure that you have the latest version of your graphics card driver, as well as other drivers such as your chipset and audio drivers. This can be easily done by visiting the website of your graphics card manufacturer and downloading the latest version of the driver.
Adjusting in-game settings:
Another way to reduce your CPU usage in Fortnite is to adjust your in-game settings. Lowering your resolution and turning off certain graphical features such as shadows and reflections can greatly reduce the load on your CPU. It’s also a good idea to check your in-game settings and make sure that your game is running at the optimal settings for your hardware.
Disabling background programs:
Another common cause of high CPU usage in Fortnite is background programs that are running on your computer. These programs can use up valuable resources, including your CPU power. To fix this, you can use the Task Manager to close any unnecessary programs that are running in the background.
Add more RAM:
Adding more RAM to your computer can also help to reduce your CPU usage in Fortnite. This is because when your computer runs out of RAM, it starts using your hard drive as virtual memory, which can slow down your computer and cause high CPU usage. If you’re using a computer with less than 8GB of RAM, upgrading to at least 8GB can greatly improve your gaming experience.
Use a cooling pad:
High CPU usage in Fortnite can also be caused by overheating. To prevent this, you can use a cooling pad to keep your computer cool and reduce the load on your CPU. This is especially important if you’re using a laptop, as laptops can heat up quickly and cause high CPU usage.
So ultimately, high CPU usage in Fortnite can be caused by a number of different factors, but with the right solutions, it can be fixed. By updating drivers, adjusting in-game settings, disabling background programs, adding more RAM, and using a cooling pad, you can greatly reduce your CPU usage and improve your overall gaming experience.
3 Update Graphics Drivers
Updating your graphics drivers is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps. First, you’ll need to determine what type of graphics card you have. This information can usually be found by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting “Graphics Properties” or by checking the documentation that came with your computer. Once you know what type of graphics card you have, you can visit the website of the manufacturer and download the latest drivers for your card.
Step 1: Identify the graphics card you have by visiting the Device Manager. To open Device Manager, press the Windows key + X and click Device Manager.
Step 2: Locate and expand the Display adapters category.
Step 3: Right-click the graphics card, and then click Properties.
Step 4: Click the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver.
Step 5: Follow the instructions to find and install the latest graphics driver for your card.
It is also worth noting that some graphics card manufacturers offer their own software for updating drivers, such as NVIDIA Experience and AMD Radeon Software. These programs can often make the process of updating drivers even easier, as they will automatically check for updates and prompt you to install them when they are available.
In short, Updating graphics drivers is a crucial step in ensuring that your game is running at its best. It can be a simple process, but it’s important to make sure that you are downloading the correct drivers for your specific graphics card. By keeping your graphics drivers up to date, you can improve performance, reduce CPU usage and enjoy a smoother gaming experience in Fortnite.
4 Lower In-Game Settings
One way to reduce CPU usage is to lower the resolution of the game. A higher resolution will require more processing power, so reducing it can help to lower CPU usage. Another option is to decrease the quality of the textures. Textures are one of the most resource-intensive elements of a game, so reducing their quality can help to lower CPU usage.
Another way to reduce CPU usage is to lower the detail level of the game. This can include things like shadows, reflections, and particle effects. While these elements can add to the realism and immersion of a game, they also require a lot of processing power. Lowering the detail level of these elements can help to lower CPU usage.
Another option is to turn off anti-aliasing. Anti-aliasing is a technique used to smooth out jagged edges in a game, but it can be resource-intensive. Turning it off can help to reduce CPU usage.
Finally, you can also lower the frame rate of the game. A higher frame rate will require more processing power, so reducing it can help to lower CPU usage.
It’s important to note that reducing in-game settings will impact the visual quality of the game. However, in most cases, the difference will be minimal and the trade-off is worth it to ensure smooth gameplay and reduce strain on your computer. It’s always better to prioritize performance over aesthetics.
In short, there are a few steps you can take to lower in-game settings to reduce CPU usage. Lowering the resolution, decreasing the quality of textures, lowering the detail level of the game, turning off anti-aliasing, and lowering the frame rate are all ways to reduce CPU usage. Keep in mind that reducing these settings will impact the visual quality of the game, but the trade-off is worth it to ensure smooth gameplay and reduce strain on your computer.
5 Close Background Applications
One way to close background applications is to use the task manager. The task manager is a built-in tool that allows you to view and manage running processes on your computer. You can access the task manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc on a Windows computer or Cmd + Shift + Esc on a Mac. Once the task manager is open, you can view a list of running processes and end any that are consuming a significant amount of resources.
Another way to close background applications is to use the command prompt. On a Windows computer, you can open the command prompt by pressing Windows + R and typing cmd. On a Mac, you can open the terminal by searching for it in Spotlight. Once the command prompt or terminal is open, you can use the taskkill command to end processes by their process ID. For example, taskkill /pid 1234 would end the process with ID 1234.
You can also prevent background applications from running in the first place. Many applications have settings that allow you to disable their automatic startup. For example, on a Windows computer, you can go to the taskbar and right-click on the application you want to stop from running and select Properties, then Startup and uncheck Run at startup. On a Mac, you can go to System Preferences and select Users & Groups, then click on your user account and select Login Items to see a list of applications that start automatically when you log in and remove any that you don’t need.
It’s important to note that some background applications may be essential to the operation of your computer. Therefore, be careful when ending processes and only end those that you’re sure you don’t need.
In short, background applications can consume a significant amount of CPU resources, even when they’re not actively in use. To free up CPU resources and improve performance, it’s important to close background applications. You can use the task manager, command prompt, or disable the automatic startup of certain applications. Keep in mind that some background applications may be essential to the operation of your computer, so be careful when ending processes and only end those that you’re sure you don’t need.
6 Disable Windows Visual Effects
Windows visual effects are designed to enhance the user experience, but they can also consume a significant amount of CPU resources. These effects include animations, transparency, and shadows. When enabled, they can cause your computer to slow down and even freeze. This is because the CPU has to work harder to process the visual effects, which can lead to increased usage and temperature.
Steps to disable visual effects in Windows to reduce CPU usage:
Disabling Windows visual effects is a simple and effective way to reduce CPU usage and improve performance. Here are the steps you need to take:
1. Right-click on the Start menu and select “System.”
2. In the System window, click on “Advanced system settings” on the left side.
3. In the Advanced tab, click on “Settings” under the Performance section.
4. In the Performance Options window, select “Adjust for best performance” and click “Apply.”
5. Click “OK” to save the changes and close the window.
Alternatively, you can also disable individual visual effects by selecting “Custom” in the Performance Options window and unchecking the effects you want to disable.
Note: Disabling visual effects may make your Windows look less attractive, but it can also improve your computer’s performance significantly, especially if you have an older computer with limited resources.
7 Restart Fortnite
Restarting the game can clear any memory leaks or bugs that may be consuming extra resources. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
1. Press the “Alt + Tab” keys on your keyboard to minimize the game.
2. Right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager.”
3. Find the “Fortnite” process, right-click on it, and select “End Task.”
4. Open the Epic Games launcher and click on the “Launch” button to restart the game.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to free up some of your CPU resources and enjoy a smoother gaming experience. Don’t underestimate the power of a simple restart! It’s a quick and easy fix that can resolve many performance issues. Give it a try and see for yourself.
8 Uninstall and Reinstall Fortnite
Steps to Uninstall Fortnite:
- Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter.
- Locate Fortnite in the list of installed programs and click on it.
- Click the “Uninstall” button.
- Follow the prompts to completely remove the game from your system.
Steps to Reinstall Fortnite:
- Visit the official Fortnite website.
- Click on the “Download” button.
- Run the installer and follow the prompts to reinstall the game.
Keep in mind that you’ll need to log in to your Epic Games account to play the game again and that you may need to download updates once the game is reinstalled.
It’s worth noting that uninstalling and reinstalling Fortnite will delete all your personal settings, customizations and saves, so make sure to have backup copies of those before proceeding.
The key takeaway is that a corrupted installation can cause high CPU usage and uninstalling and reinstalling the game can resolve the issue.
9 FAQ
How do I stop Fortnite from using so much CPU?
How much CPU should Fortnite be using?
Does 100% CPU usage damage the PC?
Why is my CPU at 100% when I play games?
One possible reason could be that your computer does not have enough resources to handle the demands of the game, causing the CPU to max out in order to keep up with the game’s performance requirements.
Another reason could be that your computer may be running background processes or programs that are taking up valuable resources, causing the CPU to work harder to keep up with the game’s demands.
It is also possible that the game itself is poorly optimized, causing the CPU to overwork to keep up with the game’s requirements.
To resolve this issue, you can try closing any unnecessary background processes or programs, updating your drivers, and making sure your computer meets the minimum system requirements for the game.
Additionally, checking for game updates and patching the game can also help to optimize the game and reduce the CPU usage.