How To Fix Sons of the Forest Not Using GPU/CPU on Windows PC?

Sons of the Forest is a survival horror game that has already been released for Windows PC. However, some players have reported that the game is not utilizing their GPU or CPU, which can result in poor performance and gameplay issues.

Some players are reporting that they have high-end GPUs like 4090, 3070, etc. and they only got 60 to 65 FPS. Also, with high-end AMD processors but their CPU is not utilized as well. Sons of the Forest is not using the full capacity of their GPU and CPU.

In this article, we will discuss some solutions to fix Sons of the Forest not using GPU/CPU on Windows PC.

Why is Sons of the Forest not Utilizing my Full GPU/CPU?

Sons of the Forest not utilizing your full GPU power could be due to various reasons. There are many factors that could be the reason for this issue but some possible reasons like

• Problematic GPU Drivers,
• GPU or CPU Bottleneck,
• Third-Party utilization of resources,
• Tweak in-game settings,
• Corrupted game files,
• Power-saving features and
• Many other reasons can affect cause low utilization of resources.

How Can I Fix Low GPU/CPU Usage on Sons of the Forest?

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This issue can be frustrating, especially when you have a high-end gaming rig that should be able to run the game without any problems.

1. CPU/GPU Bottleneck

One of the common reasons why Sons of the Forest may not be utilizing your GPU fully is due to a CPU bottleneck. A CPU bottleneck occurs when the CPU is unable to keep up with the demands of the game, causing it to limit the GPU’s performance.

This bottleneck can occur when the CPU is outdated or not powerful enough to handle the Sons of Forest’s requirements.

If you suspect that a CPU bottleneck is causing the issue, you should consider upgrading your CPU or reducing the Sons of Forest’s CPU demands.

You can also monitor your CPU and GPU usage to determine whether a CPU bottleneck is occurring. If you notice that your CPU is consistently at 100% usage while your GPU usage is low, then a CPU bottleneck may be the cause of the issue.

2. Tweak Game Settings

We can also increase the Sons of the Forest performance by changing the in-game settings. That may increase your gaming experience. The following are the steps:

• First, Restart your PC.
• Launch the steam and start Sons of the Forest from the steam library.
• At the main interface search for Options and click on it.
• Click on Display settings.
• Find the v-sync and turn it into disabled mode.
• And set the MAX Fps.
• Now go to the Graphic settings tab.
• Set Quality Presets to Ultra or whatever is suitable for your PC.
• Navigate the Dynamic Resolution and turn it on DLSS which means DLSS is enabled.
• Click on Apply button and Relaunch the Sons of the Forest.
• Enable the Game Mode

Game Mode is a feature that can help improve gaming performance on your PC. When enabled, Game Mode prioritizes your PC’s resources toward the game you are playing, allowing for better overall performance.

Game Mode works by limiting background processes and other non-essential tasks to free up resources for the game. It can also adjust the CPU and GPU settings to prioritize performance over power efficiency. To enable the Game, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app and click on the Gaming section.
  • Click on the Game Mode tab.
  • Toggle the switch to turn on Game Mode.

Once Game Mode is enabled, Windows will automatically detect when you are playing a game and optimize your system resources accordingly.

3. Update your Graphics Card Drivers

The first thing you need to do is to check if your graphics card drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can cause performance issues and prevent the game from using your GPU or CPU. To update your graphics card drivers, follow the steps below:

• Press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager.
• Expand the Display Adapters category.
• Right-click on your graphics card and select Update Driver.
• Select Search automatically for updated driver software and wait for Windows to search for the latest drivers.

4. Check your Power Settings

Windows has power-saving features that can reduce the performance of your hardware. This can also produce a bad effect on the utilization of CPU/GPU. If there is less power then the CPU/GPU will not give you proper performance.

To make sure that your CPU and GPU are not being throttled, follow the steps below:

• Press Windows Key + X and select Power Options.
• Select High performance.
• If you don’t see the High-performance option, click on Show additional plans and select High performance.
• Restart your computer and launch the game again.

5. Use a Dedicated Graphics Card

Using a dedicated graphics card is generally preferred over an integrated graphics card as it offers better and more stable graphics performance. If possible, it is recommended that you use a dedicated graphics card instead of an integrated one.

6. Turn Off V-Sync

By default, Sons of the Forest has V-Sync or FreeSync enabled, which may conflict with the game’s refresh rate and the monitor’s refresh rate. To avoid this conflict, it’s recommended to turn off V-Sync or FreeSync on your PC. The following steps can help you turn off V-Sync or FreeSync depending on your graphics card:

For Nvidia:

• Launch Steam or Epic Games Launcher.
• Launch Sons of the Forest and go to the in-game Settings menu.
• Under Display Options, make sure to turn off V-Sync.
• Open the Nvidia Control Panel and select Manage 3D Settings in the left panel.
• Scroll down to Vertical Sync under Global Settings and turn it off.
• Click on Apply, then reboot your PC to apply changes.

For AMD:

• Launch Sons of the Forest and open the in-game Settings menu.
• Under Display Options, make sure to turn off V-Sync.
• Open the AMD Radeon app and go to the Global Settings option.
• Under the Global Graphics tab, check the Wait for Vertical Refresh option.
• Click on the Down arrow icon and select Always Off from the drop-down list to deactivate V-Sync or Enhanced Sync.
• Finally, turn off the Wait for Vertical Refresh option and restart your PC.

6. Disable Raytracing

To ensure optimal performance of the Sons of the Forest game, it’s recommended to disable the Raytracing feature. Raytracing can offer stunning visual quality for high-end gaming rigs but can cause issues with overkill optimization on older or less powerful PCs. To disable Raytracing, follow the steps below:

• Open the Sons of the Forest game via Steam or Epic Games.
• Go to the in-game Settings menu.
• Under Graphics options, select both the Fidelity and Raytracing feature.
• Select Performance to disable Raytracing. You can select Balanced to reduce Raytracing.
• Once done, reboot the PC to apply changes.

7. Rollback the GPU driver

1. Open Device Manager, like before.
2. Double-click on the graphics driver to go to its Properties.
3. Go to the Driver tab.
4. Click on Roll Back Driver.
5. Complete any on-screen steps.

In conclusion, Sons of the Forest not using GPU/CPU on Windows PC can be a frustrating issue. However, the solutions above should help you fix the issue and allow you to enjoy the game with the best possible performance.