Why is GPU at 100 percent idle?

Likely a runaway process or driver leak.

Will malware use GPU?

Yes cryptominers target GPU cycles.

Do overlays cause GPU usage?

Yes overlays and recorders can keep GPU awake.

Is undervolting useful?

It can reduce power draw but do carefully.

Can PC-Care.ai help automatically?

Yes - it disables unnecessary GPU-using startups.

GPU Usage 100% Windows on Dell XPS

If your GPU is pegged at 100% usage in Windows even at idle, it signals a runaway process or driver issue. This guide shows how to diagnose and fix it.

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GPU Usage 100% Windows on Dell XPS - causes, fixes, and prevention

Written by PC-Care.ai Editorial Team - Content Lead - Reviewed by PC-Care.ai Engineering - Windows Optimization - Last updated 9/15/2025

Overview - what this guide covers

We’ll cover driver updates, background app trimming, and PC-Care.ai automation.

Symptoms you might see

Fan noise constant
Idle desktop uses high GPU
Games stutter despite high FPS
System hot even in standby

A pegged GPU can come from crypto miners, stuck hardware acceleration, or broken drivers. Stutter despite FPS means frame pacing issues.

Manual fixes - step by step

Check Task Manager GPU usage tab
Update GPU drivers
Disable hardware acceleration in apps
Scan for malware
Trim startups with PC-Care.ai
Reinstall GPU driver with clean install

Task Manager shows which process uses GPU. Driver update fixes leaks. Disabling hardware acceleration can drop idle usage. Startup trimming ensures only needed apps load at boot.

Prevention - keep the issue from coming back

Run PC-Care.ai monthly to keep GPU idle clean

Review GPU usage after driver updates

How PC-Care.ai helps

PC-Care.ai finds GPU heavy processes and schedules them off peak.

The scan also flags outdated drivers.