Games rendering on CPU instead of GPU in Valorant, causing performance issues?

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arsh_ahamed
arsh_ahamed Member Posts: 1 Newbie
edited 9:02AM in Aspire Laptops

I started playing Valorant just yesterday, but I'm experiencing FPS drops. My GPU isn't being used for games—everything is being rendered by the CPU. Why is this happening, and how can I fix it?

Answers

  • gramwilliam
    gramwilliam Member Posts: 1 New User

    BottleNeck Issues:
    System slowdown caused by a weak component CPU GPU RAM etc limiting performance.

  • Puraw
    Puraw ACE, Member Posts: 17,621 Trailblazer

    Hi arsh_ahamed,

    Thanks for your post. Since you didn’t mention your exact laptop model or GPU configuration, it’s a bit difficult to provide precise advice. Acer's Aspire lineup includes models ranging from basic integrated graphics (like Intel UHD or AMD Vega) to entry-level dedicated GPUs (such as NVIDIA MX330 or GTX 1650), so the behavior can vary a lot.

    Here are a few things to check:

    🧩 Determine if you have a dedicated GPU:

    • Go to Device Manager → Display adapters and see if there's a second GPU listed (e.g., NVIDIA or AMD).
    • You can also open Task Manager → Performance tab → GPU while Valorant is running to see which GPU is being used.

    🛠️ If you have a dedicated GPU but it's not being used:

    • In Windows Settings → Display → Graphics Settings, add Valorant.exe and set it to High Performance (this forces the use of the dedicated GPU).
    • In NVIDIA Control Panel → Manage 3D settings, set Valorant to use the preferred GPU.
    • Make sure both Intel and NVIDIA drivers are fully updated—Acer’s support site usually provides model-specific versions.

    If your laptop only has integrated graphics, performance in games like Valorant will be limited, and FPS drops are expected—especially on battery or default power settings.

    Let us know your full model number (e.g., Aspire A315-58 or A715-42G) and we can give you more tailored advice.

  • camila89
    camila89 Member Posts: 60 Devotee WiFi Icon

    When Valorant uses more CPU than GPU, it causes performance issues. Such a problem arises due to game design, optimization, and Frame Rate Cap. However, you can try adjusting settings to see if the problem gets fixed. Also, updating graphics drivers and closing the background apps can be a game-changer.

  • Axxo
    Axxo Member, Ally Posts: 2,060

    In Valorant, while it's not typical for the game to render solely on the CPU, it's true that the game can be CPU-bound, meaning the CPU's performance can limit the overall framerate, especially on lower-end systems. This can manifest as performance issues even if the GPU usage isn't maxed out.
    Here's a breakdown:-

    Why Valorant might seem CPU-bound:
    CPU-Intensive Nature:
    Valorant is designed to be relatively CPU-intensive, with a focus on optimizing CPU performance for baseline performance, reducing hitches, and improving ability performance according to VALORANT.
    Lower-End Systems:
    On lower-spec machines, rendering can be the bottleneck, and adjusting graphics settings might not improve performance if the CPU is limiting the FPS according to VALORANT.
    Single Core Performance:
    Valorant, like many games, benefits from strong single-core performance from the CPU, rather than relying heavily on multi-core processing.

    Potential Display Bug:
    Sometimes, apparent performance issues can be caused by a display bug related to the "Game to Render Latency" metric, rather than actual performance limitations according to Answer Overflow.
    Troubleshooting:
    Check CPU and GPU Usage:
    Monitor both CPU and GPU usage while playing to identify which component is the bottleneck according to Intel. If CPU usage is consistently high while GPU usage is relatively low, it indicates a CPU limitation.

    Update Drivers:
    Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date, as outdated drivers can cause performance issues according to MiniTool Partition Wizard.
    Close Background Processes:
    Other applications running in the background can consume CPU resources. Close unnecessary programs to free up CPU power according to MiniTool Partition Wizard.
    Verify Game Files:
    Corrupted game files can also cause performance problems. Verify the integrity of the game files through the Riot client according to MiniTool Partition Wizard.

    Check System Requirements:
    Make sure your system meets the recommended requirements for Valorant.
    Optimize Windows Settings:
    Adjust Windows settings for performance, potentially disabling visual effects and animations.
    Adjust Graphics Settings:
    While Valorant is CPU-focused, some settings like shadows, anti-aliasing, and texture quality can still impact performance. Experiment with these settings to find a balance between visual quality and performance
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