Low cpu usage and low frames for Nvidia cards (possible solution)

[PopulationControl]

Has anyone tried reinstalling or rolling back their Nvidia driver? I reverted back to 527.56 and Valheim runs great again with proper cpu usage and gpu usage is no longer stuck at 100%

Every setting is at max with motion blur off @ resolution of 5760 x 1080. I was getting 18 fps in the game menu, where before it maxxed at 60 fps. In game was getting a struggling 18-42 fps. I noticed my 13900K was showing 1-2% usage before with my 3080 running at 100%

Now, after installing an older driver, my cpu usage is around 6-8% and my gpu usage is 8-14%. My frame rate is back up to 84-142 fps. I even run 51 mods because base game is a grind fest.

I just tested this on my other gaming pc with a 3080 and the results were very similar. That pc is a 6700K with a 3080. Resolution is 1920 x 1080 and getting around 130-145 fps in game.

Just putting some information out there if it can help someone else get the game running good again.

[Horemvore]

Cool story, 8/10. Helpful Information, 1/10.
You dont even say what driver you down graded too, "older driver"

[sarteck]

Originally posted by Horemvore:

Cool story, 8/10. Helpful Information, 1/10.
You dont even say what driver you down graded too, "older driver"

Check the second sentence. "527.56"

[PopulationControl]

Tested on 2 other Nvidia dedicated gpu computers and tried using the driver that was already installed on those computers as a clean driver install and it did fix their issue, so it is not limited to a specific driver, a simple clean reinstall of the driver seems to solve the issue. Not sure if an automatic Windows 10 update broke the drivers or over-rode some setting.

[Three Words]

OS: Windows 11 (Build 22621.1413)
CPU: i7-9700K @ 3.60 GHz
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER
NVIDIA Driver: 531.41

My CPU was operating above & below ~20% and the GPU at 98-100% in Valheim while on the main menu and while playing.

I mean, although I just did a clean install of Windows 11 and a "clean install" of the latest NVIDIA driver whilst using the installer today, I will run DDU Uninstaller, reinstall the latest driver, and let you know what happens afterward.

Update: Even after running DDU Uninstaller and reinstalling 531.41, the CPU usage still runs a little above & below 20% and the GPU usage 98-100% (61 Celcius). Guess I will need to install an older driver as well.

Now I wonder if it has anything to do with settings "Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling" & "Optimizations for windowed games" under Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Default graphics settings. However, this is happening to people on Windows 10 as well...