Yep, we're talking about CPU bottlenecks again. The B word is one of the scariest things for the average gamer, so much so that people waste too much time on bottleneck calculators without understanding the phenomenon. Unusually high CPU usage is often shorthand for a CPU bottleneck, but this alone isn't enough to warrant panic attacks and frantic CPU upgrades. You need to realize that a few other scenarios can easily account for high CPU usage without using "CPU bottleneck" as the underlying cause.

You're playing CPU-demanding titles

It's all working as intended

Most people are used to the reality that gaming is predominantly GPU-bound, so high GPU and low CPU usage is what they consider "normal". However, just like everything else in the world of PC hardware and PC gaming, it depends. The game you're playing determines a lot of how your CPU and GPU will be utilized. Some titles are more CPU-intensive than others, and can easily result in the unusually high CPU utilization you see in your on-screen display. Strategy, simulation, and many open-world games are a few examples.

Even within the same game, different environments can account for varying CPU usage, so before considering 60-80% CPU usage as a bottleneck, cast a wide net and assess the games you're playing. Your CPU might be working normally, so unless your FPS numbers are way lower than what you expect from your hardware, there's no need to worry about imagined bottlenecks.

You're playing at 1080p

The domain of the CPU

High CPU usage isn't tied to just the titles you're playing; it also depends on what resolution you're playing at. Playing at 1080p is more intensive on the CPU as compared to higher resolutions. Games are more CPU-bound at lower resolutions, which can contribute to the higher CPU utilization that you're worried about. It's just a result of the system load shifting toward the CPU from the GPU, not necessarily a sign of a CPU bottleneck.

The higher the resolution, the more games become GPU-bound, which is why you often see people building 1440p and even 4K gaming PCs with affordable CPUs. This is also why you see 1080p testing in CPU benchmarks — lower resolutions force the load on the CPU, bringing out the differences between processors in the best way possible. Unless your FPS is suffering, you don't need to worry about high CPU usage at 1080p.

Your GPU usage is also high

Where's the problem?

Finally, high CPU usage isn't a bottleneck until it's holding your GPU back. The reason a bottleneck is a problem in the first place is that it limits your system from performing at its potential. If you're seeing high GPU utilization, say, in the higher 90s along with CPU usage in the 80s or 90s, it simply shows that your system is well-balanced. The games you're playing are utilizing your hardware well, both on the CPU and GPU fronts.

There's no need to consider an upgrade in the CPU department or worry about lowering the CPU usage. The kind of games you're playing just happen to be CPU-intensive and GPU-intensive at the same time, and your CPU and GPU are well-matched in terms of performance. Every PC has some degree of bottleneck; it's a problem only when it significantly impedes performance. A system with simultaneously high CPU and GPU usage is far from the worst thing in the world.

CPU bottlenecks are often taken too seriously

Many PC gamers are too concerned about "balancing" their builds instead of enjoying their hardware. Unless you pair an ancient or weak CPU with a high-end GPU, your system won't experience any significant bottlenecks. High CPU usage alone doesn't indicate a CPU bottleneck, since you might be playing CPU-bound games or using a lower resolution. And if your GPU usage is normal, and your performance isn't suffering, there's no reason to worry about high CPU utilization in the OSD.