- Windows includes built-in tools such as Task Manager and the Game Bar to see GPU usage.
- There are specialized programs such as MSI Afterburner, GPU-Z or RivaTuner that offer more detail and control.
- Graphics card manufacturers provide their own panels such as GeForce Experience or ASUS GPU Tweak II.
- Monitoring GPU usage can help prevent overheating and improve performance in games and intensive tasks.
Are you worried about your computer's performance while gaming or editing videos? If so, you're probably wondering how to tell how much your graphics card (GPU) is working. Nowadays, modern Windows systems offer multiple ways to check this information without needing to be a computer expert.
From native tools like Task Manager or Game Bar, to advanced solutions like MSI Afterburner or GPU-ZThere are many options to monitor the activity and temperature of your GPU, optimize your computer's performance, prevent overheating, and even overclock if you're more daring.
Windows Options to View GPU Usage Without Installing Anything
One of the great advantages of Windows 10 and 11 is that they already come with built-in tools to view your graphics card usage. This is useful if you don't want to install additional software and just need a quick overview of performance.
Task Manager
Task Manager is your first stop if you want to see GPU usage in real time.To access it, you can press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC or right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager.”
Once inside, go to the tab Unlimited and select the section GPUThere you'll see real-time graphs showing usage percentage, temperature (if supported), memory usage, and engine load. You can even see which apps are consuming graphics resources from the tab. Processes.
Windows Game Bar
Another less known but equally useful tool is the Windows Game Bar. To activate it, just press Win+G. An overlay opens showing CPU, GPU, RAM, and FPS (frames per second) usage.
This tool is ideal for gamers who want to monitor system performance without leaving the game.. It also lets you record screens, take screenshots, and manage audio, all from a single interface. If you don't have it installed, you can search for it in the Microsoft Store.
Specialized programs for monitoring GPUs
If you're looking for more detailed information, from temperatures to graphics memory usage, clock speed, or voltage, you'll need more sophisticated tools. These apps often include options to customize the data display and perform advanced adjustments, such as overclocking.
MSI Afterburner + RivaTuner: the unbeatable combo
MSI Afterburner It is possibly the most complete and popular software for controlling GPU behavior.. Works with any brand of graphics card, not just MSI. Together with RivaTuner Statistics Server (RTSS), you can view an on-screen overlay (OSD) in your games with data like GPU usage, temperature, core clock, VRAM usage, and more.
Setting it up may seem complicated at first, but it’s quite intuitive: select the metrics you want to see from the “Monitoring” tab and activate the “Display on Screen (OSD)” option.
RivaTuner allows you to adjust how and where this information appears. This is especially useful for demanding games or rendering sessions, as it can detect when the card is under excessive load or reaching dangerous temperatures.
GPU-Z
Do you want something light and quick? GPU-Z It is a portable tool that does not require installationAfter running it, go to the “Sensors” tab to see a multitude of values related to your GPU's performance: temperature, fan speed, graphics memory usage, power consumption, and more.
Ideal for work sessions in window applications where you don't need a visual overlay, but do check that everything is working at 100% without any problems.
Other useful programs
- AgaueEye: simple interface with CPU, GPU, disk and memory information during gameplay.
- NZXT CAM: Ideal for those looking for a beautiful interface with temperature, fan RPM, and power consumption data.
- Fraps: Well known for displaying FPS, it also allows you to record videos and captures.
- dxtory: focused on counting frames and recording visual content.
Official solutions from GPU manufacturers
If your graphics card is NVIDIA, AMD or ASUS, you can use the tools designed by them to access detailed statistics, make adjustments and update drivers easily. For NVIDIA, for example, GeForce Experience offers integrated monitoring, recording and automatic optimization.
GeForce Experience (NVIDIA)
It's more than just a driver utility: it includes features like video recording, capturing, streaming live and system monitoringAdditionally, you can enable an overlay to view GPU and FPS usage directly from within the game.
ASUS GPU Tweak II
For ASUS card users, this program allows you to view performance and control advanced options such as overclocking profiles, fan speeds, and clock speeds. While some options are exclusive to your own GPUs, most are available for cards from other manufacturers.
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