You launch Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 expecting your graphics card to be fully utilised — but instead you see only 40–60% GPU usage. Meanwhile, FPS is low, stutters occur, and performance feels inconsistent.
Low GPU usage in MSFS is not usually a GPU problem. It is almost always caused by a CPU bottleneck.
Understanding why this happens is the key to fixing it properly. In many cases, adjusting a few simulator settings can dramatically improve performance and allow your GPU to work as intended.
Quick Summary
- Low GPU usage in MSFS 2024 is usually caused by a CPU bottleneck
- The simulator may become MainThread limited, preventing the GPU from being fully utilised
- High Terrain LOD and Object LOD settings can overload the CPU
- AI traffic and glass cockpit refresh rates increase CPU load
- Adjusting graphics settings can help balance CPU and GPU workload
- Low GPU usage is only a problem if FPS is also low or unstable
Why GPU Usage Is Low in MSFS
Microsoft Flight Simulator is heavily CPU-dependent, especially when handling:
- Terrain generation
- Object streaming
- Glass cockpit systems
- AI traffic
- Physics calculations
If your CPU cannot prepare frames quickly enough, the GPU waits for work and remains partially idle.
This situation is commonly referred to as being “MainThread limited.”
How to Confirm You Are CPU Limited
You can confirm this inside the simulator.
Enable Developer Mode:
Options → General → Developers → Developer Mode ON
Then activate the FPS counter.
If it shows:
Limited by MainThread
Your CPU is the bottleneck.
If it shows:
Limited by GPU
Then, graphics settings are the primary limitation.
Most cases of low GPU usage in MSFS show MainThread limitation.
Fix 1: Lower Terrain Level of Detail
Terrain Level of Detail (LOD) places heavy demand on the CPU.
Try:
- Reducing Terrain LOD from 200 to around 120
- Testing performance
- Increasing gradually if performance improves
High Terrain LOD dramatically increases CPU workload even if your GPU is powerful.
Fix 2: Lower Object Level of Detail
Object LOD also significantly affects CPU workload.
Try reducing Object LOD from:
200 → 100–150
This often increases GPU usage because the CPU can deliver frames more efficiently.
Fix 3: Reduce AI Traffic and Ground Traffic
Traffic settings are extremely CPU-intensive.
Lower settings such as:
- AI aircraft traffic
- Airport ground vehicles
- Worker density
- Road vehicles
If you frequently fly airliners into busy airports, reducing these settings can noticeably improve performance.
Fix 4: Lower Glass Cockpit Refresh Rate
Glass cockpit instruments require frequent CPU updates.
Set the Glass Cockpit Refresh Rate to:
- Medium
- Low
This is especially important for:
- Airliners
- Study-level aircraft
Reducing this setting can significantly reduce CPU load.
Fix 5: Increase GPU Load Intentionally
If GPU usage is low but FPS is stable, you can safely increase GPU settings to balance the system.
Try increasing:
- Render scaling
- Cloud quality
- Shadow resolution
- Ambient occlusion
This shifts more work to the GPU.
Low GPU usage is only a problem if FPS is also low.
Fix 6: Enable Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling
In Windows:
Settings → System → Display → Graphics → Default Graphics Settings
Turn ON:
Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling
Restart your PC and test performance again.
Fix 7: Disable V-Sync or Frame Caps Temporarily
If FPS is capped too low, GPU usage may remain artificially low.
Test with:
- V-Sync disabled
- No frame rate cap
If GPU usage increases, your frame limit is restricting GPU utilisation.
Fix 8: Check Power Settings
Low GPU usage can sometimes be caused by power management limits.
In Windows:
- Set Power Plan to High Performance
In the NVIDIA Control Panel:
- Power Management Mode → Prefer Maximum Performance
The AMD Adrenalin:
This ensures the GPU runs at full performance levels.
Fix 9: Check Background CPU Usage
Background applications can reduce CPU performance.
Try:
- Closing unnecessary applications
- Disabling heavy startup programs
- Checking CPU usage in Task Manager
MSFS relies heavily on single-core CPU performance, so background tasks can impact performance.
Fix 10: Understand Airport Load
Low GPU usage frequently occurs in CPU-heavy scenarios such as:
- Large handcrafted airports
- Busy traffic environments
- Final approach into major hubs
These are naturally CPU-bound situations.
During cruise flight, GPU usage often increases automatically.
Common Scenarios
Low GPU Usage with Low FPS
This almost always indicates a CPU bottleneck.
Low GPU Usage with High FPS
This is normal behaviour and not a problem.
GPU Usage Spikes Then Drops
Often caused by terrain streaming limitations.
Only One CPU Core at High Usage
This is normal. MSFS relies heavily on a single main thread.
Should You Upgrade Your GPU?
If your system is MainThread-limited, upgrading the GPU will not solve the problem.
Performance improvements may instead require:
- A faster CPU
- Better single-core performance
- Higher RAM speed
MSFS benefits strongly from CPU speed and memory bandwidth.
Balanced System Example
For example, a system with:
RTX 4070 + older mid-range CPU
may show only 50–60% GPU usage at busy airports.
This is a normal CPU limitation.
Upgrading to a faster CPU would allow the GPU to work harder and improve FPS.
When Low GPU Usage Is Not a Problem
If:
- FPS is stable
- Frame pacing is smooth
- There are no stutters
Then low GPU usage is not an issue.
It simply means your GPU still has available headroom.
Chasing 99% GPU usage is unnecessary.
Quick Fix Checklist
If you want a quick troubleshooting path:
- Enable the FPS counter
- Confirm if you are MainThread limited
- Lower Terrain LOD
- Reduce AI traffic
- Lower glass cockpit refresh rate
- Increase GPU settings slightly
Most cases of low GPU usage improve once CPU bottlenecks are reduced.
Conclusion
Low GPU usage in MSFS 2024 is usually caused by a CPU bottleneck rather than a graphics card limitation. Reducing Terrain LOD, traffic, and glass cockpit refresh rates often restores balance and allows the GPU to operate more effectively. Before upgrading hardware, confirm whether the simulator is MainThread limited. In many cases, improving CPU efficiency is the real solution to smoother performance.