How to Fix the Last of Us Part 1 100% CPU usage on PC

The launch of The Last of Us Part 1 on PC was met with great anticipation, especially for fans eager to experience Naughty Dog's critically acclaimed narrative outside of the PlayStation ecosystem. However, many PC players encountered a concerning issue: sustained 100% CPU usage that led to performance drops, system instability, and overheating. This problem raised questions and frustrations, especially for those with high-end gaming rigs that seemed more than capable of handling the game. Fortunately, the explanation for this issue and its resolution are straightforward.

Takeaways:

Why is The last of Us running at 100% CPU usage?
Stop The Last of Us using 100% CPU usage on PC

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How to Fix The Last of Us Part 1 100% CPU Usage on PC

The primary reason that The Last of Us Part 1 maxes out CPU resources lies in its shader compilation process. When you launch The Last of Us for the first time, it immediately starts downloading, building and optimizing shaders. Shaders are small programs that tell the computer how to render different visual effects, such as lighting, shadows, and textures. This process is computationally intensive, and the reason why your CPU and GPU will be sitting at 100%. Some games Hogwarts Legacy make this process highly visible so that you know it is actually happening. But TLOS doesn't really show it in a way that everyone will see.

While the CPU handles the shader compilation, it will push the processor to its maximum capacity. This is why you are hearing your system fans go into overdrive. The good thing is that you don't have to worry but the process will probably take a while and varies based on two main factors:

CPU Performance: The power of your CPU, including the number of cores and clock speed, plays a major role in how long it takes to build shaders. A high-end, multi-core processor can handle this workload more efficiently than a lower-end one.

Internet Connection Speed: The game downloads required shader data, so a faster internet connection can expedite the overall process, allowing the CPU to compile and finalize shaders faster.

What to Expect During Shader Compilation in The Last of Us on PC

When you launch The Last of Us Part 1 and see that your CPU usage is hammering the redline at 100% there's no need to worry. This super high usage is a normal, temporary part of the game's set-up process. However, there are certain things you can do to ensure your system handles this period smoothly:

Make sure your PC's cooling system—whether air or liquid cooling—is functioning properly to avoid thermal throttling or damage. (This is pretty standard stuff anyway)
Close unnecessary all applications running in the background. This will free up more CPU resources and allow shaders to compile a lot quicker.

Reducing the Impact of 100% CPU Usage

Although shader compilation is inevitable, there are strategies to reduce its impact on your system:

Update Game and GPU Drivers: Developers often release patches to optimize game performance. Ensure that both The Last of Us Part 1 and your GPU drivers are updated to the latest versions for optimal compatibility and potential shader compilation improvements.
Lower In-Game Settings: If your system struggles to maintain stability during the shader build, consider lowering graphics settings, especially those related to lighting and shadow quality. This won't directly speed up the shader compilation but can make your system more responsive during the process.
Allocate Time for the Initial Build: Understand that the shader compilation can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour, depending on your CPU and internet speed. Launch the game when you have enough time to let this process complete uninterrupted.

What Happens After Shader Compilation?

The good news is that once the game has finished compiling shaders, the CPU usage will drop back to a more normal level. The game will rely less on real-time shader building, resulting in smoother gameplay and a balanced distribution of resources between the CPU and GPU. Players have reported that after this initial phase, gameplay becomes more stable with significantly reduced CPU usage.