Dragon Age Origins: Extremely High GPU usage

@sugargoats Im playing it now, not now now, but before this now! 😉 DAO shouldn't not run your system that high unless there is something else on the PC causing it to happen. This could be a lot of things even if it does not affect other games. When this happen, we ask that you run through the following standard checklist to see if anything changes for you.

• EA App's Cache (Top Left Menu > Help > App Recovery)
• Run the System File Checker tool then Check for Windows and GPU updates 
• Default your game to the high-performance GPU, AMD Settings | Nvidia Settings | Windows Settings
• Guide for Troubleshooting Graphics issues
  (I use this one simply to change how many cores your system is using for the game)
• Install/Repair your VC++ files for the game (Microsoft VC++ Link)
• Try the Game in different Compatibility settings
• Remove any over-clocking or undervolt settings or software and check if the issue continues.
• Check for other applications that may be limiting EA App or Game performance
• Reset Windows Host File
• Change UAC Controls within Windows
• Just as a test, try a new Windows User Account

A long as you don't have things like overclocking ticked up, and your CPU isn't using all of it to run, simple updates and changing GPU settings lower it. I had the same happen on Dead Space once and altered a few settings and it went back to normal without having to mess with the in-game settings.

@sugargoats 

In general, GPUs are built to be fully utilized while gaming. Close to 100% GPU utilization is nothing unusual nor is it dangerous for the GPU.

Furthermore, your screenshot shows that your GPU is in fact not to 100% utilized so there is not really a problem anyway.

If you want to reduce utilization to get it cool and quiet you can use VSync (In the Game menu or in the NVIDIA Control Panel) or you can us the NVIDIA FPS limiter (In the NVIDIA Control Panel)

This will not increase the lifespan of your GPU but it can, as mentioned, make the GPU cooler and therefore quieter.

Thank you for your reply, i'll go through and try these out! 

This was a huge surprise to me, my computer has never done this before. I forgot to put it in the main post, but the only reason I knew it was happening was there was this extremely high pitched, wavering buzzing noise coming from my computer when the game was running that was quite concerning. (Sounded kind of like a mosquito buzzing right next to my ear)

@sugargoats 

What you hear is most probably coil whine.

Coil whine is a problem with many modern GPUs and is caused by electronic components that vibrate at certain frequencies when current flows through them.

It is not dangerous for your GPU or other components but can be quit annoying.

Often the coil whine is amplified by a GPU that achieves very high FPS numbers, such as a modern GPU in a 14-year-old game.

The best course of action is still to use VSync or a frame limiter to bring the frame rate down.