I've noticed something strange when playing games at my native resolution. My GPU usage hits 100%, but when I switch to upscaling, the usage goes down as expected. However, my FPS remains exactly the same. Can anyone help me understand why this is happening?
2 Answers
It's not unusual for GPU usage to drop when using upscaling since it reduces the workload per frame. You might expect that to lead to an increase in FPS, but if your FPS stays consistent, it suggests you might be hitting a frame rate limit somewhere. This could be due to an in-game cap, settings like V-sync, or potentially a CPU bottleneck.
Even if your CPU isn't maxed out, it doesn't mean you're free from a bottleneck. If you're seeing no change in FPS while lowering graphical settings or resolution, the CPU might still be limiting your performance, especially if there's an artificial frame cap in place. There's a great video by JayzTwoCents that explains this concept of CPU bottlenecking well.
Interesting, my CPU is a Ryzen 7 7735HS and my GPU is a 4060, and I see both averaging around 60% usage. It's worth noting I'm playing Marvel Rivals, which is known for its heavy CPU and GPU demands.