I'm noticing that in resource monitor, CPU 2 hits close to 100% utilization while gaming, yet my FPS seems limited despite my GPU (an RTX 3050 with 6GB) only being at 50-60% usage. I've got all my power settings set to performance mode. Could it be that my CPU is bottlenecking my performance?
3 Answers
Absolutely, it sounds like in that game, your CPU is what's holding you back. When one component is maxed out while the other is still got headroom, that's usually a sign of a bottleneck.
Keep in mind that the RTX 3050 is on the lower end. If you're playing a game that relies heavily on CPU resources or you're running at low settings, the Ryzen 5 3600 might be working harder than your GPU. For example, I've paired my 3600 with a much stronger 2080 Ti, and it handles my games just fine.
What's the game you're running and what resolution are you playing at? At 1080p, your CPU typically carries more weight, while the GPU takes the lead at higher resolutions like 1440p. CPU-heavy titles like Total War or Cities: Skylines can push the CPU utilization up. If your GPU isn't hitting 95% capacity in a GPU-intensive game at 1440p, that's definitely a CPU bottleneck.
I was playing Roblox at max settings on 1080p!