Is it Normal for Vulkan Shader Compilation to Max Out CPU Usage?
Asked by
TechieTurtle42
I recently installed Marvel Rivals and checked ProtonDB, which shows it has a gold rating, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I'm using some launch arguments that worked well for another game, Arc Raiders, specifically `PROTON_FSR4_RDNA3_UPGRADE=1 game-performance %command%`. My setup includes an R5 7600X CPU, an RX 7800XT GPU, and 32GB of DDR5-6000 RAM, running on CachyOS with the latest proton-cachyos-slr.
However, when I start the game and it begins compiling shaders, my CPU usage climbs to about 92%, and the temperature spikes to around 90°C. I'm wondering if this is normal or if there's an issue, especially since I'm concerned it might be the integrated GPU in the 7000 series CPU causing the high CPU load. Does shader compilation happen on the CPU or the GPU?
Answers
It's definitely expected for shader compilation to hit your CPU hard. The process occurs on the CPU, not the GPU, because shaders are like mini-programs that need compiling. Even if it sounds like something the GPU should handle, it’s on the CPU. I’ve had similar experiences with my Ryzen 7700X when playing other games, so you’re not alone in this.
Reply to this answer
Always good to share your distro and some specs when asking for tech help! That way, folks can give you the best advice tailored to your setup! It can help find solutions faster. :)
Reply to this answer
Totally normal! When shaders are compiled, they can be very taxing on the CPU. This is why your CPU usage spikes. If it worries you, just remember that whether you disable precompilation or not, it often doesn't make a noticeable difference in performance with decent hardware.
Reply to this answer
Yes, shader compilation is primarily a CPU-intensive task. It's quite normal for it to push your CPU usage high during compilation. If you're noticing high temperatures, it might be worth checking your cooling setup, as those temps are pretty high. You can actually disable shader precompilation in Steam settings if you find it bothersome, but be aware it might affect performance.
Reply to this answer
Compiling shaders uses CPU power because they’re treated like other types of software. Just because it's related to graphics doesn’t mean the GPU handles it all. Think of it as a software build process, much like when you update GPU drivers—it’s all about the CPU doing the heavy lifting. Hope that clears things up!
Reply to this answer
Add your answer
Answers are reviewed before publication.
MarvelFanatic99: That’s good to know! I was worried something was wrong with my setup.