I recently upgraded my GPU from a 4060 to a 9060 XT to get more VRAM, but I've noticed my CPU is frequently running at 80-100% usage when playing games like God of War Ragnarok, and it hits 100% in Cyberpunk. Meanwhile, my GPU is performing well, staying at around 95-100%. I'm also using MSI Afterburner, but it shows my CPU usage at 50-60% and my GPU power at 55W, which doesn't match the overlay stats. Since it's my first time using AMD, I'm a bit confused about these performance metrics. Given my current setup, would upgrading to a 1440p monitor be beneficial? Here are my specs: CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F, GPU: Gigabyte Radeon RX 9060 XT Gaming OC 16GB, RAM: 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR4 (8GB x4), Mainboard: Asus Prime B660M-A D4, PSU: Corsair CX650 – 650W – 80 Plus Bronze, Monitor: Acer KA272 — 27", 1080p, 75Hz.
5 Answers
The 9060 XT can manage 1440p gaming—you just need to be okay with running FSR and tweaking some settings in more demanding games. For me, the jump from 1080p to 1440p was a game-changer in terms of visual clarity!
If you switch to 1440p, you might experience lower FPS. If your target refresh rate is only 75Hz, the 9060 XT should handle it fine at 1080p. Just understand the trade-offs.
Going to 1440p will give you a significant boost in visual fidelity, but it may require you to upgrade other components for a smoother experience. If you're not ready to do that, stick with your current setup for now.
I believe upgrading to 1440p would be an excellent choice, but considering another 1080p monitor with a higher refresh rate might also be a cool option for a smoother experience during gaming.
Since your GPU is already hitting around 100% at 1080p, I wouldn't recommend upgrading your monitor to 1440p right now. You're just bottlenecking your performance further, especially if both your CPU and GPU are maxed out.
What about the discrepancy in Afterburner compared to the overlay? I see my CPU hitting 100% but Afterburner shows lower usage. What's up with that?
Yeah, having the CPU at 100% is concerning. It's still a bit confusing with different readings.
What kind of upgrades are we talking about?