I've upgraded my PC about five years ago, and here are my current specs: ROG Strix x570-e Gaming motherboard, Ryzen 9 5900X CPU, Zotac RTX 3080 Ti GPU, and I'm using G.Skill Ripjaw RAM (16x4 3600, though I had to limit it to 3200 due to CPU restrictions). Initially, everything was working perfectly, but lately, I've noticed that I can't max out settings at 1440p. Even lowering the graphics settings doesn't seem to help, as I'm struggling to get over 60 FPS on some games. I've recorded the FPS and found that my GPU deviation rate is between 20%-50% on titles like Icarus and Hogwarts Legacy with GPU usage around 60-80%. Could my CPU be the cause of this bottleneck?
5 Answers
Your CPU is definitely a bottleneck. I recommend getting the 9800X3D for better performance.
The only way to bypass a CPU bottleneck is to upgrade to a faster CPU. The 5800X3D would be the top option for your socket if you can find one.
I've paired my 5900X with a GPU like yours and didn’t face any CPU bottlenecks. It might be due to maintenance issues. My setup runs fine with a 4090 at 4K without any GPU bottleneck. Try changing the thermal paste, checking fans, and airflow. If the performance doesn't improve, consider doing a DDU and clean install of the latest GPU drivers, and remember to update your BIOS and chipset if you haven't done that recently.
Is this issue occurring only in those two games? Hogwarts Legacy is particularly demanding on the CPU. Avoid ray tracing in that game, as even high-end CPUs can struggle with it.
I haven’t tracked FPS for all games, but I know some can’t maintain 60 FPS on low settings. It's weird because some games stay smooth even with low GPU usage. Is my CPU just not fast enough for my GPU?
It’s tough to say since some games can drop FPS over time, while others keep it stable. Resident Evil Village has been the trickiest for me; I wonder if my CPU is just not capable of fully utilizing my GPU.
How often do you play? If it’s not too frequently, your thermal paste might be drying out, leading to thermal issues. Give your system a good dusting, but remember to hold the fans while doing so to prevent backspin that can damage the bearings.
I rarely shut down my system, and I clean the fans often. Currently, my CPU temperature is around 70-80°C, and my GPU is running at similar temps.
I don't think it’s worth upgrading the CPU alone. If I decide to upgrade, I would rather do a full system refresh since it's been five years, and I’m starting to feel it struggle with newer games.