CPU Usage
CPU Usage
Hey everyone, how are you? I just upgraded to a 10600k and it’s working well. I’m seeing about 20 to 30 extra frames in the endgame, depending on the game. In Dota 2 I managed to jump 80-100 frames. The main thing I notice now is that when I play, I run MSI Afterburner after the game just to monitor CPU usage. It seems my CPU never goes above 30-40%. So could I really be getting more frames if it used more CPU? I have 16GB of DDR4 RAM at 3200MHz, a 1080p resolution with 8GB of storage. My GPU is always around 90%, except sometimes it drops to about 80%. I think it’s using more CPU in those cases. I feel like I might be losing frames somewhere I thought I was optimizing. Thanks in advance for any advice!
The low CPU activity comes from most games not utilizing many threads. With your 12-thread processor (6 cores), you should stay near the typical usage range. Even at 1080p resolution, you might only be using about 30% of the CPU power, yet still face bottlenecks. To improve frame rates you’d need to boost clock speeds, as higher speeds usually help achieve better FPS.
No, as long as your GPU usage is above 96% or so, you don't have any bottlenecks. If you're getting 144+ fps on the games you play, why does it matter anyway? You shouldn't lower visual quality or get caught up on getting the most fps as you can if you are already at your screen refresh rate in my opinion because you don't gain anything.
Your 1080 resolution works well with high refresh rates in 1080p, and spending over $350 on a better GPU isn't necessary if you already have a solid one. Expect around 120fps, so keep temperatures under 75°C on both CPU and GPU. If you haven't already, consider overclocking your GPU (it's straightforward) and/or CPU, as long as you have sufficient cooling. If overclocking fails, lowering the quality from ultra to high will likely push your frame rate past 144fps.