Is my Ryzen 5 3500x bottlenecking my RTX 2060 Super or do I have another problem?
Is my Ryzen 5 3500x bottlenecking my RTX 2060 Super or do I have another problem?
Hello everyone. I upgraded recently to an RTX 2060 Super with a Cyberpunk test at 1080p in ultra with ray tracing and DLSS. It runs smoothly at 50fps, but performance drops to around 35fps inside the city. This happens because the CPU is heavily utilized near 100%, while the GPU performance fluctuates between 80% and 78%. Since my Ryzen 5 3500X has core limits, this behavior seems typical under these conditions. Alternatively, a damaged socket motherboard could be affecting performance—have you noticed any issues with your system? Thanks in advance for your help.
It might limit the GPU performance slightly due to lack of multithreading. However, it remains a solid match. How are your temperatures when under load?
CPU performance is stable at 98% with occasional dips near 99%. GPU operates at 78-80% with temperatures around 70ºC; utilization climbs to 97% when moving out of city areas, while CPU usage drops. Previously, I had a 1660 super and believed CPU usage was high (~90%), but then GPU stayed saturated.
Yes, it is a possibility, but I don't know if it will help much. I just wanted to make sure it's the CPU and not the motherboard socket problem I had, so I might start thinking about finding a used 3600 or 5600x.
The 5600x could be a solid improvement if you have the budget, but based on your cooling setup, you may achieve higher frequencies from your 3500x, particularly in a multithreaded environment.
Even with heavy CPU usage, the GPU maintains around 80% utilization. Outside urban areas, the opposite occurs. This indicates a balanced setup where all parts work efficiently. However, improving one component without the other offers limited gains. You might consider slightly overclocking your CPU—it's easy to test and could boost performance marginally. Upgrading to a good-quality cooler could also help if you're still using the original one. Spending heavily on a new CPU likely won't yield significant benefits.
Making a modest CPU upgrade could improve stability and let the CPU handle more workload when the GPU is pushing limits. Some online videos show great results with an RTX 2060 paired with a Ryzen 5 3600, offering smooth performance and extra breathing room for the CPU. I currently use my stock cooler and have limited space for overclocking. Switching to a used CPU would only be worth it if I sell mine and buy a better one elsewhere, allowing me to invest more than just in a cooler. The Ryzen 5 3500X works fine for me, but I wanted to confirm this setup is typical for my configuration.
The 3500X is a 6c/6t CPU, and based on what I've noticed, it usually performs well in newer, more multithreaded titles. The same applies to the 9th generation i5s. Overall, the 3500X with a 2060S seems like a solid choice. I wouldn’t have any issues with such a setup myself. I currently use a 2060 and it handles everything smoothly. If you need more CPU power later, upgrading to Zen 3 might help, but for now it’s fine. Some games will be limited by CPU at times, but many won’t, and the GPU can still shine. If you’re satisfied with the performance, just enjoy the system as it is.