One of the common questions that gamers have is whether the CPU affects the FPS (frames per second) of their games. The answer is not straightforward, as different games have different requirements and dependencies on the CPU. However, in general, the CPU does have an impact on the FPS, especially when the game is CPU-intensive or when the CPU is bottlenecking the GPU (graphics processing unit).
A CPU-intensive game is one that relies heavily on the CPU to perform complex calculations, such as physics, AI, or simulation. These games tend to have more dynamic and interactive elements, such as destructible environments, large crowds, or realistic weather. Examples of CPU-intensive games are Civilization VI, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and Microsoft Flight Simulator. In these games, a faster and more powerful CPU can improve the FPS by allowing the game to run more smoothly and efficiently.
A GPU bottleneck occurs when the GPU is unable to keep up with the demands of the game, and the CPU has to wait for the GPU to finish rendering each frame. This can happen when the game has high graphical settings, such as resolution, anti-aliasing, or shadows. In this case, a better CPU will not improve the FPS, as the GPU is still the limiting factor. However, a worse CPU can lower the FPS, as it will slow down the GPU even further. Examples of games that can cause a GPU bottleneck are Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn. In these games, a lower or medium graphical setting can improve the FPS by reducing the load on the GPU.
A CPU-intensive game is one that relies heavily on the CPU to perform complex calculations, such as physics, AI, or simulation. These games tend to have more dynamic and interactive elements, such as destructible environments, large crowds, or realistic weather. Examples of CPU-intensive games are Civilization VI, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and Microsoft Flight Simulator. In these games, a faster and more powerful CPU can improve the FPS by allowing the game to run more smoothly and efficiently.
A GPU bottleneck occurs when the GPU is unable to keep up with the demands of the game, and the CPU has to wait for the GPU to finish rendering each frame. This can happen when the game has high graphical settings, such as resolution, anti-aliasing, or shadows. In this case, a better CPU will not improve the FPS, as the GPU is still the limiting factor. However, a worse CPU can lower the FPS, as it will slow down the GPU even further. Examples of games that can cause a GPU bottleneck are Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Horizon Zero Dawn. In these games, a lower or medium graphical setting can improve the FPS by reducing the load on the GPU.
