With the increase in technology, the CPU has become more important than any time before. Also called the Central Processing Unit of any device, it carries out all the important tasks and processes assigned to the computer.
In the aspect of gaming, the CPU is responsible for its FPS (Frames Per Second), which is an essential factor in PC gaming, which all gamers look for.
A good CPU means a good FPS and better and enhanced gameplay. However, the FPS largely depends on the CPU and its specifications that affect the game.
Within this article, we will explore and discuss the various ways that the CPU affects the FPS rate and gaming.
What Is CPU?
The CPU, or the brain of the computer is the main unit that controls all the tasks, calculations, and responsibilities assigned to the device.
It runs all the programs, processes input, processes it as described by the user, generates output for the same, and is the most essential component of any smart device.
The entire setup is just a bunch of metallic junk if the CPU is excluded.
What Is FPS?
FPS means the Frames per second which is the number of frames displayed per unit time. If the FPS is 60, it means that 60 frames are displayed on the screen per second of time, which affects the user experience.
Before engaging in online gaming, it’s recommended to conduct an FPS Test. This will help determine if your system can handle the game’s performance requirements, ensuring a smoother gaming experience.
In gaming, a higher FPS means a better display and overall experience. The game is more responsive to the user’s moves due to this.
Various factors like the quality of the game, the graphics card used, and most importantly, the CPU.
The CPU is responsible for the speed at which the CPU processes and renders the graphics of the game, and affects the FPS in this process.
What Is The Relation Between CPU And FPS?
The relation between the CPU and FPS is direct. If the CPU is powerful, the FPS will also reflect that power.
If the CPU is good enough, it would be able to process the game data quickly and efficiently, resulting in an exquisite gameplay experience.
But if the CPU is slow and weak, it would have trouble loading the graphics and computing the game, hence resulting in lag during gaming, or broken graphics.
These things lower the gaming experience of users, which is not a good thing considering the tension between opponents while gaming, all want to win, but the one with good skills combined with a good system always takes the trophy.
Why Does CPU Affect FPS?
The CPU is incharge of processing and rendering the graphics of the game and carries the gaming experience. But there is more to how the CPU actually affects the frame rates. Here is how:
1. The CPU Processes Game Code
The CPU processes the game code written in any coding language. The CPU is responsible for reading and executing the instructions, and if the CPU is good, then it will do the task better and result in enhanced gaming performance.
But if the CPU cannot process it properly, it may cause the game to lag due to lower FPS which can create problems in gaming.
2. Tasks Handled By CPU During Gameplay
In-game actions made by the player are sent directly to the CPU which processes the information and sends it back to the game as a reaction to the action.
Also, the CPU detects any actions from the opponents and warns you about the same. Thus, the quality of the CPU determines the efficiency of the tasks handled during gameplay.
3. FPS Measures Image Display Rate
FPS is the rate at which the images are displayed on the screen and is important in gaming activities.
A good CPU will generate higher FPS whereas a slower one can lead to low FPS. A high FPS is an essential factor in smoother gaming and great visuals.
4. CPU Performance Affects Frame Rendering Time
The CPU is also responsible for the frame rendering. Rendering is the process in which the images are all combined to form a three-dimensional figure.
If the CPU processing power is good, it will render the files within less time so you can worry less about the rendering or graphics being slow.
If the rendering rate is higher, there is minimal delay between the input by the player and corresponding actions on the screen.
How Much Does The CPU Affect The FPS?
Various CPU features affect the FPS like the graphics settings, RAM, and more. They can influence the frames displayed per second in some of the following ways:
1. CPU Bottleneck
All games have different requirements or demands. When the CPU is unable to keep up with these demands, it causes the FPS to drop significantly.
This is what we call a CPU bottleneck that occurs when the game mainly depends on the CPU for calculations and other processes. To avoid CPU bottlenecks, ensure that the CPU matches the game specifications.
2. GPU Bottleneck
Similar to the CPU bottleneck, when the demands of the game overweigh the graphics card, it results in reduced frame rates, lagging graphics, and decreased performance. This condition is called a GPU bottleneck.
To fix this issue, it is important to have a graphics card that can keep up with the game requirements.
3. Multi-Core Performance
In modern gaming, one of the most essential functions is Multi-Core performance. This is due to the increasing complexity of PC games such as Valorant, Minecraft, and more.
If a CPU has more cores, it can handle these complexities that come along better and result in a great gaming experience.
Also with multi-core performance, a CPU can perform better like processing tasks faster and it can also consume less power than single cores.
Multiple processes can be run at the same time and help you in using the system better.
4. Clock Speed
Clock speed is the number of cycles of the process the CPU can perform in a single second. Altering the Clock speed is called overclocking the CPU which can speed up the performance of the CPU.
Modern powerful CPUs use turbo boost and hyperthreading to achieve higher clock speeds, hence a great CPU performance.
5. CPU Utilisation
For gaming, the CPU allocates certain resources to different tasks like calculations, processing, and rendering.
If the CPU fails the allocation, it can lead to decreased performance in the game and even frequent crashes.
6. Resolution
The resolution of the game matters a lot while gaming. The CPU and GPU work together to generate smooth graphics and hence, provide a higher resolution to them.
If the graphics are smooth and crisp, the resolution will be good and you can enjoy the game in high quality. Basically, the resolution of the game is directly influenced by the CPU.
7. Graphic Setting
The graphical settings of the CPU also influence the rate at which frames get displayed on the screen.
If the settings are adjusted to fit the game requirements, the resultant can be in sync between the requirements and FPS.
This way, there will be fewer chances of lags and crashes. However, make sure you always start with medium settings and then move to higher settings for a safer transition.
8. RAM
The performance of any device can get highly influenced by its RAM and also mess with the FPS.
The performance changes quite a lot with the RAM capacity meaning that the experience can be quite smooth with a high RAM, say 8GB, everything from response rate, preview, and frame rates will be faster whereas if compared to a lower grade, can be quite the opposite.
These are quite a few factors stating that a good RAM is quite the foundation of a smooth and memorable gaming experience.
FAQ
How Do I Know If My CPU Is Bottlenecking My Gaming Performance?
To check if your CPU is bottlenecking your gaming performance, check the CPU and GPU usage. If the CPU usage is at or near 100% and the GPU usage is lower, it indicates a CPU Bottleneck.
What FPS Should I Aim For In Gaming?
The FPS at different games can vary depending on their game type, coding, and requirements. However, most games must have at least 60 FPS in gaming to be played play smoothly.
Can A Bad CPU Be The Reason For Low FPS?
Yes, a laggy or faulty CPU can mess with the FPS quite a bit resulting in slow outputs, frequent glitches, and the opened application can fail to respond due to this condition causing problems for the user.
What Is CPU Overclocking?
CPU overclocking is a certain setting done to the CPU which allows it to complete multiple functions in the time span of a single task which results in more productivity and efficiency in work, but it is a risky thing to do without potential risks to the system so the users looking forward to overclocking theirs CPU’s should be cautious.
Conclusion
In gaming, it is essential that you have a smooth and immersive gaming experience. One of the factors that help with this is the FPS, which is affected by the CPU.
It means that if the CPU is powerful, the FPS will be great and you can play the game without any issues like lagging or the system randomly shutting down.
Thus, it is important to consider factors like RAM, Graphic Settings, and other specifications of the CPU and match them with the requirements of the game.
If they match well, the FPS will follow and will result in a buttery gaming experience.
