Confused by in-game FPS and GPU/CPU utility.

[fendertele]

Hey everyone,

Hoping someone might be able to clear up what is happening with my set up.

I have overclocked both my CPU and GPU and it's stable with decent scores on benchmark.

The issue I've been noticing is the following.

Game: Fifa 23.

First try.
Settings: 1080p, Lowest.
FPS Max : 80fps and drops every few seconds to around 10/20 fps
GPU : 97% Utilization and drops every few seconds to as low as 10%
GPU temp : 60-65c
CPU: 85%- 90% Utilization.
CPU temp : 60c-65c

Settings: 1080p, High
FPS Max : 90fps consistent.
GPU: 100% utilization no drops
GPU temp : 60-65c
CPU: 85-90% Utilization
CPU temp : 60-65C

Settings: 1080, Ultra
FPS Max : 92fps consistent.
GPU: 100% utilization no drops
GPU temp : 60-65c
CPU: 85%- 90% Utilization.
CPU temp : 60-65c


So as you can the higher I increased my Graphics settings in game, the more consistent my GPU utilization became and the FPS increased with no drops, but on the lowest settings it was lower fps and stuttering constantly.

I would have assumed that lower settings would have resulted in higher FPS and the number would decrease the more intensive I set the game, I'd also have expected the Temps to increase the higher I set the game settings ?

Was I not pushing my Graphics card hard enough ? and this resulted in my CPU then doing more work ? Again I'm confused if this is the case as the CPU utility remained the same on all 3 trials.

Here is my specs along with the benchmark scores.

 

[fendertele]

Does seem odd have you tried the same test in other games ?

The 2200g is a weak CPU in terms of performance mite be worth looking at an upgrade .

What motherboard do you have ?

Asrock B450M Pro4

Just to check in terms of my FPS improving with higher in game settings is this due to me pushing the GPU then to take the full load rather than it being a combination of the GPU/CPU ?

 

[fendertele]

You can't judge CPU or GPU temperature without monitoring clocks and power. In all settings the workload/utilisation is sufficient to change P-state and the clocks will be boosting. Your cooling seems to be enough to maintain those temperatures.

I don't know FIFA but the 23 implies that it is a recent game so it will likely be using many of the different graphics technologies available at the moment. A lot of these involved a balance between CPU and GPU work and so likely @Armageus is right - in the lower settings the shift is away from GPU and to CPU instead. The fact that the GPU utilisation drops intermittently does indeed suggest that the CPU can't give it more work quickly enough.

So as it stands until I upgrade the best idea would be to put more strain on the GPU by increasing game settings to force 100% GPU utilization in the meantime ?.

As this seems to have helped in both the FPS region and also in smoother gameplay.. as it's always 100% and not jumping up and down constantly?.

 

[fendertele]

@Armageus @MickeyFinns Yeah it's now going to be on my to-do list esp at those prices and the massive gains that would come from it.

Cheers.

 

[fendertele]

Yes. Why get the CPU to do graphics operations when the GPU is so much better at doing it?
When I play games I start on the highest settings and then reduce them if I want higher FPS.
Most of the time I rely on GeForce Experience for this, but for unsupported games I have had to do it manually, testing the effect that each individual reduction has.
In your case it makes sense to enjoy the ultra settings.

Yes good thinking, I've always thought because I'm mid range at best that in order to get high FPS I need to go 1080p lowest settings but seeing the results above it appears there is a middle ground where higher settings will force 100% utilization and then result in higher fps than lower settings which are relying on the CPU pulling some of the weight, makes sense then to start at highest and then gradually lower until my GPU is no longer being fully utilized and then settle at the second from last setting.