Within the world of video games, fluidity is essential. The more optimal it is, the better your gaming experience will be. That's where FPS comes into play, which makes it possible to transition character movements and scenery.

However, different factors can harm this aspect and consequently the fluidity of the graphics of a video game. One of them is the bottleneck.

Do you want to know how this situation causes the FPS drop in a video game? Then read on to find out.

 

 

What is FPS in a videogame?

FPS is the acronym used to encapsulate the term “frames per second”, which when accompanied by a number expresses the number of images per second that appear on your PC screen when you play a video game. The higher the FPS, the smoother the gameplay will be.

Titles such as Call of Duty, Halo, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive take advantage of high FPS, allowing you to respond more quickly to the actions of your opponents, as well as aim more accurately.

On the other hand, a low frame rate will cause the game to perform choppy and slow. Currently, 60 FPS is the recommended standard for modern video games.

If it’s a very new game or one with a lot of graphics then it will need a higher FPS to provide smooth gameplay. Regarding PC monitors, you may notice that there are some with 60 Hz or 144 Hz. This number indicates the refresh rate, which refers to the number of times per second that the screen refreshes the image. So, if you want to run games at over 60 FPS optimally with a 144 Hz monitor, you’ll be able to do so without any problem. 

 

What is the Relationship Between CPU and FPS?

The CPU and FPS maintain a close relationship, which is sustained with the help of the GPU which is responsible for processing the graphics inputs from the processor, impacting the FPS considerably.

Meanwhile, the CPU brings processing power to the equation, improving the quality of the FPS. The problem comes when the processor power is deficient, causing this component to be unable to keep up with the demands of the game, and consequently, its performance is impaired.

Game-related data files cannot be processed quickly, causing the feared CPU bottleneck, which also ends up affecting GPU performance. This situation causes the rendering process of multimedia files to become sluggish and therefore the FPS output is reduced considerably.  Experiencing an FPS drop in Fortnite or an FPS drop in CS: GO can represent a misfortune and much more if you’re in the middle of a difficult mission within these games.

How CPU Performance Impacts FPS?

When a CPU bottleneck occurs, the frame rate in games is directly affected. Keep in mind that the job of this component is to calculate and process game-related tasks. We are talking about physics simulations, AI calculations along with other mechanics associated with it. So, with the bottleneck its performance degrades, causing it to take longer than expected to perform these operations.

In games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher III: Wild Hunt performance depends mainly on CPU processing speed.

So, a CPU bottleneck can cause their FPS to drop drastically. The more demanding the game is on the CPU, the more pronounced the impact on FPS will be due to this situation, especially in games with open-world environments, large crowds, or complex physics simulations.  In addition to a drop in FPS, the CPU bottleneck can increase the player's input lag, as a consequence of the effort made by this component to meet the demands of the game.

Keep in mind that depending on the requirements of a specific game, the impact of the bottleneck on FPS will be greater or lesser. In some games, its performance depends mostly on the CPU, while in other titles such as Metro Exodus its performance relies more on the GPU. Understanding the balance between CPU and GPU usage of your favorite games will allow you to be prepared to spot and fix the bottleneck on your PC the next time it occurs.

 

Games Where FPS is Heavily Affected by CPU Bottlenecks

• Real-time strategy games: Games like StarCraft II or Total War: Warhammer require extensive calculations for unit behaviors and strategies. A bottlenecked CPU in one of these titles can cause its FPS to plummet during large-scale battles.
• Open-world games: GTA V and The Witcher are some of the titles that feature vast environments full of NPCs and dynamic events, which are difficult for a bottlenecked CPU to manage effectively.
• Simulation games: Due to their complex simulations, titles such as Microsoft Flight Simulator and Planet Coaster rely heavily on CPU performance. So, if this component is affected by the bottleneck the FPS of these games would drop drastically, completely ruining your gaming experience.

 

Checking my PC's FPS: How to do it?

With the help of benchmarking software, you can check the FPS of your computer. This tool has an interface that lets you know the amount of FPS projected by your PC monitor along with other metrics related to system performance. Although some video games have a built-in real-time option that you can use to monitor this aspect while playing.

 

Bottlenecks and their Damage in Popular Game FPS: Final Words

As you can see the FPS represents a factor that can make a difference in how good or bad you can have playing your favorite video game, especially if it’s a CPU-intensive title. Hence, a bottleneck in this component directly affects this aspect of the game by not being able to support the number of images per second displayed on the screen.

By knowing how the bottleneck impacts the FPS, you can better focus your efforts, take the corresponding measures to solve this problem, and make your gaming experience optimal again.