CPU Reviews, How Gamers Are Getting It Wrong (Short Version)

Summary

In this video, the complexities of CPU vs GPU performance testing at 4K resolution are explored, revealing how these tests can often be misleading. While many gamers focus on 4K testing, it’s highlighted that GPU limitations often mask CPU performance differences. Key points include how lower resolutions like 1080p provide clearer insights into CPU potential, and why upgrading your CPU may not always result in noticeable improvements if the GPU is the bottleneck. Ultimately, understanding the true limits of your system, rather than focusing on 4K performance, is crucial for informed upgrade decisions.

Takeaways

• 😀 CPU testing at native 4K resolution is often misleading as GPU performance becomes the bottleneck, rendering CPU comparisons less useful in such scenarios.
• 😀 For gamers targeting 144 FPS or higher, a stronger CPU like the Ryzen 9 9800X3D is crucial for higher frame rates, especially in CPU-bound games.
• 😀 Most gamers who game at 4K use upscaling technologies like DLSS or FSR, meaning native 4K results are not as useful for performance testing.
• 😀 In most real-world gaming scenarios, performance gains from upgrading CPUs at 4K are negligible, unless you're targeting very high FPS thresholds.
• 😀 The Ryzen 9 9800X3D outperforms the 7700X and 3950X in CPU-heavy games, but its advantage diminishes in GPU-limited scenarios like native 4K gaming.
• 😀 GPU utilization is a more important metric for gamers than CPU utilization when assessing system performance, especially at high resolutions.
• 😀 CPU performance testing should ideally be done at lower resolutions (e.g., 1080p) or in CPU-bound games to reveal meaningful performance differences.
• 😀 Resolution upscaling (DLSS, FSR, etc.) impacts the way CPU performance is tested at 4K, making it harder to determine true CPU limitations.
• 😀 When considering a CPU upgrade, focus on games where CPU power is a limiting factor rather than on GPU-bound titles where the processor’s influence is minimal.
• 😀 Native 4K testing with CPUs like the Ryzen 9 9800X3D often caps out at low FPS due to GPU limits, making it hard to judge the CPU's full potential in those situations.
• 😀 Reviews and benchmarks should evaluate performance at realistic settings and resolutions that reflect the user's intended use case (e.g., gaming at 144 FPS or more).

Q & A

Why is testing CPU performance at 4K resolution often misleading?

Testing CPU performance at 4K is misleading because the GPU becomes the bottleneck at this resolution, making CPU performance less significant. Higher resolutions like 4K often rely on the GPU's capability to handle the load, so testing at 1080p provides more useful insights into CPU performance.

What is the significance of upscaling technologies like DLSS and FSR in gaming benchmarks?

Upscaling technologies like DLSS and FSR are important because they allow gamers to play at higher resolutions without needing the GPU to handle the full native resolution load. This shifts the focus to CPU performance, and testing with upscaled resolutions often gives a clearer picture of how CPUs perform under real-world conditions.

What does the video suggest about the usefulness of native 4K testing for CPU performance?

The video suggests that native 4K testing for CPU performance is not very useful. At native 4K, CPU differences are less noticeable because the GPU typically becomes the performance limiter, which makes comparing CPUs at 4K resolution irrelevant for most gaming scenarios.

How does the Ryzen 9 9800X3D perform compared to other CPUs at 1080p?

At 1080p, the Ryzen 9 9800X3D significantly outperforms other CPUs, offering up to 51% more performance compared to the Ryzen 7 7700X. This highlights its strong CPU performance under gaming loads at lower resolutions.

In what gaming scenarios is the CPU performance more relevant?

CPU performance is more relevant in games that are heavily CPU-bound, such as strategy and turn-based games. These games, regardless of resolution, show clear differences in CPU performance because the CPU is the limiting factor in processing game logic and AI.

How do the results differ when testing with a GPU like the RTX 4090?

When testing with a powerful GPU like the RTX 4090, CPU performance becomes less relevant at high resolutions like 4K. The GPU typically becomes the limiting factor, meaning that upgrading the CPU won't lead to a noticeable increase in performance unless you're targeting high frame rates and the GPU can handle the load.

What is the main takeaway from testing at 4K with the Ryzen 9 9800X3D?

The main takeaway is that while the Ryzen 9 9800X3D offers impressive performance gains at 1080p, its performance at 4K is capped by the GPU. At 4K native, its frame rates are limited to around 89 FPS, making it less useful for evaluating CPU performance in GPU-bound games.

How does upscaling affect the perceived performance at 4K?

Upscaling reduces the GPU load by rendering at a lower resolution and then increasing it to 4K. This allows for higher frame rates, and the CPU's role becomes more evident in these tests since the GPU isn't the primary bottleneck.

What role does CPU utilization play in gaming performance evaluations?

CPU utilization can be misleading in gaming evaluations. High CPU usage does not always equate to performance limits, as factors like cache or memory bandwidth can restrict performance, not just the number of CPU cores utilized.

What practical advice does the video offer for choosing a CPU based on gaming performance?

The video advises comparing CPU performance using low-resolution tests to identify the true capabilities of a CPU. Additionally, if you're happy with your GPU's performance and frame rate, upgrading your CPU may not offer significant gains unless you're aiming for higher frame rates that your GPU can't yet deliver.