CPU bound vs. GPU bound

[Hiob]

16 minutes ago, AndyJWest said:

Yup, and that is how a balanced system is likely to behave. Looking at blue sky and ocean unloads the GPU, so the CPU is the limiting factor. Down low over complex ground details, the GPU may hit its limits first. Maybe once in a while you'd hit near max load on both CPU and GPU, but it is likely to be transient. 

True, but I wouldn’t encourage chasing a perfectly balanced system, for that balance point can shift vastly between scenes and setting. 

Unless you are consistently below your personal fluid fps threshold, I wouldn’t bother even looking at this stuff. If you are suffering and have the wish to upgrade, chances are you have a) a system that is a few generations old which would likely suggest  to upgrade the hole system to current gen or b) you have a rather clear idea of which is holding you back. (Likely the oldest item).

[scommander2]

I think that ""eye candy" is the keyword what I am searching for since DCS MT is truly utilized CPU multi cores fully.

Again, thanks for all comments, replies and discussions and I wish that I could mark all comments as "Solution" and I have to mark one for "eye candy"  

I am on 2D rather than VR is in the most of times, and I did few changes to make the CPU bound always to maintain the reasonable/stable FPS.

I guess that more new CPUs will be introduced next year and they are able to make better performance in ST/MT so that GPU is no longer the bottleneck. 

 

[SharpeXB]

18 minutes ago, scommander2 said:

I guess that more new CPUs will be introduced next year and they are able to make better performance in ST/MT so that GPU is no longer the bottleneck.

Actually the stronger your CPU is, the more likely it is that your GPU will be the bottleneck. 

[The_Nephilim]

6 hours ago, SharpeXB said:

Actually the stronger your CPU is, the more likely it is that your GPU will be the bottleneck. 

Well I am thinking that as well. I just ran DCS in 2D and opened the FPS it stated I was GPU Bound at 150FPS as the theoretical was like 240fps.. so my 4070Ti is the bottleneck as I had suspected but I guess it is not really a problem in 2D as I can maintain a high FPS with a High Hz rate on the Monitor..

 

Now when I went into VR the FPS were around 75-80FPS in the same quick mission gun range for AH-64D in Cauc. now I know the VR Eats FPS but that much seems like more then it needs to be but I guess not. I will test in VR and see what the DCS FPS Counter reports in VR..

 

I am asking because I have to game in VR with 60Hz rate as I can not achieve 90FPS consistently and in most scenarios. I would like to get a 5080 and be done with it but just so expensive.. and I really would like to get a new VR Headset..

 

maybe they had worked on the GPU/CPU counter a bit and it is more accurate then in the past.. I really dont pay it much mind as I usually use the OpenXR Tool for seeing my FrameTimes..

 

EDIT: I just set it too 60hz and in DCS it showed CPU Bound. but since I am FPS Limited I guess it is sort of true there.. I then switched too 90Hz and it was showing 85-90FPS and still CPU Bound..  so I am CPU Bound with a 265K in VR? but in 2D I am GPU Bound..

Edited June 30 by The_Nephilim
added info.

[diego999]

41 minutes ago, The_Nephilim said:

Now when I went into VR the FPS were around 75-80FPS in the same quick mission gun range for AH-64D in Cauc. now I know the VR Eats FPS but that much seems like more then it needs to be but I guess not. I will test in VR and see what the DCS FPS Counter reports in VR..

 

For VR the hardware requirements are (at least) 2X or 3X compared to 2D, depending on a lot of factors. On top of that, DCS itself is very inefficient when it comes down to VR, something that should start to improve when Vulkan comes. I hope I'm still alive by then (I'm 45).

[SharpeXB]

56 minutes ago, The_Nephilim said:

so I am CPU Bound with a 265K in VR? but in 2D I am GPU Bound..

That makes sense to me because AFAIK drawing scenes is done by the CPU and in VR you need to draw two stereoscopically  

With the system below I’m GPU limited on a 4K monitor at 120Hz. 

[draconus]

On 6/28/2025 at 3:50 PM, Bounti30 said:

My flight, only me with a P51 on Marianas WWII Map

Why is this high GPU usage ?

What does DCS FPS counter show you? If it's GPU bound you probably ask too much from the card rendering 6k VR. Lower the resolution and test again.

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

7 hours ago, The_Nephilim said:

so I am CPU Bound with a 265K in VR? but in 2D I am GPU Bound..

Yes, in VR I am CPU bound as well (even though my CPU is quite a bit more capable), and in 2D I am GPU bound.

DX11 is horribly inefficient in VR and we all hope Vulkan will change that sooner rather than later.