I’m new to understanding game performance on the Steam Deck and I’m curious about what makes a game CPU-heavy versus GPU-heavy. For instance, would a CPU-heavy game involve lots of NPCs and special effects, like in ‘Teardown’ or ‘Returnal’? And would a GPU-heavy game just be about having high-quality graphics but possibly fewer effects, like in ‘House Flipper 2’? What should I look for to differentiate between the two?
6 Answers
As a developer, I can tell you that there isn’t a strict rule; factors can vary. Generally, if tasks can be split into simple calculations, they suit GPUs, while complex sequences are CPU job. For example, simulating 100 million particles might be GPU’s game if you care about speed and accuracy, but can be a CPU workload if accuracy isn’t a top priority. Sometimes, less graphical polish requires more GPU power than a beautifully rendered game!
For example, ‘BeamNG’ is CPU-heavy because it simulates every tiny detail of the vehicles. In contrast, games that focus on visuals for realistic rendering, like ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’, will be GPU-heavy. But keep in mind, finding the right balance is essential!
Take ‘Minecraft’ as an example: it’s more CPU-heavy since it heavily relies on the CPU to generate and manage the game world. On the other hand, recent graphics-intensive games need a strong GPU to handle all the detailed visuals. It’s worthwhile to monitor your CPU and GPU performance when playing—like if you see CPU usage at 24% but GPU shooting up to 98%, you know it’s a GPU-bound game.
A good way to think about it is real-world examples. Take ‘World of Warcraft’ for instance: it’s mostly CPU-heavy when you’re in crowded areas with many players, causing your frame rate to drop. On the flip side, when you’re in a less busy area but trigger lots of spell effects, it becomes GPU-heavy, making the graphics card work hard to keep up. So, if you notice a dip in FPS, try adjusting the graphics settings; if lowering them boosts your FPS, it’s likely a GPU issue!
Think about it this way: CPU-heavy games need to manage complex character behaviors and interactions, like survival skills or AI decisions, while GPU-heavy games focus on rendering lifelike graphics with extreme detail. There’s overlap, but evaluating what aspect you’re most concerned with can guide you in understanding a game’s performance!
Basically, the more things happening at once, the more load is put on the CPU, while prettier visuals put pressure on the GPU. Ultimately, you often won’t know for sure without testing. You can usually find gameplay videos or benchmarks online that demonstrate how games perform on different hardware setups.
