Higher resolution = lower cpu usage?

[Ilker1]

Hello!
I normally use 720p monitor with a 1366 768 res, and i get like more cpu usage in many games than gpu usage which probably means my cpu is bottlenecking a bit.

I had a chance to try 1080p monitor of my friend today and i swear i was getting higher/smoother fps in dying light lol. and higher gpu usage
Am i just delusional or this is normal if ur cpu is older than ur gpu?
my system is pretty old in general but still okay for many games i play.

r7 370
phenom ii x6 1055t oc d to 3.5
970A ud3p mobo

Should i switch to 1080p resolution do you think?

 

[weberdarren97]

It makes sense seeing as the GPU might have kicked into a higher performance mode when running at 1080p as compared to 720p. But I thought that having low GPU usage was bad (unless you use VSync) because it should always be busy either rendering the current frame or making more frames, it should never have idle clock cycles, meaning that if your GPU is under 95% then something's holding it back.

 

[Ilker1]

It makes sense seeing as the GPU might have kicked into a higher performance mode when running at 1080p as compared to 720p. But I thought that having low GPU usage was bad (unless you use VSync) because it should always be busy either rendering the current frame or making more frames, it should never have idle clock cycles, meaning that if your GPU is under 95% then something's holding it back.

I currently get around %60-70 gpu usage with %70-80 cpu with 720p
and it was around %95 gpu usage with 1080p with a bit lower cpu usage as far as i remember.
I think i'll just switch to higher resolution then : P

 

[CelicaGT]

Without Vsync as you lower resolution the GPU can render more and more frames due to the lower load of each frame, thus the CPU needs to feed that hungry sucker more and more data. Once you hit 100% cpu utlilization (still lowering resolution) your GPU utilization will begin to drop. This is where you hit your CPU bottleneck, it simply can't feed the GPU any more. Raise that resolution and the opposite occurs. GPU utilization will hit 100% and CPU utilization will drop as you add more and more load to the GPU. This is your GPU bottleneck. Somewhere in between is your happy place. This is a generalization and different rendering engines can react well, differently. Also note that general "smoothness" can be affected by monitor type/brand etc and is subjective. Use FRAPS or some other utility to measure FPS.

 

[Ilker1]

Without Vsync as you lower resolution the GPU can render more and more frames due to the lower load of each frame, thus the CPU needs to feed that hungry sucker more and more data. Once you hit 100% cpu utlilization (still lowering resolution) your GPU utilization will begin to drop. This is where you hit your CPU bottleneck, it simply can't feed the GPU any more. Raise that resolution and the opposite occurs. GPU utilization will hit 100% and CPU utilization will drop as you add more and more load to the GPU. This is your GPU bottleneck. Somewhere in between is your happy place. This is a generalization and different rendering engines can react well, differently. Also note that general "smoothness" can be affected by monitor type/brand etc and is subjective. Use FRAPS or some other utility to measure FPS.

Ah sorry if i couldn't state well,by smoothness i meant less micro fps drops , i already was using fraps and my fps was higher by 5-10 with a less cpu usage
It's strange normally u're suppose to drop some fps as you increase resolution haha : P, but i'm not complaining.

Thanks for the answers,will definetely get a 1080p since my graphs card is somewhat better than my really older cpu to demand games into.