GPU limited...

Example, if you're running a high resolution your GPU has to work harder, so you crank up the resolution to see how limited your GPU is. When you lower the resolution the GPU doesn't have to work nearly as hard and doesn't break a sweat, this then is a way to get an idea of how well your CPU runs a game. If you're GPU is running the absolute fastest it can at a low resolution, the only other thing determining how fast the game is going is your CPU.

Here is an example, I played KOTOR once on a Pentium III 1GHz processor with 512MB DDR RAM and an ATI Radeon X1300pro. My gameplay was kind of choppy. I increased my resolution and found that my framerate didn't change, so I lowered the resolution to a very low setting, at this setting I know my GPU can't be working hard, and if I'm GPU limited my framerate should go up, because it won't have to work hard. But performance stayed the same, so I had to be CPU limited, because even when my GPU was doing the least amount of work it had to, the game was still running slow, so my CPU was slowing me down. My processor just barely met the minimum spec for that game, and my GPU would've been enough to max it.

..i dont get how having a higher res than 1280x1024 makes my system GPU limited and lower makes it CPU limited? Care to enlighten me? And does being GPU limited mean better performance over CPU limited?jmnderson69

The CPU feed the GPU, and the resolution take a harder hit on the GPU, this is why lowring to a very low resolution make no better performance if you have a fast GPU.

So if i fabrikate a (worthless) chart it could see something like this.

High res:

CPU -----------

GPU ----

Medium res:

CPU -------------

GPU ------------

Low res:

CPU ---------------

GPU -------------------

On low res the CPU can't feed the GPU to the maximum of the GPU's performance.

I can't tell you ecsactly how this work but this is the outcome of it.

If you use resolutions bigger than 1680x1050 then you can use any CPU,it does not matter. GPU takes all the hard work.cojoc07

If you use resolutions bigger than 1680x1050 then you can use any CPU,it does not matter. GPU takes all the hard work.cojoc07

were on earth did you get that info cpu is very important at high res just like the gpu is

^^^ I don't think so, since 1280x1024 has more pixels. Try a 1680x1020 or whatever it is. bedram793

Reckon my system will handle that kinda res? I saw a sweet LG monitor for cheap.