Most video games are clear on what they depend on, CPU or GPU. In the case of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, however, things are a bit confusing. Most would say that CS:GO is more CPU-bound than GPU. But is it really that case? Well, if you have been gaming for a while now, you may know that most video games depend on GPU, rather than CPU for performance. But, CS:GO is probably one of those exceptions. So, if you are not getting enough frame rates while playing CS:GO, it’s probably your system’s CPU that needs an upgrade. Or, is it your GPU? We aren’t going to confuse you any further. Stick with us till the end to know what drives CS:GO and what your system may lack.
Belonging to the popular first-person shooter genre, CS:GO is a pretty old, but extremely popular video game. The developers have continuously strived to provide fans with modern experiences and that has kept the game alive, even after ten years of its release. Modern first-person shooter games are definitely visual candies, but when it comes to a competitive advantage of shooting and reflexes, frame rates matter the most. So, most players with low and mid-end rigs tend to focus more on lowering the graphics quality to squeeze out every frame they can get.
Is CS:GO really CPU-dependent?
Well, it may be a bit difficult to categorize CS:GO depending on CPU or GPU usage. This is because the game uses both. It also depends a lot on your present rig configuration. Say, you have a decent CPU but an old GPU – in this case, the game will be limited by your GPU. But, if your CPU and GPU are both low-end and old, the game will most likely be limited by your CPU. Yes, a low-end GPU is obviously not favorable, but the game will be more CPU intensive if your rig is entirely underpowered. Again, some gamers seem to disagree with the fact that the game is more CPU intensive. They reported being able to increase the frame rates by only upgrading their GPU.
Also Read: CS:GO multiplayer not working in 2022: Fixes & Workarounds
With that being said, CS:GO is a well-optimized game. You can run the game on almost any machine. Yes, frame rates will be a factor to consider, but the game is pretty decent in terms of space and performance optimization. If you aren’t getting enough frames, consider lowering the visual settings. In shooter games, you’ll need to focus on frame rates more than graphics to get the competitive edge on shooting. If you are planning on building a new rig to play CS:GO, focus on getting a powerful CPU. But don’t get an underpowered GPU, unless you are fine with playing the game at the lowest graphics settings.
