Understanding My Laptop's Performance with Genshin Impact vs Online FPS Games

A frequent question arises when gamers notice their laptop can handle demanding games like Genshin Impact on medium-high settings but struggles with online first-person shooters (FPS) such as Valorant or CS:GO on their lowest settings. This difference in performance can be explained by considering several key factors, including hardware differences, optimization, and even the nature of the games.

Hardware Requirements for Different Games

One of the main reasons for this disparity is the varying hardware requirements of the games. Genshin Impact, being a high-fidelity action role-playing game (RPG), demands significantly more resources from a computer's hardware. In contrast, online FPS games like Valorant and CS:GO have more optimized performance and lower hardware demands, even on their lowest settings. This means that a powerful GPU and a robust CPU alone may not be enough to ensure smooth performance in Genshin Impact, particularly when running at higher settings.

Optimization and Gaming Suitability

Another important factor to consider is that laptops may not be as well-optimized for gaming as dedicated desktop systems. Desktop computers are often built with more powerful components, better cooling systems, and additional features designed specifically for_extended gaming demands. Laptops, while portable and convenient, may struggle to maintain the same level of performance under heavy load. Their hardware is typically balanced for a wide range of usage scenarios, including web browsing, office work, and only moderate gaming, which can limit their effectiveness in demanding, resource-intensive games.

Potential Performance Bottlenecks and Troubleshooting

There may also be other underlying issues affecting your laptop's performance, such as insufficient storage, too many background processes, or hardware and OS-related problems. These factors can drastically impact game performance. To troubleshoot, consider the following steps:

Run a local game with bots in Valorant or CS:GO and observe the performance. If the game runs more smoothly with bots, it suggests an issue with your internet connection rather than your laptop's hardware. Check for background processes that might be consuming system resources. Free up some storage space by deleting unnecessary files and documents. Update your operating system and drivers to ensure they are optimized for the latest gaming titles.

Game Writing and Resource Intensity

It is also worth noting that online FPS games like Valorant and CS:GO are written in a way that makes them more reliant on the CPU, whereas Genshin Impact is more balanced between CPU and GPU usage. This means that if your CPU is not performing optimally, you may experience lower performance in these games. However, even with a powerful CPU, the hardware requirements of these games may still be too high for a laptop to handle effectively, especially at higher settings.

Given the nature of these games and the hardware they require, running Valorant or CS:GO without lag is typically more feasible with a desktop system. While this is not always the case, a desktop rig with a stronger CPU and GPU will generally handle the demands of these games more smoothly, providing a better gaming experience.

Ultimately, if you are experiencing significant performance issues with online FPS games, you may need to invest in better hardware. This often means upgrading to a desktop setup with more robust components, which can handle the demands of these games more effectively than a laptop.

Conclusion: While Genshin Impact and online FPS games like Valorant and CS:GO have different hardware requirements, your laptop's performance can be influenced by factors like hardware optimization and underlying system issues. To achieve better performance, consider troubleshooting your setup or investing in a desktop system if you frequently play these demanding games.