Which is more important, the CPU or the GPU? Insiders tell the answer, these three points are the key

Which is more important, the CPU or the GPU?

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Although many people think that benchmark software is not professional enough, it has to be said that when performance is presented in the form of data, it is relatively easier to understand.

We all know that the AnTuTu running score of Snapdragon 870 is 730,000, and the running score of Snapdragon 888 is 800,000. The numerical difference between them is basically the difference in the comprehensive performance of the processor.

However, there may be a situation where the total scores of two chips are similar, but there is a big gap between the CPU and GPU. For example, between Snapdragon 778G and Snapdragon 855, Snapdragon 778G leads in CPU, while Snapdragon 855 leads in GPU.

Many people have not figured out one question: for mobile phones, is the CPU more important or the GPU more important? Insiders tell the answer, and these three points are the key.

Daily applications place more emphasis on CPU

Someone has done an experiment before. When running daily applications, the CPU runs at full capacity, the GPU is clocked down to the limit, and the frame rate is 60. However, when the CPU is clocked down to the limit and the GPU is running at full capacity, the frame rate is only 13 frames, which is almost impossible to run.

The CPU is the heart of the phone and the basis of all computing. Most daily applications do not actually require graphics rendering capabilities. As long as the computing power is sufficient, they can run smoothly. Therefore, for people who do not play mobile games, the importance of the CPU is much higher than that of the GPU. This is why MediaTek can still regain the mid-to-low-end market even though its GPU performance is not as good as Qualcomm's.

The single-core running score of Dimensity 1200 is 974, and the multi-core running score is 3350, while the scores of Snapdragon 870 are 1034 and 3500 respectively. In other words, if it is just daily application, the gap between Dimensity 1200 and Snapdragon 870 is very small. As long as you don't play games, Dimensity 1200 is a good chip with good quality and low price.

Mid-range and high-end mobile phones place more emphasis on GPU

However, as mobile phone performance improves, our requirements for mobile phones are also increasing. People often ask a question: What is a high-end mobile phone? In my opinion, the difference between high-end mobile phones and mid-to-low-end mobile phones lies mainly in these three points: camera, mobile games, and screen. All three points require graphics processing capabilities, which means they are directly linked to GPU performance.

For example, the cameras on smartphones nowadays are basically "computational photography" rather than just shooting. For example, technologies such as multi-frame sampling, real-time synthesis, and super night scene all require GPUs and more efficient ISPs for graphics processing.

Needless to say, mobile games require GPU rendering as the game screen changes in real time. The more exquisite and three-dimensional the picture is, the stronger the GPU performance required.

As for the screen, starting from 2021, basically all high-end Android phones are equipped with 2K resolution + 120HZ refresh rate as standard, which further increases the requirements for GPU. This is easy to understand: if you regard the overall use of the phone as a game, since the image quality and average frame rate have been improved, then the performance of the GPU must also be improved accordingly to meet the requirements.

Most of the time you don't have a choice

Mobile phones are different from computers. Computers sell CPUs and graphics cards separately, so there is a cost-effective solution called "low CPU and high graphics" specifically for gaming. Mobile phone chips are system-level chips that integrate CPU, GPU, baseband, and ISP, referred to as SOC.

In most cases, the CPU and GPU performance are improved simultaneously. The more expensive the product, the better the overall performance. There will not be a "low CPU and high graphics" situation. In other words, this question seems to have an answer, but in fact you have no choice.

For example, why does the iPhone 13 use a castrated version of the A15 (4-core GPU), while the iPhone 13 Pro uses a full-blooded version of the A15 (5-core GPU). The fundamental reason is that the iPhone 13 Pro has been upgraded to a 120HZ refresh rate, while the iPhone 13 only has a 60HZ refresh rate. Since the price points are different, the performance requirements are also different.

Finally, let’s make a summary

Which is more important for a mobile phone, the CPU or the GPU? I believe you already have the answer to this question. In most cases, the CPU and GPU are improved simultaneously, corresponding to products of different price points. Only in a few cases do you need to worry about this issue.

If you are buying a low-end or mid-range phone, you will pay more attention to the CPU, because this price range generally does not require a very strong camera or gaming performance, and mobile phone manufacturers will not provide a 2K+120HZ screen. If you are buying a high-end phone, you will pay more attention to the GPU, because strong graphics processing capabilities can unlock more interesting gameplay.