TL;DR:
Sonar is designed to be lightweight and won't affect your gaming performance.
It has zero impact on your GPU and only uses minimal CPU resources. While you might notice a brief CPU spike when first launching SONAR or closing GG, it won't impact your gameplay or FPS.
How to Check Impact
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
- Look for Sonar in the Processes tab
- Monitor CPU usage while gaming
- Watch for any FPS counters in your games
If you're encountering an increase usage in CPU when Sonar is enabled, please check for the following:
Check for Updates: Open SteelSeries GG and ensure Sonar is updated to the latest version. Updates often include performance improvements.
Close Background Apps: Other running applications, especially audio or streaming software, can increase CPU usage. Close any unnecessary programs running in the background.
Adjust Audio Settings: Lower the sample rate or bitrate in Sonar’s settings to reduce CPU load.
Run as Administrator: Right-click SteelSeries GG and select Run as Administrator to ensure it has proper system resources.
If Sonar continues to impact your PC’s performance, you can reach out to support.