LIVE DATABASE · 1,240+ CPUs & GPUs

Find out what's actually bottlenecking your PC.

Pick your CPU and GPU, we tell you the real bottleneck %, which part is holding you back, and what it costs you in FPS. Built for gamers, streamers, creators and studios who want the number, not the guesswork.

0tests run

0CPU/GPU models

0match accuracy*

PROCESSOR (CPU)

GRAPHICS CARD (GPU)

RESOLUTION

RAM

USE CASE

Gaming

Streaming

Editing

RESULT● BALANCED BUILD

6.3% GPU-bound

CPU headroom: highEst. avg FPS: 178

01 · DEFINITION

What Is a Bottleneck Calculator?

A bottleneck calculator is a free diagnostic tool that compares your CPU and GPU against real benchmark data to tell you which part of your PC is holding the rest back. The term comes from the shape of a bottle: no matter how fast liquid moves toward the neck, the neck decides how much gets through — the same happens between components when one is meaningfully slower than the other.

Instead of guessing whether a new GPU is worth buying, enter your parts once and get a concrete bottleneck percentage, which component is limiting you, and an estimated performance impact — in seconds, for free.

02 · WALKTHROUGH

How to Use the Bottleneck Calculator

No installs, no sign-up — four steps and you have a real answer.

Select your CPU

Search or pick from 1,240+ current and older processors.

Select your GPU

Same list, updated as new cards launch.

Set resolution & use case

1080p, 1440p or 4K, gaming, streaming or editing.

Read your result

Bottleneck %, limiting part, and estimated FPS.

03 · FEATURES

Core Features of the Bottleneck Calculator

▲

CPU-side analysis

See exactly when your processor caps your frame rate.

◆

GPU-side analysis

See when your graphics card can't keep up with the rest of your rig.

✦

Resolution-aware results

1080p, 1440p and 4K shift load differently — results adjust automatically.

▣

RAM & use-case input

Memory and workload type both change where the real limit sits.

⬢

Estimated FPS impact

Not just a percentage — a real-world sense of what it costs you.

▶

Monthly database updates

New CPUs and GPUs added as they release.

04 · CONCEPTS

Types of Bottlenecks

A bottleneck isn't always your GPU. Four components can each be the limiting factor.

CPU bottleneck

Your processor can't feed the GPU frames fast enough — common at 1080p or in CPU-heavy titles.

GPU bottleneck

Your graphics card is the limit — common at 1440p/4K or with ray-traced settings.

RAM bottleneck

Too little capacity, single-channel setup, or slow speed can cap both CPU and GPU performance.

Storage / software bottleneck

Slow drives, background apps, or outdated drivers — often mistaken for hardware.

05 · WHY US

Why Choose Your Bottleneck Calculator

Real benchmark data, not guesses

Built from an actual CPU/GPU performance database, not a rough formula.

Updated monthly

New hardware added as it releases, so results don't go stale.

Free, no sign-up

Run as many checks as you want — no account, no paywall.

Built for how you actually play

Use-case and resolution inputs reflect real usage, not a synthetic benchmark alone.

06 · READING YOUR RESULT

How to Interpret Bottleneck Calculator Results

0–10%Balanced. Normal for almost any build — not worth changing anything.

10–20%Moderate. Worth a look if you're missing expected FPS.

20%+Significant. One part is meaningfully holding the other back.

07 · REAL SCENARIOS

Common CPU vs GPU Bottleneck Scenarios

Scenario	Likely bottleneck	Why
High-end GPU + budget CPU, 1080p	CPU-bound	Low resolution shifts load onto the CPU
Mid CPU + high-end GPU, 4K	Balanced	4K shifts load back onto the GPU
Strong CPU + entry GPU, any resolution	GPU-bound	GPU can't render as fast as the CPU can feed it

08 · RESOLUTION

Why Resolution Changes Bottleneck Results

At 1080p the GPU renders each frame quickly, so the CPU has to keep pace at a much higher rate — this is where CPU bottlenecks show up most. At 4K the GPU does far more work per frame and becomes the limiting factor more often, even with a strong CPU. Always run the calculator at the resolution you actually play at.

09 · BUILD PLANNING

Balanced PC Builds to Avoid Bottlenecks

Pairing	Bottleneck	Verdict
Ryzen 7 7800X3D + RTX 4070 Super (1440p)	6.3%	Balanced
Core i5-12400F + RTX 4060 (1080p)	11.8%	Balanced
Ryzen 5 5600 + RTX 4080 Super (1440p)	27.4%	CPU-bound

10 · FIXES

How to Fix and Avoid PC Bottlenecks

Ordered cheapest to most expensive.

FREE

Close background apps

Browsers, overlays and launchers quietly eat CPU cycles.

FREE

Update GPU drivers

Outdated drivers can look exactly like a hardware bottleneck.

LOW

Enable dual-channel RAM

Single-stick RAM can bottleneck both CPU and GPU.

Upgrade the limiting part

Only once the above are ruled out — the calculator tells you which to prioritize.

11 · COMPARISON

Bottleneck Calculator Comparison: Your Bottleneck Calculator vs Competitors

What matters	Your Bottleneck Calculator	Typical free tools
Hardware database size	1,240+ parts	Varies — often smaller
Update frequency	Monthly	Varies
Resolution-aware results	✓	Not always included
Published methodology	✓	Often undisclosed

General comparison across free bottleneck tools as a category — not a claim about any specific named competitor.

12 · ACCURACY

Is the Bottleneck Calculator Accurate?

The result is an estimate, built from real benchmark data for your exact CPU and GPU at your chosen resolution — not a static lookup table. It's reliable for answering which part is the limiting factor, and roughly by how much.

It can't account for everything — specific game engines, drivers, thermal throttling and background software all shift real results slightly. See our full methodology page for exactly how it's calculated.

13 · FAQ

FAQ's

Is a 10% bottleneck bad?+

No — under ~10% is normal in almost any build. Only worth addressing above 15–20%, and only if you're missing expected FPS.

Does resolution really change the result?+

Yes. Higher resolutions shift load onto the GPU, lowering CPU-bound bottlenecks and raising GPU-bound ones.

Can I check a laptop?+

Yes — use the dedicated laptop calculator, which accounts for power limits and thermal throttling.

How often is the database updated?+

Monthly, as new CPUs and GPUs launch and benchmark data is refreshed.

Do I need an account?+

No — free, no sign-up, ever.