PC Bottleneck Calculator

Check whether your CPU and GPU are a compatible, balanced match at the resolution you actually play. Pick your parts below for an honest bottleneck range - not a fake-precise single percentage - plus estimated FPS at three presets and concrete upgrade picks. Covers 310+ CPUs and 143+ GPUs with prices updated daily.

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We can detect your GPU via WebGL - no plugins needed. Select your CPU manually below.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a PC bottleneck?

A PC bottleneck occurs when one component (usually the CPU or GPU) limits the performance of the other. For example, if your CPU is too slow to keep up with your GPU, the GPU will sit idle waiting for data, reducing your overall frame rate. A balanced system has both components working near their full potential.

How do I check if my PC has a bottleneck?

Use our free bottleneck calculator: select your CPU, GPU, and gaming resolution. The tool compares their performance scores weighted by resolution (1080p is more CPU-dependent, 4K is more GPU-dependent) and tells you which component is the limiting factor and by how much.

Does resolution affect bottlenecking?

Yes, significantly. At 1080p, the CPU handles about 60% of the workload, making CPU bottlenecks more common. At 4K, the GPU handles about 80% of the work, so GPU bottlenecks are more likely. The same CPU-GPU pair can be balanced at one resolution and bottlenecked at another.

What is an acceptable bottleneck percentage?

A bottleneck under 10% is generally considered balanced and not worth worrying about. Between 10-25% you may notice some performance loss but it is usually acceptable. Over 25% means one component is significantly holding the other back and an upgrade would make a noticeable difference.

Should I upgrade my CPU or GPU to fix a bottleneck?

Upgrade whichever component is the bottleneck. If the calculator shows a CPU bottleneck, upgrading your CPU will help most. If it shows a GPU bottleneck, a better GPU will give you the biggest improvement. Sometimes changing resolution (e.g. moving from 1080p to 1440p) can also rebalance the workload.

Are my CPU and GPU compatible?

Almost certainly yes. Any modern desktop CPU works with any modern desktop GPU - they connect through the same PCIe slot, and PCIe is backward and forward compatible, so a current graphics card will run in an older board and vice versa. CPU and GPU compatibility is not really the thing to worry about. What matters is whether the two are balanced: a fast GPU held back by a slow CPU still works, it just wastes the money you spent on the GPU. Use the checker above to see how well matched your pair actually is.

How do I check CPU and GPU compatibility before buying?

Select the CPU and GPU you are considering above, along with the resolution you play at. The result shows how balanced the pairing is and which component limits the other. The real compatibility questions to check separately are socket fit between your CPU and motherboard, whether your power supply has the wattage and connectors the GPU needs (our PSU calculator covers this), and whether the card physically fits your case (our case finder covers that).