PC Bottleneck Calculator
Pick a CPU and a graphics card, choose your resolution and the type of game you play, and see which part is more likely to hold the other back.
How to use the PC Bottleneck Calculator
- Choose your CPU from the list.
- Choose your graphics card.
- Select the resolution you play at and the game type. Esports titles at low settings lean on the CPU. Ray traced games lean on the GPU.
- Read the two capability bars and the verdict. The shorter bar is the limiting part.
How it is calculated
Every CPU and GPU in the list has a relative performance index. The calculator turns these into two capability numbers for your settings. GPU capability is its index scaled by resolution and game type: 1080p raises it, 4K lowers it, low settings raise it, ray tracing lowers it. CPU capability is its index times a fixed constant and does not change with resolution.
The part with the lower capability is the limit. The bottleneck percentage is how much of the faster part's capability goes unused. Values are relative units, not frames per second, and they are a planning estimate. Games that lean heavily on the CPU, such as large simulations, can behave differently from the average.
Hardware performance values are approximate relative tiers from public review data, rounded by hand. They are estimates, not RaggisHub measurements.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PC bottleneck?
A bottleneck is one component limiting what another can deliver. In gaming it usually means the CPU cannot prepare frames fast enough for the GPU, or the GPU is the slowest part and sets the frame rate.
Is a GPU bottleneck a problem?
No. In most games at 1440p and 4K you want the GPU to be the limiting part, because it means the card is fully used and the CPU has headroom.
Why does resolution change the result?
The GPU draws more pixels at higher resolution, so its frame rate drops. CPU work per frame stays about the same, so a CPU that limits you at 1080p may not limit you at 4K.
How accurate is this estimate?
It uses approximate relative performance tiers. Use it to compare pairings, then check reviews for the games you play.