CPU and GPU bottleneck checker for gaming PCs
See whether your processor or your graphics card holds back your frame rate. Pick your parts and a game to get the bottleneck percentage, how it changes with resolution, and which upgrade actually helps.
How the bottleneck is calculated
The checker works out two frame rates for your chosen game and settings. The first is what your graphics card can draw at that resolution, quality, ray tracing and upscaling. The second is the most your processor can prepare, which does not change with resolution. The lower of the two is your frame rate, and the gap between them is the bottleneck percentage.
When the CPU number is lower, your GPU is only partly used and the tool reports a CPU bottleneck. When the GPU number is lower, the graphics card is the limit, which is the normal and preferred state for gaming.
How to read the result
| Result | Gap | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Well balanced | Under 10% | CPU and GPU suit each other in this game. |
| GPU-limited | 10% or more | Ideal. Your GPU is working hard and the CPU has headroom. |
| Minor CPU bottleneck | 10 to 19% | Barely noticeable. A higher resolution closes the gap. |
| Moderate CPU bottleneck | 20 to 34% | Worth fixing before buying a faster GPU. |
| Severe CPU bottleneck | 35% or more | The processor is holding the graphics card back a lot. |
Thinking about a new graphics card? Compare options in the GPU comparison tool, test your whole PC with the can my PC run it checker, and size your power supply with the PSU wattage calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CPU bottleneck?
A CPU bottleneck happens when your processor cannot prepare frames as fast as your graphics card can draw them, so the GPU sits partly idle. Frame rates stop rising even if you lower graphics settings. It is most common at 1080p, in esports titles and in CPU-heavy games such as strategy and open-world titles.
Is having a bottleneck bad?
Every PC has one limiting part, so a bottleneck is normal. It only matters when the gap is large. A small gap under 10 percent is well balanced. A GPU bottleneck is actually the ideal state for gaming, because it means the graphics card is being used fully at your chosen settings.
Will a faster GPU fix a CPU bottleneck?
No. A faster graphics card makes a CPU bottleneck worse, because the CPU is already the slower part. To raise frame rates you need a faster processor, quicker memory in some games, or a higher resolution and quality settings that shift the work back onto the GPU.
Does a higher resolution reduce bottlenecks?
Usually yes. Higher resolutions and quality settings give the GPU more work per frame, so it takes longer to finish each one and the CPU keeps up more easily. That is why a modest CPU can look fine at 4K but struggle with a fast GPU at 1080p.
How accurate is the bottleneck percentage?
It is a modelled estimate that compares your GPU's power with what your CPU can feed in a typical game. Real results change with the game, memory speed, cooling and background tasks. Treat the percentage as a guide for spotting a mismatch, not as an exact measurement.
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