Cpu Gpu Bottleneck Calculator

by

PC CPU & GPU Bottleneck Calculator

Estimate hardware compatibility and identify performance limiters for your gaming PC.

Entry Level (e.g., Core i3 / Ryzen 3) Mid-Range (e.g., Core i5 / Ryzen 5) High-End (e.g., Core i7 / Ryzen 7) Enthusiast (e.g., Core i9 / Ryzen 9)
Entry Level (e.g., GTX 1650 / RX 6400) Mid-Range (e.g., RTX 4060 / RX 7600) High-End (e.g., RTX 4080 / RX 7900 XT) Enthusiast (e.g., RTX 4090)
1080p (Full HD) 1440p (Quad HD) 2160p (4K Ultra HD)

function calculateBottleneck() { var cpu = parseFloat(document.getElementById('cpuTier').value); var gpu = parseFloat(document.getElementById('gpuTier').value); var res = parseFloat(document.getElementById('resolution').value); // Logic: As resolution increases, the GPU becomes the primary worker. // At 4K, even a weaker CPU can keep up with a strong GPU because the GPU is slow to render pixels. // At 1080p, the CPU must be very fast to feed the GPU frames quickly. var adjustedGpuPower = gpu / res; var diff = cpu – adjustedGpuPower; var percentage = Math.abs(diff); // Cap percentage at 100 if (percentage > 100) percentage = 100; var resultContainer = document.getElementById('resultContainer'); var scoreDiv = document.getElementById('bottleneckScore'); var typeDiv = document.getElementById('bottleneckType'); var adviceDiv = document.getElementById('bottleneckAdvice'); resultContainer.style.display = 'block'; scoreDiv.innerText = percentage.toFixed(1) + "%"; if (percentage 10) { resultContainer.style.backgroundColor = "#fffaf0"; resultContainer.style.border = "1px solid #feebc8"; scoreDiv.style.color = "#c05621"; typeDiv.innerText = "GPU Bottleneck Detected"; adviceDiv.innerText = "Your GPU is the limiting factor. Your CPU is powerful enough to handle a more capable graphics card, or you can try increasing graphical settings without losing much frame rate."; } else { resultContainer.style.backgroundColor = "#fff5f5"; resultContainer.style.border = "1px solid #fed7d7"; scoreDiv.style.color = "#c53030"; typeDiv.innerText = "CPU Bottleneck Detected"; adviceDiv.innerText = "Your CPU is holding back your GPU. You may experience stuttering or lower average FPS than your GPU is capable of. Consider upgrading your processor or increasing your resolution to move the load to the GPU."; } }

Understanding CPU and GPU Bottlenecks

A bottleneck occurs in a PC when one component limits the potential performance of another. In gaming, this usually refers to the relationship between the Processor (CPU) and the Graphics Card (GPU). When your CPU cannot prepare frame data as fast as the GPU can render it, you have a CPU bottleneck. Conversely, if the CPU is waiting for the GPU to finish rendering, you have a GPU bottleneck.

The Impact of Resolution

Resolution is the most significant factor in shifting a bottleneck. At 1080p, the GPU works relatively quickly, placing a heavy burden on the CPU to keep up with the frame rate. At 4K, the GPU must render four times the pixels, slowing it down significantly. This often makes the CPU less of a factor, effectively "removing" a CPU bottleneck by forcing the GPU to become the limiter.

Examples of Hardware Bottlenecks

  • The CPU Bottleneck: Pairing a Ryzen 3 3100 with an RTX 4090 at 1080p. The GPU will sit at 30% usage because the CPU cannot feed it data fast enough.
  • The GPU Bottleneck: Pairing a Core i9-14900K with a GTX 1050 Ti at 4K. The CPU is essentially idling while the GPU struggles to render a single frame.
  • The Balanced Build: Pairing a Core i5-13600K with an RTX 4070 at 1440p. Both components work near their maximum potential.

How to Fix a Bottleneck

If you find a severe bottleneck (over 15-20%), you have several options:

  1. Upgrade the weaker component: The most direct but expensive solution.
  2. Adjust Resolution: If you have a CPU bottleneck, move from 1080p to 1440p or 4K to shift the load.
  3. Background Tasks: For CPU bottlenecks, close background apps like browsers or recording software to free up CPU cycles.
  4. In-game Settings: Lowering "CPU-heavy" settings like NPC density, draw distance, and shadows can help alleviate a CPU bottleneck.

Leave a Comment