PC Bottleneck Calculator

Our easy-to-use tool compares your CPU and GPU to reveal potential bottlenecks, helping you optimize your system for peak gaming and productivity.

Advanced Features

Everything you need to optimize your PC build

Our bottleneck calculator provides comprehensive analysis and recommendations to help you build a balanced and efficient PC.

CPU Performance Insights

Experiencing lagging or performance issues? Identify the potential reasons with our Bottleneck calculator. With this, you can gain insights into your processor’s health.

GPU Performance Evaluation

Diagnose and fix GPU Performance issue. Gain insights into your GPU’s performance, find out whether it's utilising its full potential during gameplay, rendering or not.

Upgrade Recommendations

Make your PC bottleneck-free, with our specialised recommendations. Don't miss, it's your chance to level up your PC.

What is a bottleneck calculator?

It's a specialised tool designed to measure the performance impact of a specific component in a computer. The calculator operates on complex algorithms that compute the potential bottlenecks in a system. If you're not familiar with bottlenecks, here's a brief introduction.

What's a Bottleneck?

In computing terms, bottlenecks occur when one specific component is affecting the overall performance of the computer. Bottlenecks, if not identified, can lead to lagging, stuttering.

Example:

For instance, installing a high-end graphic card in an underpowered CPU can lead to bottlenecks. The underpowered CPU will hinder the performance of the GPU. You can check our CPU database to find CPUs that match your requirements.

How does a bottleneck calculator work?

Bottleneck calculator requires you to input your CPU, GPU, resolution type. It utilises complex algorithms, performance databases to identify bottlenecks in a system. Once you input the parameters, it will output a percentage number. This number defines the severity of the bottleneck in your system. A percentage of (0-10) indicates a minor bottleneck, while if the number touches 50, then you need to be concerned. Try our CPU comparison tool to understand the performance differences between processors.

A Detailed Insight into GPU and CPU bottlenecks

Whether you're a content creator, gamer, Bottlenecks can affect your work. The most common Bottlenecks occur due to the incompatibility of either CPU or GPU. Below we've discussed in detail about both CPU, and GPU Bottlenecks.

CPU Bottlenecks

The CPU is the most vital part of your computer system, often referred to as the brain of your computer. When the CPU doesn't execute tasks as quickly as needed enough to support the system, it creates a bottleneck. This bottleneck will restrict the GPU performance as well. Check our CPU database to find processors that match your performance needs. Below are some of the symptoms of CPU bottlenecks.

  • Low GPU Utilisation- Your GPU will be underutilised if your system contains a CPU bottleneck. It will not run at full potential, even if needed for some task.
  • Lower Frame Rates- If the CPU doesn't manage to handle calculations, then your system will allocate low FPS for games and others.
  • Micro-Lag - Your system will start including delays during gameplay or other tasks.
  • High CPU Utilisation- Your CPU will be 100% utilised, while your GPU will be under utilised.

Causes of CPU Bottlenecks:

  • Low Performance CPUs- If you're using an outdated or low performance CPU, then this might be the reason for the bottleneck.
  • Lower GHz- If your clock speed is inadequate, then your data will be processed slowly. Lower GHz means lower data processing.
  • Background Applications- If you’ve too many background applications running, then this can slow down the performance.
  • Inadequate Core Count- Some applications or games need multiple cores to function.

Fixing CPU Bottlenecks:

  • Overclock the CPU- If your CPU clock is inadequate, try overclocking it to increase the performance.
  • Upgrade the CPU- Replace your low performance CPU with a high performance one. Use our CPU comparison tool to find the right upgrade.
  • Optimise Software- Remove unnecessary background running apps. This will improve the performance of the system.
  • Use Lower CPU Settings- While playing games, use the settings that require low performance CPUs. Reduce physics effects, AI complexity etc.

GPU Bottleneck

Similar to CPU Bottleneck, this can also lead to low performance of your overall system. This usually occurs when you install low performance GPU in a system with high performance CPU. Below are the symptoms, causes, and the solution to GPU Bottleneck.

  • Lower Frame Rates- If you're using a low performance GPU, you’ll get low FPS during gameplay or other tasks.
  • High GPU Utilisation- In this case, GPU will be highly utilised, while CPU will be underutilised.
  • Low image quality- You’ll have to compromise on visual settings, to keep the performance adequate.
  • Delays in Rendering- The rendering will become time-consuming during gameplay or other tasks like video editing.

Causes of GPU Bottleneck:

  • Lower VRAM- For complex task, you need more video memory. If this is insufficient, this will create GPU bottleneck.
  • Outdated GPU- Modern games with high resolution graphics can't be handle by old GPUs.
  • Poor Cooling or Overheating- This can be one of the potential reasons of your GPU bottleneck. Thermal throttling caused by poor Cooling can slow down the performance of your system.
  • Advanced Graphics Settings- If you play games that require overly demanding graphics settings, then it will impact the performance of your computer.

Potential Solutions to the GPU bottleneck:

  • Upgrading your GPU- The most obvious solution is upgrading your GPU to a newer one. Make sure to install one that meets your requirements.
  • Optimising the settings- Use low resolution, low texture quality settings. Make sure to disable ray tracing.
  • Improve Cooling system- Save your system from thermal throttling by improving the cooling system of your gpu
  • Overclocking GPU- Overclocking the GPU can result in improved performance, if it's possible.

Some Practical Ways to Reduce Your PC bottlenecks:

Let's discuss some of the most practical ways that will help maximise your PC'S potential.

Upgrading Your CPU & GPU

This is the most practical and real-life example of reducing PC bottlenecks. At times, outdated components are the root cause of bottlenecks. So upgrading them can increase the efficiency of your system.

CPU:

Since you're upgrading, make sure that the CPU aligns with your requirements. Replace with the one that has a good architecture, multiple cores, and faster clock speed. Browse our CPU database and use our comparison tool to find the perfect CPU for your needs. Using a high-performance CPU won't limit the performance of your GPU.

GPU:

Using a high-performance GPU can lift the unnecessary workload off your CPU. This will allow it to work more efficiently. A low performance GPU will put load on CPU, limiting its performance. Hence, upgrading it can help solve this bottleneck.

Improving the Cooling System

Poor Cooling system causes Thermal throttling which hampers the performance of both CPU & GPU. For it to work at its full potential, you need to provide a good cooling system. Here are some practical ways to improve cooling:

  • Remove dust from your PC Case & Fan. Don't let the dust gather, as it stops the cooling process. Make sure to clean it regularly.
  • Reapplying thermal paste- Reapply the thermal paste, if it was not properly applied.
  • Increase the number of fans- For more airflow, try increasing the number of fans
  • Upgrade Your CPU Cooler- You can use a liquid cooling system, or some good air cooler.

Upgrade to SATA SSD or NVMe SSD

The era of HDDs is gone. It's inefficient as the CPU has to wait for the data to load, limiting its performance. Hence, use either ssd or NVMe SSD.

  • Using SATA SSD- Unlike HDD, it provides faster loading time.
  • Using NVMe SSD- This provides an even faster data rate than SATA SSD.

Upgrading Your RAM

You should install a Ram that aligns with your Requirement. For instance, using an 8 gb ram for gaming purpose, will put load on your CPU. Hence it won't perform at its potential.

  • Increase RAM Capacity: Use at least 16gb RAM for gaming purposes. Install 32 gb RAM for more workload.
  • Increase RAM Speed: Using a high speed like 3200 MHz can increase the efficiency of your CPU.

What to Expect from results?

After entering the input parameter, you’ll get the results. These results will help you identify the potential bottlenecks in your system. Here's what you can expect from the results.

Bottleneck Percentage:

You’ll see bottleneck percentage, which indicates how severe or minor your bottleneck is.

  • If your bottleneck Percentage lies between 0-10%, this indicates your system is healthy.
  • If your bottleneck Percentage lies between 10-30%, this indicates a moderate bottleneck. It will be limiting your system performance.
  • If your bottleneck lies above 30%, this means a severe bottleneck. You should take immediate measures to resolve this.

Limiting Component:

The results will tell you which specific component is limiting the performance of your system. Mostly, there are two types of bottlenecks as we discussed above i.e. CPU and GPU bottlenecks.

Recommendations:

The results will give recommendations about the Changes you need to make. These changes will help resolve your bottleneck. This change could be upgrading your CPU in case of a CPU bottleneck.