Pick your CPU, GPU and resolution to see which component is the bottleneck and by how much. A balanced CPU–GPU pairing lets you get the most out of your hardware in games.

What is a bottleneck?

A bottleneck happens when one component (CPU or GPU) is weaker and holds the other back from running at full capacity. At 1080p games lean more on the CPU, while 1440p/4K shift the load onto the GPU — so the same pairing can bottleneck differently by resolution.

How to fix it

If the CPU bottlenecks: upgrade the CPU or play at a higher resolution. If the GPU bottlenecks: upgrade the GPU or lower graphics settings.