Built by builders, for builders.
BottleneckCalculator was born out of frustration — too many PC builders were wasting money on the wrong upgrades.
By the Numbers
Our Story
It started with a simple problem. Every time someone asked “should I upgrade my CPU or GPU?” they got a dozen different answers — none backed by real data.
Existing bottleneck calculators were overly simplified. They gave a single percentage with no context and no actionable advice. We built something better.
BottleneckCalculator launched in 2023 with one goal: give every PC builder the accurate, honest information they need to make smarter upgrade decisions.
“Should I upgrade my CPU or GPU?”
What Makes Us Different
Resolution-aware
A 1080p bottleneck is very different from a 4K one.
Workload-specific
Gaming, streaming, and editing each have different demands.
Actionable
We tell you what to upgrade, what it costs, and how much you gain.
Transparent
We acknowledge our limitations openly.
Our Commitment
BottleneckCalculator will always be free for core tools. We are not paid by manufacturers. Our recommendations are based purely on performance data.
If our calculator tells you that you do not need an upgrade — we mean it. Even if that means you do not click an affiliate link.