FrameReady guide

How to identify a CPU or GPU bottleneck

A bottleneck just means one part is holding the rest back. Knowing which part it is decides where your upgrade money should go. Guessing wrong wastes it.

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Bottom line

Watch GPU and CPU usage while gaming. GPU near 100% means the GPU is the limit, which is usually what you want. A CPU core near 100% while the GPU sits lower means a CPU bottleneck. Raise resolution and the load shifts toward the GPU.

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Evidence status

inferred: FrameReady uses this label so predictions, official claims, and unknowns do not get mixed together.

Read the usage numbers

An in-game overlay or a monitoring tool shows GPU usage and per-core CPU usage. The pattern tells you which part is maxed.

  • GPU at or near 100%: the GPU is the limiting part.
  • A CPU core pinned near 100% while GPU is lower: CPU bottleneck.
  • Neither maxed: a setting cap, driver issue, or background app may be the cause.

The resolution test

Resolution mostly loads the GPU. Changing it while watching FPS reveals which part is in charge.

  • If FPS barely changes from 1080p to 1440p, you are CPU limited.
  • If FPS drops a lot at higher resolution, you are GPU limited.
  • Competitive players at low settings are often CPU limited by design.

What a GPU bottleneck means

A GPU bottleneck is the normal, healthy case for most single-player gaming. It means your graphics card is working fully.

  • Lower graphics settings or resolution to gain FPS.
  • Upscaling like DLSS or FSR eases GPU load.
  • An upgrade here is the graphics card, if you need more frames.

What a CPU bottleneck means

A CPU bottleneck shows up in crowds, simulation-heavy games, and high-refresh esports targets. Lowering graphics settings will not fix it.

  • Frame rate stalls in busy scenes even at low settings.
  • A faster CPU or more capable platform is the fix.
  • Check whether RAM speed and background apps are adding to it.

Related next steps

Benchmark your PC

Measure your GPU and compare it to game targets.

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Why games stutter even at high FPS

Frame pacing problems that look like a bottleneck.

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CPU upgrade guide

Check the socket and platform before buying.

Open page

Sources

  • official: FrameReady browser benchmark. Measures your GPU in the browser and frames the score against game targets.
  • official: How FrameReady works. FrameReady's own methodology for readiness scores, evidence labels, and where estimates stop.