Calculator Methodology
How PCBuildCheck sources hardware specifications and produces bottleneck, FPS, and PSU estimates.
Database updated: 2026-07-18 · Score methodology: 2026.07
Hardware data
CPU and GPU names, clocks, core counts, memory, and power figures are checked against manufacturer product pages where available. PCBuildCheck maintains a documented 0–100 planning index within each component class; those normalized scores are editorial inputs, not official manufacturer ratings or raw lab results.
How estimates are calculated
Bottleneck: the tool compares normalized CPU and GPU scores. The displayed percentage is their relative score gap, not a measured percentage of lost performance.
FPS model 2026.07: each game has a 1080p High reference profile. CPU and GPU scores scale separately, with resolution-sensitive weighting plus quality, supported upscaling, anti-aliasing, RAM and VRAM pressure. Results are shown as an uncertainty range with a planning midpoint and estimated 1% low; they are not measured benchmarks.
PSU: published CPU and GPU power figures are combined with a broad allowance for selected components, then 15–50% headroom is applied and the planning result may be rounded to a common PSU size. Always check GPU-vendor, board-partner, and PSU-model guidance.
Important limitations
- Game patches, drivers, BIOS settings, thermals, RAM, background tasks, power limits, and silicon variation affect performance.
- Laptop parts and factory-overclocked cards can have very different power limits despite similar names.
- FPS figures are model outputs, not measurements collected from the selected hardware.
- Prices are launch references or editorial snapshots, not live offers.
- Use results as a shortlist aid and verify compatibility plus independent benchmarks matching your exact game and settings before purchasing.