Methodology

This page explains, in detail, how the numbers on ComputingSkill.com are actually produced — the data behind them, the formulas each calculator runs, and what we do (and don’t do) to keep both current. The short version lives on the About Us page; this page is the long version, for anyone who wants to see exactly how a specific result was reached before relying on it.

Two Kinds of Numbers on This Site

Everything you see falls into one of two categories, and it matters which one you’re looking at:

• Published specifications. Core counts, clock speeds, TDP, VRAM, memory bus width, and game system requirements — these are facts taken directly from a manufacturer’s or publisher’s own official page, not measured or estimated by us. Every CPU, GPU and game page on this site that uses this kind of data links directly to the specific source it came from.
• Derived estimates. Bottleneck percentages, FPS ranges, recommended PSU wattage, recommended RAM — these are calculated by our own formulas, using the published specifications above as inputs. They are reasoned estimates, not measurements, and we label them as such everywhere they appear.

Where the Hardware and Game Data Comes From

Every CPU and GPU in our calculators, and every game’s system requirements, is sourced from a manufacturer’s or publisher’s own page — NVIDIA, AMD and Intel’s own product/specification pages for hardware; each game’s own Steam listing or the developer/publisher’s own support page for system requirements. We do not use third-party aggregator sites, retailer listings, or community wikis as a primary source.

As of the most recent full audit (September 2026), every hardware and game entry on this site carries a visible source link on the page where it’s shown — the “Sources” line under a spec table, or the “Source” line under a game’s system requirements. If you ever see a spec without a source link, or a spec that looks out of date compared to its own linked source, please use the Contact page to tell us — that’s a bug, not intended behavior.

Specs change. A manufacturer revises a boost clock, a game studio raises its minimum requirements, storage footprints grow with content updates. We periodically re-check entries against their listed source and update anything that’s drifted; the source link on each page is also there so you can independently check whether it’s still current yourself, at any time, without waiting on us.

The Relative “Score” System

We generate this as a simplified relative gaming-performance index per part. A GPU’s score stands for its average gaming throughput at high settings, with the RTX 4090 at 100 (a faster card, such as the RTX 5090, scores above 100). A CPU’s score stands for the frame rate it can sustain in games when the graphics card isn’t the limit, so it ranks gaming speed, not multi-core work. Both are built from published specs and positioned using publicly reported review averages, never as an absolute performance claim; we don’t run our own benchmarks. CPU and GPU scores are separate scales, so the calculators convert between them instead of comparing the raw numbers.

This score is not a benchmark result, and we don’t present it as one. It exists purely to drive the math on this site — ranking parts against each other well enough to catch an obviously mismatched pairing or a reasonable FPS ballpark, not to stand in for a real performance review.

How Each Calculator’s Formula Works

PC Bottleneck Calculator

Compares your CPU and GPU separately at 1080p, 1440p and 4K. The CPU score stands for how many frames per second the CPU can prepare, which barely changes with resolution. The GPU score is scaled for each resolution by its pixel load (1080p ×1.00, 1440p ×0.68, 4K ×0.42, the same factors the FPS Calculator uses), because every extra pixel is extra work for the graphics card. Cards below the GPU VRAM Calculator’s minimum for the chosen settings lose 5% per missing GB (at most 25%), and cards with a 128-bit memory bus lose a further 4% at 1440p and 8% at 4K. The Graphics settings input scales the GPU’s work (Low ×1.7, Medium ×1.3, High ×1.0, Ultra ×0.8), and the Game type input sets the balance: esports titles run the CPU ×2.8 and the GPU ×3.0 faster than a typical AAA game, CPU-heavy strategy and simulation games run the CPU at ×0.7. Whichever part comes out lower at a resolution is the more likely limiting one there, so the same pairing can be CPU-bound at 1080p and GPU-bound at 4K. If the CPU is the limit, the percentage is a CPU bottleneck: the share of the GPU’s capacity left unused, roughly 100 minus the GPU usage you would see in a monitoring overlay (under 6% balanced, 6–14% mild, 15–29% noticeable, 30% or more severe, shown as 60%+ above 60%). If the GPU is the limit, the result is GPU-limited, which is normal for gaming, and the percentage is the CPU’s spare headroom. Combo pages use a typical AAA game at high settings.

FPS Calculator

Estimates a GPU-driven frame rate from the GPU’s score (2.5 FPS per point at 1080p high), scaled by the same resolution, graphics-preset, VRAM and memory-bus factors as the bottleneck calculator, then caps it at a CPU-driven ceiling from the CPU’s score. Both ceilings are multiplied by the game type’s profile (esports titles run several times faster than a typical AAA game; picking a game such as Valorant uses its type), so the limiting part always matches the bottleneck calculator for the same choices. The lower of the two becomes the estimate, shown as a range (roughly ±18%) rather than a single misleadingly precise figure, since actual FPS depends heavily on the specific game engine, drivers and settings we can’t see. Ray tracing is not modelled. Optional upscaling (DLSS / FSR / XeSS) multiplies only the GPU ceiling by a typical gain for the mode and resolution (Quality +25% at 1080p to +40% at 4K, Balanced +35% to +60%, Performance +50% to +85%), so a CPU-limited PC gains little; frame generation multiplies the result by 2, 3 or 4 (3x and 4x on RTX 50 cards only) after a 10% cost to the rendered frame rate, and the result shows the rendered rate separately because responsiveness follows it.

PSU Calculator

Adds up an estimated power draw from your CPU’s maximum turbo/boost power (Intel’s “Maximum Turbo Power”, AMD’s PPT, not its lower base TDP), your GPU’s TDP, and typical draw for RAM sticks, storage drives and case fans, plus a fixed allowance for the motherboard and other small components. It then applies roughly 30% headroom on top of that total (good practice for efficiency and transient power spikes) and rounds up to the nearest 50W. As a safety floor, the recommendation is never allowed to fall below the GPU manufacturer’s own published minimum PSU recommendation for that card, even if the component tally alone would suggest a lower number.

RAM Calculator

Uses a lookup table of baseline RAM recommendations by primary use case (browsing, gaming, streaming, content creation, development, heavy multitasking), then adds a small amount on top depending on how many applications or browser tabs you say you typically keep open at once, and rounds up to the nearest common kit size (8/16/32/64/128GB).

PC Power Consumption & Build Cost Calculators

Power consumption estimates two figures: load draw (the CPU at about 55% of its maximum turbo/boost power, 45% for AMD X3D chips, + GPU TDP + the PSU Calculator’s allowance for RAM, drives, fans and motherboard) and idle draw (CPU and GPU at about 15% of TDP, the rest of the system at about 30% of its allowance). Each is divided by a typical PSU efficiency (88% under load, 80% at idle) to get the draw from the wall, then multiplied by your gaming and idle hours per day and your electricity rate. Build cost is a straightforward sum of whatever component prices you enter — no estimation involved, just arithmetic.

Can I Run It

For each game in our database, compares your CPU’s and graphics card’s scores and your RAM with the publisher’s minimum and recommended specs. The publisher’s parts are placed on our score scale (the slower of the two named parts in each tier; parts not in our database positioned approximately from public review averages). It then runs the FPS Calculator formula for the game’s type (typical AAA, esports or CPU-heavy) at ultra, high, medium and low, and shows the highest preset that reaches your target frame rate. The FPS is typical for the type, not a per-game benchmark.

CPU, GPU and Comparison Pages

Every number on the per-part and “X vs Y” pages comes from the same data and formulas as the calculators: estimated FPS from the FPS Calculator formula with the fastest CPU in our list (typical AAA game), pairing results from the bottleneck engine, VRAM verdicts from the GPU VRAM Calculator’s minimums, and PSU sizes from the PSU Calculator with its default extras. “Best CPU” is the most modest CPU from the last four release years that keeps a card under a noticeable (15%) CPU bottleneck; “best GPU” is the fastest card a CPU runs under that line.

CPU vs GPU Calculator

Shows each part’s score next to the highest score in our list, and the bottleneck engine’s result at 1080p, 1440p and 4K for a typical AAA game at high settings. The headline comes from that engine, never from comparing the raw CPU and GPU scores, which are separate scales.

CPU and GPU Performance Calculators, and the Tier Lists

The CPU Performance Calculator labels a CPU’s gaming score by where the chip sits for gamers: High-end 80 or more, Upper mid-range 70–79, Mid-range 60–69, Budget below 60, and shows it as a share of the fastest gaming CPU we list. The GPU Performance Calculator shows the card’s score (RTX 4090 = 100) and its tier label from our hardware data, which names the resolution it is built for. Cores, clocks, VRAM, bus width, TDP and the maker’s recommended PSU are published specs. The GPU tier list uses the PC Upgrade Calculator’s targets as its lines (S 85+, A 70+, B 50+, C 33+, D below) and the CPU tier list the same lines as the CPU Performance Calculator (S 85+, A 80+, B 70+, C 60+); their FPS columns use the FPS Calculator formula above.

PC Upgrade Calculator

Lists upgrades biggest gain first. The GPU is flagged when its score is under the target for your goal (1080p 33, 1440p 50, 4K 70, creative work 55), ranked by how far below it is in percent. For gaming, the CPU is flagged when the bottleneck engine shows a CPU bottleneck of 15% or more at your target resolution (typical AAA game, high settings); for creative work, when its score is under 59. A hard disk as the main drive ranks at 30, RAM at 8GB or less at 40 and under 16GB at 20.

PC Compatibility Checker

Each check is a published platform rule: the CPU’s socket against the board’s; the memory each socket takes (AM4 and LGA 1200 DDR4 only, AM5 and LGA 1851 DDR5 only, LGA 1700 either, one type per board); BIOS needs by chipset generation from AMD’s and Intel’s CPU support lists; board size against the case; cooler height and GPU length against the case’s limits; the PSU against the PSU Calculator’s sum for the picked CPU and GPU with its default extras; and a 16-pin 12V-2×6 GPU plug against the PSU’s cables. Checks left on “Not sure” are skipped.

GPU VRAM Calculator

Minimum VRAM starts from a baseline per resolution and texture quality (1080p 6/6/8GB for medium/high/ultra, 1440p 6/8/10GB, 4K 8/12/14GB), then adds 2GB for ray tracing and 2GB to hold up for three or more years. The comfortable figure is the larger of the minimum and 8GB at 1080p, 12GB at 1440p or 16GB at 4K, rounded up to a size cards ship with. The cards listed are those in our data with at least that much VRAM. The bottleneck engine uses the same minimums.

PC Cooling Calculator

Uses the CPU’s maximum turbo/boost power, not its base TDP, as its heat. Up to 120W without overclocking: a single-tower air cooler; up to 200W: a large dual-tower air cooler or 240mm AIO; above that: a 280–360mm AIO or a top dual-tower cooler. Case fans step up with the combined CPU and GPU heat (plus 30W when overclocking) at 350W and 550W, with counts set per case size.

CPU and GPU Power Consumption Calculators

Idle is about 15% of the rated TDP. Gaming: a CPU at about 55% of its maximum turbo/boost power (45% for X3D chips, whose cache keeps clocks and power lower), a GPU at about 70% of its board power. Full load: a CPU at the maker’s maximum turbo/boost power spec, a GPU at its board power plus about 8% for boost spikes.

SSD Lifespan and SSD TBW Calculators

Lifespan in years = TBW × 1,000 ÷ (GB written per day × 365). TBW and DWPD convert with the relationship drive makers publish: DWPD = TBW × 1,000 ÷ (365 × warranty years × capacity in GB), so TBW = DWPD × capacity × 365 × years ÷ 1,000 (Kingston’s SSD endurance guide). Both are warranty ratings, not a failure point.

Storage Calculator

Space needed = average file size × number of files, in decimal units (1GB = 1,000MB); space left = drive capacity − space already used − space needed.

Data Storage Converter

Decimal units step by 1,000 (KB, MB, GB, as drive makers count). Binary units step by 1,024 and are shown with their IEC names (KiB, MiB, GiB), as Windows counts. 1 byte = 8 bits.

Download, Upload and File Transfer Time Calculators

Time = file size in MB ÷ speed in MB/s, with Mbps ÷ 8 = MB/s and 1GB = 1,000MB. Download and upload results are the theoretical best case; real transfers usually run 10–20% slower. The File Transfer Time Calculator uses each interface’s usable data rate after line encoding (USB 2.0 53MB/s, USB 3.2 Gen 1 500MB/s, Gen 2 1,212MB/s, Gen 2×2 2,424MB/s, SATA III 600MB/s, PCIe 3.0 x4 3,938MB/s, PCIe 4.0 x4 7,877MB/s, 1/2.5/10 Gigabit Ethernet 125/312.5/1,250MB/s) times a real-world factor of 100%, 80% or 50%.

Mbps and MB/s Converters

MB/s = Mbps ÷ 8 and Mbps = MB/s × 8, because a byte is 8 bits.

Bandwidth Calculator

Required Mbps = data in megabits (1MB = 8 megabits, 1GB = 8,000) ÷ time in seconds; MB/s is that ÷ 8.

Internet Data Usage Calculator

Daily GB = streaming hours × 1 (SD), 3 (HD) or 7 (4K) GB per hour, Netflix’s published rates, + browsing hours × 0.06 + online gaming hours × 0.1 + video call hours × 1.0 (a 720p call). Monthly = daily × 30.

PPI and DPI Calculators

PPI = √(width² + height²) in pixels ÷ the diagonal in inches, labelled standard under 100, sharp 100–149, high density 150–299 and very high 300 or more. Print DPI = image width in pixels ÷ print width in inches; 300 DPI or more is the usual mark for photo-quality prints.

Monitor Size Calculator

Width = diagonal × ratio width ÷ √(ratio width² + ratio height²), and height the same with the ratio height; × 2.54 gives centimetres.

Aspect Ratio and Resolution Calculators

Width and height are divided by their greatest common divisor for the exact ratio, then the closest common ratio (1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2, 16:10, 16:9, 21:9, 32:9) is named when it is within 3%, marked ≈ when it is not exact. The Resolution Calculator adds megapixels (width × height ÷ 1,000,000) and the standard name of common sizes.

Refresh Rate Calculator

Frame time in milliseconds = 1,000 ÷ refresh rate in Hz, and Hz = 1,000 ÷ frame time.

What These Formulas Deliberately Don’t Account For

None of these models can see your specific game engine, driver version, RAM speed, storage speed, background software, thermals, or power limits — all of which affect real-world results. They’re built to catch clearly mismatched hardware and give a reasonable planning number, not to replace an actual benchmark run on your specific system. Where a result is close to a threshold (a near-even bottleneck, a borderline RAM recommendation), treat it as “this probably doesn’t matter much either way” rather than a hard verdict.

Corrections

If you find a spec that’s out of date, a source link that’s broken, or a formula that seems to produce an unreasonable result, please use the Contact page — we read every message and update the underlying data or logic when a correction is confirmed against its source.