How estimates are made
Every result on this site, in the calculator and on each build page, comes from the same model. Nothing is written or adjusted by hand for a particular product.
- Gaming indexes, not synthetic scores. Each CPU and GPU has a performance index compiled from published, independent gaming benchmark averages. We don't use PassMark, Cinebench or manufacturer figures, because they don't track gaming performance.
- Separate CPU and GPU limits. The model estimates how many frames each part could deliver on its own at your settings, then combines them. The slower part is the bottleneck, and the gap between them is the percentage.
- Settings that matter. Resolution, graphics quality, upscaling, ray tracing, VRAM, RAM capacity, game type and CPU-based streaming all change the result.
- Public formula. The full formula, including its multipliers, is published in How we calculate bottleneck and FPS, so anyone can check how a verdict was reached.
Accuracy: estimates are typically within about 10–15% of averaged benchmarks. They're for judging balance and getting ballpark FPS. No calculator can predict one specific game exactly, and we say so wherever a number is shown.
Update cadence
- New hardware is added once independent launch reviews are published, so the index is based on measured results rather than announcements.
- Existing indexes are rechecked when new drivers, game patches or a wider set of benchmarks shift results noticeably.
- Every change is recorded in the Data updates log on the homepage, and the date on the calculator shows when the database last changed.
Because all pages are generated from one database, an update or correction reaches the calculator and every build page at the same time.
No paid placements
No manufacturer, retailer or brand pays for a product to be included, rated higher, or recommended. Upgrade suggestions are picked by the formula: the smallest upgrade that balances your build at your settings. The same rules apply to every brand.
We don't accept free hardware in exchange for coverage. If the site ever carries advertising or affiliate links, they will be clearly labelled, they will never change a result or a recommendation, and this page will be updated to say so.
Corrections
If a result looks wrong, tell us through the contact page. Include the parts, the settings, and a link to the benchmark you're comparing against if you have one. When a correction changes the data, it's applied to the database and noted in the update log.
Who is responsible
This policy, the database and the formula are maintained by the people who run the site. See the About page for who that is and how the data is compiled.