One scale for every part
Each graphics card gets an index with the RTX 4090 at 100. Each processor gets an index with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D at 100. Higher is faster. These indexes are our own estimates of gaming performance, built from public spec sheets and general benchmark knowledge, and will be replaced or checked against measured data as we add it.
Game requirements on the same scale
For every game we take the minimum and recommended processor and graphics card from its store page and place them on the same scales. When a requirement names several alternatives we use the weakest. When it names nothing we can match, such as "2 GHz dual core", we assume a very light game and mark the part as estimated. The recommended hardware is defined as the setup that gives about 60 fps at 1080p on High settings.
From score to frame rate
Frame rate rises with graphics power (a card twice as strong gives roughly 1.9 times the fps), falls with resolution (1440p about 28% lower than 1080p, 4K about 60% lower) and with quality preset. The processor sets a separate ceiling, and the lower of the two limits wins. A card with too little video memory for the chosen settings is slowed further. Estimates above 300 fps are shown as "300+".
The verdict
It comes from the estimated 1080p frame rate: 90 or more is great, 60 or more is good, 40 or more is playable, and below that you need lower settings. If your memory is below the game’s minimum, or even Low settings fall under 25 fps, the answer is no.
Bottleneck
We compare the usable power of the processor with the work the graphics card can do at the chosen resolution. A processor that holds the card back by more than 10% is a bottleneck. A card that is the limit is normal and fine for gaming.
Power supply
Load is the rated power of the graphics card, plus the processor (1.7 times its rating for Intel chips rated 100 W or more, otherwise 1.2 times), plus 100 W for the rest of the system. Minimum adds 15% headroom and recommended adds 40%, rounded up to the next common size.
Upgrade advisor
It lists graphics cards at least 25% faster than yours inside your budget and ranks them by speed gained per dollar of launch price, then checks your processor against each.