Methodology and data sources

About this page

CheckFPS doesn't measure real-world FPS on your PC: it estimates them from public benchmark scores using our own model that combines GPU, CPU, game, resolution, graphics quality and RAM. This page explains exactly how we do it and which sources we rely on, so you can judge the reliability of each estimate.

How we calculate FPS

Our model combines four variables. First, the GPU score normalized by resolution (1080p, 1440p, 4K). Second, a weighted CPU score (80% single-core, 20% multi-core), since most modern game engines depend more on single-thread performance. Third, each game's demand profile (CPU weight vs GPU weight, recommended GPU score from developers plus our own data). Fourth, multipliers by graphics quality (Ultra, High, Medium, Low) and RAM (8/16/32 GB). The result is capped by the GPU's realistic ceiling at that resolution, so a powerful CPU paired with a modest GPU won't produce unrealistic estimates.

Our data sources

We work exclusively with public data. GPU and CPU benchmark scores come from the databases published by leading industry references.

• TechPowerUp

  Technical specs and benchmarks for GPUs. Industry reference for comparing architectures.

• Tom's Hardware

  GPU and CPU performance hierarchies, updated quarterly. Useful for normalizing scores across generations.

• NVIDIA

  Official specs for GeForce graphics cards: VRAM, TDP, generation, technologies (DLSS, ray tracing).

• AMD

  Official data for Radeon graphics cards and Ryzen processors: architecture, specs, FSR support.

• Intel

  Official specs for Arc GPUs and Core processors: architecture, XeSS support.

These sources provide raw data (scores, specs, recommendations). The estimation model, weights and formula you see on CheckFPS are proprietary.

Honest limitations

Our estimates have a typical margin of error of ±10-15% compared to real measured benchmarks. Reasons: every PC has different drivers, temperatures, background processes and configurations; games receive patches that change performance; laptop GPU variants perform 15-30% worse than their desktop counterparts. CheckFPS is an orientation tool, not a measurement tool. If you need exact figures, look for real benchmarks of the specific game.

Update frequency

We add new GPUs and CPUs as they're released. Games are ingested via the Steam API and we manually review AAA launches. Each game's weights (CPU weight vs GPU weight) are adjusted when reliable technical reviews are published.