How we put our recommendations together

Where the data comes from

The foundation is the official specifications published by the manufacturers: NVIDIA, AMD and Intel for GPUs and CPUs (cores, clock speeds, VRAM, memory bandwidth, power draw) and Apple for Macs. From those specifications we calculate, using our own formulas, a relative performance score for each component.

Each GPU has a score from 0 to 100 for 1080p, 1440p and 4K, and each CPU has a single-core and a multi-core score. These are normalised values: the most powerful GPU in our database (RTX 5090) scores 100 and everything else is expressed in proportion. They are meant for comparing components with each other, not for predicting the exact FPS in a specific game.

The indicative FPS figures shown on our GPU pages are estimates derived from those scores. Real-world performance depends on the game, the graphics settings, upscaling (DLSS, FSR, XeSS) and drivers.

GPU + CPU bottleneck

We only publish analyses of the GPU and CPU combinations we have reviewed one by one. For each one we give an indicative bottleneck percentage, the resolution at which the pair performs best and a verdict (balanced, acceptable or not recommended), with an explanation.

A bottleneck isn't a fixed number: it drops as resolution goes up (the GPU works harder) and rises in CPU-heavy games such as simulators, strategy games or high-FPS eSports. Treat it as a guide for deciding which component to upgrade first, not as a measurement.

Per-game builds

Each game has a GPU requirement (minimum and recommended) and a rough split of how much it depends on the GPU versus the CPU. From there we suggest three builds: entry-level (1080p), recommended (1440p, or high-FPS 1080p in competitive games) and high-end.

• The GPU is the most affordable one in our database that meets the target for each tier.
• CPUs are hand-picked from proven gaming models: Ryzen 5 7600 (entry-level), Ryzen 5 9600X or Ryzen 7 7800X3D if the game is CPU-heavy (recommended) and Ryzen 7 9800X3D (high-end).
• RAM is always DDR5, because all of those CPUs are on the AM5 platform and don't support DDR4.

Macs and Apple Silicon

We only include Macs that Apple officially sells. We don't publish pages for rumoured products or products announced without specifications. Specifications refer to each model's base configuration, according to the tech specs on apple.com, and the price is the starting price on the Apple Store in Spain.

Mac catalogue last reviewed: 25 September 2026.

Prices

Prices are indicative and meant for comparing options. PC component prices change often between shops and from week to week: always check them before buying.

Limits

We don't physically test every computer we recommend: our recommendations combine relative performance data with buying criteria. If your case is very specific (a modded game, a professional workflow, a very tight budget), use them as a starting point and cross-check with tests for that case.

Who's behind it

ConfiguraPC is edited by Lluis Enric Mayans, founder of the project, who selects the components, maintains the database and reviews the recommendations. More details on our about us page.

Corrections

If you spot incorrect or outdated data, write to us at hola@configurapc.com. We'll correct the data and log the change here.