If you’ve used a bottleneck calculator or checked usage in MSI Afterburner, you may see something like a 4% bottleneck.
So the big question is:
Is a 4% bottleneck good, bad, or something to worry about?
The short answer:
👉 Yes — 4% bottleneck is completely normal, totally safe, and nothing to worry about.
In fact, most gaming PCs have some level of bottlenecking because you can never split workload 50/50 between CPU and GPU perfectly.
Let’s break down exactly what 4% bottleneck means and whether you should change anything.
What Does a 4% Bottleneck Mean?
A 4% bottleneck means one component (usually CPU or GPU) is about 4% slower than the other in certain tasks.
This level of imbalance is:
- Normal
- Healthy
- Unnoticeable
- Far below the problem range
💡 Most PC builds have between 1–10% bottleneck, and anything under 10% is considered excellent.
Is 4% Bottleneck Good? (Yes. Here’s Why.)
Here’s why a 4% bottleneck is absolutely fine:
✔ 1. No Real-World Performance Impact
A difference of 4% is so small that you won’t see FPS drops, stuttering, or performance issues.
✔ 2. Your Parts Are Well-Balanced
This means your CPU and GPU are complementing each other efficiently.
✔ 3. Impossible to Achieve Perfect 0%
A “0% bottleneck” doesn’t actually exist — all games load hardware differently.
Every PC will show small percentage differences depending on the workload.
✔ 4. Industry Standard Acceptable Range
Tech reviewers and PC builders consider anything under:
- 10% = ideal
- 15–20% = acceptable
- 20%+ = noticeable, sometimes problematic
So, 4% is excellent.
Examples of 4% Bottleneck Scenarios
Example 1: GPU Bottleneck (~4%)
- GPU: RTX 3060
- CPU: Ryzen 5 5600
- Game: Cyberpunk 2077
The GPU is doing slightly more work — which is normal for modern AAA gaming.
Example 2: CPU Bottleneck (~4%)
- GPU: RTX 4070
- CPU: i7-12700F
- Game: CS:GO or Valorant
CPU-heavy esports games shift some load to the processor, creating a minor bottleneck — again, perfectly normal.
How to Check Your Bottleneck Percentage
To see if your system is balanced, you can:
- Monitor usage in MSI Afterburner
- Compare CPU/GPU usage during gaming
- Use an online tool like the Bottleneck Calculator
These will help you determine whether your bottleneck is healthy or excessive.
When Is a Bottleneck a Problem? (Important!)
A bottleneck becomes a concern when it’s:
- 15% – noticeable in some games
- 20% – frequent stutters or FPS drops
- 30%+ – system is significantly unbalanced
In these cases, you may want to:
- Upgrade your CPU
- Upgrade your GPU
- Increase RAM speed
- Reduce CPU-heavy graphics settings
But at 4%? No upgrade is needed.
Should You Try to Reduce a 4% Bottleneck?
No — it’s already perfect.
Trying to “fix” a 4% bottleneck is unnecessary and will not improve performance in any noticeable way.
Your system is already running optimally.
FAQ: People Also Ask
Is 4% CPU bottleneck good?
Yes. A 4% CPU bottleneck is excellent and will not affect gaming or productivity.
Is 4% GPU bottleneck good?
Yes. A small GPU bottleneck is normal — games vary in GPU load.
Is anything under 10% bottleneck good?
Absolutely. 1–10% is considered the ideal range.
Do all PCs have bottlenecks?
Yes. No PC achieves true 0% bottleneck because different applications load hardware differently.
Should I upgrade my parts to fix a 4% bottleneck?
No. You will gain no noticeable improvement.
Conclusion: 4% Bottleneck = Perfectly Fine
If your PC shows a 4% bottleneck, you’re in great shape.
Your system is well-balanced, efficient, and performing exactly as it should.👉 Want to check your exact bottleneck percentage?
Use the Bottleneck Calculator to instantly analyze your CPU/GPU pairing.