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It's when one PC component limits the performance of a more powerful one. The classic case: a high-end graphics card paired with an old processor that can't prepare frames fast enough. The result is that you paid for performance you are not using.
No. No build is perfectly balanced across every game and resolution: it is normal for one component to be slightly limiting. Ideally the GPU should be the limiter, because that means it is working at 100%. Only act when the imbalance consistently exceeds 25-30%.
At 1080p the graphics card renders frames very fast and the processor can struggle to keep up (CPU bottleneck). At 1440p and especially 4K, each frame costs the GPU much more, so the GPU almost always becomes the limiter. The same PC can be CPU-bound at 1080p and perfectly balanced at 4K.
They are indicative. We use a statistical model calibrated with public benchmarks for every game and component, with a typical margin of error of ±10-15%. Drivers, temperatures, RAM, game version or background apps can shift the real result. Use them to compare purchase options, not as a guarantee.
Yes, though less than CPU and GPU. With 8GB modern games stutter because the system falls back to the page file, and speed/dual channel directly affects processor performance. 16GB dual channel is the sweet spot in 2026.
Install MSI Afterburner (or the Xbox Game Bar overlay) and watch GPU usage while playing: if it sits at 95-100%, the GPU is the limiter (normal); if it drops below 90% with lower FPS than expected, the CPU is limiting. Definitive test: drop the resolution to 720p; if FPS barely rise, your processor is the limit.