Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

PC Bottleneck Calculator is an independent website providing free hardware bottleneck analysis tools. We are not affiliated with any hardware manufacturer, retailer, or benchmark organization.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect information when you use our website and tools.

2. Information We Collect

2a. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, our hosting provider and analytics tools may collect standard web server logs, including:

• Your IP address (anonymized after 24 hours)
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Referring URL (what site you came from)
• Pages visited and time spent
• General geographic region (country/city, not precise location)

2b. Information You Provide

If you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address. This is entirely optional. We use this solely to send hardware tips and site updates — never for advertising third-party products.

2c. Calculator Usage Data

The CPU, GPU, and settings you choose in our calculator are processed entirely in your browser. These selections are not sent to our servers and are not stored beyond your current session unless you explicitly use the "Save Build" feature (which uses browser Local Storage — see Section 4).

3. Cookies & Tracking

We use a minimal set of cookies and do not use cross-site tracking cookies.

4. Browser Local Storage

When you save a build using the "Save Build" feature, that data is written to your browser's localStorage. This means:

• The data stays on your device — we never receive it
• It persists across browser sessions until you clear your browser data
• It is not shared between devices or browsers
• You can delete it at any time by clearing your browser's site data for our domain

To clear your saved builds: Open browser DevTools → Application → Local Storage → delete entries prefixed with pcb-.

5. Amazon Associates Disclosure

PC Bottleneck Calculator is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

When you click a "Check Price on Amazon" link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission. This comes at no extra cost to you and helps fund the development and hosting of this free tool.

Our affiliate relationships do not influence our hardware rankings, bottleneck calculations, or editorial recommendations. We never prioritize products based on commission rates.

6. How We Use Your Data

The minimal data we do collect is used only to:

• Understand aggregate traffic patterns to improve site performance
• Monitor error rates and fix bugs quickly
• Send newsletter updates to subscribers who explicitly opted in
• Identify and prevent malicious API abuse

7. Data Sharing & Third Parties

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share anonymized, aggregate data (e.g., "RTX 4070 was searched 12,000 times this month") for public reporting.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you (which is minimal)
• Request deletion of your data (newsletter unsubscribe, browser data clear)
• Opt out of analytics collection (use a browser extension like uBlock Origin)
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format

To exercise any of these rights, contact us via the link in our footer.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page when we do. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the new policy.