Fortnite is a game that consists of two very different modes of gameplay built upon the idea of survival in a post-apocalyptic world. The first is a PVE (Player Vs. Environment) mode called "Save the World," and the second is a PVP (Player Vs. Player) mode caled "Battle Royale." The game as a whole is currently still in early access, with the Battle Royale mode being free-to-play and the PVE mode unlockable with a number of founders packs with different perks (unique weapons, heroes, skins etc).
This guide takes a close look at Fortnite’s graphical settings and the impact they have on the game. We'll also give you a good idea of the kind of PC hardware you'll need to run Fortnite to your own personal satisfaction. If you just want to know what to buy without all the in-depth analysis, you can skip to the Recommendations Section.
If you already have a cheap streaming PC for fortnite but want to know what settings to use for best performance, check out the Graphical Settings section.
Please note that Fortnite will be releasing some time in 2018, and this information reflects the early access version of the game. While we expect performance to generally remain unchanged from the early access, there may be some slight differences once the game finally releases.
Fortnite Battle Royale Hardware Requirements and Recommendations
With having two very different modes along with being in early access, it is surprising how well Fortnite runs both in PVE and PVP modes. As such, you don't really need a super powerful PC to be able to play the game.
Before we explore how each PC component influences your performance with Fortnite, let's take a look at the game's minimum and recommended specifications, which Epic Games have released here.
Recommended System Requirements:
Processor: Core i5 2.8 Ghz
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics Card (NVIDIA): GTX 660
Graphics Card (AMD): Radeon HD 7870
Minimum System Requirements:
Processor: Core i3 2.4 Ghz
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: Intel HD 4000
As you can see from both options, you could practically run this game on a toaster, which is impressive as the art style and gameplay are both great. These specifications also mean that many people could at least run the game and give Fortnite a go! If you are wanting to run the game on the maximum (Epic) settings, however, you are going to need some power.
Fortnite does have good CPU utilisation, with the load being spread reasonably well across multiple cores. But it does lean a little more on the GPU performance for most of its PVE and PVP visuals, with CPU load only increasing in heavy moments of combat. As such, you could probably get away with a slightly lower-performing CPU, so long as your GPU is up to the task.
To match the minimum specifications, you could build the "Poor" tier ($300) using the R3 2200G on the Logical Increments parts list. That would let you run the game smoothly at 1080p with the settings turned down to LOW.
To match the recommended specifications, you could build the "Fair" tier ($600) on our parts list. That would let you play the game smoothly at 1080p with the settings turned up to EPIC. Alternatively, if you want to play at HIGH, then the "Modest" tier ($550) on our parts list would likely perform well enough for that.
