Fortniteis one of the most popular games of the decade thanks to a robust game engine, a stream of new content and updates, and hardware requirements that ensure that most gamers can play the title at a reasonable frame rate irrespective of the underlying hardware. Powered by an updated version of Epic’s Unreal Engine 5, the title scales well with higher-tiered hardware and is played casually and competitively by gamers on a slew of platforms including the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox Series consoles as well as PCs. This makes it a challenge, but one that is quite rewarding to nail the exact balance between price and performance on a more open platform like the PC to get the desired performance without overspending.
Fortnite: PC Hardware Requirements Explained
Fortnitecomes with three different sets of hardware requirements that cater to the bare minimum to play, a recommended hardware spec for most users, and an ‘Epic’ option that allows users to push a high frame rate at a higher resolution along with high texture quality. The game is considerably optimized, running on most modern iGPUs as well as offering added benefits for higher tier CPUs and GPUs, in addition to more VRAM on the latter.
While it is possible to playFortniteon most (if not all) modern gaming PCs and laptops, the title benefits greatly from having a discrete GPU and a faster GPU. This does, however, make it a somewhat confusing choice for a lot of users looking to upgrade but not knowing where to turn to or build around when it comes to a gaming PC that can runFortnitewell for competitive and casual play while offering excellent value for money.
The team at Game Rant has stepped up on this occasion to suggest three curated PC builds that cater to Epic’s stated Recommended, Epic, and Minimum hardware requirements while beefing up and upgrading hardware where possible to 2024 standards. This accounts for both availability and performance tiers as well as newer technology such as Nvidia’s Reflex and DLSS tech as well as AMD’s Anti-Lag and FSR equivalents for its GPUs.
The Recommended Hardware for Fortnite PC Build
AMD Ryzen 5 7600
The Ryzen 5 7600 is the entry-level, yet very capable, gaming CPU from AMD that features 6 cores, 12 threads, and 32MB of L3 cache. It has a base clock speed of 3.8GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.1GHz. The Ryzen 5 7600 is an unlocked processor with a default TDP of 65W. It also has integrated RDNA 2 graphics and is the cheapest offering in the lineup with an iGPU.
G.Skill Flare X5 Series (AMD Expo) 6000MHz 32GB (CL36)
The G.Skill Flare X5 Series RAM kits are DDR5 RAMs that operate at an overclocked 6000MHz sweet spot for AMD AM5 processors with a lower latency EXPO profile available to allow users to overclock their memory with a push of a button while costing significantly lower than the competition.
MSI B650 Gaming Plus WiFi
MSI B650 Gaming Plus is an excellent choice for AMD CPU users who are looking to get the job done without spending over $200. The 15-power phase VRM will be adequate for mid-range CPUs, while the multiple PCI-E slots will allow users to add various expansion cards. There are plenty of connectivity options too, including several fan headers, a built-in WiFi adapter, fast USB headers, and even troubleshooting options.
Kingston NV2 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD
This internal solid-state drive from Kingston has 1 TB of digital storage capacity. The NV2 series SSD is designed to be compatible with laptops. It operates on PCIe 4.0 Gen 4x4 technology, features an M.2 2280 form factor, and delivers read speeds of up to 3,500 MB/s. It has lower power requirements, generating minimal heat, which makes it perfect for compact devices.
ZOTAC GeForce RTX 4060 8GB Twin Edge OC
The ZOTAC GeForce RTX 4060 8GB Twin Edge OC is a budget-friendly GPU that can deliver an impressive gaming experience thanks to its dual-fan cooling system, a boost clock speed of 2475 MHz, and 8GB of VRAM. It also supports the latest Nvidia technologies that further improve the gaming experience.
XPG Core Reactor 750W
The XPG Core Reactor 750W is an 80 Plus Gold rated ATX PSU that offers full modularity. It is an all-black PSU certified by Cybenetics for its efficiency and noise levels. It features a 120mm 2400 RPM fan with an FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing) design. XPG, which is a gaming sub-brand of Adata, has tuned the fan to stay at 660 RPM up till 50% load. Connectivity options on the XPG Core Reactor 750W include 1 24-pin connection, 2 ATX 12V 4+4 pin connections, 6 PCIe connections, 12 SATA connections, and 4 Molex connections.
LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 PC Case
The LANCOOL 216 is a mid-tower case with all-around mesh panels for optimal airflow. Thanks to its modular rear panel, it can be optimized for air or water cooling. It includes 2 x 160mm and 1 x 140mm pre-installed PWM fans and an innovative rear PCIe fan bracket to maximize airflow.
The recommended build above takes into account both Epic’s recommended hardware spec and its high-end ‘Epic’ quality preset, aiming to strike a balance between the two. To do this, it leverages the excellent and well-priced AMD Ryzen 5 7600 GPU with an overclockable 6-core, 12-thread configuration. This is paired with low-latency G.Skill DDR5 RAM sticks in a 32GB configuration.
It makes use of a mid-range B650 Gaming Plus Wi-Fi motherboard from MSI that offers plenty of expansion slots for users who need it for future upgrades and entry-level PCI-E 4.0 storage in the form of the Kingston NVMe NV2 SSD. On the GPU front, the Zotac RTX 4060 8GB Twin Edge OC is the weapon of choice, matching the 8GB of VRAM thatFortniterecommends for higher quality textures in addition to support for Nvidia’s Reflex Low Latency offering as well as DLSS.
All of this is powered by a highly recommended XPG Core Reactor PSU that comes in a 750W trim in addition to a Lian Li Lancool 216 case. The case offers plenty of airflow, expansion slots, and the option for up to a tri-slot radiator should users opt to change the cooler on the build from the current stock option with a future CPU upgrade.
The Epic Quality Preset for Fortnite PC Build
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is AMD’s latest and greatest CPU when it comes to gaming. With an excellent and highly efficient gaming performance that tops the charts currently, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is here to stay and has a crown to claim thanks to its 3D V-Cache-enabled prowess when it comes to gaming on a PC.The octa-core CPU currently happens to be the fastest in the business for gaming even as it leads efficiency charts at the top, making it a very sought-after gaming upgrade.
G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB (AMD Expo)
G.SKILL Trident Z5 Neo RGB series is a specialized RAM kit for the AM5 platform with up to 6000 MT/s speed. The RAM kit brings exceptional RGB lighting on top of the heat spreaders and works at low latency. It’s decently stable at the advertised speed and makes an ideal choice for gaming builds.
Thermaltake TH240 V2 Ultra ARGB
This AIO from Thermaltake delivers steady cooling, and some RGB with a 2.1" LCD screen on the water block. Installation is a breeze due to the 120mm PWM fans being pre-installed on the radiator and the cable being daisy-chainable for a clutter-free outlook. Lighting and media on the screen are customizable through their proprietary software.
Gigabyte X670E Aorus Pro X
Boasting a fully white PCB and white heatsinks, the Gigabyte X670E Aorus Pro X looks dashing. It features an excellent 16+2+2 power phase delivery and doesn’t lag behind in component compatibility or connectivity. Four M.2 slots for fast storage and impressive memory support allow the board to push the system’s full potential.
Teamgroup T-Force Z540 M2 PCI-E SSD 1TB
The Teamgroup T-Force Cardea Z540 SSD offers some of the fastest PCI-E Gen 5 SSD speeds money can buy in 2024 while throwing in a thin, patented graphene-based heatsink to keep things low-profile by design.It offers a whopping 11,700 MB/s sequential read and 9,500 MB/s sequential write speeds with decent random read/write speeds in tow,With a 3,000,000-hour MBTF and 700 TBW rating along with a comprehensive 5-year warranty in tow, the Teamgroup T-Force Cardea Z540 SSD delivers on its promise as a premium PCI-E 5.0 SSD in 2024.
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX 4070 Super OC brings about 20% improvement over the non-Super edition for a slightly higher price and comes in a dual axial-tech fan design with factory-overclocked. Boasting a clock speed of 2550MHz in the OC mode, it provides a slight advantage to the Founders Edition along with a better cooling solution.
Thermaltake GF1 (2024) Fully Modular ATX 850W Power Supply
The updated Thermaltake GF1 850W PSU is a gold-rated PSU that offers a completely modular solution for gamers looking for a reliable solution that can keep up with some of the most demanding PCs in 2024.It comes with comprehensive protection for users, excellent build quality, quiet operation and an extensive warranty from Thermaltake in tow.
Cooler Master MasterCase H500M ARGB Airflow
The MasterCase H500M ARGB Airflow is a spacious and modular mid-tower with massive 200mm fans at the front for high airflow delivery. The case has an unmatched cable management system and comes with a GPU support arm for heavy graphics cards. Its premium construction and versatility makes it a compelling choice for enthusiasts.
Users wanting to playFortnitemaxed out at resolutions of 2K or higher at a significantly high refresh rate and a quality preset can turn to the best CPU for gaming currently: AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Leveraging the octa-core CPU’s extended 3D V-Cache in addition to a powerful Asus RTX 4070 SUPER with 12GB of VRAM in play, the build has plenty of power under the hood to handleFortnitemaxed out with all of its bells and whistles intact.
It also sees massive upgrades to its motherboard, SSD, and RAM configuration. The Gigabyte X670E motherboard offers PCI-E 5.0 support for future upgrades, Wi-Fi 7 out of the box, and a design that feels arguably more premium than the competition while keeping it under $300 thanks to recent price cuts. With 1TB of fast PCI-E 5.0 storage on offer thanks to TeamGroup’s well-priced Z540 SSD and fast, low latency DDR5 RAM in the shape of the G.Skill Trident Z Neo in play, the build sticks to its guns, both in-game and in the real world, pushing for performance and value in the same vein.
All of this is housed in the Cooler Master Mastercase H500M, which offers RGB lighting, large 200MM fans, and excellent cable management. It has support for a 360MM radiator down the line (the build currently comes with a 240mm LCD-touting cooler from Thermaltake) should users need it even as it is powered by a gold-rated, modular 850W Thermaltake PSU which allows for a seamless upgrade to up to an RTX 4080 SUPER down the line.
The Minimalist Fortnite PC Build
AMD Ryzen 5 8600G 6-Core, 12-Thread CPU
The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G 6-Core, 12-Thread CPU is a powerful entry-level gaming APU that combines AMD’s efficient and performant mobile Zen 4 cores with a capable iGPU in the shape of the AMD Radeon 760M.It packs in acceptable gaming performance at a price point that decimates most of its comparable discrete GPU and CPU combinations even as it is one of the first CPUs or APUs that pack AMD’s Ryzen AI tech to support on-chip AI acceleration.
Gigabyte B650M D3HP AX
The Gigabyte B650M D3HP AX is an affordable yet decent choice for budget builders with entry-level Ryzen CPUs. While lacking some high-end features of pricier models, it packs core upgrades like DDR5 memory support, PCIe 4.0 for graphics cards and SSDs, and compatibility with the latest AM5 socket. This makes it a great micro ATX motherboard for building a compact and capable gaming PC.
Kingston NV2 500G M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD
The Kingston NV2 500G SSD uses Gen 4x4 NVMe PCIe technology. This drive delivers read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s and write speeds up to 2,800 MB/s. It’s designed for systems requiring fast performance, in both laptop and desktop builds. It is suitable for most applications thanks to the compact, single-sided M.2 2280 design. And the low power requirements mean that it produces minimal heat.
Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX PSU
The Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX is a power supply unit that is designed to provide reliable and efficient power for your computer. This unit delivers 600 watts of continuous output. It complies with both Intel ATX 12V 2.31 and EPS 12V 2.92 standards, ensuring compatibility with many PC builds.The SMART 600W ATX has received an 80 PLUS certification, indicating 80% efficiency under a typical load. This power supply supports two PCI-E 6 plus 2-pin connectors.
ANTEC AX61
ANTEC AX61 is a gorgeous mid-tower that is priced much lower than cases with similar functionality. It features a spacious interior that is clearly visible through the tempered glass panel and has 4x 120mm RGB fans pre-installed. The front panel is fully meshed and results in a balanced airflow inside the case for better heat dissipation.
For users looking to playFortniteat a respectable frame rate, there is an APU that makes it all possible at a sub-$500 budget. The recently discounted AMD Ryzen 5 8600G offers a powerful Radeon 760M iGPU that can hold its own with most entry-level discrete solutions. It is paired with G.Skill’s Flare X5 RAM kit in a 32GB configuration and leverages a cost-effective Kingston NV2 NVMe SSD in a 500GB trim.
In addition to a budget-friendly Gigabyte B650M D3HP AX motherboard and a Thermaltake Smart 600W PSU, this makes for a powerful offering at a sub-$500 price tag for gamers looking to playFortnitesans the cost of a gaming PC with a discrete GPU option. All of this is housed in an Antec AX61 case that offers four ARGB fans, some level of expansion, and solid quality to help users with future upgrades and keep thermals in check.
While one can argue that getting a discrete GPU might be a better solution for most CPUs, AMD’s Ryzen 8000 G series APUs offer considerable performance uplifts, combining powerful mobile GPUs with its new Zen 4-based mobile CPU cores, making for a powerful, cost-effective and power-efficient option to play most titles at acceptable frame rates and graphics presets (Fortniteincluded) without a hitch.
FAQ
Q: What OS does Fortnite need to play on PC?
Fortnite needs a minimum of Windows 10 64-bit version 1703 to run smoothly on a PC currently.
Q: Does Fortnite need a discrete GPU?
No, Fortnite does not need a discrete GPU as part of its minimum requirements, but consider either opt for a capable iGPU or a discrete solution to get a higher frame rate or to be able to utilize higher graphics presets.
