Fortnite is a wildly popular online multiplayer game that can be played solo or with friends and was released back in 2017.
Developed by Epic Games, the game has evolved greatly since it first came out and now features so much more than its original Battle Royale mode. Players can now try their hand at the racing mode Rocket Racing, the survival sandbox mode Lego Fortnite and the rhythm game Fortnite Festival.
With Fortnite having been out for a long while now, the necessary hardware for playing it smoothly on PC has morphed over the years, alongside its various updates and graphical overhauls.
So, even though in 2024 the game is still playable on most mid-to-low-tier gaming PCs, you can also chase the Epic Quality settings for the ultimate competitive experience.
As with any modern game release, knowing the system requirements necessary to run the game at optimal settings is vital for having an enjoyable gameplay experience. In this article, we’ll explore the updated PC specs required to run Fortnite, as well as provide recommendations for those looking to upgrade their current setup.
So, read on to discover what hardware you will need to immerse yourself in this epic battle to be the last one standing.
Fortnite Minimum Requirements
- CPU - Core i3-3225 3.3 GHz
- GPU - Intel HD 4000 or AMD Radeon Vega 8
- Memory - 8 GB RAM
- Storage - 30GB available space
To get Fortnite up and running at 1080p resolution, with graphical settings on low but hitting a relatively smooth 25-30 FPS, Epic Games says you don't need a particularly powerful PC at all.
These specs are truly showing their age now and are not very typical of a lot of modern releases requiring more base power. Both the CPU and GPU options are a good few generations old so most gaming PCs made within the last 10 or so years should be able to handle getting the game up and running.
One area your system may be lacking, however, is having 8GB of RAM. This is a super inexpensive upgrade though, so definitely consider adding a second stick if your current system only has 4GB.
If your PC just meets these specifications, however, you will need to be content with the lowest settings. You’ll only be able to play at around 1080p at 25 FPS with pretty much all the settings on low. In fairness, it could be worse but when playing a fast-paced competitive shooter you ideally want the most amount of frames possible.
Image source: Epic Games
What PC do we recommend?
A PC that we'd recommend at this level would be the Ignition Intel Core i3 GTX 1650 Gaming PC.
As the minimum specs listed are showing their age now, anything from the last decade will surpass it and so that’s the case with this PC.
It houses much newer components in the form of the Nvidia GTX 1650 GPU and the Intel i3 12100. Both parts are some of the best entry-level options on the market and offer excellent value for money for those looking for a more budget system that will still allow for moderate gaming.
It also comes stocked with double the minimum requirement for RAM at 16GB, plus a huge 1TB SSD to store the game on giving you more than enough space for a few others too.
Fortnite Recommended Requirements
- CPU - Core i5-7300U 3.5 GHz or AMD Ryzen 3 3300U (or equivalent)
- GPU - Nvidia GTX 960 or AMD R9 280 (or equivalent)
- Memory - 30 GB RAM or higher
- Storage - SSD with 26GB available space
According to Epic Games, systems that fall within these recommended specifications should also provide a solid gameplay experience at 1080p, likely increasing framerates slightly, whilst also upgrading visual integrity.
These recommended specs aren’t too big of a jump from the minimum requirements, with most components still being just shy of a decade old.
However, upgrading to a dedicated GPU will provide a much smoother performance overall, and will let you have other windows running in the background whilst playing the game.
One area your system may be lacking here though, is having 16GB of RAM. However, like with the minimum specs, adding a second stick if your current system only has 8GB shouldn’t be too expensive of an upgrade.
Image source: Epic Games
What PC do we recommend?
A PC that we'd recommend at this level would be the Ignition Intel Core i5 RTX 3050 Gaming PC.
Just as with our PC suggestion for the minimum specs, this PC features much more recent parts, upgrading the CPU to an Intel Core i5 12400F and the GPU to an Nvidia RTX 3050. The combination of these newer parts means more future-proofing alongside a top-tier 1080p experience.
What do you need to play Fortnite at Epic Quality?
- CPU - Intel Core i7-8700 or AMD Ryzen 7 3700x (or equivalent)
- Graphics - Nvidia RTX 3070 or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT (or equivalent GPU)
- Memory - 30 GB RAM or higher
- Storage - SSD with 26GB available space
The new ‘Epic Quality’ specs from Epic Games are where things really step it up a notch, letting you play with graphical settings on Epic.
Playing Fortnite on a system featuring these components should provide you with a top-tier gaming experience at 1440p, and likely even 4K as the game isn’t overly demanding (as highlighted by the lacklustre specs listed previously.)
Like the other requirement lists, these components are also not of the most current generation. So, to hit these specs without spending money on out-of-date parts, consider a system like the Evolution AMD Ryzen 5 RTX 4060 Ti Gaming PC.
This Chillblast PC features an AMD Ryzen 5 5600 processor, which offers excellent gaming performance and multitasking capabilities. Paired with the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti, you can expect smooth gameplay at 1440p at high settings in most games.
Plus, with full support for DLSS, it can drive up frame rates in supported games even more, and it even has some impressive ray-tracing support in compatible games. It even comes with a 1TB SSD which is ample room for your game library, plus a solid 16GB of high-speed memory.
Image source: Epic Games
What do you need to play Fortnite at 4K?
These aren't official specs from Epic Games, but it's what we think will provide a solid starting point for 4K gameplay:
- CPU -Intel Core i5-12600K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
- GPU - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
- Memory -30 GB RAM
- Storage -100 GB available space
If you have the budget and want to enjoy fighting for that Victory Royale at a glistening 4K with graphics set to their max and without ever worrying about dropped frames, then you’ll need a decent PC to do so. The one we suggest is the Onyx AMD Ryzen 7 RTX 4080 Super Gaming PC.
It combines a top-tier gaming processor with one of the top graphics cards for a high-performance gaming PC that can do absolutely anything and everything.
The AMD Ryzen 7700X is a super-powered gaming processor that pairs perfectly with 32GB of high-speed DDR5 memory, and 2TB of PCIe 4 SSD storage for the most responsive gaming experience. It’s also ready for future games with Direct Storage support for even faster game load times.
To power that 4K experience, however, we need a powerful GPU and in the Nvidia RTX 4080 Super we have the perfect solution. It’s one of the most powerful graphics cards Nvidia has ever made and it will find playing Fortnite at 4K an absolute cakewalk.
With full support for DLSS, it can drive up frame rates in supported games even more, and it even has some impressive ray tracing support in compatible games such as this. Plus, its 16GB of VRAM makes it future-proofed against any advances in gaming technology in the years to come.
Image credit: Epic Games
Conclusion
Fortnite’s various system requirements provide options for all budgets. While meeting the minimum requirements will allow you to play the game at decent framerates, upgrading to a more powerful PC will enhance your gaming experience, especially if you aim to play at higher resolutions and settings.
To explore a wide range of gaming PCs suitable for Fortnite and other titles, visit the Chillblast gaming PC selection here. Whether you prefer a budget-friendly option or a high-end gaming powerhouse, you'll find options to suit your gaming needs.
