So you’ve finally decided to download and install Fortnite but you notice that you are not getting the FPS you expected. You can’t help but ask “Is Fortnite a CPU or GPU game?” Luckily, the answer is pretty simple.
Fortnite is a GPU-bound game, which means that it utilizes the GPU more than the CPU. In other words, it is a GPU game that benefits from a powerful graphics card. It is important to note that even if you have a good graphics card, you still need a decent CPU so that it won’t be a bottleneck.
If you are still wondering about this topic, you can find the answer to the question in more detail below.
Is Fortnite a CPU or GPU Game?
Fortnite is a fun game that loves to use the graphics card, but it also utilizes the CPU pretty well. This is great news because it means that your hardware power will not be wasted, no matter how powerful it is.
If you are planning to upgrade your computer but don’t know if you should upgrade the graphics card or CPU, then get a new graphics card first.
As long as your GPU horsepower is not restricted by your CPU, you should see a huge bump in performance. The upgrade will reduce or eliminate stutter, increase game stability, and maybe even lower the computer ambient temperature, depending on how good the fans on the graphics card are.
However, if you already have a decent graphics card, like an RX 5500 XT or a GTX 1650 Super, you may want to upgrade your CPU. This is especially true if your CPU is not that powerful. A slight GPU bottleneck is better than a CPU bottleneck because it means that games will be able to use your graphics card properly.
If you have one of the aforementioned cards, get a nice i3-9100 or a Ryzen 3 3300X because they go well in that combination. You may want to spend a little bit more on the CPU here, though, because you will not be put into the same situation – a powerful GPU with a weak CPU.
What Is A Good CPU For Fortnite
What kind of CPU should you get for Fortnite and future-proofing? A newer Ryzen 5 or an Intel Core i5 are a very good choice, but you can also step up to the Ryzen 7 or Intel Core i7. A Ryzen 9 or i9 would just be a waste of money if you do not use your computer for CPU-intensive tasks.
But what about those situations in Fortnite when a lot of people are fighting at the same time in one place? Is Fortnite a CPU or GPU game then? In such situations, the answer is a bit more complicated. Generally speaking, your GPU is utilized to project a certain image on your monitor, but the CPU is responsible for rendering all those entities around you.
In other words, if someone near you is fighting but you do not see them, Fortnite will utilize the CPU more than the GPU. But if you are the one fighting and building against someone else, the GPU will be a bit more important.
In addition to the CPU and GPU, the amount of RAM and the clock speed matter too. Ryzen CPUs are famous for utilizing faster RAM for more performance and better stability. How much RAM you want in your system if you only play Fortnite depends on you, but in general, you want to get at least 8 GB on two sticks.
Conclusion
So, is Fortnite a CPU or GPU game? In most situations, the GPU will be utilized more than the CPU. If you have a decent CPU, then sell your graphics card and get a new one. But if your CPU is underpowered when compared to your graphics card, replacing it or at least overclocking it will give you a huge bump in performance.
No matter what situation you are currently in, replace the weaker component because Fortnite is well-optimized, meaning that it can use both the CPU and the GPU very well to achieve the right performance. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun!
