PC for Fortnite: requirements, builds and settings

Author: Yegor 25 February 2020 Updated 18 October 2026 5 min read

Fortnite will run even on a laptop with integrated graphics, but for smooth gameplay Epic recommends 16 GB of RAM, an NVMe SSD and at least a GeForce GTX 960 or Radeon R9 280. For Full HD at high detail, an RTX 5050 or RX 9060 XT 8 GB card with a six-core processor is enough today. For 1440p and competitive play on a monitor of 144 Hz or more, choose the RX 9060 XT 16 GB or RTX 5060 Ti. For the Epic preset with Lumen and ray tracing, you need a card in the RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070 Ti class.

Summary

Fortnite runs on Unreal Engine 5 and offers two worlds: Performance mode for high FPS, and full graphics with Lumen, Nanite and ray tracing.
For competitive play, a high and stable frame rate matters more than graphics. The processor, a 144 Hz monitor and low latency are decisive.
For the Epic preset, Epic lists an RTX 3070 or RX 6700 XT with 8 GB, a Core i7-8700 or Ryzen 7 3700X and 16 GB of RAM.
If you stream the game via OBS or Streamlabs, allow for extra headroom in performance and memory.

What are the official Fortnite requirements

The requirements are listed by Epic Games on its support site (as of 10/2026).

Parameter	Minimum	Recommended	Epic presets
Graphics card	Intel HD 4000 / Radeon Vega 8	GTX 960 / R9 280 (DX11), 2 GB	RTX 3070 / RX 6700 XT, 8 GB or more
Processor	Core i3-3225 3.3 GHz	Core i5-7300U / Ryzen 3 3300U	Core i7-8700 / Ryzen 7 3700X
RAM	8 GB	16 GB or more	16 GB or more
OS	Windows 10 22H2, 64-bit	Windows 10/11, 64-bit	Windows 10/11, 64-bit
Storage	not specified	NVMe SSD	NVMe SSD

The game runs on the minimum configuration, but only at low detail. Epic itself recommends lowering the settings and closing background programs if you are at the limit of the requirements.

Which PC for Fortnite: three builds for 2026

The components are available as of 10/2026. We don't list prices – in 2026 they change very quickly because of the memory shortage.

Build	Graphics card	Processor	RAM	SSD	What to expect
Budget 1080p	GeForce RTX 5050 or Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB	Ryzen 5 7600X or Ryzen 5 5600 (DDR4)	16 GB (2 × 8 GB)	1 TB NVMe	Full HD at high detail, high FPS in Performance mode
Optimal 1440p	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB or GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB	Ryzen 5 7600X3D or Core Ultra 5 250K Plus	32 GB DDR5 (2 × 16 GB)	1 TB NVMe	1440p for a 144 Hz monitor, headroom for streaming
High-end	Radeon RX 9070 XT or GeForce RTX 5070 Ti	Ryzen 7 9800X3D	32 GB DDR5-6000	2 TB NVMe	Epic preset with Lumen, or Performance mode for 240 Hz

What matters most in Fortnite

Do you play competitively or for fun?

If you play tournaments or ranked, you set the graphics low and want as many FPS as possible. Then the processor and a high-refresh monitor are decisive, and a mid-range graphics card is enough. For playing for fun, the opposite approach pays off: a stronger card and beautiful graphics with Lumen.

Monitor

Fortnite requires a good view of the battlefield, so choose a monitor of at least 24 inches. For Full HD, 24 inches is ideal; for 1440p, 27 inches. Epic recommends a gaming monitor with 120 or 144 Hz or more. With a 60 Hz monitor you won't see high FPS, even if the card can deliver them.

Memory and storage

Epic recommends 16 GB of RAM and an NVMe SSD. Unreal Engine 5 streams textures and models continuously during the game, and on a slow drive stutters then appear. If OBS, Discord and a browser are running alongside the game, 32 GB is more comfortable.

Streaming

Streaming via OBS or Streamlabs loads the processor or the graphics card – depending on what you use to encode the video. Modern NVIDIA and AMD cards have their own hardware encoder that barely slows the game down. Still, allow for some performance headroom.

How to set up Fortnite for high FPS

The procedure is based on Epic Games' recommendations for competitive play in 2026:

In the display settings, choose full screen and your monitor's native resolution.
Switch the rendering mode to Performance. The game looks simpler, but the frame rate rises significantly.
Turn off vertical sync. To prevent screen tearing, use a FreeSync or G-Sync monitor.
Set the frame rate limit to unlimited. If the image tears, set the limit to your monitor's refresh rate.
Set view distance to Near, and textures and meshes to Low. Leave 3D resolution at 100% and lower it in 10% steps only if FPS isn't enough.
On NVIDIA cards, turn on NVIDIA Reflex in On + Boost mode. It reduces the latency between clicking and firing.
Turn on the FPS display so you can see how changes take effect, and update your graphics card driver.

What next

Do you also play PUBG? A similar genre with different demands is described in our article PC for PUBG.
Want Fortnite on a laptop? We advise what to look for in our article How to choose a gaming laptop.
PC Praha gaming PCs are in preparation – keep an eye on the Gaming PCs collection. In the meantime, our PC repair service can help with your older computer.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Will Fortnite run on a laptop without gaming graphics?

Yes, the minimum is Intel HD 4000 or Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics and 8 GB of RAM. Expect low settings and lower FPS, though.

What is the difference between Performance mode and full graphics in Fortnite?

Performance mode simplifies the graphics and raises FPS significantly, which is why competitive players use it. Full graphics with Lumen and ray tracing look better but need a powerful card.

How much RAM does Fortnite need?

Epic recommends 16 GB. If you stream with OBS alongside the game or keep Discord and a browser open, 32 GB is more comfortable.

What monitor for Fortnite?

Epic recommends a gaming monitor with 120 or 144 Hz or more. A 24-inch screen suits Full HD, 27 inches suits 1440p.

Does Fortnite need an SSD?

Epic recommends an NVMe SSD. The game streams textures continuously, and on a hard drive you get stutters and longer loading.

This text was prepared with the help of AI. Facts, figures and procedures were checked by Yegor.