Fortnite

Fortnite on the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F paired with the Intel Arc B370 presents a study in extremes. The data shows a combination where the CPU is a modern, capable mid-range part, yet the GPU is an integrated solution that anchors the entire experience to the lower end of the performance spectrum. The measured FPS results across resolutions and settings paint a clear picture: this is a system built for competitive play at the lowest fidelity, not for visual fidelity at high resolutions. The benchmark results indicate that the pairing's ranking, at 2517 out of 2740 tested combos, places it firmly in the bottom 10% of configurations, a direct consequence of the GPU's 5th percentile standing among all GPUs.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides a definitive answer for the optimal settings preset. At 1920x1080, the most common gaming resolution, the Low preset delivers a playable average of 104 FPS. This is the only preset at this resolution that breaks the 100 FPS barrier, which is critical for a fast-paced Battle Royale title where smoothness and response time are paramount. The jump from Low to Medium represents a significant performance cost, dropping the average frame rate to 73 FPS, a 31 FPS or roughly 30% reduction. While 73 FPS is still technically playable, the sacrifice in fluidity is substantial when compared to the visual uplift offered by the Medium preset on a GPU of this calibre.

The High preset at 1080p yields an average of 57 FPS, which dips below the 60 FPS threshold that many consider the baseline for a comfortable experience. The Ultra preset is all but unplayable, with an average of 37 FPS. The data strongly suggests that for any semblance of a smooth, competitive experience, players must select the Low preset. The alternative is to accept a sub-60 FPS experience on High, which in a game like Fortnite, where building and editing speed are crucial, puts the player at a significant disadvantage.

At higher resolutions, the situation becomes untenable. At 2560x1440, the Low preset manages 66 FPS, which is playable but far from ideal. However, the Medium preset at this resolution drops to 46 FPS, and High falls to 36 FPS. At 4K, even the Low preset can only muster an average of 35 FPS, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive. The optimal experience, based on the data, is unequivocally the Low preset at 1080p. It is the only configuration that consistently provides a frame rate high enough to match the demands of the genre, offering a clear and decisive advantage over the other presets.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the primary bottleneck in this combination. Its measured performance, with a percentile ranking of 5 against all GPUs, places it in the lowest tier of graphics processors. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 is comparable to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and the ATI Radeon HD 5770, both of which are over a decade old. This is a striking indicator of the Arc B370's limited raw rendering power. The GPU's specifications reflect its integrated nature; it operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, and it relies on "System Shared" memory, meaning its performance is tied to the system's DDR5 RAM and is "System Dependent" in terms of bandwidth.

The 1280 shading units and 20 ROPs, while present, are clearly not enough to handle the demands of Fortnite at higher settings. The data shows a stark and consistent pattern: as the graphical settings increase, the average frame rate plummets. At 1080p, the progression from Low (104 FPS) to Medium (73 FPS) to High (57 FPS) and finally to Ultra (37 FPS) demonstrates a linear and massive performance degradation. This indicates that the GPU is completely saturated by the increasing visual workload, and its limited fillrate and shader processing power become the limiting factor long before the CPU is challenged. The GPU's 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance is simply insufficient for high-fidelity rendering, making it clear that this component dictates the entire performance profile of the system in Fortnite.

How This Combo Ranks

The overall ranking for this CPU/GPU combination in Fortnite is 2517 out of 2740 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 8% of all configurations, a direct consequence of the GPU's weak standing. The combo's rank is a reflection of the performance ceiling set by the Intel Arc B370. The CPU, which is a solid performer in its own right, is unable to boost the system's standing because the GPU cannot translate its processing power into high frame rates.

This ranking is a stark contrast to the CPU's individual standing. The Ryzen 5 8400F sits in the 77th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 25005. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F and Intel Core i7-13620H, have virtually identical average scores, with deltas of just 0.2% and 0.4% respectively. This indicates the CPU is a well-balanced part that performs on par with other popular mid-range options. However, when paired with the Arc B370, the system's performance is dragged down to the bottom quartile. The data implies that the GPU is the single largest determinant of this combo's rank, effectively negating the CPU's strengths and relegating the entire system to a niche for low-demand, competitive gaming.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a detailed look at the system's capabilities under various loads. At 1920x1080, the resolution where the combo is most viable, the results are as follows: the Low preset averages 104 FPS, providing a smooth experience. The Medium preset averages 73 FPS, with a minimum of 62 and a maximum of 84 FPS, indicating some frame pacing inconsistency. The High preset averages 57 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 37 FPS, both of which are below the ideal threshold for competitive play.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops are pronounced. The Low preset is the only one that remains somewhat playable, with an average of 66 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 46 FPS, with a range of 39 to 53 FPS. The High preset averages 36 FPS, and the Ultra preset falls to 24 FPS. These numbers confirm that 1440p is a significant challenge for the Arc B370, and only the lowest settings can provide a frame rate that is borderline acceptable.

At 3840x2160, the system is simply out of its depth. The Low preset can only manage an average of 35 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 25 FPS, with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 28 FPS. The High preset averages 19 FPS, and the Ultra preset is a slideshow at 13 FPS. These results show that 4K gaming is not a realistic option for this combination, as even the most performance-friendly settings fail to deliver a playable experience. The data across all resolutions confirms a consistent trend: the GPU's performance ceiling is hit very early, and any increase in resolution or settings results in a dramatic and linear fall in frame rate.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K reveals critical insights into the system's limiting component. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 104 FPS. At 1440p Low, this drops to 66 FPS, a 36.5% decrease. At 4K Low, the frame rate falls to 35 FPS, a 66.3% decrease from the 1080p figure. This scaling pattern is a classic indicator of a GPU-bound system. The increase in resolution exponentially increases the number of pixels the GPU must render, and the Arc B370's limited pixel throughput and memory bandwidth become the primary bottleneck.

The fact that the frame rate drops by roughly half when moving from 1080p to 4K at the same settings is a textbook demonstration of a GPU that is overwhelmed by the workload. If the system were CPU-bound, the frame rate would remain relatively constant across resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not change with resolution. The data shows the opposite: a dramatic and consistent decline in performance that scales inversely with resolution. This confirms that the Intel Arc B370 is not just a bottleneck, but the definitive limiting factor. The CPU is not being tasked with more work; it is waiting for the GPU to finish rendering each frame. The system's inability to maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions is entirely attributable to the GPU's lack of rendering capacity.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a modern 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture. Its role in this pairing is to feed the GPU with data, and in this case, it is more than capable of doing so. The CPU's performance is robust, as evidenced by its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 20851 and its single-core score of 2943. It also demonstrates strong multi-threaded capabilities with a 3DMark max threads score of 6165. This processing power is far in excess of what the Arc B370 can utilize in Fortnite.

The CPU's base clock of 4.20 GHz and boost clock of 4.70 GHz are high, which is beneficial for gaming, as Fortnite is known to be sensitive to single-thread performance. However, the benchmark results show that this CPU power is largely wasted. The system is entirely GPU-bound, and the CPU is likely idling for a significant portion of the time, waiting for the GPU to complete its rendering tasks. The CPU's high performance ensures that it will not be the source of frame drops or stutters; however, it also cannot compensate for the GPU's fundamental lack of power. The data indicates that the Ryzen 5 8400F is a strong, balanced processor that would be a good match for a mid-range discrete GPU, but with the Arc B370, its potential is left untapped.

FAQ

Q: What is the best settings preset for this system in Fortnite?

A: The Low preset at 1920x1080 provides the best experience, with an average of 104 FPS. It is the only configuration that delivers a frame rate high enough for smooth, competitive play. Other presets at this resolution, such as Medium (73 FPS) and High (57 FPS), are significantly slower.

Q: Is this system capable of playing Fortnite at 4K resolution?

A: No. The data shows that at 3840x2160, even the Low preset only achieves an average of 35 FPS, and the Ultra preset drops to 13 FPS. These frame rates are not conducive to a playable experience, particularly in a fast-paced game like Fortnite.

Q: How does this CPU/GPU combo rank against other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 2517 out of 2740 tested combos. This places it in the bottom 8% of all systems, a ranking that is primarily due to the Intel Arc B370's low performance, which sits in the 5th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F a bottleneck in this system?

A: No. The CPU is a strong performer, with an average benchmark score of 25005 and a 77th percentile ranking. The system is entirely GPU-bound. The Arc B370, with its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184, is the limiting factor, preventing the CPU from reaching its full potential.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 66 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages 24 FPS. This represents a 42 FPS difference, a 63.6% reduction in performance, demonstrating the GPU's struggle with higher graphical fidelity.

Q: How does the performance scale from 1080p to 4K at the Low preset?

A: The average frame rate drops from 104 FPS at 1080p to 66 FPS at 1440p, and then to 35 FPS at 4K. This steep decline, a 66.3% drop from 1080p to 4K, confirms that the system is heavily GPU-bound, as the increased pixel count directly overwhelms the graphics processor.