Fortnite

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The measured FPS data for Fortnite with the Intel Core i3-12100F paired with the Intel Arc B370 shows a steep and consistent decline as resolution climbs from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo delivers an average of 104 FPS. Stepping up to 1440p at the same Low preset drops that figure to 66 FPS, a reduction of roughly 36.5%. Moving further to 4K Low yields 35 FPS, which is only about one-third of the 1080p result. This pattern — where each resolution step approximately halves or near-halves the frame rate — is a classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario. The Arc B370's compute resources, rather than the CPU's instruction throughput, are being saturated as pixel count increases.

The scaling is even more pronounced when examining the Medium preset, which is the only setting tier in the data that includes both minimum and maximum FPS values across all three resolutions. At 1080p Medium, the average is 73 FPS with a minimum of 62 and a maximum of 84. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 46 FPS, with the range compressing to 39–53. At 4K Medium, the average falls to 25 FPS, and the range tightens further to 21–28. The fact that the spread between minimum and maximum narrows as resolution increases — from a 22 FPS gap at 1080p to a 7 FPS gap at 4K — suggests that at higher resolutions the frame pacing becomes more uniform because the GPU is consistently the bottleneck; there are fewer CPU-driven spikes or dips to widen the variance.

Looking at the High preset, the same trend holds: 1080p High averages 57 FPS, 1440p High drops to 36 FPS, and 4K High bottoms out at 19 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with 1080p Ultra at 37 FPS, 1440p Ultra at 24 FPS, and 4K Ultra at just 13 FPS. The ratio between 1080p and 4K for each preset is remarkably consistent: for Low it is 104/35 (about 2.97x), for Medium it is 73/25 (about 2.92x), for High it is 57/19 (exactly 3.0x), and for Ultra it is 37/13 (about 2.85x). This near-uniform 3x degradation across all settings reinforces the conclusion that the limiting component is the GPU's fixed execution throughput; if the CPU were the constraint, we would expect the 4K-to-1080p ratio to shrink substantially at lower settings where CPU headroom becomes more relevant.

The data indicates that at 1080p, the i3-12100F's four cores and eight threads are sufficient to feed the Arc B370 adequately at Low and Medium, given the 104 FPS and 73 FPS results respectively. However, the drop to 57 FPS at High and 37 FPS at Ultra suggests that even at 1080p, the GPU's shading units and texture units are overwhelmed by the increased per-pixel work. At 4K, the GPU is clearly the sole limiting factor; the 13–35 FPS range across settings is far below what any modern CPU would bottleneck at, and the i3-12100F's single-thread performance (3dmark_single_thread score of 893) is more than adequate to sustain those frame rates.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Arc B370 is an integrated graphics solution based on the Xe3-LPG architecture, built on a 3 nm process. Its memory configuration is listed as "System Shared" for size, type, bus width, and bandwidth, with bandwidth explicitly marked as "System Dependent." This is a critical detail for interpreting Fortnite's performance: the GPU has no dedicated video memory, so it relies on the system's DDR4 or DDR5 memory (the CPU supports both) over a dual-channel bus. In a fast-paced Battle Royale like Fortnite, where texture streaming and draw calls fluctuate rapidly, shared memory can introduce latency and bandwidth contention that a discrete GPU with dedicated VRAM would avoid. The measured FPS data likely reflects this constraint, particularly at 4K where the memory bandwidth demand scales with pixel count.

The GPU's clock behavior is notable: a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. That is an 8x multiplier between base and boost, indicating that the silicon is designed to aggressively ramp up under load. The boost clock of 2400 MHz is what the benchmark results would approximate under sustained gaming load, assuming thermal and power limits allow. The TDP is listed at 25 W, which is extremely low, and the slot width is "IGP" with no power connectors and a bus interface of "IGP" — confirming this is an integrated part, not a discrete card. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s and the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, and the FP32 throughput is 6.144 TFLOPS. These figures place the Arc B370 at the very bottom of the GPU performance spectrum; its percentileVsAllGpus is 5, meaning it outperforms only 5% of all GPUs in the database.

The GPU's nearestRivals in the benchmark database are all legacy parts: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (avg score 1186, deltaPct -0.2), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (avg score 1190, deltaPct -0.5), the AMD Radeon HD 7650M (avg score 1192, deltaPct -0.7), and the AMD FirePro M2000 (avg score 1168, deltaPct 1.4). The Arc B370's own average benchmark score is 1184, which is within 1.4% of all four rivals. This places it in the same performance class as GPUs from over a decade ago. For Fortnite, this means the Arc B370 is functionally a low-end part, and the measured FPS reflects that: even at 1080p Low, the 104 FPS is respectable, but it falls off a cliff as settings and resolution increase.

The RT cores (10) and DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) support suggest the hardware is modern in feature set, but the raw throughput (1280 shading units, 40 TMUs, 20 ROPs) is insufficient for high-fidelity rendering. The FP16 rate of 12.29 TFLOPS (2:1) indicates some compute headroom for mixed-precision workloads, but Fortnite is primarily FP32-bound in its rasterization path. The boost clock of 2400 MHz is the key positive: it allows the GPU to punch above its architectural weight at lower resolutions, which explains why 1080p Low reaches 104 FPS. But at 4K, the 20 ROPs become the bottleneck for pixel fill, capping even Low settings at 35 FPS.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor from the Alder Lake-S family, built on Intel's 10 nm process. Its base clock is 3.30 GHz and its boost clock is 4.30 GHz. The TDP is 58 W, and it uses the Intel Socket 1700. The cache hierarchy is modest: 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, and 12 MB shared L3. It supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory over a dual-channel bus, with PCIe Gen 5 providing 16 lanes for the CPU. The 3dmark single-thread score is 893, and the 3dmark 2-thread score is 1659 — these are strong numbers for a 4-core part, indicating that Fortnite's primary game thread (which is typically single-threaded for frame submission) is well-served.

The multithreaded scores are more revealing for Fortnite's broader workload. The 3dmark 4-thread score is 2859, the 8-thread score is 4026, and the max-thread score is 4023. The fact that 8-thread and max-thread scores are nearly identical (4026 vs 4023) confirms that the i3-12100F has exactly 8 threads, and there is no hyperthreading beyond that. The Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 11860, while the single-core score is 1674 — a ratio of about 7.1x, which is lower than the 8x you might expect from 8 threads, indicating some scaling inefficiency. The Geekbench multi-core score is 7252 and single-core is 1932.

In the context of Fortnite, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw call submission. The 4 cores and 8 threads are sufficient for this task at 1080p, as evidenced by the 104 FPS Low result. The CPU's percentileVsAllCpus is 68, meaning it outperforms 68% of all CPUs in the database. Its nearestRivals include the Intel Core 3 N355 (avg score 13492, deltaPct 0), the Intel Core i5-9500 (avg score 13452, deltaPct 0.3), the Intel Core 5 120UL (avg score 13594, deltaPct -0.7), and the Intel Core i7-1250U (avg score 13351, deltaPct 1.1). The i3-12100F's avgBenchmarkScore is 13494, putting it within 0.3% of the i5-9500 and 1.1% of the i7-1250U. This indicates that the i3 is a capable mid-range CPU, but it is not a high-end part.

The key observation is that the i3-12100F is not the bottleneck in these Fortnite measurements. At 1080p Low, the 104 FPS average suggests the CPU can push well beyond that if the GPU allowed. The Passmark single-thread score of 3444 and the Cinebench R20 single-core score of 703 both indicate robust single-thread performance. Given that Fortnite's render thread and game thread typically saturate 1-2 cores, the i3's 4.30 GHz boost clock on a single core is adequate. The CPU's 12 MB L3 cache is also sufficient for Fortnite's working set, which is not unusually large. The data strongly suggests that any FPS cap below 104 FPS is GPU-imposed, not CPU-imposed.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combo of the Intel Core i3-12100F and the Intel Arc B370 ranks 2517 out of 2740 tested combos in Fortnite. This places it in the bottom 8.1% of all tested configurations — the data shows a rank that is 223 positions away from the worst, meaning there are 223 combos that perform worse. The percentileVsAllGpus of 5 for the GPU is the dominant factor here; the CPU's percentile of 68 is far higher. The combination of a mid-range CPU with a bottom-tier GPU results in a system that is severely GPU-limited in Fortnite.

To contextualize the rank: the combo is in the 92nd percentile from the bottom, meaning only 8.1% of tested combos are slower. This is not a competitive gaming configuration for Fortnite at high settings. The GPU's nearest rivals — the ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M — are parts from the early 2010s, and the combo rank reflects that legacy-level performance. However, the rank is not solely a GPU story; if the CPU were significantly weaker (e.g., a dual-core part), the rank would likely be even lower. The i3-12100F's strong single-thread performance (3dmark_single_thread score of 893) prevents the combo from falling into the absolute bottom tier.

The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming at Low to Medium settings, where it can achieve 104 FPS and 73 FPS respectively. At 1440p, it falls to 66 FPS Low and 46 FPS Medium, which is playable but not smooth for competitive Fortnite. At 4K, the combo is not viable for any setting above Low (35 FPS), and even Low dips to 13 FPS at Ultra. The rank of 2517 out of 2740 is consistent with these measurements: it is a low-end configuration that can handle esports titles at modest settings but struggles with higher resolutions and quality presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

At 1920x1080, the full range of settings is covered. Low delivers 104 FPS average. Medium delivers 73 FPS average, with a minimum of 62 and a maximum of 84. High delivers 57 FPS average. Ultra delivers 37 FPS average. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline: 104 → 73 → 57 → 37. The step from Low to Medium is a drop of 31 FPS, from Medium to High is 16 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 20 FPS. The Medium preset's 62–84 FPS range indicates that the system can occasionally spike above 80 FPS, which is useful for understanding headroom.

At 2560x1440, Low delivers 66 FPS average. Medium delivers 46 FPS average, with a minimum of 39 and a maximum of 53. High delivers 36 FPS average. Ultra delivers 24 FPS average. The progression is 66 → 46 → 36 → 24. The drop from Low to Medium is 20 FPS, from Medium to High is 10 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 12 FPS. The Medium range of 39–53 FPS shows a tighter spread than at 1080p, with the minimum closer to the average.

At 3840x2160, Low delivers 35 FPS average. Medium delivers 25 FPS average, with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 28. High delivers 19 FPS average. Ultra delivers 13 FPS average. The progression is 35 → 25 → 19 → 13. The step from Low to Medium is 10 FPS, from Medium to High is 6 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 6 FPS. The Medium range of 21–28 FPS is the narrowest of all resolutions, confirming that the GPU is fully saturated.

Comparing the same setting across resolutions: Low goes 104 (1080p) → 66 (1440p) → 35 (4K). Medium goes 73 → 46 → 25. High goes 57 → 36 → 19. Ultra goes 37 → 24 → 13. In every case, the 1080p-to-1440p drop is roughly 35-40%, and the 1440p-to-4K drop is roughly 45-50%. The 4K values are all below 35 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay in a fast-paced Battle Royale.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

For 1080p, the Low preset at 104 FPS is the clear winner for competitive play. It provides a frame rate that is more than double the Medium preset's 73 FPS, and 2.8x the Ultra preset's 37 FPS. If visual fidelity is a priority, Medium at 73 FPS is a reasonable compromise, with the 62–84 FPS range indicating acceptable variance. High at 57 FPS is playable but not ideal for fast-twitch combat. Ultra at 37 FPS is not recommended for any scenario, as it dips below the 60 FPS threshold that most players target.

For 1440p, Low at 66 FPS is the only preset that approaches a smooth experience. Medium at 46 FPS is borderline, with the 39 FPS minimum potentially causing noticeable stutter during intense build fights. High at 36 FPS and Ultra at 24 FPS are both too low for enjoyable play. The data suggests that 1440p should be reserved for Low settings if the user prioritizes frame rate, or Medium if they accept a lower but playable rate.

For 4K, none of the presets are recommended for active gameplay. Low at 35 FPS is the highest achievable, but it is below the 40 FPS threshold that many consider the minimum for playable. Medium at 25 FPS and below is not viable. The combo is effectively a 1080p solution; the 4K results are only useful for understanding the GPU's limits, not for practical gaming.

The best overall experience per the measured rows is 1080p Low at 104 FPS. This provides the highest frame rate, which is critical in Fortnite's competitive environment. If the user prefers higher visual quality, 1080p Medium at 73 FPS is the second-best option, offering a 31 FPS penalty for improved textures and effects. The data does not support any preset above Medium at any resolution for a consistently smooth experience.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve in Fortnite?

A: The highest average FPS is 104, measured at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

Q: How does the combo perform at 1440p Medium compared to 1080p Medium?

A: At 1440p Medium, the average FPS is 46, compared to 73 at 1080p Medium. This is a drop of 27 FPS, or approximately 37%.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 35, and at 4K Ultra it is 13. The CPU's single-thread score (893 on 3dmark) is more than sufficient to sustain these frame rates, so the Arc B370's pixel throughput is the constraint.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested combos in Fortnite?

A: The combo ranks 2517 out of 2740 tested combos, placing it in the bottom 8.1% of all configurations.

Q: Which setting at 1080p provides the best balance of frame rate and visual quality?

A: Based on the measured rows, 1080p Medium at 73 FPS is the best balance, as it offers significantly higher quality than Low (104 FPS) while remaining above the 60 FPS threshold. High at 57 FPS drops below that threshold.

Q: Does the GPU have dedicated VRAM?

A: No. The GPU's memory size, type, and bus width are all listed as "System Shared," and bandwidth is "System Dependent." This means it relies on the system's main memory, which can be a performance constraint at higher resolutions.