Fortnite

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the Intel Arc B390 ranks near the bottom of the database for Fortnite, landing at position 2417 out of 2740 tested combos. This places the system in the 12th percentile of all configurations, indicating that while it can run the game, it will not deliver a competitive or high-refresh-rate experience at most settings. The data shows a configuration that is heavily constrained by the graphics processor, which sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, making it the primary bottleneck for this title.

How This Combo Ranks

The comboRankInGame of 2417 out of 2740 places this system firmly in the lower tier of tested configurations for Fortnite. This is a bottom-quartile result, meaning that the vast majority of other CPU-GPU pairings in the database deliver higher frame rates. The ranking is not surprising given the GPU's performance class; the Intel Arc B390 is an integrated graphics solution that scores in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1482. Its nearest rivals in the GPU benchmarks are legacy parts like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (scoring 1463, a 1.3% delta) and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 (scoring 1443, a 2.7% delta). This places the B390 in the same performance envelope as decade-old entry-level discrete graphics, which explains the low overall ranking.

Conversely, the CPU is a much stronger component. The Intel Core i5-10400F sits in the 68th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 14185. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Xeon 6756E (scoring 14163, a 0.2% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C (scoring 14277, a -0.6% delta). This indicates the processor is a mid-range part that is more than capable of feeding frames to a more powerful GPU. The disparity between the CPU's 68th percentile ranking and the GPU's 9th percentile ranking is stark, and it is the primary reason the combo lands so low in the overall standings. The data suggests that the i5-10400F is not the limiting factor in this pairing; it is the integrated graphics that hold the system back.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 115 at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the only measured configuration that approaches a high-refresh-rate experience, though it still falls short of 144 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The B390 scores 1482 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 benchmark. It is 1.3% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX (1463 score) and 2.5% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM (1446 score). The margins are small, indicating performance parity with these older entry-level GPUs.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck in this system?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The Arc B390 ranks in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, while the Core i5-10400F ranks in the 68th percentile of all CPUs. The CPU's performance is far superior to the GPU's, meaning the integrated graphics cannot keep up with the processor's output.

Q: Can this combo run Fortnite at 4K resolution?

A: It can run the game, but not smoothly. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average FPS is 39. At Medium settings, it drops to 27 FPS (with a min of 23 and max of 31). At High settings, it falls to 21 FPS, and at Ultra, it is unplayable at 14 FPS.

Q: What settings provide the most balanced experience at 1080p?

A: Low settings at 1920x1080 deliver 115 FPS average, which is the most playable. Medium settings yield 81 FPS (min 69, max 93), which is also acceptable for casual play. High settings drop to 63 FPS, and Ultra falls to 41 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its single-threaded performance?

A: The i5-10400F scores 10283 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1451 in single-core. In Geekbench, it scores 6257 multi-core and 1420 single-core. The multi-core scores are significantly higher, reflecting the 6-core/12-thread design.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and reveals the GPU as the limiting component. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 115 at 1920x1080 to 73 at 2560x1440, and then to 39 at 3840x2160. This represents a 66% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K. The scaling is slightly less severe at Higher settings: at High, the FPS drops from 63 at 1080p to 40 at 1440p and 21 at 4K, a 67% reduction. This pattern indicates that the integrated GPU is being overwhelmed by the pixel count at higher resolutions.

The data shows that the Arc B390's memory bandwidth is "System Dependent," meaning it relies on shared system memory. As resolution increases, the demand on this shared memory grows, which likely contributes to the steep FPS decline. The GPU's pixel rate of 60.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 120.0 GTexel/s are simply insufficient for 4K workloads, even at Low settings. The 39 FPS at 4K Low is technically playable but far from smooth, while the 14 FPS at 4K Ultra is a slideshow.

For this combo, 1080p is the only viable resolution for a playable experience. The scaling suggests that the CPU, which is a stronger component, has headroom to spare at lower resolutions, but the GPU cannot sustain frame rates at 1440p or 4K without significant compromises to visual quality. The data indicates that users should stick to 1080p for any semblance of smooth gameplay, as the performance cliff at higher resolutions is steep and consistent across all settings presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the configuration shows a wide spread across settings. Low settings deliver 115 FPS average, which is the only measured result above 100 FPS. Medium settings yield 81 FPS average, with a minimum of 69 and maximum of 93, showing a stable frame delivery. High settings produce 63 FPS average, while Ultra settings drop to 41 FPS average. The gap from Low to Ultra is 74 FPS, indicating that the GPU's performance is highly sensitive to the visual fidelity settings.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. Low settings average 73 FPS, which is still playable. Medium settings average 51 FPS, with a min of 44 and max of 59. High settings fall to 40 FPS, and Ultra settings plummet to 26 FPS. The 1440p results show that even Low settings cannot maintain a 75 FPS average, and any preset above Medium will struggle to stay above 30 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the results are marginal. Low settings average 39 FPS, which is the only 4K preset above 30 FPS. Medium settings average 27 FPS (min 23, max 31), High settings average 21 FPS, and Ultra settings average 14 FPS. The 4K data indicates that this combo is not suited for this resolution, as even the lowest settings preset cannot deliver a consistent 30 FPS experience. The measured data across all resolutions shows a consistent pattern: the Arc B390 is a low-end solution that requires Low settings at 1080p to approach a smooth frame rate.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-10400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Comet Lake architecture, built on a 14 nm process. It has a base clock of 2.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.30 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. The CPU's cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 256 KB of L2 per core, and 12 MB of shared L3 cache. This configuration is typical of a mid-range desktop part from the 10th generation, and its benchmark scores reflect a capable processor for gaming workloads that are not heavily multi-threaded.

In Fortnite, the CPU's role is to handle game logic, physics, and draw calls, while the GPU renders the frames. The data shows that the i5-10400F is more than adequate for this task. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 10283 and single-core score of 1451 indicate strong performance for a 6-core part. The Geekbench scores of 6257 multi-core and 1420 single-core corroborate this. The CPU's 68th percentile ranking among all CPUs means it outperforms the majority of processors in the database, making it a solid foundation for a gaming system.

However, the CPU's potential is wasted when paired with the Arc B390. The GPU's 9th percentile ranking means it is one of the weakest parts in the database, and it cannot keep up with the CPU's output. The benchmark results indicate that Fortnite is GPU-bound in this configuration, as evidenced by the significant FPS drops at higher resolutions. The CPU is not the bottleneck; it has enough headroom to drive a much more powerful GPU. The data suggests that the i5-10400F could support frame rates well above 115 FPS at 1080p if paired with a discrete graphics card that is not constrained by shared system memory and low pixel throughput.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only way to achieve a smooth and responsive experience in Fortnite with this combo is to use Low settings at 1920x1080. The 115 FPS average at this configuration is the sole result that approaches competitive playability, though it still falls short of the 144 FPS that many esports players target. For a more visually appealing experience at 1080p, Medium settings offer 81 FPS average (min 69, max 93), which is acceptable for casual play, but the frame rate dips below 70 FPS on occasion.

At 2560x1440, Low settings provide 73 FPS average, which is playable but not ideal. Medium settings at 1440p drop to 51 FPS average, which is borderline for a smooth experience. The data indicates that 1440p is viable only at Low settings, and even then, the frame pacing may not be consistent. At 3840x2160, no settings preset delivers a satisfactory experience. Low settings at 39 FPS is the best 4K result, but it is far from smooth, and any other preset at 4K is effectively unplayable.

The optimal experience, balancing visual quality and performance, is Medium settings at 1080p. This preset delivers 81 FPS average with a minimum of 69 FPS, providing a stable frame rate that is suitable for most players. However, for those who prioritize frame rate above all else, Low settings at 1080p is the clear choice, as it is the only measured configuration that exceeds 100 FPS. The data strongly suggests avoiding 4K resolution entirely, as even the lowest settings cannot maintain a 30 FPS minimum. Users should also avoid Ultra settings at any resolution, as the 41 FPS at 1080p and 14 FPS at 4K indicate that this preset is not designed for the Arc B390's capabilities.