Fortnite

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the Intel Arc B570 presents a specific performance profile in Fortnite, one that is heavily dictated by the graphics preset chosen. The data reveals a system that can deliver high refresh rate gameplay at 1080p on lower settings but struggles to maintain playable frame rates at 4K with higher visual fidelity. This analysis breaks down the measured results to show exactly where this combination excels and where it falls short.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and clearly indicates a GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 176 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same Low preset drops the average to 112 FPS, a 36% reduction. Pushing to 4K at Low settings further reduces the average to 59 FPS, which is a 47% drop from the 1440p figure and a 66% drop from the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is characteristic of a graphics card that is being saturated as pixel count increases, with the CPU's six cores and 12 threads providing ample headroom at the lower resolutions.

The trend is consistent across all settings. At Medium, the average FPS goes from 124 at 1080p, to 79 at 1440p, and finally to 42 at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 1440p is 45 FPS, while the gap between 1440p and 4K is 37 FPS. This shows that the most significant performance hit occurs when jumping to 4K, regardless of the preset. The data suggests that the Intel Arc B570's 10 GB of VRAM and 160-bit memory bus are not the limiting factor at 1080p, but the raw compute power of the GPU becomes the primary bottleneck as the resolution increases.

The 4K results are particularly telling. With High settings, the average FPS is just 32, and with Ultra settings, it falls to 21 FPS. These numbers are not viable for a competitive shooter like Fortnite. The only way to achieve a playable frame rate at 4K is to use the Low preset, which yields an average of 59 FPS. This indicates that the system is not suited for 4K gaming with this combination unless the user is willing to compromise heavily on visual quality. The scaling from 1080p to 4K is not linear, and the system's performance ceiling is clearly defined by the GPU's capabilities.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this CPU and GPU combo to achieve high frame rates?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution for high frame rates. At Low settings, the combo averages 176 FPS, and even at Medium settings, it maintains an average of 124 FPS. This is the only resolution where the system consistently exceeds the 100 FPS mark across multiple presets.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in Fortnite?

A: The benchmark results indicate that 4K gaming is only possible with significant compromises. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 59, which is playable but not ideal for competitive play. However, with Medium settings, the average drops to 42 FPS, and with High or Ultra settings, it falls to 32 FPS and 21 FPS respectively, which are not smooth or responsive enough for a fast-paced game.

Q: How does the Arc B570's 10 GB of VRAM affect performance in Fortnite?

A: While the impact of VRAM is not directly measured in the FPS data, the 10 GB capacity appears sufficient for the tested settings. The performance drops observed when moving from 1080p to 1440p and 4K are more consistent with the GPU's compute limits (11.52 TFLOPS) rather than a memory capacity bottleneck, as the system is still able to render frames, albeit at lower rates.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: The difference is substantial. At 1440p, the Low preset yields an average of 112 FPS, while the Ultra preset yields an average of 40 FPS. This represents a 72 FPS difference or a 64% reduction in performance when moving from the lowest to the highest visual quality preset.

Q: How does the combo rank among all tested configurations for this game?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B570 combination ranks 2178th out of 2740 tested combos for Fortnite. This places it in the lower half of all tested systems, which aligns with the benchmark results that show it is not a top-tier performer for this specific title.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the main bottleneck for this system in Fortnite?

A: The resolution scaling data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck. As resolution increases, the frame rate drops dramatically, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited system. The CPU's performance, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 12380, is likely sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the Arc B570 cannot maintain high frame rates as the pixel workload increases.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the defining component in this system's Fortnite performance. With a boost clock of 2500 MHz and 2304 shading units, the GPU's raw processing power is what determines the frame rate at higher resolutions. The data shows that the GPU's performance scales poorly with increasing resolution, which is typical for a mid-range graphics card. The card's 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus provides a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s, which is adequate for the tested settings but does not prevent the significant frame rate drops seen at 4K.

The GPU's benchmark scores provide context for its in-game performance. Its Passmark G3D score of 14195 and 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 2649 indicate it is a capable performer, but its overall percentile rank of 65 among all GPUs shows it is not a high-end part. The nearest rival comparisons show it is within 0.1% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and the Intel Arc A750, which places it in a specific performance tier. In Fortnite, this translates to strong 1080p performance, but the GPU's limitations become apparent at 1440p and especially at 4K.

The card's memory configuration is worth noting. The 10 GB VRAM capacity is not a bottleneck in these tests, as the performance drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across all settings. If the VRAM were insufficient, the game would likely stutter or fail to load textures, which is not reflected in the average FPS numbers. The bottleneck is more likely the GPU's compute throughput, as the frame rate drops by roughly half when moving from 1080p to 4K, regardless of the settings preset. This indicates that the Arc B570 is designed for 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming, not for high-resolution, high-fidelity experiences.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core i5-12400F and Intel Arc B570 is positioned in the lower half of all tested combos for Fortnite, with a rank of 2178 out of 2740. This places it in the 21st percentile of all systems tested for this game, which is a clear indicator that it is not a high-performance configuration. The CPU itself ranks in the 73rd percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19039, showing it is a solid mid-range processor. However, the GPU's 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs drags the overall combo down.

The CPU's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score are the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, Intel Core 3 201E, Intel Core i5-1335U, and AMD EPYC 7773X, all with scores within 0.3% of the i5-12400F. This shows that the CPU's processing power is competitive with other mid-range options. The GPU's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile and Intel Arc A750, with scores within 0.1% of the B570. This places the GPU in a performance class with other mainstream graphics cards.

The combo's rank of 2178 out of 2740 suggests that while the individual components are respectable for their respective markets, they do not synergize to create a top-tier gaming experience in Fortnite. The data indicates that this setup is more suited for 1080p gaming, where it can achieve high frame rates, rather than competing with higher-end systems that can handle 1440p and 4K with higher settings. The ranking reflects the system's overall limitations, which are primarily defined by the GPU's performance ceiling.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the user's priority for frame rate versus visual quality. For competitive play, where high frame rates are crucial, the 1080p Low preset is the clear choice, delivering an average of 176 FPS. This provides a significant advantage in responsiveness and smoothness. The 1080p Medium preset is also viable, with an average of 124 FPS, offering a better balance between visual fidelity and performance.

For users with a 1440p monitor, the Low preset is the only option that provides a high refresh rate experience, with an average of 112 FPS. The Medium preset at 1440p drops to 79 FPS, which is still playable but may not be ideal for fast-paced competitive matches. The High and Ultra presets at 1440p, with averages of 61 FPS and 40 FPS respectively, are not recommended for competitive play due to the lower frame rates.

At 4K, the system is severely limited. The only playable option is the Low preset, which yields an average of 59 FPS. This is acceptable for casual play but is not suitable for competitive scenarios. The Medium preset at 4K, with an average of 42 FPS, is borderline playable but may feel sluggish. The High and Ultra presets at 4K, with averages of 32 FPS and 21 FPS, are not recommended as they will result in a stuttering and unresponsive experience. The data clearly shows that this system is best utilized at 1080p with Medium settings for a balanced experience, or Low settings for maximum frame rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured FPS data provides a clear picture of the system's capabilities across all tested configurations. At 1920x1080, the system performs best. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 176 FPS. With Medium settings, the average is 124 FPS, with a minimum of 106 FPS and a maximum of 143 FPS. High settings yield an average of 96 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to an average of 64 FPS. This shows a clear degradation as visual quality increases.

At 2560x1440, the performance drops significantly. The Low preset averages 112 FPS. The Medium preset averages 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 91 FPS. High settings average 61 FPS, and Ultra settings average 40 FPS. The data shows that the system can still achieve high frame rates on Low settings, but the higher presets become increasingly less viable.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playable frame rates. The Low preset averages 59 FPS. The Medium preset averages 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 48 FPS. High settings average 32 FPS, and Ultra settings average just 21 FPS. These numbers indicate that 4K gaming is not a realistic option for this combo unless the user is willing to play on the lowest settings, and even then, the frame rate is not ideal for a competitive shooter. The data across all resolutions and settings confirms that the system's performance sweet spot is at 1080p.