Fortnite

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 produces a highly resolution-sensitive experience in Fortnite, a Battle Royale title released on 2017-07-24. The measured frame rates reveal a system where the GPU becomes the overwhelming bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s strong single-thread performance allows for exceptional frame rates at 1080p. This analysis breaks down the measured data to show exactly how each component contributes to the final experience across different settings and resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The frame rate drop from 1080p to 4K is dramatic and clearly identifies the limiting component. At Low settings, the system delivers 188.5 FPS at 1920x1080, which falls to 118.8 FPS at 2560x1440, and then plummets to 64.9 FPS at 3840x2160. That is a 65.6% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K, indicating that the GPU is being saturated by the increasing pixel count. The scaling is less severe but still pronounced at Medium settings, where the frame rate drops from 135.0 FPS at 1080p to 85.4 FPS at 1440p and finally 42.4 FPS at 4K.

The data suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to keep it busy, but at 4K, the raw pixel throughput of the RTX 2060 becomes the absolute constraint. The gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases, which further confirms this. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 119.9 FPS, while at 4K, it shrinks to 39.4 FPS. This compression of the settings range at higher resolutions is a classic sign of a GPU-bound scenario, where the graphics card is working at its maximum capacity regardless of the visual complexity. The i5-12400F’s 6 cores and 12 threads are not the limiting factor here; the 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and the TU106 chip are.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for Fortnite, this specific pairing of the Intel Core i5-12400F and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks at position 1272 out of 1564 tested combos. This places it in the lower third of all tested systems, which is a surprising result given the hardware’s individual capabilities. The CPU alone sits in the 77th percentile when compared to all CPUs, and the GPU is in the 58th percentile for all GPUs. The combination’s rank, however, suggests that the RTX 2060, being an older Turing architecture part, is holding the system back in a game that can be heavily CPU-bound at lower resolutions but is ultimately limited by the GPU at higher settings.

The rank implies that there are 292 other tested combinations that outperform this one. This is likely because many modern combos feature more powerful GPUs that can better utilize the i5-12400F’s capability. The CPU’s nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-8700K, which has an average score that is just 0.1% higher, and the Intel Core i5-1335U, which is only 0.3% higher. This shows the i5-12400F is competitively positioned in the CPU space. However, the GPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 7600S which is 0.5% faster, and the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 which is 1.8% slower, indicate that the graphics card is a mid-range performer. The low combo rank is a direct consequence of the GPU’s performance ceiling, which prevents the entire system from achieving higher frame rates in this specific title.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is the primary driver of the frame rate differences across settings. Its base clock of 1365 MHz and boost clock of 1680 MHz are standard for this Turing-generation part, and its 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus provides a memory bandwidth of 336.0 GB/s. The measured data shows that this memory configuration is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but it is the compute power that limits 4K performance. The GPU’s FP32 performance is 6.451 TFLOPS, which is a modest figure for 4K gaming in a demanding title like Fortnite.

The GPU’s performance in synthetic benchmarks aligns with its in-game results. Its Passmark G3D score is 14111, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 1242. These scores place it in the 58th percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a solid mid-range card. The RTX 2060’s support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4 ensures it can run modern game features, but the raw horsepower is not there for maximum settings at 4K. The fact that it is marked as "End-of-life" in production status and was released on 2019-01-06 suggests it is an older design that has been superseded. The data clearly shows that the GPU is the component that determines the experience at 1440p and 4K, while the CPU takes a larger role at 1080p.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system’s capabilities. At 1920x1080, the system is highly capable, with the Low preset achieving 188.5 FPS, which is excellent for competitive play. The Medium preset at 135.0 FPS is also very smooth, and the High preset at 102.0 FPS is still above the 60 FPS threshold for a good experience. The Ultra preset at 68.6 FPS is the only setting at 1080p that dips below the triple-digit mark, but it is still playable.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops are noticeable. The Low preset still delivers a very playable 118.8 FPS, but the Medium preset falls to 85.4 FPS. The High preset drops to 62.8 FPS, which is still acceptable for most users, but the Ultra preset at 42.7 FPS becomes a compromise. At 3840x2160, the system struggles. The Low preset is just about playable at 64.9 FPS, but the Medium preset drops to 42.4 FPS, and the High preset falls to 33.8 FPS. The Ultra preset at 25.5 FPS is not a viable option for a smooth experience. This breakdown shows that the system is best suited for 1080p gaming, can handle 1440p with adjusted settings, and is not recommended for 4K gaming beyond the Low preset.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Fortnite?

A: Based on the measured data, 1920x1080 is the best resolution, as it is the only one where the system consistently achieves high frame rates across all settings, with the Low preset hitting 188.5 FPS and even the Ultra preset reaching 68.6 FPS.

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

A: The data shows it can only handle 4K at the Low preset, which achieves 64.9 FPS. All other presets at 3840x2160 result in average frame rates below 42.4 FPS, which is not ideal for a smooth experience.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F has an average benchmark score that is just 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i7-8700K and 0.3% higher than the Intel Core i5-1335U, showing it is a very competitive performer in its class.

Q: Is the GPU or the CPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor at 1440p and 4K, as frame rates drop significantly with resolution. At 1080p, the CPU’s strong single-thread score of 2332 in Cinebench R23 allows it to keep up, but the GPU still governs the final output.

Q: What is the performance difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: The difference is 119.9 FPS, with the Low preset achieving 188.5 FPS and the Ultra preset achieving 68.6 FPS. This shows a significant performance cost for higher visual fidelity.

Q: How does the GPU’s synthetic benchmark score relate to its in-game performance?

A: The GPU’s Passmark G3D score of 14111 places it in the 58th percentile, which aligns with its in-game performance that shows it is a solid mid-range card that can handle 1080p and 1440p but not 4K at high settings.

Settings Recommendations

For the best experience, the data strongly suggests using the Low preset at 1920x1080, which yields 188.5 FPS. This is the optimal configuration for competitive play, as the high frame rate provides a significant advantage in a Battle Royale game. For users who prefer better visual quality, the Medium preset at 1080p, which achieves 135.0 FPS, offers a good balance between performance and fidelity. The High preset at 1080p, at 102.0 FPS, is also a viable option for a more visually rich experience.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only recommended setting, providing 118.8 FPS. The Medium preset at 85.4 FPS could be used if a slight dip in smoothness is acceptable, but the High and Ultra presets fall below 62.8 FPS, which may not be ideal for a fast-paced game. For 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only playable option at 64.9 FPS. All other settings at 4K result in frame rates that are too low for a competitive or even comfortable experience. The data clearly indicates that the system’s sweet spot is 1080p with the Low or Medium presets, where the hardware can fully flex its capabilities.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-12400F plays a crucial role in enabling the high frame rates seen at 1080p. With 6 cores and 12 threads, it has a base clock of 2.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. Its performance in single-threaded tests is particularly strong, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2332 and a 3DMark single-thread score of 909. This single-thread strength is essential for Fortnite, which often relies on a few main threads for game logic and physics. The CPU’s 18 MB of shared L3 cache also helps reduce memory latency.

The CPU’s overall benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 16518 and a Geekbench multicore score of 9138, show it is a capable multi-threaded processor as well. However, the measured FPS data shows that its influence diminishes as resolution increases. At 1080p, the high frame rates are only possible because the CPU can process game data quickly enough. At 4K, the GPU is so overwhelmed that the CPU’s speed is irrelevant. The CPU’s percentile rank of 77th overall confirms its status as a strong performer, but the system’s overall rank of 1272 out of 1564 combos is dragged down by the GPU’s limitations. The data implies that upgrading the GPU would provide a much larger performance boost in Fortnite than upgrading the CPU would.