Fortnite

Fortnite on the Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combo delivers a wide performance envelope, but the experience is heavily dictated by your resolution and quality preset. The data shows a system that can push high refresh rates at 1080p but becomes a 4K experience only at lower settings. This pairing sits in the 60th percentile of all tested combos for this title, ranking 933rd out of 1564, indicating a solidly mid-pack performance that favors competitive play over maxed-out visuals.

Resolution Scaling

The scaling from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions, while the CPU’s headroom becomes apparent at lower ones. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 227.8 at 1920x1080 to 145.2 at 2560x1440, a reduction of 36%. Pushing further to 3840x2160 yields 74.1 FPS, which is just 33% of the 1080p figure. This steep decline indicates that the RTX 2070 SUPER’s rendering throughput is the limiting factor as pixel count skyrockets.

The pattern shifts when looking at High settings. The transition from 1920x1080 (122.2 FPS) to 2560x1440 (77.4 FPS) represents a 37% performance loss, but the jump to 4K (44.9 FPS) is less dramatic proportionally. This suggests that at High settings, the GPU is already working hard enough that the additional pixel load at 4K doesn’t scale linearly with the resolution increase. The Ultra preset tells a similar story: 82.3 FPS at 1080p, 49.8 FPS at 1440p, and a demanding 27.4 FPS at 4K, showing that the GPU is the primary bottleneck throughout.

Interestingly, the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens as resolution increases. At 1080p, Ultra is 64% slower than Low; at 4K, that gap grows to 63%. This consistency implies that while the CPU handles the physics and draw calls adequately at 1080p, the GPU’s memory bandwidth and compute units are the decisive factors once resolution climbs. The data clearly shows that 1440p is the sweet spot for balancing visual fidelity with playable frame rates on this combo.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is the workhorse here, and its specifications explain the measured results. With 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, the card offers 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which is sufficient for Fortnite’s stylized environments but becomes strained at 4K Ultra where the frame rate collapses to 27.4 FPS. The GPU’s boost clock of 1770 MHz and 2560 shading units are the key drivers behind the 1080p performance, where it manages 227.8 FPS on Low settings.

The card’s TU104 chip, built on a 12 nm process, provides 9.062 TFLOPS of FP32 compute. This raw power translates directly to the frame rates seen, but the architecture’s age shows in the 4K Ultra results. The 64 ROPs and 160 TMUs are adequate for 1440p gaming, as evidenced by the 101.7 FPS at Medium settings, but they cannot sustain high frame rates at 4K with heavy effects enabled. The RTX 2070 SUPER’s 40 RT cores and 320 tensor cores are present, though Fortnite’s rasterized gameplay doesn’t leverage them significantly in these measurements.

The GPU’s 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs places it above average, but its nearest rivals tell a nuanced story. It trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile by 2.3% in average benchmark score, yet leads the AMD Radeon RX 5700 by 2.5%. This mid-range positioning explains why the combo excels at 1080p but struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 4K High. The 8 GB VRAM capacity is not overtly limiting at these settings, but the bandwidth becomes a constraint when textures and post-processing scale up.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware, this Intel and NVIDIA pairing ranks 933rd out of 1564 combos for Fortnite. This places it in the 59.6th percentile, meaning it outperforms roughly 60% of all tested configurations but falls short of the top 40%. This is a respectable position for a mid-range setup, indicating that the i5-12400F and RTX 2070 SUPER work efficiently together without major bottlenecks in either direction.

The CPU component of this combo, the Intel Core i5-12400F, holds a 77th percentile ranking against all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-8700K, has a nearly identical average score with a delta of just 0.1%, suggesting the 12th-gen chip matches a previous flagship in overall compute. The i5-12400F also edges out the Intel Core i5-1335U by 0.3% but trails the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS by 0.7%. These tight margins indicate the CPU is not a weak link in this pairing.

The GPU’s 65th percentile ranking is lower than the CPU’s, which suggests the graphics card is the more limiting component in this duo. The RTX 2070 SUPER’s average benchmark score of 22206 places it close to the NVIDIA RTX A400, which leads by 0.5%, and the GTX TITAN Z, which trails by 0.9%. This positioning confirms that the GPU is a solid mid-tier performer that holds back the combo in GPU-intensive scenarios like 4K Ultra, while the CPU has more headroom to offer.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers a wide range of performance depending on the preset. Low settings produce an average of 227.8 FPS, which is exceptionally smooth for competitive play. Medium settings drop to 163.1 FPS, still well above the threshold for high refresh rate monitors. High settings yield 122.2 FPS, maintaining excellent fluidity, while Ultra falls to 82.3 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for esports titles.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates scale down predictably. Low settings average 145.2 FPS, which remains excellent for fast-paced action. Medium settings provide 101.7 FPS, a solid figure for most gamers. High settings drop to 77.4 FPS, which is still smooth on a 144Hz display, but Ultra falls to 49.8 FPS, approaching the edge of playability for some users.

At 3840x2160, the GPU’s limitations become pronounced. Low settings manage 74.1 FPS, which is adequate for casual play. Medium settings reduce this to 56.3 FPS, while High settings dip to 44.9 FPS. Ultra settings plummet to 27.4 FPS, which is effectively unplayable for a fast-paced battle royale. These numbers clearly show that 4K is only viable on this combo when settings are kept to Low or perhaps Medium.

Settings Recommendations

For competitive play, the Low preset at 1920x1080 is the clear winner, delivering 227.8 FPS. This maximizes responsiveness and minimizes input lag, which is critical in Fortnite’s building and editing mechanics. Players with 144Hz or 240Hz monitors will find this setting ideal for maintaining high frame rates during intense fights.

For a balance between visual quality and performance, the Medium preset at 2560x1440 offers 101.7 FPS. This provides a noticeable improvement in textures and effects over Low while keeping the frame rate well above 60 FPS. This is the recommended choice for gamers with 1440p displays who want a smooth experience without sacrificing too much detail.

The High preset at 1920x1080, yielding 122.2 FPS, is a strong alternative for those prioritizing image quality on a 1080p monitor. It delivers smooth gameplay while enhancing shadows and lighting. The Ultra preset is not recommended for any resolution due to the significant frame rate drops, with 82.3 FPS at 1080p being the best case and 27.4 FPS at 4K being the worst.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows 2560x1440 at Medium settings provides 101.7 FPS, which balances visual quality with performance. For pure frame rate, 1920x1080 at Low settings delivers 227.8 FPS.

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

A: At 3840x2160, only Low settings achieve a playable 74.1 FPS. Medium drops to 56.3 FPS, and High falls to 44.9 FPS, making 4K viable only with reduced graphical fidelity.

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

A: The Intel Core i5-12400F scores nearly identically to the Intel Core i7-8700K with a 0.1% delta, and it is 0.3% faster than the Intel Core i5-1335U. It trails the AMD Ryzen 5 7533HS by 0.7%.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra at 1080p?

A: Low settings average 227.8 FPS, while Ultra averages 82.3 FPS. This represents a 64% performance reduction when moving to the highest preset.

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

A: The GPU appears to be the bottleneck, especially at higher resolutions. The RTX 2070 SUPER ranks in the 65th percentile, while the CPU ranks in the 77th percentile, suggesting the graphics card holds back overall performance.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at High settings on a 1440p monitor?

A: The measured average is 77.4 FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings. This is suitable for a 75Hz display but may not fully utilize a 144Hz monitor.