Fortnite

This processor and graphics combination produces a Fortnite experience that is firmly constrained by its graphics component. The data places this pairing at rank 2417 out of 2740 tested combos, placing it in the lower 12% of all systems for this specific title. This low ranking is directly attributable to the graphics processor, which sits in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. The benchmark results show a system that can provide playable frame rates at lower settings and resolutions, but one that struggles to maintain smooth performance at higher graphical presets or at 4K resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's position at 2417 out of 2740 tested combinations indicates that the vast majority of systems outperform it in Fortnite. This is a bottom-tier result, driven almost entirely by the graphics solution. The GPU's overall percentile ranking of 9 places it below 91% of all graphics cards, and its nearest rivals in the benchmark database are legacy parts like the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, the GeForce 800M, the GeForce GT 625 OEM, and the GeForce GT 710. The delta percentages against these rivals are tight, with the Arc B390 scoring 1.3% higher than the GT 520MX, 1.5% higher than the GeForce 800M, 2.5% higher than the GT 625 OEM, and 2.7% higher than the GT 710. This cluster of scores confirms that the graphics processor is performing at a level comparable to a decade-old entry-level mobile or desktop GPU, which is a severe bottleneck for a modern competitive title like Fortnite.

The central processor, by contrast, is a high-end part. It ranks in the 90th percentile of all CPUs, and its nearest rivals in the database are the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, the AMD EPYC 4345P, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245. The average benchmark score of 48618 positions it within a 0.8% margin of these peers, all of which are powerful server or desktop processors. This massive disparity between the CPU's high percentile and the GPU's low percentile creates a severely imbalanced system, where the graphics card is the clear and definitive performance limiter in Fortnite. The data shows that the system's overall rank is a direct reflection of the GPU's capabilities, not the CPU's.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B390 is the primary factor limiting performance in this combination. It carries a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, which is the only GPU benchmark recorded in the database and a figure that places it near the bottom of the performance scale. The graphics processor's architecture is Xe3-LPG, built on a 3 nm process, and it operates with a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2500 MHz. Despite having 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units, the raw compute throughput is low, with FP32 performance calculated at 7.680 TFLOPS. The pixel rate is 60.00 GPixel/s, and the texture rate is 120.0 GTexel/s.

A critical characteristic of this GPU is its memory configuration. The memory size, type, and bus width are all marked as "System Shared," meaning it relies on the system's main memory rather than dedicated VRAM. The memory bandwidth is listed as "System Dependent," and the clock speed for the memory is also "System Shared." This architecture means the GPU's performance is heavily dependent on the speed of the system's DRAM, which is rarely optimized for graphics workloads. In Fortnite, this shared memory setup likely contributes to the low frame rates observed, as the GPU must compete with the CPU for memory bandwidth. The data shows that at 4K Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 14 FPS, a clear indication that the GPU is unable to handle the pixel fill rate and memory traffic required at that resolution and settings level.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a steep performance curve as resolution increases, confirming that the graphics processor is the limiting component. Starting at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 115 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings, the average drops to 73 FPS, a reduction of 36.5%. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, the average falls to 39 FPS, which is 66.1% lower than the 1080p result. This scaling pattern is typical of a GPU-bound scenario, where the number of pixels being rendered directly impacts the frame rate.

The same trend is visible at High settings. At 1080p, the average is 63 FPS; at 1440p, it drops to 40 FPS; and at 4K, it falls to 21 FPS. The percentage drop from 1080p to 4K is 66.7%, which is nearly identical to the drop observed at Low settings. This consistency across settings suggests that the GPU's processing capacity is the primary constraint, regardless of the graphical workload. The data shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor here, as a more powerful GPU would produce a smaller frame rate drop when moving from 1080p to 4K, given the same CPU. The fact that the frame rate drops by roughly two-thirds when pixel count quadruples indicates that the GPU is saturated and cannot keep up with the increased rendering demand.

FAQ

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

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 115, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. The next best result is 81 average FPS at 1080p with Medium settings.

Q: Is this combo capable of running Fortnite at 4K resolution?

A: The data shows that it can run at 4K, but performance is poor. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 39, and at High settings it drops to 21. At 4K with Ultra settings, the average FPS is only 14, which is not a playable experience.

Q: How does the graphics card compare to its closest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX with a score of 1463, which is 1.3% lower. Other close rivals include the GeForce 800M at 1460 and the GeForce GT 625 OEM at 1446.

Q: What settings provide a 60 FPS experience at 1080p?

A: According to the measured data, the system achieves an average of 63 FPS at 1080p with High settings. Lowering the settings to Medium increases the average to 81 FPS, and Low settings push it to 115 FPS.

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

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU ranks in the 90th percentile of all processors, while the GPU ranks in the 9th percentile. The frame rates scale heavily with resolution, which is a classic sign of a GPU-limited system.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only minimum FPS values provided are for Medium settings. At 1080p, the minimum is 69 FPS, at 1440p it is 44 FPS, and at 4K it is 23 FPS.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates provide a complete picture of this combo's performance across the tested configurations. The data is presented as average FPS, with minimum and maximum values only available for the Medium preset.

At 1920x1080, the results are:

• Low: Average 115 FPS.
• Medium: Average 81 FPS, with a minimum of 69 FPS and a maximum of 93 FPS.
• High: Average 63 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 41 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the results are:

• Low: Average 73 FPS.
• Medium: Average 51 FPS, with a minimum of 44 FPS and a maximum of 59 FPS.
• High: Average 40 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 26 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the results are:

• Low: Average 39 FPS.
• Medium: Average 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 FPS and a maximum of 31 FPS.
• High: Average 21 FPS.
• Ultra: Average 14 FPS.

The progression shows a consistent pattern. At every settings level, the frame rate decreases as resolution increases. The gap between Low and Ultra settings is substantial at every resolution. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 74 FPS; at 1440p, it is 47 FPS; and at 4K, it is 25 FPS. The data indicates that the card is more capable of handling the difference between Low and Medium settings, but the gap widens when moving to Ultra, which likely enables additional rendering features that heavily tax the GPU.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i5-14600K is a high-performance processor that is not the limiting factor in this Fortnite configuration. This CPU features 14 cores and 20 threads, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz. It is based on the Raptor Lake architecture and built on Intel's 10 nm process. The processor has a 24 MB shared L3 cache and supports DDR4 and DDR5 memory. Its benchmark scores are strong, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 24491 and a single-core score of 2064. In Geekbench, it scores 16673 multi-core and 2491 single-core. These results place it in the 90th percentile of all CPUs.

The CPU's performance relative to its nearest rivals shows it is a competitive part. It is 0.2% below the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H, 0.3% above the AMD EPYC 4345P, 0.7% above the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX, and 0.8% below the Intel Core Ultra 5 245. These margins are minimal, indicating that the Core i5-14600K delivers performance on par with these other high-end processors. In the context of Fortnite, the CPU's capabilities are more than sufficient to feed the GPU with frames. The evidence for this is the frame rate scaling pattern: if the CPU were the bottleneck, the frame rates would remain relatively flat across resolutions. Instead, the frame rates drop sharply with resolution, which indicates that the GPU is the component that is saturated. The CPU is ready to deliver high frame rates, but the GPU cannot keep up.

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 fidelity. At 1080p, the system can achieve a playable experience at High settings, with an average of 63 FPS. This is above the 60 FPS threshold that is often considered the minimum for smooth gameplay. For a more competitive experience with higher frame rates, Medium settings at 1080p provide an average of 81 FPS, which is a significant improvement. Low settings at 1080p yield the highest average of 115 FPS, which is ideal for competitive play where frame rate is paramount.

At 1440p, the performance drops. High settings yield an average of 40 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target. Medium settings provide an average of 51 FPS, which is still not ideal for fast-paced action. Low settings are the only viable option at 1440p for a smoother experience, with an average of 73 FPS. At 4K, all settings produce an average FPS below 40, which is not recommended for a playable experience. The data suggests that the best experience is achieved at 1080p with Medium or High settings, balancing visual quality with a frame rate that is suitable for the game. For users who prioritize performance above all else, Low settings at 1080p or 1440p are the recommended choices. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it consistently produces the lowest frame rates and is likely to result in a stuttery and unresponsive experience.