Fortnite

# Fortnite with Intel Core i7-13700K + Intel Arc B370

This combination pairs a high-end desktop CPU from 2022 with an integrated-class mobile GPU from 2026, and the benchmark data reveals a dramatic imbalance: the Intel Core i7-13700K is a 16-core, 24-thread processor that ranks in the 89th percentile among all CPUs, while the Intel Arc B370 is an IGP solution that sits in the 5th percentile among all GPUs. The measured Fortnite frame rates tell a story of a system where the graphics processor is the overwhelming bottleneck across every resolution and settings preset, with the CPU's substantial compute headroom going largely unused.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and consistent across all four settings presets, but the pattern reveals something important about where the bottleneck lives. At Low settings, the average frame rate falls from 104 FPS at 1920x1080 to 66 FPS at 2560x1440 — a 36.5% reduction — and then to 35 FPS at 3840x2160, which is another 47% drop from the 1440p figure. This scaling is far from linear; halving the pixel count from 4K to 1440p more than doubles the frame rate, which suggests the GPU is completely saturated at higher resolutions.

The Medium preset shows a similar trajectory: 73 FPS at 1080p, 46 FPS at 1440p, and 25 FPS at 4K. The percentage drops are 37% and 45.7% respectively, closely mirroring the Low preset's scaling pattern. High settings produce 57 FPS at 1080p, 36 FPS at 1440p, and 19 FPS at 4K — again, roughly a 37% drop and then a 47% drop. Ultra settings follow the same shape but at much lower absolute values: 37 FPS at 1080p, 24 FPS at 1440p, and 13 FPS at 4K.

The consistency of these scaling ratios across different settings is telling. If the CPU were a significant contributor to the frame rate ceiling, we would expect to see the scaling flatten out at lower resolutions where the CPU can keep up, or at least see different patterns between Low and Ultra presets since the CPU load changes with settings. Instead, the uniform ~37% drop from 1080p to 1440p and ~47% drop from 1440p to 4K indicates that the GPU's pixel throughput is the sole limiting factor throughout. The data implies that even at 1080p Low, the Arc B370 is already near its maximum capability, and there is no resolution or settings combination where the CPU becomes the constraint.

CPU Role

The Intel Core i7-13700K brings substantial processing resources to this pairing: 16 cores, 24 threads, a 3.40 GHz base clock, and a 5.40 GHz boost clock. Its cache hierarchy includes 80 KB of L1 per core, 2 MB of L2 per core, and 30 MB of shared L3. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU posts strong numbers — a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 30745, a Geekbench multi-core score of 19429, and a PassMark multi-thread score of 45887. Its single-thread performance is also solid, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2116 and a PassMark single-thread score of 4333.

However, the Fortnite results show almost no evidence that this CPU horsepower is being exercised. Consider the 3DMark thread scaling: the CPU scores 2262 with 2 threads, 4469 with 4 threads, 8193 with 8 threads, and 10717 with 16 threads — which shows healthy scaling up to 16 threads. Yet in-game, even at 1080p Low where the CPU typically matters most, the system only reaches 104 FPS average. A CPU of this caliber — one that ranks within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 in average benchmark score — should be capable of pushing hundreds of frames per second in a competitive title like Fortnite when paired with a discrete GPU.

The data suggests the Arc B370 is holding the system back so severely that the CPU's core count and clock speed are effectively irrelevant for this game. The CPU's 89th percentile ranking versus the GPU's 5th percentile ranking creates a gulf so wide that no amount of CPU headroom can compensate. The 16-core, 24-thread configuration, the 30 MB of L3 cache, and the 5.40 GHz boost capability are all present but idle, waiting for a graphics solution that can feed them enough work. Even the CPU's 3DMark 16-thread score of 10717 — which is nearly 10 times the Arc B370's entire 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 1184 — underscores the mismatch.

FAQ

Q: Why does the frame rate drop so dramatically when going from 1080p to 4K?

A: The GPU is the limiting component. At Low settings, the average FPS falls from 104 at 1920x1080 to 35 at 3840x2160, a 66% reduction. The Arc B370's GPU benchmark score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, meaning its rendering throughput is simply insufficient for high-resolution gaming, regardless of the CPU's capability.

Q: Is the Intel Core i7-13700K a good match for the Intel Arc B370 in Fortnite?

A: The benchmark data indicates a severe imbalance. The CPU ranks in the 89th percentile among all CPUs with an average benchmark score of 46881, while the GPU ranks in the 5th percentile with a score of 1184. In Fortnite, the GPU becomes the bottleneck at every resolution and settings preset, so the CPU's performance is largely wasted.

Q: What is the best frame rate this combination can achieve in Fortnite?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 104 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. At Medium settings, the best result is 73 FPS at 1080p, and at High settings, it drops to 57 FPS at 1080p. The Ultra preset tops out at 37 FPS at 1080p.

Q: How does this combo's overall ranking in Fortnite compare to other tested combos?

A: This combination ranks 2517 out of 2740 total tested combinations, placing it in the bottom 8% of all combos tested for Fortnite. This low ranking is consistent with the GPU's 5th percentile standing rather than the CPU's strong 89th percentile position.

Q: Is the Arc B370's 25 W TDP a factor in its Fortnite performance?

A: The data shows the GPU has a 25 W TDP, which is extremely low, and its clock speeds are 300 MHz base and 2400 MHz boost. The combination of a 25 W power envelope and integrated-class design explains why the GPU scores only 1184 in 3DMark Steel Nomad and delivers just 13 FPS at 4K Ultra in Fortnite.

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

A: At 4K, the highest average frame rate is 35 FPS on Low settings. Medium settings produce 25 FPS, High produces 19 FPS, and Ultra produces 13 FPS. Only the Low preset reaches a marginally playable frame rate, and even that is below the 60 FPS threshold most players would consider smooth.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the system achieves its best results. Low settings deliver an average of 104 FPS, which is the only measured preset to exceed the 100 FPS mark. Medium settings produce 73 FPS average with a minimum of 62 FPS and a maximum of 84 FPS, showing a relatively tight frame time distribution. High settings drop to 57 FPS average, and Ultra settings fall to 37 FPS. The spread between Low and Ultra is 67 FPS, indicating that graphics settings have a substantial impact on performance even at 1080p.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance drops noticeably across all presets. Low settings average 66 FPS, which remains playable but is 36.5% below the 1080p Low result. Medium settings average 46 FPS with a minimum of 39 FPS and maximum of 53 FPS. High settings produce 36 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 24 FPS. At this resolution, only the Low preset maintains an average above 60 FPS, and even that is marginal.

At 3840x2160, the results fall below acceptable playability for most presets. Low settings average 35 FPS, Medium averages 25 FPS with a minimum of 21 FPS and maximum of 28 FPS, High averages 19 FPS, and Ultra averages 13 FPS. None of the 4K presets reach 60 FPS, and the Ultra preset's 13 FPS average is barely a slideshow. The measured data shows that 4K gaming is only viable on Low settings, and even then, the frame rate is below what most players would consider smooth.

The Medium preset is the only one with complete min/max data across all three resolutions: at 1080p it ranges from 62 to 84 FPS, at 1440p from 39 to 53 FPS, and at 4K from 21 to 28 FPS. The narrow ranges relative to the averages suggest relatively consistent frame pacing, with the GPU maintaining steady output rather than spiking and dropping dramatically.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of Intel Core i7-13700K and Intel Arc B370 ranks 2517 out of 2740 tested combinations in Fortnite, placing it in the bottom 8.2% of all combos. This ranking is striking when juxtaposed with the CPU's individual standing: the i7-13700K ranks in the 89th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 46881 that puts it within 0.2% of the AMD Ryzen 9 5900 and within 0.5% of both the AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX and Intel Xeon w3-2535.

The GPU, by contrast, ranks in the 5th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rivals — the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, ATI Radeon HD 5770, AMD Radeon HD 7650M, and AMD FirePro M2000 — are all legacy or mobile parts from a completely different era. The Arc B370's score is within 0.2% of the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and within 0.5% of the ATI Radeon HD 5770, which indicates that despite its modern architecture and 3 nm process node, its raw graphics performance is comparable to hardware from more than a decade ago.

The comboRankInGame of 2517 out of 2740 suggests that even among all tested combinations, this pairing sits near the bottom. The data implies that the CPU's high percentile ranking does nothing to boost the combined score in Fortnite, because the game's performance is overwhelmingly GPU-bound. This ranking would be expected for a system equipped with a bottom-tier GPU, regardless of how powerful the CPU is.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured data, the optimal settings preset depends heavily on the target resolution and the player's frame rate priorities. At 1920x1080, the Low preset delivers 104 FPS average, which is the only configuration that approaches competitive playability. The Medium preset at 73 FPS is also viable for most players, and it likely provides a better visual experience while still maintaining a frame rate above 70 FPS. The High preset at 57 FPS is borderline — it may be acceptable for casual play but falls short of the 60 FPS threshold that many players consider the minimum for smooth gameplay. The Ultra preset at 37 FPS is not recommended for any serious play.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset at 66 FPS is the only option that clears the 60 FPS bar. Medium at 46 FPS is passable for less demanding players, but the frame rate is noticeably lower. High at 36 FPS and Ultra at 24 FPS are both too low for comfortable gameplay. For 1440p users, Low settings are the clear recommendation, with Medium as a compromise for those who prioritize visual quality over frame rate.

At 3840x2160, none of the presets achieve 60 FPS. Low at 35 FPS is the best option, but even that is below 40 FPS. Medium at 25 FPS, High at 19 FPS, and Ultra at 13 FPS are all too slow for anything beyond static screenshots. The data suggests that 4K gaming is not a realistic option for this combination, and players with 4K displays should either lower their resolution or accept sub-40 FPS frame rates on Low settings.

The overall best experience per the measured rows is 1080p with Low settings, which provides the highest average frame rate of 104 FPS. For players who want a balance between visual quality and performance, 1080p Medium at 73 FPS is the strongest choice, as it maintains a comfortable frame rate while offering better graphics than Low.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B370 is the decisive factor in this system's Fortnite performance, and the data makes clear that it is a severely limiting component. Its specifications tell the story: 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, 20 render output units, and 10 ray tracing cores. The GPU operates at a 300 MHz base clock and 2400 MHz boost clock, with a 25 W TDP and no dedicated memory — instead, it uses system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth.

The GPU's 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1184 places it in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are all legacy components from the HD 5000 and HD 7000 series era. The pixel rate of 48.00 GPixel/s and texture rate of 96.00 GTexel/s, combined with 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, are simply not enough to drive Fortnite at high resolutions or high settings.

The measured Fortnite data reflects this GPU limitation directly. At 4K Ultra, the average frame rate is just 13 FPS, which is consistent with a GPU that has only 20 ROPs and 6.144 TFLOPS of compute. Even at 1080p Low, the 104 FPS result shows that the GPU is working at its maximum capability, and the uniform resolution scaling pattern — approximately 37% drops from 1080p to 1440p and 47% drops from 1440p to 4K — indicates that pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints.

The Arc B370's system shared memory configuration and system dependent bandwidth mean that its performance can vary depending on the host system's memory setup. However, even with the Core i7-13700K's dual-channel DDR4 or DDR5 support, the GPU's fundamental compute and rasterization limits prevent it from achieving higher frame rates. The 25 W TDP is remarkably low for a gaming GPU, and the integrated graphics form factor (IGP) reinforces that this is not designed for the demands of a competitive battle royale title. The data shows a GPU that is outclassed by every measure, and it is this component, not the CPU, that determines the system's Fortnite experience.