Fortnite

Fortnite on the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 presents a clear picture of a system where the graphics card is the primary driver of performance at higher resolutions, while the processor shows its strength at lower settings. The measured data provides a comprehensive look at how this combination scales across the three most common gaming resolutions, offering insight into what limits frame rates in Epic's battle royale title.

Resolution Scaling

The performance delta between 1080p and 4K is substantial, revealing a system that becomes progressively more GPU-bound as resolution increases. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 338 FPS at 1920x1080 to 215 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 123 FPS. Moving to 3840x2160, the average falls further to 113 FPS, meaning the 4K result is exactly one-third of the 1080p figure. This steep decline suggests that at lower graphical presets, the CPU is capable of feeding frames at a very high rate, but the GPU’s rendering workload at higher pixel counts becomes the limiting factor.

The scaling pattern shifts when examining Medium settings, where the 1080p average of 238 FPS drops to 151 FPS at 1440p and then to 80 FPS at 4K. The percentage drop from 1080p to 1440p is roughly 36.5%, while the drop from 1440p to 4K is approximately 47%. This non-linear scaling indicates that the RTX 4070’s memory bandwidth and pixel throughput are being taxed heavily as the resolution climbs, with the 4K Medium result showing a minimum of 68 FPS and a maximum of 92 FPS, demonstrating some frame-time variance.

At High settings, the trend continues but with lower absolute numbers. The 1080p average is 184 FPS, which is a comfortable high-refresh-rate experience. At 1440p, this drops to 117 FPS, still smooth for most displays, but at 4K it falls to 62 FPS, barely crossing the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset shows the most severe scaling, with 122 FPS at 1080p, 77 FPS at 1440p, and just 41 FPS at 4K. The 4K Ultra result is below the standard 60 FPS target, indicating that this preset is too demanding for the RTX 4070 at that resolution, likely due to the combination of heavy post-processing and high-detail geometry.

The data suggests that the limiting component changes based on the resolution and settings combination. At 1080p Low, the 338 FPS average is likely constrained by the CPU’s single-thread performance and memory latency, as the GPU has ample headroom. As resolution increases, the GPU becomes the bottleneck, with the 4K Ultra result of 41 FPS being a clear indicator of the RTX 4070’s limits under maximum load. For users targeting 1440p, this combo hits a sweet spot, with Medium and High presets both delivering frame rates above 115 FPS.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the benchmark database, this specific CPU-GPU pairing ranks 578th out of 2,740 tested combinations for Fortnite. This places it in the top 21.1% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing for a mainstream desktop setup. The rank reflects the balanced nature of the components; the Core Ultra 5 235 provides solid throughput, while the RTX 4070 handles the graphical workload effectively at most settings.

The CPU’s average benchmark score of 46,062 places it in the 89th percentile of all processors tested. This is a high ranking, though the nearest rivals show how tight the competition is. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 scores 46,030, a mere 0.1% lower, while the Intel Core i9-13900HX scores 46,098, just 0.1% higher. The AMD EPYC 4364P and EPYC 7303 both score around 45,960, sitting 0.2% below the Core Ultra 5 235. These near-identical scores indicate that the Ultra 5 235 offers performance parity with several high-end mobile and server parts, though the desktop platform’s real advantage lies in its 14 cores and 5.00 GHz boost clock.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4070’s average benchmark score of 37,648 places it in the 81st percentile of all graphics cards. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla P4, scores 37,628, a 0.1% difference, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 trails by 0.4% with a score of 37,507. The RTX 4080 Mobile is actually 1.3% faster with a score of 38,135, and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 is 1.3% slower at 37,157. This positioning shows that the RTX 4070 is a solid mid-to-high-range card, but it is not at the top of the stack, which explains why 4K Ultra settings in Fortnite push it beyond its comfort zone.

The combination’s 578th rank out of 2,740 is consistent with the component-level data. It is not a top-tier enthusiast rig, but it is well above average, and the measured FPS figures confirm that it can handle competitive play at 1080p and 1440p with ease.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate for Fortnite at 1080p with Medium settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 238, with a minimum of 202 and a maximum of 274. This indicates a smooth experience on standard 60Hz or 144Hz monitors.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only on lower presets. At 4K Low, the average is 113 FPS, and at 4K Medium it is 80 FPS. However, at 4K High the average drops to 62 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 41 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 5 235 compare to the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375?

A: The average benchmark scores are nearly identical, with the Intel part scoring 46,062 and the AMD part scoring 46,030. The delta is only 0.1%, meaning there is no meaningful performance difference in synthetic tests.

Q: What is the maximum FPS recorded for this combo in Fortnite?

A: The highest average FPS is 338, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This suggests the CPU and GPU are both capable of very high frame rates when graphical demands are minimal.

Q: What is the GPU’s memory configuration?

A: The RTX 4070 has 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 504.2 GB/s. This is sufficient for 1440p gaming but can be a limiting factor at 4K with high-detail textures.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to bottleneck at 1440p High settings?

A: At 1440p High, the average FPS is 117. Given that the 1080p High result is 184 FPS, the GPU is likely the primary constraint, as the resolution increase adds a significant pixel-rendering workload that the RTX 4070 must handle.

Measured FPS Breakdown

Starting at 1920x1080, the data shows a wide spread across presets. Low settings deliver an average of 338 FPS, which is exceptionally high and suitable for esports-level competitive play. Medium settings reduce this to 238 FPS, with a range of 202 to 274 FPS. High settings bring the average down to 184 FPS, still well above the refresh rate of most gaming monitors. Ultra settings are the most demanding at 1080p, producing an average of 122 FPS, which is still smooth but shows a 64% drop from the Low preset.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance scales down proportionally. Low settings yield an average of 215 FPS, which is a 36% reduction from 1080p. Medium settings produce 151 FPS, with a minimum of 129 and a maximum of 174. High settings average 117 FPS, making this a viable option for 1440p gaming at high refresh rates. Ultra settings drop to 77 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for fast-paced action, as the frame pacing may suffer.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4070 begins to show its limits. Low settings still manage an average of 113 FPS, which is respectable for 4K. Medium settings average 80 FPS, with a minimum of 68 and a maximum of 92, indicating some variability but generally smooth gameplay. High settings just clear 60 FPS with an average of 62 FPS, but this is borderline. Ultra settings fall to 41 FPS, which is not recommended for competitive play due to the risk of noticeable stutter.

The data shows that the 1440p Medium and High presets offer the best balance of visual quality and performance, with the 151 FPS and 117 FPS averages respectively providing headroom for monitor refresh rates up to 144Hz. The 1080p Low preset is the clear choice for maximum frame rates, while 4K gaming is only viable on Low or Medium settings.

CPU Role

The Intel Core Ultra 5 235 is a 14-core, 14-thread processor based on the Arrow Lake architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process by TSMC. It has a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 5.00 GHz, with 24 MB of shared L3 cache. The benchmark results show a single-thread score of 4,516 in Passmark, which is in the 89th percentile of all CPUs. This strong single-thread performance is crucial for Fortnite, as the game’s engine relies heavily on a few main threads for game logic and rendering setup.

In Fortnite, the CPU’s role is most apparent at 1080p Low settings, where the average FPS of 338 indicates that the processor can feed frames to the GPU faster than the graphics card can render them at such low graphical loads. The multi-threaded performance, with a Passmark multi-thread score of 37,816, also helps with background tasks and physics calculations, but the game is not heavily threaded across all 14 cores. The 14 cores are split between performance and efficiency cores, though the data does not specify the exact configuration.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375 and the Intel Core i9-13900HX, both of which are high-end mobile processors. The fact that the Ultra 5 235 matches these parts in average score (46,062 versus 46,030 and 46,098) suggests that its desktop platform advantages, such as a dedicated Socket 1851 and DDR5 memory support, do not translate into a significant lead in this workload. The 24 MB of L3 cache is moderate, but Fortnite does not typically require massive cache sizes to perform well. Overall, the CPU is not the bottleneck at resolutions above 1080p, as the GPU takes over the limiting role when pixel count increases.

Settings Recommendations

For players prioritizing high frame rates at 1920x1080, the Low preset is the clear winner, delivering an average of 338 FPS. This is ideal for competitive play where responsiveness matters more than visual fidelity. The Medium preset at 1080p also offers an excellent experience with 238 FPS, making it a good choice for those who want a slight visual upgrade without sacrificing much performance. The High preset at 184 FPS is still very smooth, and the Ultra preset at 122 FPS is acceptable for casual play, but it may not be worth the visual gain over High.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset stands out with an average of 151 FPS, providing a great balance of image quality and speed. The High preset at 117 FPS is also viable for 144Hz monitors, and it offers better shadows and textures. The Low preset at 215 FPS is excessive for most 1440p displays, which typically top out at 165Hz or 240Hz, so the extra headroom is not necessary. The Ultra preset at 77 FPS is playable but shows a significant drop, making it less ideal for fast-paced encounters.

For 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, as it averages 80 FPS with a minimum of 68 FPS, ensuring a mostly smooth experience. The Low preset at 113 FPS is also an option for those who prefer higher frame rates over detail, but the Medium preset offers a better visual experience without dropping below 60 FPS. The High preset at 62 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 41 FPS should be avoided due to the risk of frame drops below 30 FPS in busy scenes. Overall, the 1440p Medium preset provides the best overall experience for this hardware combination, balancing visual quality with a high frame rate.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture using a 5 nm process, featuring 5,888 shading units, 184 texture mapping units, and 64 raster output units. It has a base clock of 1920 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz, with 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 192-bit bus providing 504.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The 46 RT cores and 184 tensor cores enable hardware-accelerated ray tracing and DLSS, though the measured data does not include these features enabled.

In Fortnite, the GPU’s performance is the primary factor at 4K resolution, where the 62 FPS average at High settings and 41 FPS at Ultra settings show that the card’s 12 GB of memory and 64 ROPs are sufficient for lower presets but struggle with the highest detail levels. The 504.2 GB/s memory bandwidth is adequate for 1440p, but at 4K Ultra, the texture data and post-processing effects likely exceed the available bandwidth, causing the frame rate to plummet.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 37,648 places it in the 81st percentile, and its closest rivals in the database include the NVIDIA Tesla P4 and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, both of which are older or specialized hardware. The RTX 4080 Mobile is slightly faster, but the RTX 4070 holds its own in this comparison. The 29.15 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is a significant amount of raw power, but Fortnite’s rendering pipeline is not purely compute-bound, so the actual frame rates depend on the memory subsystem and rasterization efficiency.

The GPU’s 200 W TDP and dual-slot design make it a power-hungry but manageable component, with a suggested PSU of 550 W. The 16-pin power connector is the modern standard, and the PCIe 4.0 x16 interface provides ample bandwidth for data transfer. For this game, the RTX 4070 is best utilized at 1080p and 1440p, where it delivers high frame rates on most presets, while 4K gaming requires dialing back settings to Medium or Low to maintain playable performance.