Is Fortnite CPU Or GPU Heavy In 2022? [A Definitive Guide]

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Asen Stoyanchev

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Asen is a Microsoft Certified Professional turned blogger with 10+ experience working in the IT industry as a hardware and software support engineer.

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Is Fortnite CPU or GPU heavy? It’s heavy on both components, but the CPU takes more of the strain. This is because Fortnite renders multiple objects in a small area, requiring high processing power. 

Fortnite’s graphics engine is not as good as expected, making its performance and FPS quite low. Because of this, the GPU isn’t placed under high demand, and it’s less important than the CPU.

But, it’s still crucial to have a decent GPU. The game will still rely on it for graphics, especially in later stages where there is a lot of in-game construction. 

If your GPU or CPU isn’t powerful enough, the game will lag during these crucial stages and affect your ability to compete with other players.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the specifics about this so that you can judge if your components are suitable.

Let’s get into it!

Does Fortnite Use CPU?

Yes, like every PC application, it does. But for a video game like Fortnite, it’s used more than for more basic applications.

This is because a game is more complex than a program like a word processor or web browser. 

Is Fortnite CPU Or GPU Heavy?

Fortnite gets affected by the performance of the CPU and the GPU. The CPU handles instructions, but the GPU handles rendering graphics. Fortnite cannot function without either of these components. 

The CPU ensures the game runs well and actions get completed as expected. The GPU ensures the visual elements are of good quality even at high resolutions.

Is Fortnite CPU Intensive Or GPU Intensive? 

The intensity of the demand placed on the CPU and GPU by Fortnite varies based on the tasks getting performed.

The CPU will be in constant use because the game will rely on it for the resources to complete calculations. 

The GPU gets heavier usage nearer the end of the game. At this stage, players get confined to a smaller area and rely on constructing towers to battle each other.

This means much more visual activity and greater demand on the GPU.

Does Fortnite Rely More On CPU Or GPU?

Fortnite relies more on the CPU. The CPU plays an essential role in every functioning computer system. It’s the computer’s brain, so all applications will rely on it, no matter how complex they are. 

Fortnite also lacks high-quality visuals, which means the GPU has less work to do until the end of the game, when lots more rendering takes place. 

If you want to assess how much CPU resources get allocated to Fortnite, use Task Manager. On Windows, click Start, then Run, and type taskmgr.exe. 

Then look at the applications list and find Fortnite. It will show you the CPU resources allocated to it as a percentage of total system usage.

On Mac, press the Cmd, Alt, and Esc keys together to bring up the same information.

Is Fortnite GPU Or CPU Dependent?

Fortnite depends on the CPU and GPU, but the GPU doesn’t play a role until later in the game. This is because there are more activities requiring graphical processing. 

Fortnite manages the way it uses CPU resources, and these tend to be in higher demand when there is light combat in the game.

More calculations happen at these times as more players share the same location.

Is Fortnite Graphic Intensive?

No, it’s not. Fortnite is not known for being a demanding game from a visual perspective. It requires a decent GPU that can render most modern games. 

Mid-range computers made in the last few years will fit the requirements, so you shouldn’t get concerned if you don’t have a high-end gaming rig.

How Important Is GPU For Fortnite?

The computer’s GPU will send video output to the screen, which results in a particular FPS rate.

This makes the GPU vital for running Fortnite, as without it the visuals would not appear. But the FPS rate also gets influenced by the video game itself. 

Some say Fortnite is poorly coded or uses an old graphics engine. This means the FPS may be low even if the GPU is good.

In my experience, the game’s performance remains constant if you have a suitable GPU and CPU.

Does Fortnite Need A GPU? 

Yes, it does. This is true of all video games, which won’t work without either integrated graphics or a dedicated GPU.

The GPU comes in handy when rendering detailed visual elements in the game, and without it, this wouldn’t be possible.

Is Fortnite CPU Intensive?

Yes, it can be. But it depends on what stage of the game the player is at and how many are in the same game.

Larger maps with more players will place a higher demand on each player’s CPU. Smaller maps with fewer players will do the opposite. 

But in both situations, the CPU will see a higher demand because more construction takes place, and the game moves faster.

There are some general steps you can take to reduce CPU usage if you feel it’s necessary.

Related resource: “Is Minecraft CPU or GPU Intensive” 

Is Fortnite A Heavy CPU Game? 

It can be, depending on the scenarios occurring in-game. Anywhere with greater player activity and more interactions will make more CPU use.

It’s required to perform complex calculations that enable and assist the game’s functioning. 

An example would include instructing the RAM to store information about the current map the player is on. This ensures the game runs smoothly during the progression of each level the player works through.

Does Fortnite Need A Better CPU Or GPU? 

If you’re torn between choosing a better CPU or GPU, you should opt for the CPU if you’re playing Fortnite.

The CPU gets used more, and you’ll find that in-game performance gets improved more by the CPU than by the GPU. 

You may need to increase the priority assigned to Fortnite by the operating system. This gets done from the Task Manager on a Windows machine or from Activity Control on a Mac.

You can access these using Ctrl + Alt + Delete on Windows or Cmd + Alt + Esc on a Mac. 

You can then right-click or double-click on Fortnite in the applications list to reveal a dropdown menu. This will have an option for changing the priority of the game.

Is Fortnite A CPU or GPU Based Game?

Fortnite is a CPU-based game because it always relies on this component more than it relies on the GPU.

If it were a GPU-based game, the visuals in the game would be much more appealing and commented on. Instead, they make the game fun but without featuring intricate details.

What Is A Good CPU For Fortnite?

Beyond the Epic Games minimum and recommended requirements, you can choose any other AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 models or any Intel Core i5 or i7 models. 

All these will run Fortnite smoothly. But if you’re tempted to pick Ryzen 9 or Core i9 model, we’d recommend you don’t. These processors are too costly and high-end for Fortnite.

Choosing a CPU is a big decision for other reasons too. It will affect the performance of all applications on your computer, so should be done with this in mind. 

Check out some awesome CPUs here and also here.

Does CPU Affect Fortnite FPS?

We’ve found that it can, yes. If your CPU is too slow for what Fortnite requires, then you’ll find your system will have trouble running the game smoothly. This will reduce the game’s frame rate and lead you to experience lag. 

If you suspect your CPU is too poor to run Fortnite, you should choose a faster processor. 

We found this video about improving the frame rate, which we think you’ll find helpful:

How Much FPS Do You Need For Fortnite?

In most cases, 60 FPS will be suitable for Fortnite players. But if you’re part of a competitive gaming tournament, 144 FPS is better because it gives slightly faster response times.

You’ll need a specialist gaming screen at a frame rate this high, which is why 60 FPS is often better. 

What PC Specs Do I Need For Fortnite? 

Minimum requirements for a Windows machine are Windows 10, Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics, Intel Core i3-3225 CPU, and 4GB RAM. For a Mac, it’s Mac OS Mojave 10.14.6 with similar components.

Related resource: Is 60 Degrees Celsius Hot For A CPU?

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