Fortnite: will it run, fix lag, what to buy
Scales from integrated graphics on Low to a high-refresh monster on Epic. Needs 8GB of RAM at minimum. Checked 20 Oct 2026.
Check your PC for Fortnite
Pick your parts and see the FPS our model expects. This is the same engine as the main Can I Run It? checker.
What each kind of PC manages
Model estimates at 1080p with 16GB of RAM. Laptop and integrated chips use Notebookcheck-derived data and are the roughest figures.
| Hardware | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Old school laptop Intel UHD 620 graphics, Core i5-8250U | 8 | 8 |
| Recent thin laptop Intel Iris Xe (80EU), Core i5-1235U | 26 | 17 |
| Handheld / modern APU Radeon 780M, Ryzen 7 7840HS | 61 | 39 |
| Old family PC GTX 1060 6GB, Core i5-8400 | 88 | 57 |
| Budget gaming PC GTX 1650, Ryzen 5 5600 | 74 | 48 |
| Solid 1080p PC RX 6600, Ryzen 5 5600 | 167 | 108 |
| Current mid-range PC RTX 4060, Ryzen 5 7600 | 181 | 117 |
| High-end PC RTX 4070, Ryzen 7 7800X3D | 279 | 180 |
FPS at 1080p, 16GB RAM. Green is 60 or more, amber 30 to 59. Battle Royale · Also on PlayStation and Xbox.
Fix Fortnite lag in five lines
- Find out which kind of lag you have first. Low FPS, stutter and ping each have a different fix. Run the Lag Doctor →
- Fortnite leans on the processor in busy scenes, so lowering graphics settings helps less than usual. Close other programs and keep the PC cool.
- Check your memory: Fortnite needs 8GB of RAM at minimum and recommends 16GB. Below the minimum you get long freezes whatever the graphics card.
- Biggest measured setting win: Shadows (Virtual Shadow Maps) off, up to +53% FPS (low confidence, undated test, source below). See every setting ranked →
- On a laptop, plug in and set the power mode to Best performance. If your screen is smooth but other players rubber-band, the problem is ping, not FPS.
We never recommend FPS or ping booster apps.
Fortnite settings that move FPS
| Setting | Effect | Looks | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadows (Virtual Shadow Maps) off Hone.gg, undated | +53% | noticeable | low |
| Effects Low Hone.gg, undated | +15% | minor | low |
| Post processing Low Hone.gg, undated | +15% | minor | low |
| View distance Near Hone.gg, undated | +7% | minor | low |
| Motion blur off Hone.gg, undated | +5% | none | low |
| Lumen global illumination (Off vs Epic) Hone.gg, undated | -50% if on | noticeable | low |
| Nanite Hone.gg, undated | -20 to 40% if on | minor | low |
| Hardware ray tracing Hone.gg, undated | -30% if on | noticeable | low |
| Lumen reflections Hone.gg, undated | -6 to 13% if on | minor | low |
Gains are from lowering a setting; costs are from raising one, and the two are never interchangeable. Open the full Settings Lab for Fortnite →
How much RAM does Fortnite need?
RAM figures are the publisher's published requirements as recorded in our engine. Check your card in the VRAM Checker →
The cheapest PC that runs Fortnite
Graphics card plus the cheapest processor that does not hold it back, for 60 FPS at 1080p. Parts only: you also need a motherboard, RAM, drive, power supply and case.
| Target | Used | New |
|---|---|---|
| 60 FPS at 1080p, Low settings | £160 RX 580 8GB £50 + Ryzen 5 5600 £110 · 93 FPS | £435 RTX 3050 8GB £325 + Ryzen 5 5600 £110 · 126 FPS |
| 60 FPS at 1080p, High settings | £160 RX 580 8GB £50 + Ryzen 5 5600 £110 · 60 FPS | £435 RTX 3050 8GB £325 + Ryzen 5 5600 £110 · 81 FPS |
Approximate UK prices checked 18 Oct 2026; they move weekly. Used cards are eBay UK asking prices. Looking for a card? Search Amazon UK (affiliate link).
Best plan at £300, £500 and £800
| Budget | Keep your PC: add a card | Buy a new PC |
|---|---|---|
| £300 | RTX 3070 8GB (used, £220) 168 FPS | outside this budget |
| £500 | RTX 3070 8GB (used, £220) 168 FPS | Budget 1080p tier 108 FPS · parts about £290 |
| £800 | RTX 3070 8GB (used, £220) 168 FPS | Sweet Spot tier 132 FPS · parts about £470 |
- GamerKit FPS model (labelled estimates; calibration notes in the Can I Run It? tool)
- Notebookcheck laptop and desktop game results, joined by GamerKit (collected 18 Oct 2026)
- GPU PRIX and GPU Price History (new UK prices), eBay UK asking prices (used), checked 18 Oct 2026
- Hone.gg: Best Performance Settings for Fortnite
Everything on this page is either a labelled model estimate or a figure with its source named. Blocks without sourced data are left out rather than filled in.