It doesn’t cost thousands of dollars to build a PC that can run Fortnite on the highest settings. In fact, for only about $700 worth of parts you can build a gaming PC that can run Fortnite with all of the settings maxed.
If you build a gaming PC yourself, you can save money. Computers are a lot cheaper if you buy the parts individually and put everything together piece by piece.
If you have never built a computer before, it is not as hard as you might think it is. You can look at youtube tutorials and put the computer together slowly and carefully. Watch a lengthy youtube tutorial that shows everything and doesn’t skip any of the small details. You can successfully build a computer the first time you try with no prior experience.
How Much Does It Cost to Build A PC That Can Run Fortnite?
Fortnite is not the sort of game that requires a very powerful computer to run. However, the system requirements are not so low that nearly any computer can run the game.
If you try to run Fortnite on an out-of-date laptop or desktop, you might have to minimize the settings. You do not need an expensive computer, but you do need reasonably modern hardware. If you spend less than $700, you probably won’t be able to max out Fortnite.
You can put a computer together for very little if you know what you are doing – it might cost as little as $300 worth of parts. However, a $300 PC isn’t good enough to run even an undemanding game like Fortnite on high settings. $500 is closer to being able to max out Fortnite – you can get the game to run at a very high frame rate on a PC that costs $500.
However, you might not be able to max out everything even if you have a $500 computer. You will have to spend $700, and even then, you will have to choose your parts carefully to have a machine that can max out Fortnite.
Remember that running the game well is not the same as running it at max settings. You can spend less than $700 and have a PC that can make the game look good and run smoothly.
Resolution is the main thing you will have to compromise on if you have a lower-end gaming PC. You need powerful hardware to run games at 4K resolution, and even a $700 gaming PC won’t be able to do it.
A 4K monitor might also be too expensive for a PC that costs only $700 in total. However, you can max everything out at 1080p and probably at a higher resolution with a $700 gaming PC.
If you borrow credit to pay for your PC build, compare with an impartial comparison website, especially if you have bad credit.
What are the System Requirements?
For a 3D game that is less than five years old, Fortnite has low system requirements. You need 4GB of RAM, a 64-bit Windows operating system (as old as Windows 7 is fine), and a basic graphics card such as an Intel HD 4000.
An older CPU such as an Intel Core i3 is also good enough to run Fortnite. Usually, you can run the game on anything. You can easily buy an inexpensive used computer that can run the game.
Recommended system requirements are not so basic. You need relatively powerful hardware to run the game on high to max settings. The recommended system requirements are:
Operating system – Windows 7/8/10 64-bit
Ram – 8GB
GPU – AMD HD 7870 or NVIDIA GTX 660
CPU – Intel Core i5
The best and cheapest way to get a computer that can run the game on the recommended settings or on max settings is to build a computer yourself. If you build a $700 gaming PC, you can run not only Fortnite but many newer and more demanding games on max settings.
Why You Should Learn to Build Your Own PC
Again, it isn’t very hard to do this. If you have never done it before, you may have to do it slowly and carefully, but it just takes a bit of focus. If you are interested in building a PC yourself, give it a try.
You can quite likely get it right the first time. After you learn how to build a PC, you can save money for the rest of your life by buying parts rather than buying computers. People are willing to pay significantly more for the convenience of a pre-built computer.
You can also only pay for what you want and not waste money on components that you won’t use. For example, if a pre-built PC has a huge hard drive, much larger than you will ever use, you will buy something you don’t need. Many store-bought PCs come with a lot of “bloatware” – software programs you won’t use but have to pay for.
A Dirt Cheap PC that can Run Fortnite for $300
Believe it or not, you can build a PC that can run Fortnite reasonably well for only 300 dollars. There isn’t a hugely noticeable difference between 40fps and 60fps, and the game still looks reasonably good if you turn down the graphics settings.
To put a basic gaming computer together for $300, you need:
• Windows 10 operating system
• Cooler Master 650W power supply
• Aerocool Cylon case
• PNY 240GM solid-state drive
• Patriot Viper 8GB RAM
• Gigabyte B460M Motherboard
• AMD Ryzen 3 3200G CPU
A PC that can Run Fortnite on High Settings for $500
High settings are usually good enough, even if you don’t max everything out. If you can run Fortnite at 60fps on medium-high settings, there isn’t a huge difference between that and everything maxed.
You will still have to get a 1080p monitor, but Fortnite looks reasonably good at that resolution. $500 is enough to build a gaming PC that can run Fortnite properly.
• Windows 10 operating system
• Cooler Master 650W power supply
• Aerocool Cylon case
• ADATA 480GB solid-state drive
• Patriot Viper 8GB RAM
• Gigabyte B460M Motherboard
• AMD Ryzen 5 2600 CPU
• Gigabyte GTX 1650S Graphics Processor
