How to build your own Fortnite gaming PC

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 Fortnight?

Fortnight 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If you try to run Fortnight on an out-of-date laptop or desktop, you might have to minimize the settings.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

A Better Gaming PC that can Max Out Fortnite for $700

For $700, you can get a real gaming PC that can run new games at relatively low resolutions. Again, it will run new and advanced games on high settings, just not at very high resolutions. You can also run many games, including Fortnite at a higher resolution than 1080p, without turning down any settings.

• Windows 10 operating system
• Cooler Master 650W power supply
• Aerocool Cylon case
• ADATA 480GB solid-state drive
• OLOy 16GB RAM
• GIGABYTE B550 Motherboard
• AMD Ryzen 5 2600 CPU
• PowerColor RX 5600 XT Graphics Card

How to Put a PC Together Yourself

First, you need a good place to build your PC and the right tools. A large wooden table is the best place to build a PC. Don’t use a metal table or a table that is too small. If the room you are using does not have adequate lighting, get a portable lamp to see everything you are doing properly.

You don’t need a lot of tools – get a screwdriver, a container for your screws, scissors, and zip ties. Have a smartphone/tablet/laptop with you to look things up while you work on your gaming computer.

Never try to build, upgrade, or repair a PC without using anti-static equipment such as anti-static gloves. Computers are full of delicate electronic parts that can be badly damaged by static electricity. Take protecting your computer from static seriously.

Put the Parts Together in the Right Order

If you put parts together in the wrong order, you won’t be able to fit everything in, and you will have to take stuff out. Certain parts, such as the power supply, have to go in first. Put the parts in your case in this order:

• Power supply (PSU)
• Processor (CPU)
• Memory (RAM)
• CPU Cooler
• Motherboard
• Case fan
• Hard Drive or Solid State Drive
• Graphics card

After you put in all the parts, the last step is to connect the buttons and cables. While you might not have to do everything in exactly that order, you cannot change the order too much. One part can block the placement of another part.

First, open your PC case and put the screws and panels somewhere safe. Then, install the power supply. Make sure the exhaust vent blows out of the case, or else your PC will overheat. You must run wires from the power supply to everything else in your computer.

Next, you need to put the motherboard together by attaching the processor, ram, and CPU cooler to it. Don’t put the motherboard in your case until after you put it together.

The CPU is held in place by a spring-loaded arm that is already on your motherboard. Slide the arm up and out, place the CPU in the socket, and then move the arm back in position to hold the CPU in place.

Putting RAM in place is easy. There are two obvious slots for the memory, and you can line up the notches and gently put the memory in. Next, you attach the CPU cooler to your motherboard. The CPU would quickly overheat without a fan continuously cooling it.

Next, you need to install the motherboard. First, remove the I/O plate from the case and replace it with the motherboard I/O plate. Use the screws that came with the case to attach the motherboard. This should all be done gently and carefully.

Next, install the case fans. You need two of them, one to pull air into your case and another to blow air out. If you only have one, the airflow will be poor, and the computer will heat up.

Next, install the hard drive using the screws that came with the case. Use the SATA data cable to hook the hard drive up to the motherboard, which has holes for the pins.

While some processors come pre-installed with an integrated graphics card, others do not. Line the graphics card up with the PCI expansion slot and gently insert it. You will hear a click when it is locked in place.

Connecting the Buttons

This is one of the harder parts of putting a computer together. You will have to attach the power button, reset button, and everything else to your motherboard.

There are a lot of different pins on your motherboard, and you will have to line everything up. There are a lot of small cords, and different holes in the motherboard look similar.

You can find a youtube video specifically on connecting the buttons. You need to connect at least the power switch, reset switch, and LED lights. Do this slowly and carefully because your PC might not boot if you make a mistake at this stage.

Connecting the Cables

Connecting the power supply to the motherboard, graphics card, and hard drive is relatively easy because you can tell where to put everything by the number of pins.

The EPS cable that connects the power supply to the motherboard has eight pins. You should then connect the 24-pin power supply cable to the 24-pin ATX port on the motherboard.

The SATA power cable and SATA data cables that connect to the hard drive also have 24 pins. Finally, the 6-pin PCle connector runs from the power supply to the graphics card.

At this point, you are finished, and your PC should boot up if you try it. Make sure you turn the switch behind the power supply on first. You should use your zip ties to tie up the cables so that they are not all over the place.

Usually, you will have to install an operating system yourself, as the hard drive won’t come with it installed. Plug in a flash drive with the operating system on it, turn the computer on and hit delete when booting it up to enter BIOS. Change the boot order to prioritize the flash drive, allowing you to install the OS.

You will have to download a few things before your PC is fully operational. You need to download the right drivers for your motherboard and graphics card. Go to the company’s websites and download the drivers. Finally, restart the computer after the install.

At this point, your gaming computer should be ready to play Fortnight. It may be somewhat of a challenge to build a PC yourself the first time, but it can save you thousands of dollars over the decades. Every time you build a new computer, you will save a significant amount of money, and your computer will have exactly the system specifications you want.