Is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti good for playing Fortnite on PC?
Best answer: The GTX 1080 Ti is one amazing graphics card capable of crushing even the most demanding titles. However, even if you want to get the best experience out of Fortnite, the 1080 Ti is complete overkill. You can save yourself some money and still get a top-tier experience with a GTX 1060 instead.Amazon: NVIDIA GTX 1060 (opens in new tab) ($279)Amazon: NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti (opens in new tab) ($680)The GTX 1060 far exceeds the minimum requirements
The recommended system requirements for Fortnite are very reasonable:
- GPU - NVIDIA GTX 660 or AMD Radeon HD 7870 equivalent DX11 GPU with 2GB VRAM.
- CPU - Intel Core i5 2.8 Ghz or AMD equivalent
- RAM - 8GB
- OS - Windows 7/8/10 64-bit
There are two versions of the GTX 1060, a 3GB and 6GB model, both of which will deliver a great Fortnite experience. However, because the price difference isn't that high, the 6GB version is definitely the better option.
The GTX 1060 6GB is one of the sweet spots of NVIDIAs lineup and will give you great results in all the other latest titles, too.
The GTX 1060 is less than half the price of the GTX 1080 Ti
This is incredibly important. The GTX 1080 Ti is NVIDIA's top of the line consumer GPU and it commands a hefty price. These will begin to fall as the RTX 20 series GPUs make their way to market, but nevertheless, they cost a lot more than a GTX 1060.
A good GTX 1060 from Gigabyte costs $279. A GTX 1080 Ti (opens in new tab) from the same manufacturer costs $400 more.
The GTX 1080 Ti is a benefit if you're a content creator
This might not concern a lot of Fortnite players, but besides being the hottest game in the world right now, it's also the most watched game on Twitch and Mixer. So if you're looking to stream as well, the GTX 1080 Ti will give you more to work with.
Since the Fortnite system requirements are fairly relaxed, with a powerful system it's entirely possible to produce a great stream using a single PC. The most popular streaming apps (XSplit, OBS, Streamlabs OBS) all support GPU rendering, which helps especially if you're running an older CPU.
The GTX 1080 Ti is so powerful it can easily play Fortnite at a good frame rate while rendering a stream. Not quite what you're looking for? Our collection of the best graphics card options has way more picks.
Our pick
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A great value GPU that will give you excellent performance in Fortnite and any other current game
The GTX 1060 itself is more powerful than you really need for Fortnite, but on balance it's the sweet spot in the NVIDIA lineup for great quality 1080p gaming without breaking the bank.
Richard Devine is an Editor at Windows Central. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently you'll find him covering all manner of PC hardware and gaming, and you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.