Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for Fortnite
We weighed five graphics cards on video memory and recommended power supply, and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Fortnite supports DLSS, FSR and hardware Lumen ray tracing, so card choice depends on the settings you want. Every pick is an RTX 40 or 50 series or Radeon RX 7000 or 9000 series card that cost between $280 and $600, ordered by video memory.
Fortnite's official PC requirements list Nvidia GTX 960, AMD R9 280, or equivalent DX11 GPU and 16GB of RAM for the recommended tier (source: Epic Games support: Fortnite system requirements on PC). The list names no AMD card we can rank, so the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT can't be matched against it directly. The source cites 2GB of video memory for the recommended tier, and every pick with a stated figure has at least that (16GB and 12GB).
We ranked these graphics cards on GPU, VRAM and memory using manufacturer specifications; we did not test these graphics cards ourselves, and where a maker leaves out recommended PSU, we say so.
Requirements source: Epic Games support: Fortnite system requirements on PC
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Also Consider
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC
A white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Best for: Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G
Three WINDFORCE fans.
Best for: Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC
32 compute units.
Best for: Buyers who want 32 compute units.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GB
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a white triple-fan MERC cooler.
Best for: Buyers who want a white triple-fan MERC cooler and can spend more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB costs.
Our take Check price for XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GB (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OC
A lower price than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Keeping the cost under $500.
Our take Check price for ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OC (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Also Consider1 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 7800 XT Steel Legend 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Steel Legend adds a white-and-silver finish and a 2520MHz boost, and it has a 700W recommended power supply.
Best for
- Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish.
Skip if
- Pass on it if needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It matches the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White on video memory (16GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 7800 XT gpu; compare the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White, which has an RX 9060 XT gpu. You get a 2520MHz boost clock here, which sets it apart from the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and its a 3320MHz boost clock.
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Power for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 700W the maker's minimum PSU. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and the pricier Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7800 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Recommended PSU: 700W
- Power connector: 2 x 8-pin
- Boost clock: 2520MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- White-and-silver Steel Legend finish
- 700W recommended PSU
- RX 7800 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Needs two 8-pin PCIe power cables
- Costs more than the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT at the time of writing
Strong Alternative2 of 5
Gigabyte Radeon RX 7600 XT Gaming OC 16G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC stands out for three WINDFORCE fans, and it adds a 128-bit memory interface.
Best for
- Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also offers a 16GB video memory. On video memory it ties with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White at 16GB. You get an RX 7600 XT gpu here, which sets it apart from the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT and its an RX 7700 XT gpu.
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC with the maker. If you want a confirmed recommended power supply, look to the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB instead: it offers 550W, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7600 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Three WINDFORCE fans
- 128-bit memory interface
- RX 7600 XT gpu, the only one here
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT at the time of writing
Worth a Look3 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASRock's Challenger gives the RX 9060 XT a full 16GB of memory in a two-slot, 249mm card.
Best for
- Buyers who want 32 compute units.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
The maker offers a 550W power supply and a single 8-pin plug, so it drops into most existing builds. On video memory it ties with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White at 16GB. It shares an RX 9060 XT gpu with the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White; the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT goes with an RX 7700 XT gpu.
It is the only pick here with a 3290MHz boost clock; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend has a 2520MHz boost clock instead. It also offers 32 compute units and 0dB fan stop at light load. Power for the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes through 1 x 8-pin, with 550W the maker's minimum PSU. When we checked, only the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and cheaper picks cost less, and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Length: 249mm
- Thickness: 2-slot
- Recommended PSU: 550W
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- Boost clock: 3290MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- Short 249mm length suits compact cases
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A modest 550W PSU recommendation
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT at the time of writing
Premium Pick4 of 5
XFX Mercury AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT OC White 16GB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The XFX Mercury 9060 XT White is built around a white triple-fan MERC cooler, with a boost clock of up to 3320MHz on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want a white triple-fan MERC cooler and can spend more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB costs.
Skip if
- If budget leads, the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT was cheaper at our last price check.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16GB video memory. On video memory it ties with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC and the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB at 16GB. It shares an RX 9060 XT gpu with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB; the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT goes with an RX 7700 XT gpu.
No other pick in this guide offers a 3320MHz boost clock; compare the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, which has a 2520MHz boost clock. No dimensions are published for the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Only the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks. There is no published recommended power supply figure, whereas the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB offers 550W.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 9060 XT
- VRAM: 16GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 3320MHz
Pros
- 16GB of VRAM for high-resolution textures
- White triple-fan MERC cooler
- Boost clock of up to 3320MHz
- The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a white triple-fan MERC cooler
Cons
- Costs more than the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here5 of 5
ASRock Radeon RX 7700 XT Challenger 12GB OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT stands out for 0dB silent cooling at light loads.
Best for
- Keeping the cost under $500.
Skip if
- Skip it if video memory matters most to you; the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 16GB.
Why we like it
It also offers a 12GB video memory. On video memory it trails the group at 12GB, while the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend offers 16GB. An RX 7700 XT gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC uses an RX 7600 XT gpu.
No dimensions are published for the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT with the maker. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RX 7700 XT
- VRAM: 12GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- 12GB of VRAM, more than 8GB cards
- 0dB silent cooling at light loads
- RX 7700 XT gpu, the only one here
- A lower price than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the rest when we checked
Cons
- Video memory trails the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend (16GB)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and recommended power supply, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and recommended power supply and power connector are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT give no recommended power supply; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT give no power connector.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT ($250 to $500) to the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White ($500 to $1000).
What to Look for in a GPUs for Fortnite
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Video memory
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend tops video memory at 16GB and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT sits lowest at 12GB; 4 picks share the top figure. Start with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend if video memory decides it.
Recommended power supply across these picks
Here recommended power supply runs from 700W on the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend to 550W on the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, a 21% spread. If recommended power supply is your first filter, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB sets the ceiling at 550W. The Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT give no recommended power supply figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Power connector
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend lists 2 x 8-pin; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB lists 1 x 8-pin.
What to check at home
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Measure for 249mm and 2 slots before ordering the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB.
Extras that separate them
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB: 20Gbps memory on a 128-bit bus. The XFX Mercury 9060 XT White: a boost clock of up to 3320MHz. The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT: 0dB silent cooling at light loads.
How to Choose a GPUs for Fortnite
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want white-and-silver Steel Legend finish | ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | A white-and-silver Steel Legend finish |
| Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans | Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC | Three WINDFORCE fans |
| Buyers who want 32 compute units | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | 32 compute units |
| Buyers who want a white triple-fan MERC cooler and can spend more than the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB costs | XFX Mercury 9060 XT White | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a white triple-fan MERC cooler |
| Keeping the cost under $500 | ASRock Challenger 7700 XT | A lower price than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the rest when we checked |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend leads on video memory at 16GB, ahead of the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC at 16GB. "Not listed" marks recommended power supply where the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT leave the figure out.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Recommended PSU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend | RX 7800 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 700W |
| Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC | RX 7600 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | 550W |
| XFX Mercury 9060 XT White | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| ASRock Challenger 7700 XT | RX 7700 XT | 12GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The ASRock Challenger 7700 XT was the lowest-priced pick ($250 to $500) and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White the highest ($500 to $1000) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $250 to $500 | ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC |
| About $500 to $1000 | ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB, XFX Mercury 9060 XT White |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these cards run Fortnite at recommended settings?
Every pick also reaches the 2GB the source cites. Fortnite also lists 16GB of system RAM for that tier, which is separate from the card.
How does the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend compare with the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB on recommended power supply?
The ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB comes out best at 550W, with the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend at 700W. No recommended power supply figure is published for the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC, the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White and the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
What does the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White add over the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT?
What it brings is video memory (16GB against 12GB). On our last price check the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT was in the $250 to $500 tier and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White in the $500 to $1000 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
Why is the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT our Lowest Price Here pick?
The label rests on a lower price than the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the rest when we checked. It makes sense for keeping the cost under $500.
Do the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend and the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC differ on GPU?
The ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend uses RX 7800 XT; the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC uses RX 7600 XT; the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White use RX 9060 XT; the ASRock Challenger 7700 XT uses RX 7700 XT.
Will the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend work with my setup?
No dimensions are published for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Power for the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend comes through 2 x 8-pin, with 700W the maker's minimum PSU. In this guide it ranks first of 5, and first of 5 on video memory (16GB).
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ASRock 7800 XT Steel Legend, chosen for a white-and-silver Steel Legend finish. Look at the Gigabyte 7600 XT Gaming OC for three WINDFORCE fans, the ASRock RX 9060 XT Challenger 16GB for 32 compute units and the XFX Mercury 9060 XT White for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a white triple-fan MERC cooler if those matter more to you.
Test Fortnite's Performance and DirectX 12 modes before deciding you need a faster card.