Upgrade CPU for more FPS?

[xch4s3]

My PC components:

Intel Core i9-12900K 3.2 GHz 16-Core Processor

Asus ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard

Corsair Vengeance RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory

NVIDIA Founders Edition GeForce RTX 5090 32 GB Video Card  2* AOC CQ32G1 31.5" Curved Frameless Gaming Monitor, Quad HD 2560x1440, VA panel, 4 ms Response Time, MPRT, 144Hz, FreeSync, DisplayPort/HDMI/VGA, VESA, Black

 

I currently get 70-110FPS on my AOC 1440P monitor with the 5090 FE and Fortnite on max settings, including Lumen + Nanite + virtual shadows. I need to increase that... I can't stand such a low FPS. ChatGPT says my CPU is a bottleneck for my FPS, something about how it is not allowing my GPU to really stretch its legs. Howver, people on reddit said since I'm planning on upgrading to 4K very soon, upgrading my CPU will not have any affect on my FPS. Is that correct? Let's say, if I chose to stick with 1440P, then I should definitely upgrade my CPU to get more FPS? But if I do switch to 4K soon, then absolutely do not upgrade my CPU in attempts to get more FPS? Is that all true? Am I even getting the proper FPS with my current comoponents? Maybe there could be something I am missing to do.

 

I want to play Fortnite at MAX graphics settings, including Lumen + Nanite + virtual shadows, and I want all of that at 180FPS minimum. I have plans of getting 1, and maybe 2, 4K monitors.

I'm thinking either 2 of the Alienware - AW3225QF 31.6" QD-OLED Curved 4K UHD 240Hz .03-ms G-SYNC Compatible Gaming Monitor with HDR (HDMI, USB-C) - Lunar Light

OR 2 of the ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDMR) ― 4K (3840 x 2160), QD-OLED, 240Hz, 0.03ms, G-SYNC Compatible, 99% DCI-P3, USB-C 90W, DisplayWidget, DisplayPort 2.1

OR 2 of the ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDP) - WOLED, Dual Mode (4K 240Hz, FHD 480Hz), 0.03ms, G-SYNC Compatible, Custom Heatsink, AI Gaming, 99% DCI-P3,True 10-bit, USB-C 90W

 

[Dedayog]

33 minutes ago, xch4s3 said:

My PC components:

Intel Core i9-12900K 3.2 GHz 16-Core Processor

Asus ROG STRIX Z690-F GAMING WIFI ATX LGA1700 Motherboard

Corsair Vengeance RGB 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory

NVIDIA Founders Edition GeForce RTX 5090 32 GB Video Card  2* AOC CQ32G1 31.5" Curved Frameless Gaming Monitor, Quad HD 2560x1440, VA panel, 4 ms Response Time, MPRT, 144Hz, FreeSync, DisplayPort/HDMI/VGA, VESA, Black

 

I currently get 70-110FPS on my AOC 1440P monitor with the 5090 FE and Fortnite on max settings, including Lumen + Nanite + virtual shadows. I need to increase that... I can't stand such a low FPS. ChatGPT says my CPU is a bottleneck for my FPS, something about how it is not allowing my GPU to really stretch its legs. Howver, people on reddit said since I'm planning on upgrading to 4K very soon, upgrading my CPU will not have any affect on my FPS. Is that correct? Let's say, if I chose to stick with 1440P, then I should definitely upgrade my CPU to get more FPS? But if I do switch to 4K soon, then absolutely do not upgrade my CPU in attempts to get more FPS? Is that all true? Am I even getting the proper FPS with my current comoponents? Maybe there could be something I am missing to do.

 

I want to play Fortnite at MAX graphics settings, including Lumen + Nanite + virtual shadows, and I want all of that at 180FPS minimum. I have plans of getting 1, and maybe 2, 4K monitors.

I'm thinking either 2 of the Alienware - AW3225QF 31.6" QD-OLED Curved 4K UHD 240Hz .03-ms G-SYNC Compatible Gaming Monitor with HDR (HDMI, USB-C) - Lunar Light

OR 2 of the ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDMR) ― 4K (3840 x 2160), QD-OLED, 240Hz, 0.03ms, G-SYNC Compatible, 99% DCI-P3, USB-C 90W, DisplayWidget, DisplayPort 2.1

OR 2 of the ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDP) - WOLED, Dual Mode (4K 240Hz, FHD 480Hz), 0.03ms, G-SYNC Compatible, Custom Heatsink, AI Gaming, 99% DCI-P3,True 10-bit, USB-C 90W

 

You can want 180 fps all you want.

 

Did you do any research on what CPU will give you that?

 

If so, buy that one.

 

Otherwise 9850x3d is what it is.

[jaslion]

On 2/7/2026 at 2:08 AM, xch4s3 said:

including Lumen + Nanite + virtual shadows, and I want all of that at 180FPS minimum.

Cool not happening. 180fps is ez to do with a 12900k just the settings you wish hinder unreal engine 5's performance.

 

Just lower the settings and you should get 200fps real fast normally. A good test

[Ha-Satan]

Yeah, just turn the settings down. Having lumen and nanite on won't make the game more fun. Or at the very least, it won't make the game enough more fun in order to justify spending heaps of cash on a new mobo/CPU/RAM (especially with today's RAM prices).

 

Getting a new monitor isn't a bad idea considering that your current panel is VA and therefore probably not ideal for fast-paced competitive games.

[MadAnt250]

On 2/6/2026 at 8:08 PM, xch4s3 said:

ChatGPT says my CPU is a bottleneck for my FPS

Ask ChatGPT if you should downgrade the GPU to fix the bottleneck.

 

I'd look into adjusting the game settings in Forknife.