The Medium

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for this combination shows a demanding workload across all resolutions. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are consistently low. The Low preset averages 30 FPS, Medium averages 19 FPS with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 22, High averages 14 FPS, and Ultra drops to an average of 11 FPS. No resolution at 4K approaches the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Stepping down to 2560x1440 improves performance but still leaves the system far from smooth gameplay. The Low preset averages 39 FPS. Medium averages 24 FPS with a recorded minimum of 21 and maximum of 28. High averages 17 FPS, and Ultra averages 14 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium is 15 FPS, which is the largest single-preset jump at this resolution.

At 1920x1080, the results remain below the playable threshold. Low is the strongest preset, averaging 46 FPS. Medium averages 29 FPS with a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 33. High averages 21 FPS, and Ultra averages 16 FPS. The delta between Low and Medium is 17 FPS, the largest preset-to-preset difference in the entire dataset. Across all three resolutions, the scaling from Low to Ultra shows a consistent pattern: each step up in quality costs roughly 25% to 30% of the previous preset's average frame rate.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this CPU and GPU pairing at position 3439 out of 3724 tested combinations for The Medium. That places it in the bottom 8% of all tested systems. The combo rank reflects the overall capability of the pair, not just the GPU or CPU individually.

The Intel Arc B370 GPU sits at the 5th percentile among all GPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score is 1184 on the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. This is a very low standing, and it directly explains the sub-60 FPS results at every resolution and preset. The CPU, an Intel Core i3-12100F, ranks at the 68th percentile among all CPUs, which is a much stronger relative position. The bottleneck here is overwhelmingly the graphics processor.

The measured FPS data confirms the ranking. Even at 1080p with the Low preset, the average of 46 FPS is 14 FPS short of the 60 FPS target. The combination never reaches a playable state in any recorded configuration. The rank of 3439 out of 3724 is consistent with a system that cannot deliver smooth gameplay in this title.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor. The Intel Core i3-12100F is a 4-core, 8-thread processor with a boost clock of 4.30 GHz. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 11860 and single-core score of 1674 indicate a capable modern CPU. The GPU, however, is an integrated-class part with 1280 shading units and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Its FP32 compute is rated at 6.144 TFLOPS.

Comparing frame rates across resolutions shows that the GPU is the limiting factor. At 1080p Low, the system averages 46 FPS. Dropping to 4K Low reduces that to 30 FPS, a 35% decline. This resolution sensitivity is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. If the CPU were the constraint, the frame rates would stay relatively flat as resolution increases, because the CPU workload per frame is similar at any resolution.

The preset scaling within a single resolution further confirms this. At 1440p, moving from Low to Medium drops the average from 39 to 24 FPS, a 38% reduction. The CPU has to handle the same scene complexity across presets, but the GPU workload changes dramatically. The i3-12100F's 3DMark multi-thread score of 4051 and PassMark multi-thread score of 14015 suggest it has enough headroom for this game's CPU demands. The recorded data shows the GPU is saturated well before the CPU becomes a factor.

The Verdict

The verdict from the database is unambiguous. This PC cannot run The Medium at 60 FPS at any resolution or preset. The playable settings list is empty for 3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080. The best average FPS recorded anywhere in the dataset is 46 FPS at 1080p with the Low preset. That is 14 FPS below the playable threshold.

At 4K, the situation is severe. The best 4K result is 30 FPS on Low, and the Ultra preset averages only 11 FPS. At 1440p, the best result is 39 FPS on Low, with Medium dropping to 24 FPS. At 1080p, the Low preset is the only configuration that comes within striking distance of playability, but it still falls short.

The combination's rank of 3439 out of 3724 reflects this reality. The GPU's 5th percentile standing among all GPUs means it is not equipped for this title. Even the most forgiving settings leave the system below the 60 FPS target. Users seeking a playable experience in The Medium would need a different GPU, as the CPU is not the limiting factor.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i3-12100F are all processors with comparable average benchmark scores. The Intel Core 3 N355 scores 13492, a 0% delta. The Intel Core i5-9500 scores 13452, which is 0.3% lower. The Intel Core 5 120UL scores 13594, which is 0.7% higher. The Intel Core i7-1250U scores 13351, which is 1.1% lower. All four CPUs sit within a 1.1% band of the i3-12100F's average score of 13494. In this game, any of these CPUs would behave nearly identically, since the GPU is the bottleneck.

The Intel Arc B370's nearest rivals are much older parts. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186, a 0.2% advantage. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, a 0.5% advantage. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, a 0.7% advantage. The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which is 1.4% lower. These deltas are all within 1.4% of the Arc B370's score of 1184. In practice, swapping the Arc B370 for any of these GPUs would produce nearly the same frame rates in The Medium.

The practical implication is that the CPU has plenty of comparable alternatives, but the GPU is firmly in a performance class that cannot handle this game. Upgrading the CPU alone would not help, because the system would still be GPU-bound. The nearest GPU rivals are all legacy parts, which reinforces the Arc B370's low position in the current hardware landscape.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 3840x2160, the database records no playable settings. The best average FPS at this resolution is 30 on Low, which is below the 60 FPS threshold. There is no preset that clears the playable bar.

For 2560x1440, the same result applies. No settings produce a playable experience. The best average is 39 FPS on Low, which is 21 FPS short of the target.

For 1920x1080, the best recorded result is 46 FPS on the Low preset. This is the highest average FPS in the entire dataset, but it still fails the 60 FPS requirement. Medium drops to 29 FPS, High to 21 FPS, and Ultra to 16 FPS. No preset at any resolution meets the playable threshold.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combination can achieve in The Medium?

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 46, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset.

Q: Can this system run The Medium at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, the Low preset averages 46 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium averages 29 FPS, High averages 21 FPS, and Ultra averages 16 FPS.

Q: How does the GPU compare to other tested GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc B370 is at the 5th percentile among all GPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score is 1184 on the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test.

Q: How does the CPU compare to other tested CPUs?

A: The Intel Core i3-12100F is at the 68th percentile among all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 13494, and its Cinebench R23 multi-core score is 11860.

Q: What is the best 4K result in the recorded data?

A: At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 30 FPS. The Ultra preset averages only 11 FPS.

Q: Would a different CPU help this system run the game better?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The nearest CPU rivals have average scores within 1.1% of the i3-12100F, so swapping the CPU would not meaningfully change frame rates.