The Medium

The Intel Core i5-10400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 delivers a playable experience in The Medium, but the margin for error is thin at higher resolutions. The measured data shows that this combination can maintain 60 frames per second (FPS) or more at 1080p and 1440p, but only up to specific quality presets. At 4K, the system begins to struggle, with only the Low and Medium presets clearing the playable threshold. The benchmark results indicate a clear pattern: the RTX 4070 is the dominant component, but the i5-10400F's processing power becomes a limiting factor as resolution drops and CPU load increases.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data provides a complete picture of performance across three resolutions and four quality presets. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the combination performs strongly. The Low preset delivers an average of 106 FPS, which is the highest average recorded for this pairing. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 89 FPS, with a minimum of 75 and a maximum of 102 FPS. The High preset yields an average of 67 FPS, still comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset, however, falls short of playability, averaging only 53 FPS. This shows that at 1080p, the system has enough headroom to handle most settings, but Ultra demands more than the hardware can consistently deliver.

At 2560x1440, performance scales downward as expected. The Low preset averages 100 FPS, a minor reduction from 1080p. Medium settings produce an average of 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 and a maximum of 91 FPS, indicating that even the lowest frame rates stay above the playable mark. High settings drop to an average of 56 FPS, which sits below the 60 FPS threshold. The Ultra preset averages only 45 FPS, a significant step down. The data reveals that 1440p is the boundary where High settings become borderline, and Ultra is not viable for consistent play.

At 3840x2160, the demands of 4K resolution drastically reduce performance. The Low preset averages 93 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium settings average 62 FPS, with a minimum of 53 and a maximum of 71 FPS. This means the average clears the threshold, but the minimum dips below it, so there may be occasional stutters during intense scenes. High settings average 44 FPS, while Ultra averages just 35 FPS. Neither of these presets is suitable for smooth gameplay at 4K. The data shows a clear cliff: the difference between Medium and High at 4K is 18 FPS, the largest single-preset drop across all resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific processor and graphics card combination at position 1201 out of 3724 tested combos for The Medium. This places the pairing in the top third of all configurations in the database. The percentile data reinforces this position: the CPU sits at the 68th percentile among all tested processors, while the GPU ranks at the 81st percentile among all tested graphics cards. The GPU is clearly the stronger component in this pairing.

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU, the Intel Core i5-10400F posts an average benchmark score of 14,185. The closest competitors are the Intel Xeon 6756E with a score of 14,163 (0.2% lower), the Intel Core 7 160UL with a score of 14,232 (0.3% higher), the AMD EPYC 7552 with a score of 14,115 (0.5% lower), and the AMD Ryzen 3 7320C with a score of 14,277 (0.6% higher). These deltas are all within a fraction of a percent, meaning the CPU is essentially on par with its closest rivals in raw compute performance.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 achieves an average benchmark score of 37,648. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Tesla P4 at 37,628 (0.1% lower), the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 at 37,507 (0.4% lower), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile at 38,135 (1.3% higher), and the AMD Radeon PRO W6400 at 37,157 (1.3% lower). The GPU holds a slight edge over most of these competitors, with only the RTX 4080 Mobile outperforming it by a meaningful margin. The overall combo rank of 1201 reflects that while neither component is a top-tier performer, their combination offers solid mid-to-high-range capability for this title.

Best Settings per Resolution

The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS or higher. Based on the measured data, the best settings are the highest quality preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS at each resolution.

At 1920x1080, the High preset is the best choice. It averages 67 FPS, which clears the threshold by 7 FPS. The Medium preset also works, averaging 89 FPS, but High offers better visual quality while still maintaining smooth performance. The Ultra preset falls to 53 FPS and should be avoided.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the optimal selection. It averages 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS, ensuring that even the lowest frame rates stay above 60. The High preset averages 56 FPS, which is below the threshold, so it is not recommended for consistent play. Low settings are always an option, but Medium provides a better balance of visual fidelity and performance.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset is the highest playable option. It averages 62 FPS, just barely clearing the threshold, but the minimum of 53 FPS means there will be noticeable dips in demanding scenes. The Low preset averages 93 FPS and offers a much safer margin, but for those who prioritize visual quality, Medium is the ceiling. High and Ultra presets are not playable at 4K.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run The Medium at 1080p with High settings?

A: Yes. The measured average FPS at 1920x1080 with High settings is 67 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset for 1440p gaming?

A: The Medium preset is the best option at 2560x1440, delivering an average of 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS. The High preset averages only 56 FPS, so it falls below the playable threshold.

Q: Is 4K gaming possible with this hardware?

A: Yes, but only with reduced settings. The Medium preset at 3840x2160 averages 62 FPS, though the minimum of 53 FPS indicates occasional dips. The Low preset averages 93 FPS for a more stable experience. High and Ultra presets are not playable, averaging 44 and 35 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 4070 has an average benchmark score of 37,648. It outperforms the NVIDIA Tesla P4 by 0.1% and the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 by 0.4%, while trailing the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile by 1.3%. It is essentially on par with the AMD Radeon PRO W6400, which is 1.3% slower.

Q: Which component is more powerful in this pairing?

A: The GPU is the stronger component. It ranks at the 81st percentile among all tested graphics cards, while the CPU ranks at the 68th percentile among all tested processors. The GPU's average benchmark score of 37,648 far exceeds the CPU's score of 14,185 in raw compute terms.

Q: What frame rates can be expected at Ultra settings across all resolutions?

A: Ultra settings are not playable at any resolution. At 1920x1080, the average is 53 FPS. At 2560x1440, it drops to 45 FPS. At 3840x2160, it falls to 35 FPS. All of these are below the 60 FPS threshold.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data shows a clear shift in which component limits performance as resolution changes. At lower resolutions like 1920x1080, the CPU plays a more significant role. The i5-10400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, must feed frames to the RTX 4070 quickly enough to keep the GPU busy. The measured results at 1080p show that the gap between Low and Ultra presets is 53 FPS (106 down to 53), which indicates that the GPU is still the primary driver, but the CPU's single-thread performance becomes more relevant as frame rates climb. The CPU's Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1,451 and multi-core score of 10,283 suggest it has enough headroom for this game, but it is not a top-tier processor.

At 2560x1440, the balance shifts toward the GPU. The average FPS drops across all presets compared to 1080p, with the Low preset falling from 106 to 100 FPS and Medium from 89 to 79 FPS. This 10-15% reduction is typical of increased pixel workload, showing that the GPU is now the bottleneck. The CPU still needs to keep up, but the demands on it are less severe because the GPU takes longer to render each frame.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is almost entirely the limiting factor. The average FPS at Low is 93, which is only 7 FPS lower than at 1440p, but the High preset drops to 44 FPS and Ultra to 35 FPS. This steep decline at higher presets is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the RTX 4070's 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are stretched thin. The CPU's influence is minimal here, as the frame rates are low enough that the i5-10400F can easily keep up. The scaling between resolutions confirms this: at Low settings, the drop from 1080p to 4K is only 13 FPS (106 to 93), while at Ultra, the drop is 18 FPS (53 to 35). The GPU's role intensifies with resolution, while the CPU's role is most pronounced at 1080p with high frame rates.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-10400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 can run The Medium, but the playable range depends heavily on the resolution. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold on High, Low, and Medium presets, with High being the best balance at 67 FPS. Ultra is not playable, averaging 53 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the best choice, averaging 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS, while High falls short at 56 FPS. At 3840x2160, the system can only handle Low and Medium presets, with Medium averaging 62 FPS but dipping to 53 FPS at its lowest point. High and Ultra are not viable options at 4K.

The verdict is straightforward: this PC is a solid 1080p and 1440p machine for The Medium, with the ability to push into 4K only at reduced settings. The RTX 4070 is the star of the pairing, but the i5-10400F does not hold it back in most scenarios. For players who prioritize visual quality at 1080p, the High preset delivers a smooth experience. For 1440p users, Medium is the sweet spot. For 4K, players must accept the Medium preset's occasional dips or drop to Low for consistent performance. The data does not support Ultra settings at any resolution, as the GPU lacks the raw power to maintain 60 FPS under maximum load. Overall, this combination is a capable performer for the game, with clear boundaries that players should respect to stay within the playable threshold.