The Medium

Can Intel Core i5-12400 + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 run The Medium? Benchmark data confirms this pairing delivers a broadly playable experience across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, though the most extreme preset demands compromise. The measured results show a clear hierarchy: at 1920x1080, the combo averages 64.1 FPS on High settings, 89.9 FPS on Medium, and 140.4 FPS on Low, while Ultra dips to 53.4 FPS. Stepping up to 2560x1440, the averages are 55.7 FPS (High), 77.5 FPS (Medium), 122.9 FPS (Low), and 41.4 FPS (Ultra). At 3840x2160, the picture changes significantly: High settings yield just 43.7 FPS, Medium hits 62.1 FPS, Low reaches 95.8 FPS, and Ultra falls to 32.9 FPS. The data indicates that this configuration is capable of smooth gameplay, but the optimal settings shift dramatically depending on the target resolution.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for this CPU-GPU combination in The Medium reveals a consistent pattern across all three tested resolutions. At 1920x1080, the lowest preset tested, Low, produces an average of 140.4 FPS, which is far above the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium settings at the same resolution average 89.9 FPS, while High settings drop to 64.1 FPS—still playable but with less headroom. The Ultra preset is the outlier, averaging 53.4 FPS, which falls below the playable threshold and would likely result in noticeable stutter during intense scenes.

Moving to 2560x1440, the same settings scale down predictably. Low settings average 122.9 FPS, a substantial figure that suggests the GPU is not the limiting factor at this preset. Medium settings average 77.5 FPS, maintaining a comfortable margin above the playable threshold. High settings average 55.7 FPS, just under the 60 FPS mark, indicating that this preset is marginal for smooth play. Ultra settings average 41.4 FPS, a significant drop that makes this preset unsuitable for maintaining frame rates.

At 3840x2160, the performance curve becomes steeper. Low settings average 95.8 FPS, which is impressive for 4K and indicates the combination still has headroom. Medium settings average 62.1 FPS, just barely crossing the playable threshold. High settings average 43.7 FPS, and Ultra settings average 32.9 FPS, both of which are well below the threshold and would produce a visibly choppy experience. The data shows that the gap between Low and Medium at 4K is 33.7 FPS, while the gap between Medium and High is 18.4 FPS, suggesting diminishing returns as settings increase.

Across all resolutions, the min and max FPS values are not listed in the data, so the analysis relies solely on the average figures. The numbers indicate that this combo can handle the game's demands, but the preset choice is critical. For instance, at 1080p, moving from High to Ultra costs 10.7 FPS, a relatively small penalty, whereas at 4K, moving from Medium to High costs 18.4 FPS, a larger relative drop. This suggests that the game's rendering load scales non-linearly with resolution and settings.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the dominant factor in The Medium's performance for this combo, particularly at higher resolutions. The scaling between resolutions provides evidence: at 1080p Low, the average is 140.4 FPS, dropping to 122.9 FPS at 1440p Low and 95.8 FPS at 4K Low. This represents a 31.8% decrease from 1080p to 4K at Low settings, which is a typical GPU-bound scaling pattern. The CPU, an Intel Core i5-12400 with 6 cores and 12 threads, has a passmark multithread score of 18747, which places it in the 72nd percentile of all CPUs, suggesting it has ample headroom for most gaming workloads.

However, the CPU's role becomes more apparent at lower resolutions and lower presets. At 1080p Low, the average of 140.4 FPS is high enough that the CPU's single-thread performance, reflected in a 3dmark single-thread score of 910 and a passmark single-thread score of 3456, could become a limiting factor if the frame rate were pushed higher. In contrast, at 4K Ultra, the average of 32.9 FPS is clearly GPU-limited, as the RTX 3080's workload dominates. The data shows that at 4K Medium, the average of 62.1 FPS is close to the playable threshold, and the CPU's 3dmark 16-thread score of 5873 is likely sufficient to feed the GPU without bottlenecking.

The preset scaling also reveals the GPU's role. At 1080p, moving from Low to Ultra reduces the average from 140.4 to 53.4 FPS, a 62% drop. At 4K, the same preset change reduces the average from 95.8 to 32.9 FPS, a 65.7% drop. The similarity in these percentages suggests that the GPU is consistently the primary constraint across resolutions, with the CPU maintaining its ability to keep up. The RTX 3080's 10 GB of GDDR6X memory and 760.3 GB/s bandwidth are likely sufficient for the game's textures at all tested settings, given the measured results.

Best Settings per Resolution

The verdict data specifies the best settings for each resolution, defined as the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS. At 1920x1080, the best settings are High, with an average of 64.1 FPS. This is the only preset at 1080p that achieves the playable threshold while offering higher quality than Medium or Low; Ultra is not playable, averaging 53.4 FPS. At 2560x1440, the best settings are Medium, averaging 77.5 FPS. High settings at 1440p average 55.7 FPS, which is below the threshold, so Medium is the optimal choice for a balance of quality and performance. At 3840x2160, the best settings are also Medium, with an average of 62.1 FPS. This is a narrow margin above the 60 FPS threshold, and Low settings average 95.8 FPS, but Medium provides a better visual experience while remaining playable.

The data shows that at 1080p, High settings are the sweet spot, offering a 64.1 FPS average that is 10.4 FPS above the threshold. At 1440p, Medium is the clear choice, with a 77.5 FPS average that provides 17.5 FPS of headroom. At 4K, Medium is the only playable preset above Low, and its 62.1 FPS average is just 2.1 FPS above the threshold, leaving little room for fluctuation in demanding scenes. For users prioritizing visual fidelity, the data suggests that 1080p High is the most balanced option, while 4K requires a compromise down to Medium to maintain playability.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU in this combo, the data provides context for what other hardware would behave similarly. The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683, with its closest rival being the AMD EPYC 7643, which has an average score of 18697, a delta of -0.1%. The Intel Core i7-1355U is also close, with a score of 18730 and a delta of -0.3%, as is the AMD Ryzen AI 5 330, with a score of 18811 and a delta of -0.7%. On the lower end, the Intel Core i3-14100F has a score of 18519, a delta of 0.9%, meaning it is slightly less powerful but within a similar performance envelope. For gaming, these CPUs would likely yield comparable frame rates in CPU-bound scenarios, though the i5-12400's 6-core, 12-thread configuration is well-suited for modern titles.

For the GPU, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 has an average benchmark score of 23172. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA P106-100, with a score of 23249 and a delta of -0.3%, the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16, with a score of 23250 and a delta of -0.3%, and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M, with a score of 23273 and a delta of -0.4%. The AMD Radeon R9 M290X is also nearby, with a score of 23276 and a delta of -0.4%. These rivals are within 0.4% of the RTX 3080's average score, suggesting that in The Medium, they would produce nearly identical FPS numbers at the same settings and resolutions. However, note that the RTX 3080's 10 GB memory buffer and 320-bit bus are specific to its design, and the rival GPUs may have different memory configurations that could affect performance in texture-heavy scenes, though the benchmark scores suggest parity.

The delta values are all negative for the rivals, ranging from -0.1% to -0.4%, meaning the RTX 3080 is slightly faster than each of these alternatives in the aggregate benchmark. In practical terms, the difference of less than 1% would translate to less than 1 FPS difference in The Medium, so users with any of these GPUs could expect similar playability. For the CPU, the rivals show a mix of positive and negative deltas, with the i3-14100F being 0.9% slower, which could result in a minor FPS difference in CPU-bound scenarios, but the impact is likely negligible at the tested settings.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run The Medium at 4K with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, but only on Medium settings, which average 62.1 FPS at 3840x2160. Low settings average 95.8 FPS, while High and Ultra average 43.7 and 32.9 FPS respectively, both below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best setting at 1440p for this CPU-GPU pair?

A: Medium settings are the best choice at 2560x1440, averaging 77.5 FPS. High settings average 55.7 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, and Ultra averages 41.4 FPS.

Q: Is the Ultra preset playable at any resolution with this combo?

A: No. At 1920x1080, Ultra averages 53.4 FPS; at 2560x1440, it averages 41.4 FPS; and at 3840x2160, it averages 32.9 FPS. All three are below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rival in terms of benchmark scores?

A: The Intel Core i5-12400 has an average benchmark score of 18683. Its closest rival, the AMD EPYC 7643, has a score of 18697, a delta of -0.1%, meaning the i5-12400 is slightly slower by 0.1% in aggregate benchmarks.

Q: What GPU rival is closest to the RTX 3080 in performance?

A: The NVIDIA P106-100 is the closest rival, with an average score of 23249 versus the RTX 3080's 23172, a delta of -0.3%. This indicates the RTX 3080 is 0.3% faster in the aggregate benchmark.

Q: At which resolution does the combo have the most headroom above the playable threshold?

A: At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average is 140.4 FPS, which is 80.4 FPS above the 60 FPS threshold. This offers the largest margin for smooth gameplay.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for The Medium, this pairing of Intel Core i5-12400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 ranks 987th out of 3724 combos. This places it in the upper quartile of tested hardware configurations, with the rank indicating that roughly 73.5% of tested combos perform worse and 26.5% perform better. The data is measured, not estimated, which lends confidence to the FPS figures. The rank reflects the overall capability of the combo across all tested settings and resolutions, and it aligns with the observed performance: the combo can handle the game at playable frame rates in most scenarios, but it is not at the top tier, as evidenced by the inability to run Ultra at any resolution above 60 FPS. The GPU's percentile of 68 versus all GPUs and the CPU's percentile of 72 versus all CPUs suggest a balanced pairing, with neither component being a clear bottleneck. This rank is consistent with the measured FPS data, which shows solid but not exceptional performance in The Medium.