The Medium

The Intel Core i5-12400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is a combination that sits in the lower-middle portion of the tested hardware pool for The Medium. With a combo rank of 2048 out of 3724 tested combinations, this system outperforms roughly 45% of all recorded configurations. The data indicates this is a capable, but not exceptional, pairing for this specific horror title. The measured frame rates reveal a system that can handle the game comfortably at lower settings, but which struggles to maintain fluid performance under maximum graphical loads, particularly at higher resolutions. The benchmark results are clear: this combo is fundamentally limited by the graphics card when pushing high presets, while the processor provides a solid foundation that prevents significant CPU-side bottlenecks.

How This Combo Ranks

The Core i5-12400F and RTX 4060 combination achieves a rank of 2048 out of 3724 tested combos in The Medium. This places the system in the 55th percentile of all tested pairings, meaning it outperforms a majority of configurations, yet a substantial number of more powerful setups exist above it. In practical terms, the ranking reflects a system that is well-suited for 1080p gaming at medium settings, but which will require compromises at higher resolutions.

The CPU itself holds a percentile of 73 among all processors, indicating it is a strong mid-range part. Its average benchmark score of 19039 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS (19047), which is its closest rival with a 0% delta. Other nearby processors include the Intel Core 3 201E, which scores 19056 and is 0.1% slower, and the Intel Core i5-1335U, which scores 18982 and is 0.3% faster. The AMD EPYC 7773X also sits nearby with a score of 18979, a 0.3% delta. This cluster of scores shows that the 12400F is firmly in a performance tier where minor architectural differences do not translate into meaningful gaming advantages.

The GPU, by contrast, holds a lower percentile of 61 among all graphics cards. Its average benchmark score of 17639 is closely matched by the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which scores 17666 and is 0.2% faster. The AMD Radeon 780M is 0.3% faster at 17588, while the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (17551) and Pro 460 (17509) are 0.5% and 0.7% slower, respectively. This grouping suggests that the RTX 4060 is positioned at a performance level where competition is dense, and the differences between these cards are within the margin of measurement error.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the Core i5-12400F and the RTX 4060 in The Medium becomes apparent when examining the scaling of frame rates across resolutions and presets. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system achieves an average of 106.4 FPS. This high frame rate indicates that neither component is severely limiting; the CPU can feed the GPU adequately, and the GPU has enough headroom to render frames quickly. Moving to Medium settings at the same resolution drops the average to 68.5 FPS, a reduction that points to the GPU beginning to take on more work. At High settings, the frame rate falls to 46.4 FPS, and at Ultra it drops further to 41.1 FPS. The steep decline from Low to Medium (a 37.9 FPS drop) versus the smaller decline from High to Ultra (a 5.3 FPS drop) suggests that the game's preset scaling places a heavy load on the GPU at medium and high tiers, while the ultra preset adds diminishing graphical returns.

At 2560x1440, the pattern shifts. Low settings produce 93.8 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings drop to 55.7 FPS, just below playable, while High falls to 38.4 FPS and Ultra to 34.3 FPS. The scaling from 1080p to 1440p at Low settings shows a 12.6 FPS reduction, indicating that the GPU is now more stressed, but the CPU remains capable. At 3840x2160, the GPU becomes the clear bottleneck. Low settings yield 70.6 FPS, but Medium drops to 44.7 FPS, High to 31.7 FPS, and Ultra to 23.7 FPS. The gap between 1440p Low (93.8 FPS) and 4K Low (70.6 FPS) is 23.2 FPS, while the gap between 1440p Ultra (34.3 FPS) and 4K Ultra (23.7 FPS) is 10.6 FPS. This compressed scaling at higher resolutions confirms that the RTX 4060's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 128-bit bus are insufficient for sustained high-detail rendering at 4K.

The CPU's role is most evident at lower resolutions and settings. At 1080p Low, the 106.4 FPS average shows that the six-core, twelve-thread processor can keep up with the GPU's output. However, the CPU’s 3DMark scores, such as 909 in single-thread and 5912 in max-thread tests, indicate it is not a top-tier part. The 12400F's 12,380 Cinebench R23 multi-core score and 1680 single-core score are respectable, but they lag behind higher-end parts. In The Medium, this translates to a system where the GPU is the primary limiter above 1080p Medium, but the CPU is sufficient to avoid major frame drops.

Similar Performance Alternatives

For users considering the Core i5-12400F, the nearest CPU rivals are the AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS and the Intel Core 3 201E. The Ryzen 5 7535HS matches the 12400F's average score of 19047 with a 0% delta, meaning the two parts would perform almost identically in The Medium. The Intel Core 3 201E is also effectively equivalent, with a 19056 score and a -0.1% delta. The Intel Core i5-1335U and AMD EPYC 7773X are marginally faster, with deltas of 0.3%, but these differences would not be perceptible in gaming frame rates.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4060's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon HD 7790, which is 0.2% faster. The AMD Radeon 780M is 0.3% faster, while the AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 are 0.5% and 0.7% slower, respectively. These deltas are negligible, so users with any of these cards would see nearly identical performance in The Medium. The data suggests that swapping the 12400F for a Ryzen 5 7535HS or the RTX 4060 for a Radeon HD 7790 would not change the measured FPS in any meaningful way, as the scores are within a fraction of a percent.

FAQ

Q: Can this system run The Medium at 60 FPS on any settings at 3840x2160?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings. The measured average FPS at 4K Low is 70.6, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. All other 4K presets fall below 60 FPS, with Medium at 44.7, High at 31.7, and Ultra at 23.7.

Q: What is the best playable preset at 1920x1080?

A: The Medium preset at 1080p delivers 68.5 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold. Low settings run at 106.4 FPS, but Medium offers a better visual experience while staying playable.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combination ranks 2048 out of 3724 tested combos for The Medium, placing it in the 55th percentile of all tested systems.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 2560x1440?

A: The GPU becomes the limiting factor at 1440p. At Low settings, the system reaches 93.8 FPS, but Medium drops to 55.7 FPS. The CPU is not the bottleneck here, as the frame rate decline is driven by the graphics card's workload.

Q: Which CPU is closest in performance to the Intel Core i5-12400F?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS is the nearest rival, with an average score of 19047 versus the 12400F's 19039, showing a 0% delta. The Intel Core 3 201E is also nearly identical at 19056.

Q: What is the highest preset that stays above 60 FPS at 2560x1440?

A: Only Low settings remain above 60 FPS at 1440p, with an average of 93.8 FPS. Medium settings drop to 55.7 FPS, which is below the playable threshold.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for The Medium with this combo are as follows, with average FPS reported for each resolution and settings preset:

At 1920x1080, Low settings average 106.4 FPS, Medium averages 68.5 FPS, High averages 46.4 FPS, and Ultra averages 41.1 FPS. The scaling from Low to Medium represents a 37.9 FPS reduction, while the drop from Medium to High is 22.1 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 5.3 FPS.

At 2560x1440, Low settings average 93.8 FPS, Medium averages 55.7 FPS, High averages 38.4 FPS, and Ultra averages 34.3 FPS. The transition from Low to Medium is a 38.1 FPS reduction, from Medium to High is 17.3 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 4.1 FPS.

At 3840x2160, Low settings average 70.6 FPS, Medium averages 44.7 FPS, High averages 31.7 FPS, and Ultra averages 23.7 FPS. The drop from Low to Medium is 25.9 FPS, from Medium to High is 13.0 FPS, and from High to Ultra is 8.0 FPS.

No minimum or maximum FPS values are provided in the data, so only averages are available for analysis.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that maintains an average above 60 FPS is Medium, with a measured 68.5 FPS. Low settings run at 106.4 FPS, but Medium provides a higher visual quality while remaining comfortably playable.

At 2560x1440, only Low settings stay above 60 FPS, with an average of 93.8 FPS. Medium drops to 55.7 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, making Low the only viable option.

At 3840x2160, Low settings are again the only playable option, achieving 70.6 FPS. Medium falls to 44.7 FPS, and higher presets are not viable.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-12400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 can run The Medium, but the experience is heavily dependent on resolution and settings. At 1920x1080, the system clears the 60 FPS threshold at both Low (106.4 FPS) and Medium (68.5 FPS), making 1080p Medium the recommended balance of visual fidelity and performance. At 2560x1440, the system drops below 60 FPS at Medium settings (55.7 FPS), leaving Low (93.8 FPS) as the only playable preset. At 3840x2160, the system manages 70.6 FPS at Low, but Medium (44.7 FPS) and above are not playable. The data shows that the RTX 4060 is the limiting factor at higher resolutions and presets, while the 12400F provides adequate CPU performance throughout. For users targeting 1080p Medium, this combo is a solid match. For 1440p or 4K gaming, significant settings compromises are required.