The Medium

The Intel Core i5-13400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 delivers a playable experience in The Medium at 1080p and 1440p, but it falls short of the 60 FPS threshold at 4K Ultra. The data shows that this combo is best suited for high-refresh 1080p gaming, where it clears 60 FPS at High settings with room to spare. At 1440p, the combo maintains a playable frame rate at High settings, but the margin is slim, and the Ultra preset dips below the playable line. 4K is the weak point: only Low and Medium settings remain playable, and the most demanding preset drops to a stutter-prone 35.9 FPS average.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how this configuration scales across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo is decisively capable. At Low settings, the average frame rate hits exactly 150 FPS. Moving up to Medium, the average drops to 103.1 FPS, which is still far beyond the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset delivers 73.2 FPS, which is smooth and leaves a comfortable margin above the playable line. At Ultra, the average falls to 59.5 FPS, just barely missing the playable threshold of 60 FPS. This means that at 1080p, users can play at High settings without compromising frame rate, but the Ultra preset will exhibit occasional dips below the target.

At 2560x1440, the performance profile tightens. Low settings produce an average of 133.4 FPS, indicating that the resolution is not a bottleneck at lower graphical loads. Medium settings average 85.8 FPS, which is still a solidly playable experience. High settings average 62.9 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold but with a much smaller margin than at 1080p. The Ultra preset, however, averages 45.3 FPS, which is considerably below the playable line and would result in noticeable judder. The data suggests that 1440p High is the sweet spot for this combo, as it is the most demanding setting that remains playable.

At 3840x2160, the combo is pushed to its limits. Low settings average 109.7 FPS, providing a playable experience with a high frame rate. Medium settings average 68.6 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS threshold and remains playable. High settings, however, average only 49.5 FPS, falling below the playable line. Ultra settings average 35.9 FPS, which is a significant drop and indicates a poor experience for a horror title that relies on atmosphere and smooth camera movement. The verdict is clear: 4K gaming is only viable at Low or Medium settings with this hardware combination.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for The Medium, this specific CPU-GPU pairing ranks 662nd out of 3724 combos. This places it in the top ~17.8% of all tested configurations, indicating a strong overall performance tier. The CPU itself sits in the 77th percentile against all CPUs, and the GPU sits in the 82nd percentile against all GPUs, confirming that both components are above-average performers in their respective categories. The combo's rank reflects the synergy of these two mid-to-high-tier parts; it is not a top-tier 4K machine, but it is far from a low-end setup. The data shows that this pairing is a capable 1440p performer and an excellent 1080p performer, which aligns with the measured FPS results.

The performance headroom at 1080p and the moderate 1440p results suggest that the GPU is the more influential component in this pairing. The CPU's 16 threads and high multi-core scores, such as 22,604 in Cinebench R23, are more than sufficient for the game's logic, while the GPU's raw throughput is the limiting factor at higher resolutions. The rank of 662 indicates that while many combos are faster, a vast majority of other tested systems are slower, making this a solid choice for gamers who prioritize high frame rates at mainstream resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the best playable setting at 1920x1080 for this combo?

A: The best playable setting is High, which achieves an average of 73.2 FPS. The Ultra preset falls to 59.5 FPS, just below the playable threshold of 60 FPS.

*Q: Can this PC handle 4K Ultra settings in The Medium?*

A: No. At 3840x2160 with Ultra settings, the average frame rate drops to 35.9 FPS, which is significantly below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: Which 1440p preset should I use for a smooth experience?

A: High settings at 2560x1440 yield an average of 62.9 FPS, making it the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS. Medium settings offer a higher margin at 85.8 FPS.

*Q: Is the RTX 5070's 12 GB VRAM a limiting factor in The Medium?*

A: The FPS data does not indicate a VRAM bottleneck, as playable frame rates are achieved at 1080p and 1440p. The drop to 49.5 FPS at 4K High is likely a compute limitation rather than a memory capacity issue.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 662nd out of 3724 tested combos for this game, placing it in the top ~17.8% of all systems in the database.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS is 150, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Looking at the nearest rivals for the CPU and GPU provides context for what other hardware would behave similarly. The Intel Core i5-13400F has an average benchmark score of 25,292. The closest competitors are the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS (average score 25,284, delta 0%), the Intel Core 5 120 (average score 25,362, delta -0.3%), the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X3D (average score 25,365, delta -0.3%), and the AMD Ryzen 7 6800H (average score 25,201, delta 0.4%). These processors are all within a 0.4% delta of the i5-13400F's average score, meaning that in CPU-bound scenarios, a system with any of these chips would deliver nearly identical performance.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, the average benchmark score is 40,377. The nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon Pro 580 (average score 40,318, delta 0.1%), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 (average score 40,063, delta 0.8%), the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 (average score 40,870, delta -1.2%), and the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile (average score 39,568, delta 2%). These GPUs have average scores within a 2% delta of the RTX 5070, suggesting that a system equipped with one of these alternatives would produce very similar FPS results in The Medium. It is important to note that these rival GPUs are professional or mobile parts, but their benchmark equivalence implies that the in-game frame rates would be closely matched. A user with an RTX 5070 can expect performance parity with these listed alternatives.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Medium, which achieves an average of 68.6 FPS. The Low preset is also playable at 109.7 FPS, but Medium provides a better visual experience while maintaining a safe margin above the threshold. At 2560x1440, the best setting is High, with an average of 62.9 FPS. This is the highest quality preset that clears 60 FPS; the Ultra preset falls to 45.3 FPS. At 1920x1080, the best setting is High, averaging 73.2 FPS. This setting provides a smooth experience with a 13.2 FPS buffer above the playable line, while Ultra misses the target at 59.5 FPS.

These selections are based purely on the average FPS data. For users who prioritize frame rate stability, choosing a lower preset at each resolution (e.g., Medium at 1440p for 85.8 FPS) would provide a larger buffer against frame drops, but the High preset at 1440p and 1080p is sufficient for a locked 60 FPS experience in most scenarios.

The Verdict

The data conclusively shows that this PC can run The Medium at playable frame rates across all tested resolutions, but with significant caveats at 4K. At 1920x1080, the combo clears 60 FPS at High settings (73.2 FPS) and even at Medium (103.1 FPS), making it a strong choice for high-refresh-rate monitors. The Ultra preset just misses the threshold at 59.5 FPS, so users should stick to High for a guaranteed smooth experience. At 2560x1440, the system remains playable at High settings (62.9 FPS), but the margin is thin; Medium (85.8 FPS) is a safer choice for maintaining a consistent frame rate. At 3840x2160, the verdict is mixed: the system is playable at Medium (68.6 FPS) and Low (109.7 FPS), but it is not capable of handling High (49.5 FPS) or Ultra (35.9 FPS) settings.

For a horror game where smooth camera movement is essential for immersion, the 1440p High and 1080p High presets are the recommended configurations. The 4K results indicate that this hardware is not suited for maxed-out 4K gaming in The Medium, but it delivers a commendable performance at lower resolutions. The combination of the i5-13400F and RTX 5070 is a well-balanced pairing that offers a playable experience for the vast majority of gamers targeting 1080p and 1440p displays.