The Medium

The Intel Core i5-14400F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 delivers a playable experience in The Medium, but the margin for error is thin. Benchmark results show this combination clears the 60 FPS threshold only at the lowest settings for 4K and 1440p, while 1080p allows for a Medium preset. The measured FPS data indicates a system that is heavily constrained by the GPU at higher resolutions and presets, with the CPU’s substantial multi-threaded headroom doing little to offset the graphics card’s limitations in this title.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Based on aggregate benchmark scores, the Intel Core i5-14400F sits within 0.5% of several nearby processors. The AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 8840U posts an average score of 32233, a 0.1% delta from the i5-14400F’s 32279 average, making it the closest CPU equivalent. The Intel Core i9-11900 trails by a 0.2% margin with a score of 32226, while the AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS is slightly ahead at 32354, representing a -0.2% delta from the i5’s perspective. The Intel Core i7-12800H rounds out the group at 32121, a 0.5% gap. For gaming workloads in The Medium, any of these processors would produce nearly identical frame rates when paired with the same GPU, as the title’s demands at 1080p and above are primarily met by the graphics card.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4060’s average benchmark score of 17639 places it near a cluster of older and integrated graphics solutions. The AMD Radeon HD 7790 is the closest match with a score of 17666, a -0.2% delta, meaning the RTX 4060 is marginally slower in aggregate compute tests. The AMD Radeon 780M integrated GPU scores 17588, just 0.3% behind, while the AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 score 17551 and 17509, respectively, representing 0.5% and 0.7% deltas. The 780M comparison is particularly notable: a modern integrated solution can nearly match the RTX 4060 in raw benchmark terms, though real-world gaming performance in The Medium will differ substantially due to memory bandwidth and driver optimizations. The RTX 4060 sits in the 61st percentile of all GPUs, while the i5-14400F ranks in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, reinforcing the notion that the processor is the stronger component in this pairing.

CPU and GPU Roles

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals a clear GPU-bound scenario for The Medium. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the system produces 108 FPS average, but dropping to 2560x1440 Low reduces that to 91 FPS, and 3840x2160 Low yields 72 FPS. This progression shows a 33% reduction in frame rate from 1080p to 4K at the same preset, which is consistent with the GPU being the primary bottleneck. The CPU’s role is largely fixed across these resolutions, so the frame rate scaling directly reflects the graphics card’s workload.

The gap between settings at each resolution further confirms GPU dominance. At 1440p, the average FPS falls from 91 at Low to 57 at Medium, then to 41 at High, and finally 32 at Ultra. This steep drop-off with each preset tier is characteristic of a GPU-limited system, where increased pixel shading and texture complexity overwhelm the RTX 4060’s 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 272.0 GB/s bandwidth. The CPU, with its 10 cores and 16 threads, never becomes a limiting factor in these tests, as even the most demanding Ultra preset at 4K produces 25 FPS, a figure that would be far higher if the processor were the constraint.

Resolution scaling also indicates that the RTX 4060’s 128-bit memory bus is a significant limitation. The transition from 1080p Medium (68 FPS) to 1440p Medium (57 FPS) represents a 16% drop, while the jump from 1440p Medium to 4K Medium (45 FPS) is a 21% reduction. These non-linear declines suggest that memory bandwidth saturation compounds as pixel count increases, making the GPU’s 272.0 GB/s throughput the decisive factor in this game’s performance profile.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the RTX 4060 and i5-14400F combination delivers its strongest results. Low settings produce an average of 108 FPS, comfortably above the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium settings average 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 78 FPS, indicating some frame dips below the target but generally smooth gameplay. High settings drop to 49 FPS average, while Ultra falls to 39 FPS, both below the playable threshold.

Moving to 2560x1440, performance degrades predictably. Low settings average 91 FPS, still playable but 17 FPS lower than at 1080p. Medium settings average 57 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and maximum of 66 FPS, placing the average just under the 60 FPS line. High settings produce 41 FPS, and Ultra drops to 32 FPS, both unplayable by the 60 FPS standard.

At 3840x2160, the system struggles to maintain playability. Low settings average 72 FPS, narrowly clearing the threshold. Medium settings average 45 FPS with a minimum of 38 FPS and maximum of 52 FPS, showing consistent sub-60 performance. High settings yield 32 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 25 FPS, making these presets unplayable. The data shows no measured minimum or maximum FPS values for Low, High, and Ultra presets at any resolution, meaning only the Medium preset has recorded frame variability data.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run The Medium at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which produce an average of 72 FPS. Medium settings at 3840x2160 average 45 FPS, High averages 32 FPS, and Ultra averages 25 FPS, all below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best preset for 1080p gaming?

A: Medium settings at 1920x1080 provide the highest preset that maintains at least 60 FPS, averaging 68 FPS with a minimum of 58 FPS. Low settings average 108 FPS, but Medium offers better visual quality while staying above the threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 4060’s average benchmark score is 17639, which is 0.2% lower than the AMD Radeon HD 7790’s 17666, 0.3% higher than the AMD Radeon 780M’s 17588, and 0.5% to 0.7% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro 560 and Pro 460 scores of 17551 and 17509, respectively.

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

A: The GPU is the dominant factor. Frame rates scale significantly with resolution and preset changes, from 108 FPS at 1080p Low to 25 FPS at 4K Ultra, while the CPU’s performance remains constant across these scenarios, indicating it is not the bottleneck.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only recorded minimum FPS values are 58 FPS at 1080p Medium, 49 FPS at 1440p Medium, and 38 FPS at 4K Medium. All other presets and resolutions lack measured minimum data.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems for The Medium?

A: It ranks 1999th out of 3724 tested combinations, placing it in the lower-middle portion of the database, consistent with its 61st percentile GPU and 83rd percentile CPU scores.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 can run The Medium, but the playable envelope is narrow. At 3840x2160, only Low settings clear the 60 FPS threshold, averaging 72 FPS. The 2560x1440 resolution similarly permits only Low settings, with an average of 91 FPS. At 1920x1080, the system achieves playability at both Low (108 FPS) and Medium (68 FPS) settings, with Medium being the highest playable preset. All other preset and resolution combinations fall below 60 FPS, with the worst case being 4K Ultra at 25 FPS. The data indicates that 1080p is the only resolution where this combo offers meaningful visual flexibility, while 1440p and 4K require significant graphical compromises to maintain playability.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 3840x2160, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, which produces an average of 72 FPS. The next step up, Medium, drops to 45 FPS, so there is no middle ground between playable and unplayable at this resolution.

For 2560x1440, Low settings are the only option that maintains 60 FPS, averaging 91 FPS. Medium settings fall to 57 FPS, just below the threshold, making the jump to Low necessary for smooth gameplay.

At 1920x1080, Medium settings provide the highest playable preset with an average of 68 FPS. While Low settings deliver 108 FPS, the Medium preset offers better visual quality while still clearing the 60 FPS line, with a recorded minimum of 58 FPS indicating only occasional dips below the target.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i5-14400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination ranks 1999th out of 3724 tested combos for The Medium, placing it in the 54th percentile of all systems in the database. This mid-pack ranking aligns with the component-level data: the CPU sits in the 83rd percentile of all processors, while the GPU ranks in the 61st percentile of all graphics cards. The GPU’s lower relative standing pulls the overall combo down, as The Medium’s performance is heavily dependent on graphics processing. The measured FPS results confirm this ranking, showing that the system can handle the game at reduced settings across all resolutions, but it lacks the headroom for high or ultra presets at any resolution. For users targeting 1080p Medium, this combo is sufficient; for those expecting 1440p High or 4K Ultra, the data suggests a more powerful GPU would be necessary to achieve those targets.