The Medium

Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B370 is a combination that appears in the database with a rank of 3439 out of 3724 tested combos for The Medium. This places the pairing in the bottom 8% of all tested configurations, a position that strongly signals fundamental performance limitations. The recorded data shows this is not a system capable of delivering a smooth experience at standard gaming resolutions, and the bottleneck is almost entirely attributable to the graphics processor. The CPU is a high-end desktop part, while the GPU is an integrated-class solution with a 3DMark Steel Nomad score that places it in the 5th percentile of all tested graphics cards. The disparity in class between these two components is extreme, and the game's performance reflects the weakest link.

How This Combo Ranks

The database ranks this specific CPU and GPU pairing at 3439 out of 3724 combos tested for The Medium. This is a very low position, indicating that the vast majority of other hardware combinations deliver higher frame rates. The ranking is driven by the Intel Arc B370's performance, which is in the 5th percentile of all GPUs, meaning 95% of tested graphics cards outperform it. While the Intel Core i5-14600K sits in the 90th percentile for all CPUs, its strength cannot compensate for the graphics bottleneck. The data shows that this combo is on the lower end of the spectrum, suitable only for the most undemanding scenarios. The recorded FPS figures confirm this, with no resolution or preset combination reaching the 60 FPS playable threshold. The combo sits at a rank where playability is essentially absent, making it a poor choice for this title.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance data for The Medium reveals a clear and dominant GPU limitation. The CPU, a 14-core, 20-thread processor with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, is far more capable than what this game requires. The GPU, however, is an integrated part with a 25 W TDP, and its 6.144 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is insufficient for the game's rendering demands. The FPS scaling across resolutions illustrates this bottleneck. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 46 FPS. Dropping to 3840x2160 at Low settings reduces the average to 30 FPS. This is a relatively modest drop for a 4x increase in pixel count, which is a classic sign that the system is not compute-bound at the lower resolution. At 1920x1080 High, the average is 21 FPS, and at 3840x2160 High, it falls to 14 FPS. The scaling is consistent with a GPU that is already saturated even at 1080p. The CPU is never the limiting factor; its role is to feed frames to the GPU, and the GPU is simply too slow to process them quickly. The difference between Low and High presets at any resolution is significant, but the resolution scaling shows that the GPU's raw throughput is the primary constraint.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The database's nearest rivals for the Intel Arc B370 provide context for its performance level. The GPU's average benchmark score of 1184 is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570, which has a score of 1186 and a delta of -0.2%. The ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, a delta of -0.5%, and the AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, a delta of -0.7%. These are all older, low-power graphics solutions, indicating that the Arc B370's performance is in a similar class. The AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, a delta of 1.4%, meaning the Arc B370 is actually slightly faster than that part. For the CPU, the nearest rivals are all high-end server or desktop processors. The Intel Xeon Gold 5318H has an average score of 48698, a delta of -0.2% relative to the i5-14600K's 48618. The AMD EPYC 4345P scores 48470, a delta of 0.3%, and the Intel Core Ultra 5 245HX scores 48287, a delta of 0.7%. These comparisons show that the CPU is in a completely different performance tier than the GPU. The CPU's rivals are all capable of driving far more powerful graphics cards, but with the Arc B370, the system's performance will be identical to what these rivals would achieve with the same GPU.

The Verdict

The verdict from the database is unambiguous: this PC cannot run The Medium at a playable level. The verdictByResolution data shows no playable settings at any resolution. The playableThresholdFps is 60, and the highest average FPS recorded across all tests is 46, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is below the threshold and does not qualify as playable. At 2560x1440, the best result is 39 FPS at Low settings, and at 3840x2160, it is 30 FPS at Low settings. The database records that no resolution or preset combination clears the 60 FPS barrier. The system is not capable of providing a smooth experience for The Medium. The Arc B370's performance is fundamentally too low for this game's demands.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data provides a detailed look at the performance across resolutions and settings. At 3840x2160, the average FPS ranges from 11 to 30. The Low preset yields an average of 30 FPS. The Medium preset produces an average of 19 FPS, with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 22. The High preset drops to an average of 14 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 11 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 39 FPS. The Medium preset averages 24 FPS, with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 28. The High preset averages 17 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 14 FPS. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves an average of 46 FPS. The Medium preset averages 29 FPS, with a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 33. The High preset averages 21 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 16 FPS. The data shows a consistent pattern: even at the lowest settings and resolution, the system falls short of the 60 FPS target. The gap between Low and Ultra is significant, with Ultra being roughly 65% slower than Low at 1080p. The frame time consistency, as indicated by the min and max values for Medium presets, shows a noticeable spread, suggesting the experience would feel stuttery.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combo can achieve in The Medium?

A: The highest recorded average FPS is 46, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings.

Q: Can this system reach 60 FPS at any resolution or setting?

A: No, the database records no playable settings at any resolution. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the best average is 46 FPS.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. This is nearly identical to the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (1186), ATI Radeon HD 5770 (1190), and AMD Radeon HD 7650M (1192). It is slightly faster than the AMD FirePro M2000 (1168).

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this combo?

A: The GPU is the clear bottleneck. The Intel Core i5-14600K is a high-end desktop processor, while the Arc B370 is an integrated-class GPU. The FPS scaling across resolutions indicates the GPU is saturated even at 1080p.

Q: What is the performance at 2560x1440 with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS is 24, with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 28.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested systems for The Medium?

A: The combo ranks 3439 out of 3724 tested combinations, placing it in the bottom tier of performance.

Best Settings per Resolution

According to the database, there are no best settings for any resolution, as no preset achieves the 60 FPS playable threshold. At 3840x2160, the best average FPS is 30 at Low settings. At 2560x1440, the best average FPS is 39 at Low settings. At 1920x1080, the best average FPS is 46 at Low settings. In all cases, the Low preset is the only option that comes close to playability, but it still falls short. The system is unable to maintain a stable 60 FPS experience, and users would need to accept a significantly reduced frame rate or consider alternative hardware. The recorded data shows that even the most demanding preset at the lowest resolution, Ultra at 1080p, only yields 16 FPS, which is far below the target.