The Medium

The Intel Core i5-9400 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 presents a specific performance profile in The Medium, one that hinges heavily on the chosen resolution and quality preset. The measured data shows a system that can comfortably handle the game at 1080p with medium settings, but which struggles to maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions with increased graphical demands. The following analysis breaks down the recorded FPS, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and the optimal configurations for this hardware combination.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The recorded data for this combination in The Medium shows a clear performance gradient across the three tested resolutions. At 1920x1080, the system delivers its most consistent results. The Low preset averages 87 FPS, which is the highest average recorded for this combo at any resolution. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 68 FPS, with a minimum of 58 FPS and a maximum of 78 FPS. The High preset averages 49 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 39 FPS. At 2560x1440, the performance decreases notably. The Low preset averages 82 FPS, while Medium averages 57 FPS, with a minimum of 49 FPS and a maximum of 66 FPS. The High preset averages 41 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 32 FPS. At 3840x2160, the demands of the game become significant. The Low preset averages 72 FPS, but the Medium preset drops to an average of 45 FPS, with a minimum of 38 FPS and a maximum of 52 FPS. The High preset averages 32 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 25 FPS.

The spread between the Low and Ultra presets is substantial at every resolution. At 1080p, the difference is 48 FPS between the highest and lowest average scores. At 1440p, the spread is 50 FPS, and at 4K, it is 47 FPS. This consistent gap highlights that the Ultra preset, in particular, imposes a heavy load that this combination cannot overcome. The min and max FPS data, available only for the Medium preset, shows a similar range at 1080p and 1440p, with a 20 FPS window at 1080p and a 17 FPS window at 1440p. At 4K, the Medium preset shows a 14 FPS window, indicating a tighter, but lower, performance envelope.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results indicate that the GPU is the primary bottleneck for this game at higher resolutions and presets. The steep decline in average FPS when moving from 1080p to 1440p and then to 4K is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. For instance, the High preset drops from 49 FPS at 1080p to 41 FPS at 1440p and then to 32 FPS at 4K. This scaling shows the GPU struggling to keep up with the increasing pixel count and shader complexity. The CPU, an Intel Core i5-9400 with 6 cores and 6 threads, appears sufficient to feed the RTX 4060 at lower resolutions, as evidenced by the high average FPS at the Low preset across all resolutions.

However, the CPU's role becomes more apparent when examining the Low preset scaling. The Low preset averages 87 FPS at 1080p, 82 FPS at 1440p, and 72 FPS at 4K. While the GPU still bears the bulk of the load, the smaller performance drop between 1080p and 1440p at Low settings suggests that the CPU can maintain a high frame rate ceiling, and the bottleneck shifts more towards the GPU as resolution increases. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 6629 and a Geekbench single-core score of 1389, place it in the 47th percentile of all CPUs, indicating a mid-range processor that is not the limiting factor at playable settings. The data shows that for this game, the RTX 4060's capabilities are the deciding factor for whether a preset is playable, particularly at 1440p and 4K.

Best Settings per Resolution

For each resolution, the most demanding preset that maintains an average of at least 60 FPS is the optimal choice. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset is the best option, delivering an average of 68 FPS. The High preset falls below the 60 FPS threshold with an average of 49 FPS, so Medium is the correct selection for a smooth experience. At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only one that clears the 60 FPS mark, with an average of 82 FPS. The Medium preset averages 57 FPS, which is below the playable threshold. At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only viable option, with an average of 72 FPS. The Medium preset averages 45 FPS, which is not playable.

These results show that as resolution increases, the quality settings must be reduced to maintain a 60 FPS average. At 1080p, the user has some visual headroom with Medium settings. At 1440p and 4K, the Low preset is required to achieve playable performance. The data does not show any other preset at any resolution that achieves an average of 60 FPS or higher.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i5-9400, based on average benchmark scores, include the Intel Core i7-1068NG7, which has a delta of -0.2%, meaning it performs nearly identically. The Intel Core i7-10710U has a delta of 0.3%, and the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 has a delta of 0.4%. The Intel Core i3-10305 is also close, with a delta of -0.4%. These CPUs have average scores within a fraction of a percent of the i5-9400, so a system built with any of them would likely produce very similar frame rates in this game, assuming the same GPU is used.

For the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, the nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon HD 7790, with a delta of -0.2%, and the AMD Radeon 780M, with a delta of 0.3%. The AMD Radeon Pro 560 and AMD Radeon Pro 460 are also close, with deltas of 0.5% and 0.7%, respectively. These GPUs have average benchmark scores very close to the RTX 4060, so swapping to one of these would result in a similar performance profile in The Medium. It is important to note that these comparisons are based on aggregate benchmark scores, and game-specific performance can vary, but the data indicates that these components are the closest alternatives.

FAQ

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

A: The Medium preset is the best choice at 1920x1080, as it delivers an average of 68 FPS, which is above the 60 FPS playable threshold. The High preset averages 49 FPS, so it is not recommended for a smooth experience.

Q: Can this system run the game at 1440p with high settings?

A: No. At 2560x1440, the High preset averages only 41 FPS, which is well below the 60 FPS playable threshold. The Low preset is required for 1440p, averaging 82 FPS.

Q: What average FPS does the Ultra preset achieve at 4K?

A: At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 25 FPS, which is not playable. The Low preset is the only option at 4K, with an average of 72 FPS.

Q: How does this system perform at 1080p Low?

A: At 1920x1080 with the Low preset, the system achieves an average of 87 FPS, which is the highest average recorded for this combination across all tested settings and resolutions.

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

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions and presets. The significant FPS drops when moving from 1080p to 4K show that the RTX 4060 is the main bottleneck, while the CPU appears capable of supporting high frame rates at lower settings.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded for this combination?

A: The lowest average FPS recorded is 25 FPS, which occurs at 3840x2160 with the Ultra preset.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of components, the Intel Core i5-9400 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, is ranked 2094 out of 3724 tested combos in the database for The Medium. This places it in the 56th percentile of all tested systems, meaning it outperforms a slight majority of other combinations but is far from the top tier. This mid-pack ranking aligns with the measured performance data, which shows the system can handle the game at lower settings and resolutions, but it is not a high-end performer for this title. The ranking reflects the overall capability of the pairing, taking into account that while the RTX 4060 is a capable GPU, the older i5-9400 CPU and the system's overall balance prevent it from reaching higher performance tiers.

The Verdict

The data shows that this PC can run The Medium, but with significant caveats. At 1920x1080, the system is playable with both the Low and Medium presets, with the Medium preset being the best choice as it provides an average of 68 FPS. At 2560x1440, only the Low preset is playable, with an average of 82 FPS. At 3840x2160, the Low preset is also the only playable option, with an average of 72 FPS. The verdict by resolution confirms that the highest playable preset is Low for 1440p and 4K, and Medium for 1080p. Users targeting higher visual fidelity at 1440p or 4K will not be able to maintain a 60 FPS average. The system is therefore best suited for 1080p gaming with medium settings, or for playing at higher resolutions with reduced graphical quality.