The Medium

Can Intel Core i7-12700KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 run The Medium? Benchmark data for this pairing shows a system that comfortably handles the horror title at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires a settings compromise. The measured frame rates, drawn from the database, indicate that the combo ranks in the 851st position out of 3724 tested combinations, placing it in the upper quartile of performance. The data shows a clear pattern: at 1920x1080, the system delivers playable performance up to High settings, while at 2560x1440 it peaks at Medium settings. The 3840x2160 resolution proves more demanding, with only Low and Medium presets crossing the 60 FPS threshold.

FAQ

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

A: The most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS at 1080p is High, which achieves an average of 67 FPS. The Ultra preset drops to 51.6 FPS, falling below the playable threshold.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in The Medium?

A: Yes, but with limitations. At 3840x2160, the Medium preset delivers 61 FPS, while the Low preset achieves 99 FPS. The High preset at 42.3 FPS and Ultra at 35.4 FPS are not playable at 4K.

Q: How does the CPU compare to similar Intel processors?

A: The Intel Core i7-12700KF has an average benchmark score of 35365, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700T, scores 35403, a difference of just -0.1%, making the two effectively equivalent in performance.

Q: What GPU performance tier does the RTX 4070 occupy?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 sits in the 81st percentile of all GPUs with an average benchmark score of 37648. Its closest competitor, the NVIDIA Tesla P4, scores 37628, a negligible 0.1% difference.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Medium settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the Low preset produces 127.6 FPS, while Medium yields 81.4 FPS. This represents a 36.2% reduction in frame rate when moving from Low to Medium, though both remain well above the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Does the game run better at 1080p High or 1440p Medium for this combo?

A: The 1080p High preset achieves 67 FPS, whereas 1440p Medium achieves 81.4 FPS. The higher resolution with Medium settings actually produces a higher frame rate, indicating that the graphics preset has a greater impact on performance than resolution scaling in this range.

CPU and GPU Roles

The benchmark results across resolutions and presets reveal how the CPU and GPU split responsibilities in The Medium. At 1920x1080, the difference between Low and Medium settings is 54.1 FPS (146.5 FPS down to 92.4 FPS), while moving from Medium to High costs another 25.4 FPS, and High to Ultra drops 15.4 FPS. This scaling pattern suggests the GPU becomes the limiting factor as settings increase, since the CPU has enough headroom at lower presets to feed the graphics card. The 1080p Low result of 146.5 FPS indicates the CPU can push well beyond the 60 FPS target when graphical load is minimal.

At 2560x1440, the frame rates compress noticeably: Low delivers 127.6 FPS, Medium 81.4 FPS, High 57.9 FPS, and Ultra 46.8 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium narrows to 46.2 FPS, while the High preset falls below 60 FPS for the first time. This indicates that at 1440p, the GPU workload increases to the point where the RTX 4070's shading units and memory bandwidth start to dominate performance. The 12 GB GDDR6X memory with 504.2 GB/s bandwidth appears sufficient for Medium, but High's additional texture and shadow work pushes the GPU past its comfort zone.

Moving to 3840x2160, the scaling becomes more dramatic. The Low preset still achieves 99 FPS, but Medium drops to 61 FPS, High falls to 42.3 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 35.4 FPS. The 4K resolution demands significantly more from the GPU's 5888 shading units and 64 ROPs. The CPU's role diminishes at this resolution, as the 12-core, 20-thread processor with a 5.00 GHz boost clock is unlikely to bottleneck any of these frame rates. The data suggests that in The Medium, the GPU is the primary performance arbiter across all settings, with the CPU providing sufficient headroom even at the highest frame rates.

How This Combo Ranks

The Intel Core i7-12700KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 combination ranks 851st out of 3724 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the top 22.9% of all systems. This percentile position indicates that the pairing delivers above-average performance for this specific title, though it is not at the very top tier. The CPU's 85th percentile ranking among all CPUs and the GPU's 81st percentile ranking contribute to this solid overall position.

The combo rank reflects the balanced nature of the hardware. The CPU's average benchmark score of 35365 is nearly identical to its closest rival, the Intel Core i7-13700T, which scores 35403. Similarly, the GPU's average score of 37648 closely matches the NVIDIA Tesla P4's 37628. This equilibrium means neither component significantly drags down the other, allowing the system to perform predictably across the game's settings range.

In practical terms, the 851st rank out of 3724 means there are 850 faster combinations, but also 2873 slower ones. The system sits comfortably in the upper echelon, capable of high-refresh-rate gaming at lower resolutions and playable 60 FPS at higher settings. The rank also suggests that while this combo is not an extreme enthusiast setup, it substantially outperforms the median system, which would likely struggle with the game's demanding fixed-camera perspectives and dual-world rendering.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i7-12700KF provide insight into what other CPUs would deliver comparable performance. The Intel Core i7-13700T has an average score of 35403, just 0.1% higher than the 12700KF's 35365. This means a system with an i7-13700T would behave nearly identically in The Medium, with frame rates within a fraction of a percent. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35305, a 0.2% difference, making it another close match. The Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35428, also within 0.2% of the 12700KF. The Intel Core i7-12700K, with a score of 35287, is 0.2% lower, representing the most similar non-T variant.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070's nearest rivals show that performance-equivalent alternatives are somewhat unusual. The NVIDIA Tesla P4 scores 37628, a 0.1% difference, though this is a professional-grade card not typically used for gaming. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 scores 37507, 0.4% lower, meaning it would produce nearly identical frame rates in The Medium. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile scores 38135, which is 1.3% higher, indicating slightly better performance for a laptop-class chip. The AMD Radeon PRO W6400 scores 37157, 1.3% lower, representing a workstation alternative.

For users seeking similar gaming performance, pairing the 12700KF with an RX Vega 56 would yield almost the same results as the RTX 4070, though without the newer Ada Lovelace features like DLSS 3 frame generation. The RTX 4080 Mobile, despite being a laptop part, would edge out the RTX 4070 by a small margin in this title.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the optimal configuration is the High preset, which delivers an average of 67 FPS. This setting stays above the 60 FPS threshold while providing substantially better visual quality than Medium's 92.4 FPS. The Ultra preset at 51.6 FPS is not viable for smooth gameplay, so High represents the best balance of fidelity and performance. The Low preset at 146.5 FPS demonstrates the system's capability to drive high refresh rates, but the data suggests most users would prefer High.

For 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended choice, achieving 81.4 FPS. This is the most demanding setting that remains above 60 FPS at this resolution. The High preset falls to 57.9 FPS, just below the playable threshold, while Ultra drops further to 46.8 FPS. Medium at 1440p provides a significant resolution upgrade over 1080p while maintaining a comfortable frame rate margin.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset produces 61 FPS, which barely clears the 60 FPS threshold. This is the best-looking playable option at 4K. The Low preset at 99 FPS offers a much higher frame rate but with reduced visual quality. The High preset at 42.3 FPS and Ultra at 35.4 FPS are simply too demanding for this GPU at 4K. Users prioritizing smoothness over detail might choose Low for the 99 FPS result, but Medium offers the best compromise for those who want 4K resolution with acceptable settings.

The Verdict

The Intel Core i7-12700KF + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 can run The Medium, but the experience varies significantly by resolution. At 1920x1080, the system delivers playable performance at High settings with 67 FPS, while also offering Low and Medium presets that exceed 60 FPS. The verdict for 1080p is clear: this combo provides a smooth experience across most settings, with only Ultra falling short at 51.6 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the system remains fully playable at Medium settings with 81.4 FPS, and Low hits 127.6 FPS. The High preset at 57.9 FPS and Ultra at 46.8 FPS are not recommended for 60 FPS gaming. This resolution represents the sweet spot for the combo, offering a good balance of visual fidelity and performance.

The 3840x2160 verdict is more nuanced. The Medium preset achieves 61 FPS, making it technically playable, while Low reaches 99 FPS. However, High and Ultra are not viable options at this resolution. For 4K users who want the best visual quality, the Medium preset is the maximum playable setting. The system can run the game at 4K, but with compromises compared to lower resolutions.

Overall, this PC handles The Medium well across all tested resolutions, provided the user selects appropriate settings. The 1080p High and 1440p Medium presets deliver the recommended balance of quality and frame rate, while 4K users should stick to Medium or Low to maintain 60 FPS. The combo's 851st rank out of 3724 systems confirms its strong position for this title.