The Medium

The Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination delivers a strong performance profile for The Medium, but the data shows that playability is highly dependent on the chosen resolution and graphics preset. Out of 3,724 tested combos, this pairing ranks 252nd, placing it in the top 7% of all configurations for this specific title. The benchmark results indicate a system that can comfortably handle the game at 1080p and 1440p, while 4K requires more selective settings to maintain a smooth experience. The measured frame rates reveal a clear scaling pattern, with the GPU becoming the dominant factor as resolution increases.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo's rank of 252 out of 3,724 tested configurations places it in the 93rd percentile of all hardware pairings analyzed for The Medium. This is a strong result, indicating that the i7-12700KF and RTX 4080 combination is better suited to this game than approximately 93% of the other tested setups. The ranking reflects the balance between the CPU's multi-threaded capabilities and the GPU's raw rasterization power, which together produce high average frame rates across most settings.

The CPU itself holds an 85th percentile ranking against all processors, while the GPU sits at an 86th percentile against all graphics cards. These individual scores suggest that neither component is a bottleneck in a way that would drag the other down. The system's overall performance in The Medium is consistent with what these percentile positions would predict, as the game appears to scale well with both the 12-core, 20-thread CPU and the 16 GB GDDR6X GPU memory configuration.

What is notable is how the combo's rank translates into real-world playability. The measured FPS data shows that the system exceeds the 60 FPS playable threshold at multiple settings, but the margin of success narrows considerably at 4K. The ranking reflects this nuance; it is not simply a measure of maximum FPS, but rather a composite of how the combo performs across the full range of resolutions and presets tested. The data shows a system that is capable at high-end gaming, yet still requires some compromise at the most demanding settings.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals to the Intel Core i7-12700KF provide a clear picture of what other CPUs would behave similarly in this system. The Intel Core i7-13700T has an average benchmark score of 35,403, which is just 0.1% lower than the i7-12700KF's 35,365. This means the 13700T would deliver virtually identical frame rates in The Medium, making it a direct alternative for users who prioritize lower power consumption without sacrificing performance. The Intel Core i5-13600T scores 35,305, a 0.2% difference, placing it in the same performance envelope; the data suggests it would be indistinguishable from the 12700KF in this game.

On the other side, the Intel Core 5 213PE scores 35,428, which is 0.2% higher than the 12700KF, and the Intel Core i7-12700K scores 35,287, a 0.2% delta. These four CPUs all sit within a 0.4% performance band, meaning any of them would produce nearly identical results when paired with the RTX 4080 in The Medium. The practical takeaway is that the CPU choice among these options has a negligible impact on the game's performance, as the GPU will be the primary driver of FPS at higher resolutions.

For the GPU, the nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, which scores 54,209 on average, a 0.1% delta from the RTX 4080's 54,247. This indicates that the 4080 SUPER would perform almost exactly the same in The Medium, offering no meaningful FPS advantage. The other listed rivals are lower-performing cards: the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54,828 (1.1% lower), the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55,698 (2.6% lower), and the AMD Radeon 8060S scores 55,757 (2.7% lower). These delta values are all below 3%, suggesting that while these alternatives would be slightly slower, the difference in actual FPS would be minor, potentially just a few frames per second in the most demanding scenes.

FAQ

Q: Can the Intel Core i7-12700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 run The Medium at 4K?

A: Yes, but only with specific settings. The measured data shows that at 3840x2160, the combo achieves an average of 57 FPS on High settings, 79 FPS on Medium, and 127 FPS on Low. The Ultra preset drops to 45 FPS, which falls below the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best setting for this combo at 1440p?

A: The verdict data indicates that High is the best playable setting at 2560x1440, delivering an average of 72 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution produces 57 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold, so High is the most demanding setting that maintains smooth gameplay.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its closest GPU rival in this game?

A: The nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, which has an average benchmark score 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080. In practical terms, the data shows they would perform nearly identically in The Medium, with no significant FPS difference expected.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for The Medium?

A: The data shows the GPU becomes more important at higher resolutions. At 1080p, the CPU can still contribute meaningfully, but at 4K, the frame rates are more dependent on the GPU's capabilities. The RTX 4080's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and 716.8 GB/s bandwidth help maintain performance as resolution increases.

Q: What is the lowest playable setting at 4K?

A: The Low preset at 3840x2160 produces an average of 127 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. However, the Medium preset provides a better visual experience with an average of 79 FPS, making it the recommended choice for 4K playability.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 252nd out of 3,724 tested combos, placing it in the top 7% of all configurations tested for The Medium. This rank reflects its ability to maintain high frame rates across most resolutions and settings.

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly shows that this system can run The Medium, but the experience varies significantly by resolution. At 1920x1080, every preset is playable, including Ultra, which achieves an average of 68 FPS. This makes 1080p the only resolution where the user can max out the settings without concern. At 2560x1440, the verdict lists High, Low, and Medium as playable, with High being the best setting at 72 FPS average; the Ultra preset drops to 57 FPS, just missing the 60 FPS target.

For 3840x2160, the situation is more restrictive. The playable settings are Low and Medium, with Medium being the best at 79 FPS average. The High preset at 4K produces 57 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, and Ultra falls to 45 FPS. The verdict by resolution confirms that 4K gaming is possible but requires accepting Medium settings to maintain smooth frame rates. The overall conclusion is that this combo is best suited for 1080p and 1440p gaming, where it can deliver high or ultra settings with ease, while 4K users will need to prioritize frame rate over visual fidelity.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the system delivers its highest performance. The Low preset averages 167 FPS, which is the maximum frame rate recorded across all tests. Medium follows at 120 FPS average, with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS. High settings produce an average of 86 FPS, while Ultra averages 68 FPS. All of these values exceed the 60 FPS playable threshold, making 1080p the most flexible resolution for this combo.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates scale down but remain strong. Low averages 157 FPS, and Medium averages 101 FPS with a minimum of 86 FPS and a maximum of 116 FPS. High settings average 72 FPS, which still clears the playable threshold. The Ultra preset at 1440p averages 57 FPS, which is a drop from the 68 FPS seen at 1080p, indicating that the higher resolution taxes the GPU more heavily.

At 3840x2160, the performance gap widens. Low averages 127 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium averages 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 91 FPS, providing a consistent experience above the 60 FPS target. High averages 57 FPS, falling just short of playable, and Ultra averages 45 FPS, which is noticeably below the threshold. The min/max data for Medium at each resolution shows that the system maintains stable frame times, with the lowest recorded minimum being 67 FPS at 4K Medium, which is still above the playable threshold.

Best Settings per Resolution

At 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Ultra, with an average of 68 FPS. This is the only resolution where the user can select the highest quality settings without sacrificing playability. The data shows that Ultra at 1080p is a viable option for those who prioritize visual fidelity.

For 2560x1440, the best setting is High, which achieves an average of 72 FPS. The Ultra preset at this resolution produces 57 FPS, so it cannot be recommended for smooth gameplay. High provides a good balance between visual quality and performance, with the average FPS comfortably above the 60 FPS target.

At 3840x2160, the best setting is Medium, which averages 79 FPS. The Low preset is also playable but offers lower visual quality, making Medium the optimal choice for 4K gaming. The High preset at 4K averages 57 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, so Medium is the clear recommendation for users who want to play at 4K without encountering stutter or slowdown.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data reveals a clear division of labor between the CPU and GPU in The Medium. At 1920x1080, the CPU's performance is more relevant, as the lower resolution places less demand on the GPU. The i7-12700KF's 12 cores and 20 threads, combined with its 5.00 GHz boost clock, help maintain high frame rates even at Ultra settings. The difference between Low (167 FPS) and Ultra (68 FPS) at 1080p shows that the game scales with both components, but the CPU can keep up with the GPU's output at this resolution.

As resolution increases to 2560x1440, the GPU begins to take on a larger role. The frame rate drop from 1080p Ultra (68 FPS) to 1440p Ultra (57 FPS) is more pronounced than the drop from 1080p High (86 FPS) to 1440p High (72 FPS). This suggests that the RTX 4080's pixel throughput, measured at 280.6 GPixel/s, becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The CPU's role diminishes slightly, but it still provides enough headroom to avoid bottlenecking the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the GPU is clearly the dominant factor. The frame rate scaling from Low (127 FPS) to Ultra (45 FPS) is steep, indicating that the GPU's 48.74 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 716.8 GB/s memory bandwidth are being fully utilized. The CPU's performance at this resolution is less critical, as the game becomes more fill-rate limited. The data shows that the RTX 4080's 16 GB of GDDR6X memory helps at 4K, but the sheer number of pixels being rendered still forces the system to compromise on settings to maintain 60 FPS.