The Medium

The Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination produces a mixed picture for The Medium. The CPU is a high-end desktop part with strong multi-core and single-core results, while the GPU is a mid-range Turing card that launched several years earlier. In this horror title, the recorded measurements show that the pairing can deliver smooth frame rates only at lower settings, with the RTX 2060 acting as the primary bottleneck at higher presets. The data indicates that 1080p Low is the only configuration that comfortably clears the 60 FPS threshold, while 1440p Low also reaches playable levels. At 4K, no settings preset achieves playable performance.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The nearest rivals for the Intel Core i7-14700F, based on average benchmark scores, include the Intel Xeon 6505P with a score of 53701, which is 0.2% lower than the i7-14700F's average of 53620. The Intel Xeon Phi 7290 scores 53469, putting it 0.3% behind. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X averages 53288, a 0.6% deficit, and the AMD EPYC 7313P scores 53206, which is 0.8% lower. These deltas are all within a single percentage point, meaning that in synthetic workloads, the i7-14700F performs nearly identically to these four processors. For gaming, the practical difference between them would be negligible, as the CPU is not the limiting factor in most of the measured scenarios for The Medium.

On the GPU side, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290 and sits at the 58th percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are tightly clustered. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 scores 15283, a 0% delta, making it effectively a tie. The AMD Radeon 680M scores 15270, 0.1% behind. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199, 0.6% lower, and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 scores 15171, 0.8% lower. For The Medium, this means that swapping the RTX 2060 for any of these alternatives would produce very similar frame rates, assuming the rest of the system remains constant. The RTX 2060's 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus width, with 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth, are the same class of hardware as these rivals. The recorded FPS data for The Medium would likely shift by only a few percent if one of these GPUs were substituted in place of the RTX 2060.

The CPU's percentile rank of 91 among all CPUs indicates that it outperforms the vast majority of processors in the database. Its nearest rivals are all high-core-count server or enthusiast parts, which reinforces that the i7-14700F is not a weak link in this build. The GPU's 58th percentile rank is more modest, and its nearest rivals include integrated graphics like the Radeon 680M, which shows how close the RTX 2060 is to modern APU graphics in raw compute. For The Medium specifically, the GPU's performance will dictate the playable settings, as the CPU has ample headroom.

FAQ

Q: Can the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 run The Medium at 60 FPS?

A: Yes, but only at 1920x1080 with Low settings, where the average FPS is 84.8. At 2560x1440 with Low settings, the average FPS is 72.4, which also exceeds the 60 FPS threshold. At 3840x2160, no settings preset reaches 60 FPS; the best result is 57.9 FPS at Low settings.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this combination at 1080p?

A: The best settings preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, with an average FPS of 84.8. Medium settings drop to 51.1 FPS, High settings fall to 36.8 FPS, and Ultra settings yield 27.3 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 2060 has an average benchmark score of 15290. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 scores 15283, a 0% difference. The AMD Radeon 680M scores 15270, 0.1% lower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 15199, 0.6% lower, and the AMD Radeon RX 7600 scores 15171, 0.8% lower.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to limit performance in The Medium?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The Intel Core i7-14700F ranks in the 91st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 53620, and its nearest rivals are within 0.8% of its score. The RTX 2060 ranks in the 58th percentile among GPUs, and its measured FPS drops sharply as settings increase, indicating GPU-bound behavior.

Q: What frame rate can be expected at 1440p with High settings?

A: At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average FPS is 31.4. This is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Medium settings at 1440p produce 43.9 FPS, while Ultra settings produce 22.4 FPS.

Q: How does this combination rank among all tested combos for The Medium?

A: This combo ranks 2934 out of 3724 tested combinations, placing it in the lower portion of the database. The rank reflects the RTX 2060's mid-range position and the demanding nature of The Medium at higher presets.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data for The Medium covers three resolutions and four settings presets. At 3840x2160, the average frame rates are as follows: Low settings produce 57.9 FPS, Medium settings produce 35.3 FPS, High settings produce 27.6 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 18.9 FPS. No min or max FPS values were recorded for any resolution, so only averages are available for analysis.

At 2560x1440, the average frame rates improve noticeably. Low settings deliver 72.4 FPS, which clears the 60 FPS threshold. Medium settings produce 43.9 FPS, High settings produce 31.4 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 22.4 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at 1440p is 28.5 FPS, which is a substantial drop when moving up one preset level.

At 1920x1080, the results are the strongest. Low settings achieve 84.8 FPS, the highest average recorded for this combination. Medium settings produce 51.1 FPS, High settings produce 36.8 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 27.3 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a steady decline, with Ultra delivering only about 32% of the Low preset's frame rate.

The pattern across all resolutions is consistent: Low settings are the only preset that consistently exceeds 60 FPS, and only at 1080p and 1440p. At 4K, even Low settings fall short of 60 FPS by 2.1 FPS, landing at 57.9 FPS. The RTX 2060's 6 GB of GDDR6 memory and 192-bit bus width appear to be adequate for Low presets at lower resolutions, but the GPU's raw compute power, measured at 6.451 TFLOPS FP32, is insufficient for higher presets in this title.

The lack of min and max FPS data means that frame time consistency cannot be assessed. However, the average FPS figures alone indicate that this combination is playable only at Low settings for 1080p and 1440p. The verdict data confirms this, listing only Low as a playable setting for both of those resolutions, with no playable settings at 4K.

The Verdict

The verdict by resolution is clear. At 3840x2160, there are no playable settings, meaning no preset achieves an average of at least 60 FPS. The closest result is Low settings at 57.9 FPS, which falls just short of the playable threshold. At 2560x1440, Low settings are playable with an average of 72.4 FPS, and the best settings preset is Low. At 1920x1080, Low settings are also playable with an average of 84.8 FPS, and Low is again the best settings preset.

This PC can run The Medium, but only under specific conditions. For a 1080p monitor, setting the game to Low will provide a smooth experience with an average FPS of 84.8, leaving headroom above the 60 FPS threshold. For a 1440p monitor, Low settings still work, with an average of 72.4 FPS, but there is less margin. For a 4K monitor, the game is not playable at any preset, as even Low settings only reach 57.9 FPS.

The CPU is not the constraint here. The i7-14700F's benchmark scores, including a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 35122 and a single-core score of 4958, place it in the 91st percentile. Its nearest rivals are all within 0.8% of its average score, so any performance difference in gaming would be imperceptible. The RTX 2060, with its 58th percentile rank and average score of 15290, is the bottleneck. The measured FPS data shows that increasing settings from Low to Medium reduces frame rates by roughly 40% at 1080p and 1440p, which is consistent with a GPU that is heavily loaded by the game's rendering demands.

The playable threshold is defined as 60 FPS, and this combination meets that only at Low presets for 1080p and 1440p. Users with higher refresh rate monitors may find the 84.8 FPS at 1080p Low sufficient, but those seeking higher visual fidelity will need to lower expectations. The Medium is a horror title that uses fixed camera angles and pre-rendered scenes in some areas, which can mask frame rate dips, but the recorded averages are still the primary indicator of playability.

Best Settings per Resolution

For 1920x1080, the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS is Low, with an average FPS of 84.8. Medium settings drop to 51.1 FPS, which is below the playable threshold, so Low is the only viable option at this resolution. The margin above 60 FPS is 24.8 FPS, which provides some buffer for scene complexity changes.

For 2560x1440, the best settings preset is also Low, with an average FPS of 72.4. This clears the 60 FPS threshold by 12.4 FPS. Medium settings at 1440p produce 43.9 FPS, which is not playable. The lower margin compared to 1080p means that demanding scenes could potentially push frame rates closer to the threshold, but the average remains above 60.

For 3840x2160, there is no best settings preset because no configuration reaches 60 FPS. Low settings come closest at 57.9 FPS, but this is below the playable threshold. Medium settings produce 35.3 FPS, High settings produce 27.6 FPS, and Ultra settings produce 18.9 FPS. The recommendation for 4K would be to reduce resolution or accept sub-60 FPS performance.

These recommendations are based solely on the average FPS data. Since min and max FPS values are not recorded, it is not possible to determine whether frame pacing issues exist. However, the average FPS figures provide a reliable basis for choosing settings. At 1080p and 1440p, Low is the only preset that meets the 60 FPS criterion, and the recorded averages show that this combination cannot handle Medium or higher presets at any resolution without falling below the playable threshold.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for The Medium, this pairing of the Intel Core i7-14700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 ranks 2934 out of 3724 combos. This places it in the 21st percentile of tested configurations, meaning roughly 79% of tested combos perform better in this game. The rank reflects the RTX 2060's position as a mid-range GPU from an older generation, despite the strong CPU.

The CPU's high percentile rank of 91 does not translate into a high combo rank because The Medium is primarily GPU-bound at the settings tested. The RTX 2060's 58th percentile rank among GPUs is a better predictor of the combo's overall standing. The nearest GPU rivals, such as the GTX 580 and Radeon 680M, would likely produce similar combo ranks if paired with the same CPU, as their benchmark scores are within 0.8% of the RTX 2060.

The combo rank of 2934 indicates that while this system can run The Medium at Low settings in 1080p and 1440p, it is far from optimal. The measured FPS at 1080p Low (84.8) is respectable, but the inability to handle Medium or High presets at any resolution limits its appeal. For comparison, a combo ranked near the top of the 3724 tested would likely achieve 60 FPS at Ultra settings across multiple resolutions, whereas this system maxes out at Low.

The data shows a clear mismatch between the CPU and GPU capabilities. The i7-14700F is a high-end processor with a 91st percentile rank, while the RTX 2060 is a mid-range GPU with a 58th percentile rank. In The Medium, the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher settings, which is why the combo rank is low relative to the CPU's standalone performance. Users with this combination should focus on GPU upgrades to improve their standing in this game, as the CPU already provides ample headroom. The recorded data does not include any alternative GPU pairings, so no direct comparison is possible, but the benchmark scores of the nearest rivals suggest that similar GPUs would yield comparable results.