The Medium

The Intel Core i7-14700KF paired with the Intel Arc B570 is a combination that lands in the lower-middle tier of tested systems for The Medium. The data shows this pairing achieves a playable experience only at lower resolutions with reduced graphical settings, struggling to maintain smooth frame rates at higher presets. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, how it stacks up against other hardware, and what the benchmark results mean for a practical gaming experience.

Similar Performance Alternatives

Benchmark results for the Intel Core i7-14700KF place it at the 94th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 70163. The nearest rivals by aggregate score are the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F, which scores 69996 and is a mere 0.2% slower, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX at 69875, trailing by 0.4%. The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X is close as well, scoring 69515, which is 0.9% behind the i7-14700KF. On the other side, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K scores 70879, putting it 1% ahead of this CPU. For the purposes of CPU-bound scenarios in The Medium, any of these processors would deliver a nearly identical level of performance, making them all valid substitutes in a system build.

On the graphics side, the Intel Arc B570 holds the 65th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20556. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which scores 20534, a negligible 0.1% difference. The Intel Arc A750 is essentially a peer as well, with a score of 20582, placing it just 0.1% ahead of the B570. Other nearby hardware includes the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M, which is 0.4% slower, and the AMD Radeon R9 M390X, which is 0.5% faster. From a frame rate perspective in this game, the Arc B570 should behave very similarly to these GPUs, meaning users familiar with the performance of an Arc A750 or a mobile RTX 3070 can expect comparable results.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested hardware combinations for The Medium, this specific CPU and GPU pairing ranks 2999 out of 3724 total combos. This places it in the bottom 20% of all tested systems, indicating that while it can run the game, its performance profile is significantly below the median. The rank is a holistic measure of the combo's ability to produce high frame rates across all tested resolutions and settings.

The low rank is primarily driven by the GPU's performance ceiling. While the CPU is highly capable, ranking in the 94th percentile of all processors, the Arc B570's 65th percentile standing acts as a bottleneck in graphically intensive scenarios. This dynamic means the combo's overall standing is dictated much more by the graphics card than the processor. For a user, this rank signals that this is not a high-performance gaming rig for this title, but rather one that requires careful settings management to achieve a playable experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured frame rates for this combination show a clear pattern of performance degradation as resolution and graphical fidelity increase. At the demanding 3840x2160 (4K) resolution, the game is largely unplayable. With Low settings, the average frame rate is 52 FPS. Dropping the settings to Medium brings the average down to 32 FPS, with minimum and maximum readings of 27 and 37 FPS respectively. High settings yield an average of 23 FPS, and Ultra settings produce a slideshow-like 18 FPS average. None of these figures approach the 60 FPS playable threshold.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the situation improves but remains challenging. The only preset that clears the 60 FPS mark is Low, which averages 66 FPS. The Medium preset averages 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 47 FPS. High settings drop the average to 29 FPS, and Ultra is again unplayable at 23 FPS. The step up from Low to Medium represents a significant 38% performance penalty, highlighting the demanding nature of the higher preset.

The most favorable results are at 1920x1080 (1080p). Here, the Low preset achieves an average of 78 FPS, providing a smooth experience. The Medium preset falls short of the playable threshold, averaging 49 FPS with a minimum of 41 and a maximum of 56 FPS. High settings average 35 FPS, and Ultra averages 28 FPS. The data indicates that even at the lowest resolution, this hardware cannot maintain 60 FPS on any preset other than the lowest one.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unequivocal: this system can run The Medium as a playable game only under specific, limited conditions. The verdict by resolution confirms that at 3840x2160, there are no playable settings; even the lowest preset fails to reach the 60 FPS threshold. At 2560x1440, the system is playable only on the Low preset, which achieves an average of 66 FPS. Similarly, at 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only playable option, delivering an average of 78 FPS.

For a practical recommendation, users should target 1080p or 1440p with the Low graphics preset to enjoy the game. Attempting to use Medium, High, or Ultra settings at any resolution will result in average frame rates well below the 60 FPS target, leading to a stuttery and less responsive experience. This hardware is suitable for experiencing the game's story and atmosphere, provided the visual expectations are adjusted to the lowest quality level. The 78 FPS average at 1080p Low is the best-case scenario, while the 66 FPS at 1440p Low offers a higher resolution at the cost of some smoothness.

CPU and GPU Roles

The division of labor between the CPU and GPU in The Medium becomes clear when examining the frame rate scaling. The Intel Core i7-14700KF is a high-end processor, but its influence on this game's performance is secondary to the graphics card. At 1080p with Low settings, the system produces 78 FPS. When the resolution is increased to 1440p at the same Low preset, the frame rate drops to 66 FPS, a 15% decrease. Moving to 4K Low yields 52 FPS, a further 21% drop from the 1440p result. This consistent decline with increasing resolution demonstrates that the GPU, the Intel Arc B570, is the primary limiting factor.

The effect of graphical settings further confirms the GPU's dominant role. At 1080p, transitioning from Low to Medium settings reduces the average frame rate from 78 to 49 FPS, a substantial 37% performance hit. This steep penalty for a modest increase in visual quality is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU has ample headroom to handle the game's logic and physics at all settings, but the Arc B570 lacks the raw throughput to maintain high frame rates when the rendering load increases.

At higher resolutions like 4K, the GPU's limitations are even more pronounced. The difference between Low and Medium settings at 4K is a drop from 52 to 32 FPS, a 38% reduction. This pattern shows that for this specific game and hardware combo, the graphics card is the sole arbiter of playability. The CPU's performance, while excellent on its own, is effectively irrelevant to the frame rates achieved because the GPU is always the bottleneck. Upgrading the CPU would yield no tangible benefit, whereas a more powerful GPU would directly translate to higher FPS.

FAQ

*Q: Can this PC run The Medium at 4K resolution?*

A: No. The benchmark data shows no playable settings at 3840x2160. The highest average frame rate achieved is 52 FPS on Low settings, which is below the 60 FPS playable threshold. Other presets yield averages of 32 FPS (Medium), 23 FPS (High), and 18 FPS (Ultra).

Q: What is the best playable configuration for this hardware?

A: The best playable configuration is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which produces an average of 78 FPS. The data also shows that 2560x1440 with Low settings is playable, averaging 66 FPS, offering a higher resolution at the cost of some frame rate.

Q: How does the Intel Core i7-14700KF compare to the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X?

A: The Intel Core i7-14700KF has an average benchmark score of 70163, which is 0.9% higher than the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X's score of 69515. In terms of overall processing power, they are essentially equivalent.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B570 similar in performance to the Intel Arc A750?

A: Yes, they are very closely matched. The Intel Arc B570 has an average benchmark score of 20556, while the Intel Arc A750 scores 20582. This makes the Arc A750 just 0.1% faster, indicating that their in-game performance will be nearly identical.

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

A: The GPU is the dominant factor for this specific combination. The frame rate drops significantly with increases in resolution and graphical settings, while the CPU is a high-end model that is not the bottleneck. The data indicates that the Intel Arc B570 limits performance across all tested scenarios.

Q: What frame rate can I expect on Medium settings at 1080p?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average frame rate is 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 FPS and a maximum of 56 FPS. This is below the 60 FPS playable threshold and would result in a less smooth experience than the Low preset.