The Medium

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245 paired with the Intel Arc B370 is a combination that struggles significantly with The Medium. The benchmark data shows that this hardware cannot reach the 60 FPS playable threshold at any tested resolution or preset. The recorded averages range from a low of 11 FPS at 4K Ultra to a high of 46 FPS at 1080p Low, indicating that the system is consistently below the target for smooth gameplay. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the role of each component, and what settings, if any, can salvage the experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured data for this combination reveals a clear performance ceiling. At 3840x2160 (4K), the results are as follows: with Low settings, the average FPS is 30. Moving to Medium settings yields an average of 19 FPS, with a minimum of 16 FPS and a maximum of 22 FPS. High settings drop the average to 14 FPS, and Ultra settings bring the average down to 11 FPS. The 4K resolution is effectively unplayable, as even the lowest preset barely achieves half the needed frame rate.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the situation improves only marginally. Low settings produce an average of 39 FPS. Medium settings record an average of 24 FPS, with a minimum of 21 FPS and a maximum of 28 FPS. High settings lower the average to 17 FPS, and Ultra settings result in an average of 14 FPS. While the Low preset at this resolution is closer to playability, it still falls short of the 60 FPS target.

The best results are found at 1920x1080 (1080p). Here, the Low preset achieves an average of 46 FPS. The Medium preset records an average of 29 FPS, with a minimum of 24 FPS and a maximum of 33 FPS. High settings yield an average of 21 FPS, and Ultra settings produce an average of 16 FPS. Even at the lowest resolution and lowest settings, the system does not reach the 60 FPS threshold, confirming that this hardware is not suited for The Medium at a playable level.

CPU and GPU Roles

The data indicates that the Intel Arc B370 GPU is the primary limiting factor in this configuration. The scaling between resolutions shows a clear pattern: moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces the average FPS by roughly 15% to 20% at the same settings, and moving from 1440p to 4K reduces it by another 25% to 30%. For example, at Low settings, the average FPS drops from 46 at 1080p to 39 at 1440p, and then to 30 at 4K. This steep decline with increasing resolution is characteristic of a GPU-bound scenario, where the graphics processor cannot handle the pixel workload.

The CPU, an Intel Core Ultra 5 245, is a capable part with a strong benchmark profile. It ranks in the 90th percentile against all CPUs and has an average benchmark score of 48995. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 5755G, which is 0.4% slower, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7900, which is 0.5% slower. The Intel Core i5-14600K is 0.8% slower, while the Intel Xeon Gold 5318H is 0.6% faster. This suggests the processor has ample headroom for gaming workloads.

However, the GPU tells a different story. The Intel Arc B370 has a percentile rank of only 5 against all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 1184. Its nearest rivals, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 and ATI Radeon HD 5770, are within 0.5% of its score, indicating it is a very low-end graphics solution. The fact that lowering settings from Ultra to Low at 1080p increases the frame rate from 16 to 46 FPS, a nearly threefold improvement, further confirms that the GPU is the bottleneck. The CPU is not the constraint here; the graphics hardware simply lacks the raw throughput to run this game smoothly.

FAQ

Q: Can this PC run The Medium at 1080p with any settings?

A: No. The highest average FPS recorded at 1920x1080 is 46 FPS on the Low preset. This is below the 60 FPS playable threshold, and all other presets perform worse, with Ultra averaging only 16 FPS.

Q: What is the best performance this combo can achieve in The Medium?

A: The best recorded result is an average of 46 FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This is the only configuration that comes close to a playable frame rate, but it still falls short of the target.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B370 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Intel Arc B370 has an average benchmark score of 1184. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 scores 1186, which is 0.2% faster, and the ATI Radeon HD 5770 scores 1190, which is 0.5% faster. The AMD Radeon HD 7650M scores 1192, which is 0.7% faster, while the AMD FirePro M2000 scores 1168, which is 1.4% slower.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more important for this game at 4K?

A: The GPU is the primary factor. The average FPS at 4K Low is 30, while at 4K High it drops to 14. This drastic reduction with higher settings shows the graphics processor is overwhelmed by the resolution, regardless of the CPU's capabilities.

Q: Does lowering the resolution from 4K to 1080p help significantly?

A: Yes, but not enough. At Low settings, the average FPS improves from 30 at 4K to 46 at 1080p. This is a substantial increase, but it still does not reach the 60 FPS threshold needed for smooth gameplay.

Q: What does the combo rank suggest about this hardware?

A: This combination ranks 3439 out of 3724 tested combos for The Medium. This places it in the bottom 8% of systems tested, indicating it is one of the least capable configurations for this particular game.

The Verdict

This system cannot run The Medium at a playable level. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080, there are no playable settings recorded. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the data shows that no preset at any resolution reaches this mark. The highest average FPS observed is 46 at 1080p Low, which is still 14 FPS short of the target. While the Intel Core Ultra 5 245 is a strong processor, the Intel Arc B370 is a severe bottleneck. This combination is fundamentally unsuited for The Medium, and users seeking to play this title would need a more powerful GPU.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database, this specific CPU and GPU pairing ranks 3439 out of 3724 tested combinations for The Medium. This places it in the lower percentile of systems, well below the median. The GPU's low benchmark score, ranking in the 5th percentile against all GPUs, heavily drags down the overall performance. The CPU's strong score, in the 90th percentile, does not compensate for the graphics deficiency in this game. This rank is a clear indicator that the combination is near the bottom of the performance spectrum for this title, making it a poor choice for anyone looking to play The Medium.

Best Settings per Resolution

Based on the measured data, there is no setting configuration that achieves an average of 60 FPS or higher at any resolution. The closest option is at 1920x1080 with Low settings, which yields an average of 46 FPS. At 2560x1440, the best result is 39 FPS with Low settings, and at 3840x2160, the best result is 30 FPS with Low settings. Since the most demanding preset that stays at or above 60 FPS does not exist, the only recommendation is to use the lowest settings at the lowest resolution to maximize frame rate, though even this will not meet the playable threshold. The Medium is not playable with this hardware configuration.