The Medium

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 paired with the Intel Arc B390 is not a viable configuration for playing The Medium at a playable frame rate. Across every resolution and settings preset tested, the average frame rates fall far below the 60 FPS threshold. The data indicates a fundamental performance shortfall that no settings adjustment can overcome.

Similar Performance Alternatives

The CPU in this configuration, the Intel Core Ultra 7 265, is a high-performing processor. Its average benchmark score of 64640 places it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs in the database. The nearest rivals in terms of average score are the AMD EPYC 4464P, which scores 64823 and is only 0.3% faster, and the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, which scores 64438 and is 0.3% slower. The AMD EPYC 7343 is 0.7% slower with a score of 64202, while the AMD EPYC 9124 is 0.7% faster with a score of 65104. Any of these processors would deliver essentially identical CPU-bound performance in The Medium, meaning the choice between them would not change the outcome for this game.

The GPU, the Intel Arc B390, presents a starkly different situation. Its average benchmark score of 1482 places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs, a very low standing. The nearest rivals in the database are older, low-end NVIDIA parts. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX has an average score of 1463, which is 1.3% slower than the Arc B390. The NVIDIA GeForce 800M scores 1460, making it 1.5% slower. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 625 OEM scores 1446, a 2.5% deficit, and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 scores 1443, which is 2.7% slower. This cluster of GPUs represents the performance tier the Arc B390 operates in, which is far too weak for the demands of The Medium at 60 FPS.

FAQ

Q: Can the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and Intel Arc B390 run The Medium at 60 FPS at 1920x1080?

A: No. The recorded data shows that at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate is 51 FPS. This is the highest average achieved across all tested settings and resolutions, and it still falls short of the 60 FPS playable threshold.

Q: What is the best average frame rate this combination can produce in The Medium?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded for this configuration is 51 FPS, which occurs at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. No other combination of resolution and settings reaches this level.

Q: How does the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 compare to its nearest CPU rival in performance?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 has an average benchmark score of 64640. Its nearest rival, the AMD EPYC 4464P, scores 64823, which represents a 0.3% performance difference. The two processors are effectively tied in overall compute performance.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B390 compare to its nearest GPU rival in performance?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has an average benchmark score of 1482. The closest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 520MX, scores 1463, making the Arc B390 1.3% faster. The performance difference within this group of GPUs is minimal.

Q: What is the frame rate at 3840x2160 with Medium settings?

A: At 3840x2160 resolution with Medium settings, the configuration produces an average frame rate of 21 FPS, with a minimum of 18 FPS and a maximum of 24 FPS.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU limit performance in The Medium?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU is a high-end part in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU is in the 9th percentile. The low frame rates across all settings point directly to the GPU's inability to render the game at acceptable speeds.

CPU and GPU Roles

The performance data reveals a severe imbalance between the CPU and GPU in this configuration. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is a powerful 20-core, 20-thread processor with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, placing it in the 93rd percentile of all CPUs. In contrast, the Intel Arc B390 is an integrated-class GPU with a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482, placing it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs. This massive gap means the GPU is the unequivocal bottleneck.

Analyzing the scaling between resolutions confirms this. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the average frame rate is 51 FPS. When the resolution is increased to 2560x1440 at the same Low settings, the average drops to 43 FPS. At 3840x2160 with Low settings, it falls further to 34 FPS. This consistent decline with increasing resolution is a classic sign of GPU-bound performance. The CPU has ample headroom; it is the GPU that cannot keep pace with the rendering demands at higher pixel counts.

The settings scaling further reinforces this conclusion. At 1920x1080, moving from Low to Medium settings reduces the average frame rate from 51 FPS to 32 FPS. Raising to High settings drops it to 23 FPS, and Ultra brings it down to 18 FPS. Each increase in graphical fidelity imposes a significant penalty on the already overburdened GPU. The CPU is not the constraint here, since a faster GPU would be required to maintain higher frame rates regardless of the CPU's capabilities. In this pairing, the GPU determines the playability of The Medium at every resolution and settings level.

The Verdict

This PC cannot run The Medium at a playable frame rate. The verdict by resolution is clear: at 3840x2160, 2560x1440, and 1920x1080, there are no playable settings. The playable threshold is 60 FPS, and the configuration fails to reach it in every tested scenario.

At 1920x1080, the closest result is 51 FPS on Low settings, which is 9 FPS short of the threshold. At 2560x1440, the best average is 43 FPS on Low settings. At 3840x2160, the best average is 34 FPS on Low settings. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265 is more than capable as a processor, but the Intel Arc B390 is not powerful enough to deliver the required performance. The data shows no path to 60 FPS with this combination.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 3840x2160, the results are as follows. On Low settings, the average frame rate is 34 FPS. On Medium settings, the average drops to 21 FPS, with a minimum of 18 FPS and a maximum of 24 FPS. High settings yield an average of 15 FPS. Ultra settings produce the lowest average at 12 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the performance improves slightly but remains far below the target. Low settings deliver an average of 43 FPS. Medium settings average 27 FPS, with a minimum of 23 FPS and a maximum of 31 FPS. High settings average 19 FPS. Ultra settings average 15 FPS.

At 1920x1080, the best results are seen. Low settings produce an average of 51 FPS. Medium settings average 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 FPS and a maximum of 37 FPS. High settings average 23 FPS. Ultra settings average 18 FPS.

The pattern is consistent: lower resolutions and lower settings yield higher frame rates, but none reach the 60 FPS threshold. The Medium settings at each resolution provide the only min/max data points, showing that even the peaks stay well below playable levels.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and Intel Arc B390 ranks 3314 out of 3724 tested combinations for The Medium. This places it in the bottom 11% of all tested configurations. The ranking reflects the overall performance of the pair, and the GPU is the primary reason for the low standing.

The CPU alone would rank much higher; its 93rd percentile score indicates strong processing power. However, the GPU's 9th percentile score drags the entire configuration down. The result is a system that is severely GPU-limited, making it unsuitable for The Medium at 60 FPS. The data shows that the CPU is not the issue, but the pairing as a whole is not effective for this game.