The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 pairing targets 1080p and 1440p gaming with a strong balance of CPU headroom and GPU throughput. The data for The Medium shows a system that delivers playable frame rates at medium settings across most resolutions, but struggles to maintain smooth performance at higher presets or 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured results, component roles, and practical settings advice based strictly on the provided benchmark data.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, built on a 7 nm process. It features a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, with 16 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support. Its PCIe Gen 3 interface and 65 W TDP classify it as a mainstream desktop part, and its benchmark percentile of 73 against all CPUs indicates it sits comfortably above average.

In synthetic tests, the Ryzen 5 5500 demonstrates solid multi-threaded capability with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16429 and a single-core score of 2319. The Geekbench multi-core score of 7976 and single-core score of 1730 reinforce this profile. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 (avg score 19617, delta -0.1%), Intel Core i5-12500 (avg score 19668, delta -0.4%), and Intel Core i7-10700F (avg score 19499, delta 0.5%). The Ryzen 5 5500's average benchmark score of 19593 places it within a narrow 1% band of these competitors, meaning any of these CPUs would deliver nearly identical performance in CPU-limited scenarios.

For The Medium, the CPU's role is secondary but not negligible. The game's measured frame rates show substantial variation across settings and resolutions, but the pattern suggests a GPU-heavy workload. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 92 FPS, while dropping to 4K Low yields 61 FPS. This scaling indicates that the Ryzen 5 5500 can feed the RX 7600 adequately at lower resolutions, where the CPU's six cores and twelve threads handle the game's logic and draw calls without becoming a bottleneck. The 3dmark max threads score of 5411 and passmark multithread score of 19330 confirm the processor can manage concurrent tasks, which is relevant for a horror game with fixed camera angles and moderate physics.

The single-thread performance, highlighted by a 3dmark single thread score of 836 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2319, is sufficient for the game's primary game thread. Benchmark results indicate the CPU is not the limiting factor at any tested resolution, as frame rates scale consistently with resolution and settings changes. The processor's 73rd percentile standing suggests it outperforms roughly a quarter of all CPUs, providing a stable foundation for this GPU.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture with a Navi 33 chip, featuring 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. It comes with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s. The GPU's base clock is 1720 MHz, with a boost clock of 2655 MHz and a game clock of 2250 MHz. Its 21.75 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 32 ray accelerators position it as a capable 1080p and entry-level 1440p card, with a 57th percentile ranking among all GPUs.

The RX 7600's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM (avg score 15199, delta -0.2%), AMD Radeon Pro 560X (avg score 15082, delta 0.6%), and AMD Radeon 680M (avg score 15270, delta -0.7%). With an average benchmark score of 15171, the RX 7600 is effectively tied with these cards, though its real-world performance in The Medium is dictated by the game's demands. The 8 GB VRAM is a critical factor; at 4K Ultra, the combo averages 22 FPS, which is below playable thresholds, likely due to memory capacity or bandwidth constraints.

The GPU's 288.0 GB/s bandwidth becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions. The measured FPS drops from 92 at 1080p Low to 61 at 4K Low, a reduction of 31 FPS that correlates with increased pixel throughput requirements. At Medium settings, the average FPS falls from 57 at 1080p to 38 at 4K, showing the GPU struggles to maintain fluid motion as resolution scales. The 8 GB VRAM may also cause texture thrashing at Ultra settings, where the 4K Ultra result of 22 FPS is nearly identical to the 1440p Ultra result of 27 FPS, suggesting a hard performance ceiling independent of resolution.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured data provides clear guidance for optimal settings. At 1080p, the Medium preset delivers an average of 57 FPS with a minimum of 49 FPS and maximum of 66 FPS, offering a smooth experience with visual quality intact. The Low preset at 1080p reaches 92 FPS, but the visual fidelity loss may not be worth the extra 35 FPS for a horror game that relies on atmosphere. The High preset at 1080p drops to 41 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target for responsive gameplay. Therefore, Medium at 1080p is the sweet spot, providing a stable frame rate with acceptable graphics.

For 1440p, the Medium preset yields 48 FPS with a minimum of 41 FPS and maximum of 56 FPS. This is playable but not ideal for fast-paced sequences. The Low preset at 1440p achieves 77 FPS, offering a more fluid experience at the cost of reduced detail. Given the game's horror genre, where visual immersion matters, the Medium preset at 48 FPS is a reasonable compromise, but users prioritizing smoothness should consider Low. The High preset at 1440p averages 35 FPS, which falls into the stutter-prone range, making it less recommended.

At 4K, only the Low preset is viable, with an average of 61 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K drops to 38 FPS, and High and Ultra are effectively unplayable at 27 FPS and 22 FPS, respectively. For 4K users, Low is the only option that maintains playable frame rates, but the visual downgrade is significant. The data indicates that this combo is best suited for 1080p Medium or 1440p Low/Medium, with 4K reserved for low-detail scenarios.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 ranks 2571 out of 3724 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the lower third of all configurations. This rank reflects the GPU's mid-tier positioning and the CPU's mainstream status. The percentile ranking of 57 for the GPU and 73 for the CPU suggests the pairing is balanced, but the game's demanding nature at higher settings exposes the GPU's limitations.

Compared to the nearest rival GPUs, the RX 7600's average benchmark score of 15171 is marginally below the RTX 3050 OEM's 15199 (delta -0.2%), but the real-world performance in The Medium is more dependent on the 8 GB VRAM and memory bandwidth. The combo's rank of 2571 indicates that many other pairings, likely with stronger GPUs or more VRAM, achieve higher frame rates. The CPU's nearest rival, the Intel Core i5-12500, has a slightly higher average score (19668 vs 19593), but the delta of -0.4% is negligible in gaming contexts.

The data shows that this combo outperforms lower-tier configurations but falls short of high-end systems. For a 1080p gaming setup, the rank is acceptable, but for 1440p or 4K, the rank reflects the GPU's constraints. The 57th percentile GPU ranking means roughly 43% of GPUs perform better, which aligns with the combo's mid-pack position in this specific game.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals a GPU-bound system. At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 57 at 1080p to 48 at 1440p (a 16% reduction) and then to 38 at 4K (a 21% reduction from 1440p). At Low settings, the drop is from 92 at 1080p to 77 at 1440p (16% reduction) and to 61 at 4K (21% reduction). This consistent pattern indicates that the GPU's pixel throughput and memory bandwidth are the primary constraints.

The CPU's role remains constant across resolutions, as the Ryzen 5 5500's performance does not change with resolution. The FPS drops are proportional to the pixel count increase, with 4K having roughly four times the pixels of 1080p. The fact that 4K Low achieves 61 FPS while 4K High drops to 27 FPS shows that the GPU's computational limits are reached quickly as settings increase. The memory bandwidth of 288.0 GB/s is insufficient for high-detail 4K textures, and the 8 GB VRAM capacity is likely exhausted at Ultra settings.

The limiting component is clearly the GPU. The CPU's benchmark scores and the linear FPS scaling confirm that the RX 7600 cannot maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions, regardless of the CPU's headroom. For users aiming for 1440p or 4K, upgrading the GPU would yield the most significant performance gains, while the CPU would remain a capable partner.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of performance. At 3840x2160 (4K), the Ultra preset averages 22 FPS, High averages 27 FPS, Medium averages 38 FPS with a minimum of 32 and maximum of 44, and Low averages 61 FPS. The progression from Low to Ultra shows a 39 FPS drop, with each setting tier reducing performance by roughly 10-11 FPS. The Medium preset's minimum of 32 FPS indicates occasional dips into unplayable territory, making Low the only reliably smooth option at 4K.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the Ultra preset averages 27 FPS, High averages 35 FPS, Medium averages 48 FPS with a minimum of 41 and maximum of 56, and Low averages 77 FPS. The Medium preset provides the best balance, with a minimum above 40 FPS ensuring playability. The High preset at 35 FPS is borderline, and Ultra at 27 FPS is not recommended for action sequences. Low at 77 FPS allows for high refresh rate monitors, though visual quality suffers.

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the Ultra preset averages 33 FPS, High averages 41 FPS, Medium averages 57 FPS with a minimum of 49 and maximum of 66, and Low averages 92 FPS. The Medium preset offers a smooth experience with a minimum above 45 FPS, suitable for most gaming scenarios. Low at 92 FPS approaches high refresh rate territory, and High at 41 FPS is playable but not ideal. Ultra at 33 FPS is below the 60 FPS target, making it the least favorable option despite the resolution's lower pixel count.

The data shows that the Medium preset is the consistent choice across all resolutions, providing the best compromise between visual quality and frame rate. The minimum FPS values for Medium (49 at 1080p, 41 at 1440p, 32 at 4K) demonstrate that the combo maintains playable performance at 1080p and 1440p, but drops below 35 FPS at 4K, which is a common threshold for playability in horror games where responsiveness is less critical than atmosphere.