The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500 and Intel Arc B370 combination produces a very specific performance profile in The Medium, one defined by severe GPU limitation at every resolution. The data shows a system that can achieve playable frame rates only at the lowest settings and 1080p, with a dramatic and consistent drop in performance as resolution and quality increase. This analysis walks through the CPU and GPU roles, scaling behavior, ranking, and exact measured performance.

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 from the 5000 series, built on the Zen 3 architecture with a 7 nm process. It operates at a base clock of 3.60 GHz and can boost up to 4.20 GHz. This is a desktop part with a 65 W TDP, using the AMD Socket AM4 platform, and it supports DDR4 memory in a dual-channel configuration, providing 51.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The CPU has a 16 MB L3 cache, with 512 KB of L2 cache per core and 64 KB of L1 cache per core.

Benchmark results for the Ryzen 5 5500 show it as a mid-range performer. In Cinebench R23, it scores 16429 points in multi-core and 2319 points in single-core. Its Geekbench scores are 7976 multi-core and 1730 single-core. The processor sits at the 73rd percentile among all CPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 19593. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 (average score 19617, delta of -0.1%), the Intel Core i5-12500 (average score 19668, delta of -0.4%), and the Intel Core i5-11600KF (average score 19723, delta of -0.7%).

In the context of The Medium, the CPU's role appears to be largely secondary. The measured frame rates are consistently low, and the pattern of performance drops as resolution increases points directly at the GPU as the bottleneck. Even at 1080p Low, where the CPU would have the most influence, the system only achieves 46 FPS. The CPU's 12 threads and 4.20 GHz boost clock should be sufficient for a game from this era, and its benchmark scores place it well above the bottom tier. The data suggests that the CPU is not the limiting factor in this pairing; instead, the GPU is unable to keep up with the game's rendering demands, leaving the CPU with headroom it cannot use.

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

The Intel Arc B370 is a starkly different story. This GPU is based on the Panther Lake chip with the Xe3-LPG architecture, manufactured on a 3 nm process. It has a base clock of 300 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. Critically, its memory is listed as "System Shared," meaning the GPU does not have dedicated VRAM but instead shares system memory. The memory bus width and bandwidth are also "System Shared" and "System Dependent," respectively. This is a fundamental limitation for a game like The Medium, which demands substantial memory bandwidth for texture streaming and scene complexity.

The GPU's raw compute specifications are modest: 1280 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 20 raster output units. It has 10 ray tracing cores and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The pixel rate is 48.00 GPixel/s, the texture rate is 96.00 GTexel/s, and the FP32 performance is 6.144 TFLOPS. The GPU has a TDP of just 25 W and is integrated into the processor package, as indicated by its "IGP" slot width and bus interface.

The benchmark data for the Arc B370 is stark. It scored 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, which places it at the 5th percentile among all GPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals are all older, low-end parts: the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, delta -0.5%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 (score 1168, delta 1.4%). This level of performance is not designed for modern gaming at high settings. The shared memory architecture is the primary culprit, as the system's DDR4 memory bandwidth is far below what a dedicated GPU would provide, severely limiting the Arc B370's ability to feed its 1280 shading units.

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

The measured frame rates show a clear and predictable pattern of degradation as resolution increases. At 1080p with Low settings, the system averages 46 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440 at Low settings drops the average to 39 FPS, a reduction of 7 FPS. At 3840x2160 (4K) with Low settings, the average falls to 30 FPS, another 9 FPS drop. This scaling is linear and severe, indicating that the GPU's rendering throughput is being exhausted at every step.

With Medium settings, the pattern continues. The 1080p Medium setting yields an average of 29 FPS, with a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 33. At 1440p Medium, the average drops to 24 FPS (min 21, max 28). At 4K Medium, the average is 19 FPS (min 16, max 22). The delta between each resolution step is roughly 5 FPS, which is consistent with a GPU that is fully saturated and cannot handle the increased pixel count.

At High settings, the drops become even more pronounced relative to the already low baseline. 1080p High averages 21 FPS, 1440p High averages 17 FPS, and 4K High averages 14 FPS. The Ultra preset is nearly unplayable across the board: 1080p Ultra averages 16 FPS, 1440p Ultra averages 14 FPS, and 4K Ultra averages 11 FPS.

This scaling behavior is the definitive evidence of a GPU bottleneck. If the CPU were the limiting factor, the frame rates would remain relatively flat across resolutions, as the CPU's workload does not increase with pixel count. Instead, the data shows a consistent drop of 15-20% for each resolution increase, which is the classic signature of a GPU that is running out of pixel throughput and memory bandwidth. The CPU has plenty of headroom, but the Arc B370 simply cannot render The Medium's scenes at higher resolutions.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Intel Arc B370 ranks 2681 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the bottom 8% of all configurations in the database. This rank is a direct reflection of the GPU's extreme limitation. The CPU itself is not a bottom-tier part; its 73rd percentile ranking among all CPUs indicates it is a capable processor. However, when paired with the Arc B370, which sits at the 5th percentile, the overall combo is dragged down to the very bottom of the performance list.

The ranking is consistent with the measured FPS data. A combo that can only achieve 46 FPS at 1080p Low and 21 FPS at 1080p High is going to be outclassed by any system with a dedicated mid-range or high-end GPU. The rank of 2681 suggests that there are only 230 tested configurations that perform worse, and those are likely to be older or even lower-end integrated graphics solutions. What is notable is that the CPU is not the cause of this low rank; the data indicates the GPU is the sole bottleneck. If this CPU were paired with a stronger GPU, the combo would likely rank significantly higher, but with the Arc B370, the performance ceiling is fundamentally low.

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

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture of the system's capabilities. At 1920x1080, the best result is achieved at Low settings with an average of 46 FPS. The Medium preset drops to an average of 29 FPS, with a range between 24 and 33 FPS. High settings yield an average of 21 FPS, and Ultra settings reduce the average to 16 FPS.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset produces an average of 39 FPS. The Medium preset averages 24 FPS, with a minimum of 21 and a maximum of 28 FPS. High settings average 17 FPS, and Ultra settings average 14 FPS.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the Low preset is the only one that approaches playability, with an average of 30 FPS. The Medium preset averages 19 FPS, with a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 22 FPS. High settings average 14 FPS, and Ultra settings average 11 FPS.

The data shows that the system is only suitable for 1080p gaming at Low settings if a smooth experience is the goal. The 46 FPS average at that setting is the only configuration that exceeds 40 FPS. Every other setting and resolution combination falls below 40 FPS, with most falling below 30 FPS. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a playable but not smooth experience, with an average of 29 FPS and a minimum of 24 FPS. All 1440p and 4K settings are below 30 FPS, rendering them impractical for a game like The Medium, which benefits from consistent frame pacing for its atmospheric horror presentation.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in The Medium?

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system can achieve an average of 46 FPS (at Low settings). At 2560x1440 and 3840x2160, the average frame rates are significantly lower, with the best results being 39 FPS and 30 FPS respectively, both at Low settings.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor in this system?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The CPU has an average benchmark score of 19593 and sits at the 73rd percentile, while the GPU has an average score of 1184 and sits at the 5th percentile. The frame rate drops consistently with each resolution increase, which is a GPU limitation, not a CPU one.

Q: Can this system run The Medium at 4K?

A: Technically, yes, but the performance is very poor. The best 4K result is 30 FPS at Low settings. At 4K Medium, the average is 19 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it is 11 FPS. These frame rates are not suitable for a smooth gaming experience.

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

A: The Arc B370 scored 1184 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. Its nearest rivals are the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5570 (score 1186, delta -0.2%), the ATI Radeon HD 5770 (score 1190, delta -0.5%), and the AMD FirePro M2000 (score 1168, delta 1.4%). This means it performs at a level comparable to those legacy low-end parts.

Q: What is the highest FPS this combo can achieve?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 46 at 1920x1080 with Low settings. The next highest is 39 FPS at 2560x1440 with Low settings. No other configuration surpasses 30 FPS on average.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5500 compare to the Intel Core i5-12500?

A: The Ryzen 5 5500 has an average benchmark score of 19593, while the Intel Core i5-12500 has an average score of 19668, which is a delta of -0.4%. This means the two processors perform nearly identically in synthetic benchmarks.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the only viable configuration for a playable experience is to prioritize the Low settings preset at 1920x1080. This is the only setting that delivers an average frame rate above 40 FPS, at 46 FPS. The game is a horror title where smooth motion and consistent frame pacing are important for immersion, and a 46 FPS average is acceptable, though not perfect.

The Medium preset at 1080p is a compromise, with an average of 29 FPS and a minimum of 24 FPS. This is borderline playable, but the frame drops below 30 FPS may be noticeable during scenes with heavy effects or complex geometry. If a player can tolerate slight stuttering, this setting offers better visual fidelity than Low.

All other settings and resolutions are not recommended for actual gameplay. The 1440p and 4K presets, regardless of quality level, all fall below 30 FPS on average, and the Ultra preset is unplayable, with 11 FPS at 4K. The data strongly indicates that the user should play at 1080p with Low settings to get the best experience from this hardware combination. Any attempt to increase visual quality will result in a dramatic and detrimental impact on performance. The GPU's shared memory architecture and low compute power simply cannot handle the demands of higher resolutions or quality presets in The Medium.