The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and Intel Arc B570 pairing delivers a strictly mid-pack performance profile in The Medium, landing at rank 2321 out of 2911 tested combos. The data shows a system that is consistently playable at lower settings but struggles to maintain smooth framerates as visual fidelity increases, particularly at higher resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured results across all settings and resolutions, interprets the CPU and GPU roles based on the provided specifications, and answers common questions about this specific hardware combination.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture (Vermeer) on the AMD Socket AM4 platform. It operates with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, drawing a TDP of 105 W. The processor’s standout feature is its large 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a defining characteristic of the X3D series. This cache configuration is designed to improve gaming performance by reducing memory latency, though the benchmark data for this specific title suggests the CPU is not the primary bottleneck.

In relation to The Medium, the CPU’s benchmark scores provide context for its capability. The processor achieves a passmark_single_thread score of 2941 and a passmark_multithread score of 20363. Its average benchmark score is 37018, placing it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs tested. Compared to its nearest rivals, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D is essentially tied with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (deltaPct 0.2), the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (deltaPct 0.2), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (deltaPct -0.2). The data indicates this is a solid mid-range processor, but the variance in game performance across settings suggests its role is secondary to the graphics card.

The game’s measured FPS shows a predictable scaling pattern that is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload. For instance, at 1920x1080, the average FPS drops from 78 at Low settings to 28 at Ultra settings. If the CPU were the limiting factor, we would expect to see less variance between resolutions at the same settings. Instead, the data shows a consistent drop in performance as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, which points to the GPU being the primary constraint. The CPU’s 6-core/12-thread configuration and high L3 cache are sufficient to feed the Intel Arc B570 without creating a significant CPU-side bottleneck in this horror title.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the recommended settings depend heavily on the target resolution and desired framerate. The data provides a clear trade-off between visual quality and smoothness. For a 60 FPS target, the only viable option is the Low preset, and it is only achievable at 1920x1080, where the combo averages 78 FPS. At 2560x1440, the Low preset drops to 66 FPS, which is still playable, but at 3840x2160, it falls to 52 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

If a 30 FPS experience is acceptable, the Medium preset becomes the best choice for a balance of quality and performance. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset averages 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 FPS and a maximum of 56 FPS. This indicates a stable experience above the 30 FPS baseline. At 2560x1440, the Medium preset averages 41 FPS (min 35, max 47), which is still comfortably above 30 FPS. However, at 3840x2160, the Medium preset averages 32 FPS (min 27, max 37), which dips below the 30 FPS threshold in the minimum frame time, indicating potential stutter.

The High and Ultra presets are generally not recommended for a smooth experience. The High preset at 1920x1080 averages 35 FPS, which is playable but not ideal. At 2560x1440, it drops to 29 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it averages 23 FPS. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with averages of 28 FPS at 1080p, 23 FPS at 1440p, and 18 FPS at 4K. These figures are below the 30 FPS threshold for smooth play and should be avoided if framerate consistency is a priority. For the best experience, the data suggests using the Low preset for high refresh rate displays or the Medium preset for a balance of visual fidelity and playability.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

*Q: What is the best resolution to play The Medium with this hardware?*

A: The data indicates that 1920x1080 is the most consistent resolution. At Low settings, it achieves an average of 78 FPS, and at Medium settings, it averages 49 FPS with a minimum of 41 FPS. While 2560x1440 is playable at Low settings (66 FPS average), the 3840x2160 resolution struggles to maintain high framerates, with the Medium preset averaging only 32 FPS.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B570 capable of running the Ultra preset?

A: Benchmark results show that the Ultra preset is not recommended for smooth play. At 1920x1080, the average FPS is 28, which is below the 30 FPS threshold. At higher resolutions, the performance degrades further, with averages of 23 FPS at 2560x1440 and 18 FPS at 3840x2160.

Q: How does the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D compare to its closest rivals in CPU benchmarks?

A: The processor’s average benchmark score is 37018. It is nearly identical in performance to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F (deltaPct 0.2), the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (deltaPct 0.2), and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 (deltaPct -0.2). The Intel Core i9-12900T is slightly ahead with a deltaPct of -0.3.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only settings with recorded minimum FPS values are the Medium presets. At 1920x1080, the minimum is 41 FPS. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 35 FPS. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 27 FPS. No minimum FPS data is available for the Low, High, or Ultra presets.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU have a larger impact on the performance in this game?

A: The data suggests the GPU is the primary bottleneck. Performance scales significantly with resolution, which is a characteristic of GPU-bound workloads. For example, at High settings, the average FPS drops from 35 at 1080p to 29 at 1440p and 23 at 4K. The CPU’s performance remains constant, indicating it is not the limiting factor.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the graphics card in this system?

A: The Intel Arc B570 has a launch MSRP of 219 USD.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D and Intel Arc B570 combination holds a rank of 2321 out of 2911 tested combos in The Medium. This places the system in the lower 20th percentile of all tested configurations, indicating that while it is not the worst performer, it is significantly outpaced by a majority of other hardware pairings. The rank reflects the overall average performance across all settings and resolutions, which is dragged down by the very low framerates at the High and Ultra presets.

This ranking is consistent with the individual component data. The CPU is in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, which is a solid result. However, the GPU is in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 20556 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (deltaPct 0.1) and the Intel Arc A750 (deltaPct -0.1). The GPU’s mid-range standing, combined with the demanding nature of The Medium, likely contributes to the low overall combo rank. The data shows that the system is better suited for less graphically intensive titles or for playing at lower settings where the FPS is more acceptable.

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

The Intel Arc B570 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage) and features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base and boost clock of 2500 MHz, with memory clocked at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). It has 2304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 80 ROPs. The card’s performance metrics include a pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s, a texture rate of 360.0 GTexel/s, and an FP32 throughput of 11.52 TFLOPS. With a TDP of 150 W, it requires a single 8-pin power connector and a suggested 450 W PSU.

The GPU’s role in The Medium is to handle the rendering load, and the measured FPS data clearly shows its limitations at higher quality presets. The 10 GB VRAM buffer is likely sufficient for the game’s assets, but the raw compute power appears to be the limiting factor. The FP32 performance of 11.52 TFLOPS is modest, and the benchmark results reflect this. For instance, the GPU’s passmark_g3d score is 14195, which is a mid-range result. The data shows a significant performance cliff when moving from Medium to High settings, suggesting that the additional shading and texture work required by the High preset overwhelms the GPU’s capabilities.

Comparing the Arc B570 to its nearest rivals helps contextualize its performance. Its average benchmark score of 20556 is essentially tied with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (deltaPct 0.1) and the Intel Arc A750 (deltaPct -0.1). The data shows that the GPU is a capable mid-range part, but it is not designed for high-end 4K gaming. In The Medium, the GPU’s performance is the primary reason for the low FPS at 4K Ultra (18 FPS average), highlighting the need to reduce settings to achieve playable framerates.

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

The measured FPS data for this combo reveals a clear hierarchy of performance across resolutions and settings. The data is presented as average FPS, with minimum and maximum FPS recorded only for the Medium preset.

1920x1080:

At the lowest settings, the system performs best. The Low preset averages 78 FPS. The Medium preset averages 49 FPS, with a minimum of 41 FPS and a maximum of 56 FPS. The High preset drops to an average of 35 FPS. The Ultra preset is the slowest, averaging 28 FPS.

2560x1440:

Performance decreases at 1440p. The Low preset averages 66 FPS, which is still above 60. The Medium preset averages 41 FPS, with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS. The High preset averages 29 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 23 FPS.

3840x2160:

At 4K, the system struggles to maintain playable framerates. The Low preset averages 52 FPS. The Medium preset averages 32 FPS, with a minimum of 27 FPS and a maximum of 37 FPS. The High preset averages 23 FPS. The Ultra preset averages 18 FPS.

The data shows a consistent pattern: the gap between Low and Medium settings is significant (e.g., 78 vs 49 FPS at 1080p), while the gap between High and Ultra is smaller (35 vs 28 FPS at 1080p). This indicates that the GPU handles the transition from Low to Medium with some headroom, but the High and Ultra presets push the hardware beyond its comfortable operating range. The minimum FPS data for the Medium preset shows that even a stable-looking average can have dips, such as the 27 FPS minimum at 4K, which can cause noticeable stutter in a horror game where consistent frame pacing is crucial for immersion.