The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER pairing in The Medium delivers a benchmark profile defined by a stark contrast between CPU capability and GPU headroom. The data indicates a configuration where the graphics card is the primary performance arbiter, with the processor providing a stable foundation that rarely becomes the limiting factor. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second (FPS) across resolutions and settings, contextualizes the combo’s standing against other tested systems, and examines the specific hardware attributes that shape the experience.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor built on the Zen 3 architecture, with a base clock of 3.50 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. It features a 32 MB shared L3 cache and a 65 W TDP, operating on the AMD Socket AM4 platform. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 18,309 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 2,584 points in single-core, while achieving a PassMark multithread score of 21,541 and a single-thread score of 3,256. Its 3DMark max-threads score of 5,659 and single-thread score of 882 further illustrate a balanced processing profile.

For The Medium, a game that emphasizes atmospheric horror and fixed-camera perspectives, the CPU’s role is less about raw multi-threaded throughput and more about maintaining consistent frame pacing. The 12 threads are sufficient to handle the game’s background simulation and streaming tasks, but the benchmark results show that the processor is not the bottleneck at any tested setting. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 68, while at 1080p Low, it jumps to 136. This 68 FPS difference when only graphics settings change suggests that the GPU is doing the heavy lifting, and the CPU is comfortably keeping up with the frame requests.

The CPU’s 74th percentile ranking among all tested processors places it in a solid mid-to-upper tier, but its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V and AMD Ryzen 5 8500G, have average scores within 0.2% of the Ryzen 5 5600. This indicates that the CPU’s performance envelope is well-understood and predictable. In The Medium, this translates to a processor that will not cause stutters or frame drops due to a lack of processing power, even when the GPU is pushed to its limits at higher resolutions. The data shows that the CPU is a supporting actor, enabling the RTX 4080 SUPER to deliver its full potential without interference.

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

The measured FPS data across all resolutions points to the Medium preset as the optimal balance between visual fidelity and performance. At 1080p, the Medium setting delivers an average of 114 FPS with a minimum of 97 FPS and a maximum of 131 FPS. This is a significant jump from the High preset’s 85 FPS average, and it provides a smoother experience than the Ultra preset’s 68 FPS average. The minimum FPS of 97 at Medium ensures that frame drops are kept to a minimum, which is crucial for a horror game where sudden dips can break immersion.

Moving to 1440p, the Medium preset again stands out. It delivers an average of 100 FPS with a minimum of 85 FPS and a maximum of 115 FPS. This is a 28 FPS improvement over High (72 FPS) and a 43 FPS improvement over Ultra (57 FPS). The minimum FPS of 85 is still well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay, making Medium the clear choice for high-refresh-rate monitors at this resolution. The Low preset at 1440p offers 129 FPS, but the visual compromise is likely too severe for a game that relies on lighting and shadow to build tension.

At 4K, the Medium preset is the only viable option for a consistently playable experience. It averages 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 90 FPS. The High preset drops to 56 FPS, and Ultra falls to 45 FPS, both of which are below the ideal 60 FPS target. The Low preset at 4K achieves 119 FPS, but the drastic reduction in graphical quality undermines the game’s artistic direction. Therefore, the Medium preset is the recommended setting across all resolutions, as it provides the best combination of frame rate stability and visual quality.

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

The FPS scaling across resolutions reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario. Starting with the Medium preset, the average FPS at 1080p is 114. At 1440p, it drops to 100, a 12.3% decrease. At 4K, it falls to 79, a 30.7% decrease from 1080p and a 21% decrease from 1440p. This pattern of diminishing returns as resolution increases is a clear indicator that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the limiting component. The CPU’s performance is constant across these resolutions, so the FPS drop is entirely attributable to the GPU’s rendering load.

For the High preset, the scaling is even more pronounced. The average FPS at 1080p is 85, dropping to 72 at 1440p (a 15.3% decrease) and then to 56 at 4K (a 34.1% decrease from 1080p). The Ultra preset shows a similar trend, with 68 FPS at 1080p, 57 FPS at 1440p (a 16.2% decrease), and 45 FPS at 4K (a 33.8% decrease). The Low preset, which is less demanding on the GPU, shows the smallest relative drops: 136 FPS at 1080p, 129 FPS at 1440p (a 5.1% decrease), and 119 FPS at 4K (a 12.5% decrease). This smaller drop at Low settings suggests that the CPU is beginning to have a more significant influence, but it is still not the primary bottleneck.

The data indicates that the RTX 4080 SUPER’s rendering capacity is the deciding factor. The game’s use of volumetric lighting and detailed environments places a heavy load on the GPU’s shading units and ray tracing cores. As resolution increases, the number of pixels to process multiplies, and the GPU’s fill rate and memory bandwidth become critical. The 736.3 GB/s of memory bandwidth and 52.22 TFLOPS of FP32 performance are substantial, but they are still finite, and the FPS scaling reflects the GPU working harder to maintain frame output.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is ranked 437th out of 3,724 tested combos in The Medium. This puts it in the top 11.7% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing. However, it is important to note that this rank is not solely a measure of the GPU’s power, but rather the entire system’s performance in this specific game. The high rank is primarily driven by the RTX 4080 SUPER’s capability, as the CPU is a mid-range part.

The GPU’s percentile ranking is 86th, and its average benchmark score is 54,209. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080, which is only 0.1% slower, and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB, which is 2.7% slower. This suggests that the RTX 4080 SUPER is a top-tier graphics card, and its performance in The Medium is consistent with its synthetic benchmark scores. The CPU’s contribution to the combo rank is less pronounced, but its lack of bottlenecking ensures that the GPU’s performance is fully realized.

Compared to other combos, this system offers a high level of performance, but the rank of 437 out of 3,724 indicates that there are many systems with faster processors that achieve higher frame rates. The data suggests that a more powerful CPU would not significantly improve the FPS in this game, as the GPU is the limiting factor. However, the combo rank is a holistic measure, and the RTX 4080 SUPER’s strength ensures that this system is well above average for The Medium.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1440p with the Medium preset delivers an average of 100 FPS with a minimum of 85 FPS, providing the best balance of visual detail and frame rate stability. At 4K, the Medium preset is also playable with an average of 79 FPS, but the 1440p experience is more consistent.

Q: Does the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 bottleneck the RTX 4080 SUPER in this game?

A: No. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a consistent drop that is attributable to the GPU’s rendering load. The CPU’s performance is sufficient to keep up, as evidenced by the relatively small FPS decrease at Low settings (136 FPS to 119 FPS from 1080p to 4K) compared to higher settings.

Q: How does the Ultra preset compare to Medium at 4K?

A: At 4K, Ultra averages 45 FPS, which is a 34 FPS drop from Medium’s 79 FPS. The Ultra preset will likely result in noticeable stutter and a less smooth experience, making Medium the recommended choice for 4K play.

Q: Is the RTX 4080 SUPER a high-performing GPU in general?

A: Yes. It ranks in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 54,209 is only 0.1% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080. Its PassMark G3D score is 34,245, indicating strong directX performance.

Q: What are the minimum FPS values for the Medium preset at different resolutions?

A: At 1080p, the minimum FPS is 97. At 1440p, it is 85. At 4K, it is 67. These values ensure that the frame rate does not drop below a playable threshold during intense scenes.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other systems?

A: This combo is ranked 437th out of 3,724 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the top 11.7% of all systems tested. This is a strong result, driven by the high-performing GPU.

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

At 1920x1080, the measured average FPS is 136 for Low, 114 for Medium, 85 for High, and 68 for Ultra. The Medium preset has a minimum FPS of 97 and a maximum of 131. The data shows a clear progression, with the Low preset offering the highest frame rate and Ultra the lowest.

At 2560x1440, the average FPS is 129 for Low, 100 for Medium, 72 for High, and 57 for Ultra. The Medium preset has a minimum FPS of 85 and a maximum of 115. The FPS drops are consistent with the increased pixel count, but the Medium preset remains above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the average FPS is 119 for Low, 79 for Medium, 56 for High, and 45 for Ultra. The Medium preset has a minimum FPS of 67 and a maximum of 90. This resolution shows the most significant impact on performance, with only Low and Medium presets providing average FPS above 60.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is the dominant component in this combo, and its specifications directly influence the measured FPS. It has 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus with a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. The memory clock is 1438 MHz with a 23 Gbps effective data rate. The GPU’s base clock is 2295 MHz, with a boost clock of 2550 MHz. It features 10,240 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 112 ROPs, along with 80 RT cores and 320 Tensor cores.

In The Medium, the 16 GB VRAM capacity is more than sufficient for the game’s textures and assets at all tested resolutions. The 736.3 GB/s memory bandwidth is critical for handling the high-resolution textures and the game’s volumetric effects, which can be memory-intensive. The GPU’s FP32 performance of 52.22 TFLOPS and texture rate of 816.0 GTexel/s explain its ability to render complex scenes. The PassMark G3D score of 34,245 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 6,600 confirm its high compute capability.

The GPU’s role as the bottleneck is evident in the FPS data. The RTX 4080 SUPER is ranked in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, and its nearest rival, the RTX 4080, is only 0.1% slower in average benchmark score. In The Medium, the GPU’s performance dictates the frame rate, and the CPU is able to feed it without issue. The 16 GB VRAM ensures that there are no texture loading hitches, and the high bandwidth allows for smooth data transfer. The result is a system that delivers high frame rates at 1080p and 1440p, and playable frame rates at 4K with the Medium preset.