The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title built around atmospheric storytelling and dual-reality rendering, presents a demanding workload that scales steeply with resolution. Benchmark results for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER show a configuration that is firmly GPU-limited at higher resolutions, yet capable of delivering playable frame rates at 1080p with adjusted settings. The data below breaks down how this specific CPU-GPU combination behaves across the four tested presets and three resolutions, providing a clear picture of its strengths and limitations in this title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals a clear and consistent pattern: as resolution increases, performance drops at a rate that points directly to the GPU as the primary bottleneck. From 1920x1080 to 2560x1440, the average FPS at High settings falls from 41 to 35, a reduction of 6 frames. Moving from 1440p to 3840x2160 at the same High preset sees a further drop from 35 to 27 FPS. This scaling is not linear; the jump from 1080p to 4K at High settings represents a 34% reduction in average frame rate, indicating that the rendering load is expanding faster than the GPU's capabilities.

The pattern becomes even more pronounced when examining the Low preset. At 1920x1080 Low, the combo achieves 92 FPS, which drops to 77 at 2560x1440 and then to 61 at 3840x2160. This shows that even when the graphical load is significantly reduced, the RTX 2060 SUPER still struggles to maintain high frame rates at 4K, with the 1440p to 4K transition costing 16 FPS. The CPU, a 6-core Zen 3 part with a boost clock of 4.00 GHz, is unlikely to be the limiting factor at these lower settings, as the frame rate is still dropping in a manner consistent with GPU-bound scaling.

At the Medium preset, the only settings tier with min and max FPS data, the resolution scaling is equally informative. The average FPS goes from 57 at 1080p to 48 at 1440p, and then to 38 at 4K. The minimum FPS also scales down, from 49 to 41 to 32, respectively. This consistent decline across all metrics confirms that the system is not encountering a CPU-related stutter or frame-time spike; rather, the GPU is simply running out of pixel-pushing capacity. The Ultra preset shows the most dramatic scaling, with averages of 33 FPS at 1080p, 27 at 1440p, and a nearly unplayable 21 at 4K.

The data suggests that for this specific game and hardware pairing, the limiting component at 1080p and above is unequivocally the GPU. The CPU's performance headroom, evidenced by its strong Passmark scores (19,236 in multithread and 2,872 in single-thread), is not being taxed by the resolution increases. The frame rate deltas between resolutions are too large to be attributed to CPU overhead, making it clear that the RTX 2060 SUPER's 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are the determining factors in this game's performance envelope.

How This Combo Ranks

Within the database of tested hardware combinations, this specific pairing of the Ryzen 5 5600F and RTX 2060 SUPER achieves a rank of 2026 out of 2911 total combos for The Medium. This places it in the lower third of all tested systems, which is a meaningful indicator of its overall performance tier for this specific title. The percentile position suggests that while the combo is capable of running the game, it is not a high-end configuration; a majority of other tested systems deliver higher frame rates.

The rank is a composite reflection of the individual components' capabilities. The GPU, the RTX 2060 SUPER, holds a percentile rank of 62 against all GPUs in the database, with an average benchmark score of 18,093. This puts it in the mid-range tier of graphics cards, which is consistent with its performance in The Medium. The CPU, the Ryzen 5 5600F, sits higher, with a percentile rank of 85 against all CPUs and an average benchmark score of 36,945. This indicates that the processor is a comparatively stronger component in this pairing, capable of supporting a more powerful GPU without becoming a bottleneck.

The data shows that the combo's rank is dragged down by the GPU's mid-pack placement. When compared to its nearest rivals, the RTX 2060 SUPER's average score is within a narrow band of other cards. For instance, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile scores 18,159, a delta of -0.4%, and the AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18,189, a delta of -0.5%. These tiny percentage differences show that the GPU is performing exactly as expected for its class, and the combo's rank of 2026 is a direct result of that mid-tier performance level being applied to a game that is demanding on graphics hardware.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, manufactured on a 7 nm process. Its base clock is 3.00 GHz, which can boost up to 4.00 GHz, and it has a 65 W TDP. In the context of The Medium, a game that does not typically stress multi-threaded workloads as heavily as modern strategy or simulation titles, this CPU provides ample processing power. The single-thread performance, as indicated by a Passmark score of 2,872, is strong enough to handle the game's logic and scripting without introducing frame pacing issues.

The measured FPS data supports the conclusion that the CPU is not a limiting factor in this configuration. At Low settings, where the GPU load is minimized, the frame rates are high enough (92 FPS at 1080p) that any CPU bottleneck would manifest as a hard cap on performance. The fact that the frame rate scales down so predictably with resolution increases indicates that the CPU is delivering frames to the GPU faster than the GPU can render them. The processor's 32 MB of shared L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support with a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s provide sufficient data throughput for the game's asset streaming.

Comparing the Ryzen 5 5600F to its nearest rivals in the database shows that it is a competitive mid-range part. Its average benchmark score of 36,945 is within 0.5% of the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (36,938) and the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D (37,018). This places it in a performance tier where it can comfortably feed a GPU like the RTX 2060 SUPER. In The Medium, the CPU's role is to maintain consistent frame delivery, and the data shows no signs of it failing to do so; the frame rate drops are entirely attributable to the escalating pixel count and graphical fidelity demands placed on the GPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured FPS data for this combo provides a detailed view of its capabilities across all settings and resolutions. At 1920x1080, the lowest resolution tested, the average frame rates are 92 (Low), 57 (Medium), 41 (High), and 33 (Ultra). The Medium preset shows a min FPS of 49 and a max of 66, indicating a playable range. The High preset at 1080p, while playable, begins to show the GPU's limits, with an average of 41 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p is the most demanding, yielding an average of 33 FPS, which is below the threshold for smooth gameplay.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance drops across all presets. The Low preset averages 77 FPS, which is still smooth. The Medium preset averages 48 FPS with a min of 41 and a max of 55, which is acceptable for a slower-paced horror game. The High preset averages 35 FPS, which is marginal, and the Ultra preset averages 27 FPS, which is not recommended for an enjoyable experience. The 1440p data shows that the combo is best suited to Low or Medium settings for a comfortable frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the results are mostly below playable thresholds. The Low preset averages 61 FPS, which is the only 4K setting that achieves a smooth frame rate. The Medium preset averages 38 FPS with a min of 32, which is playable but may feel sluggish. The High preset averages 27 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 21 FPS, both of which are too low for practical use. This resolution is clearly beyond the comfortable range for this GPU, requiring the lowest settings to achieve a playable state.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER is a Turing-architecture GPU with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 448.0 GB/s. Its base clock is 1470 MHz, with a boost clock of 1650 MHz, and it features 2,176 shading units. The GPU's average benchmark score of 18,093 places it in the 62nd percentile of all GPUs, indicating it is a solid mid-range performer. In The Medium, the GPU is the definitive performance bottleneck, as the resolution scaling analysis clearly demonstrates.

The 8 GB VRAM capacity is sufficient for this title at 1080p and 1440p, but the data suggests that at 4K, the memory bandwidth and processing power are insufficient to maintain high frame rates. The game's dual-reality mechanic, which renders two scenes simultaneously, likely places a heavy load on both the shading units and the memory subsystem. The GPU's FP32 performance of 7.181 TFLOPS is the raw compute power available for these rendering tasks, and the measured FPS shows that this power is exhausted quickly as resolution increases.

The RTX 2060 SUPER's performance in The Medium is consistent with its position in the database. Its nearest rivals, such as the RTX 3060 Mobile (18,159) and Radeon Pro 5700 (18,189), show deltas of less than 1%, confirming that it is performing as expected. The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support, with a score of 61 in the Passmark DirectX 12 test, indicates that it can handle the game's API requirements, but the raw frame rates are dictated by its hardware specifications. For this game, the GPU is the component that determines the playable settings and resolutions, and the data shows it is best utilized at 1080p or 1440p with moderate settings.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and the desired frame rate. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the data shows that the Low preset at 1080p (92 FPS) and Low at 1440p (77 FPS) are the only options that comfortably exceed this threshold. The Medium preset at 1080p also provides a playable experience, averaging 57 FPS, which is close to 60 and likely acceptable for most users, with a minimum of 49 FPS ensuring it rarely dips below 45.

For users who prefer higher visual fidelity over a locked 60 FPS, the High preset at 1080p, with an average of 41 FPS, is the highest quality setting that remains reasonably playable. At 1440p, the Medium preset, averaging 48 FPS, is the best balance of quality and performance, as the High preset at 35 FPS may feel unresponsive in a horror game that relies on atmosphere and timing. The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it yields an average of 33 FPS at 1080p and drops to 21 FPS at 4K, which is too low for a satisfactory experience.

At 4K, the data indicates that only the Low preset (61 FPS) is viable for gameplay. The Medium preset at 38 FPS is borderline, but the frequent dips to 32 FPS could be jarring. Therefore, the recommendation is to use the Low preset at 4K for a stable experience, or to drop the resolution to 1440p with the Medium preset for a better balance of visual quality and frame rate. The data clearly shows that this combo is best suited to 1080p Medium or High, or 1440p Medium, for the most enjoyable experience in The Medium.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run The Medium at 4K smoothly?

A: At 4K, only the Low preset achieves a smooth average of 61 FPS. The Medium preset drops to 38 FPS average with a minimum of 32, while High and Ultra presets fall to 27 and 21 FPS respectively, which are not considered playable.

Q: What is the best resolution-to-settings ratio for a 60 FPS target?

A: The data shows that the Low preset at 1080p (92 FPS) and Low at 1440p (77 FPS) are the only combinations that exceed a 60 FPS average. The Medium preset at 1080p comes close, with an average of 57 FPS.

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

A: Benchmark results indicate the GPU is the clear bottleneck. The frame rate drops consistently from 1080p to 4K across all settings, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload. The CPU's high single-thread score suggests it is not holding the system back.

Q: How does the RTX 2060 SUPER compare to its closest rivals in terms of raw score?

A: The RTX 2060 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 18,093. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile, scores 18,159, a delta of -0.4%. The AMD Radeon Pro 5700 scores 18,189, a delta of -0.5%, showing they are nearly identical in performance.

Q: Is the Ultra preset usable at any resolution?

A: No. The Ultra preset yields an average of 33 FPS at 1080p, 27 FPS at 1440p, and 21 FPS at 4K. These frame rates are all below what is generally considered a playable threshold for this genre.

Q: What is the combo's overall rank among tested systems for The Medium?

A: The combo ranks 2026 out of 2911 tested combinations, placing it in the lower third of all systems. This is primarily due to the GPU's mid-range performance level, which is a significant limiting factor for this demanding title.