The Medium

The Medium is a horror title that relies on a fixed-camera perspective and heavy atmosphere, and the benchmark data for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600F with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 reveals a system that is capable at lower settings but struggles to maintain high frame rates at demanding presets. The combination of a 6-core, 12-thread Zen 3 CPU and an 8 GB GDDR6 GPU produces a distinct performance profile, with the measured frames per second showing a clear pattern of scaling across resolutions and quality levels. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS data, examines the role of each component, and provides settings recommendations based strictly on the observed numbers.

FAQ

Q: What is the best average FPS this combo achieves at 1920x1080?

A: At 1920x1080, the highest average FPS recorded is 96, which occurs with the Low settings preset. The Medium preset delivers 60 FPS average, High drops to 43 FPS average, and Ultra falls to 34 FPS average.

Q: How does the RTX 5050’s average benchmark score compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 5050 has an average benchmark score of 21035. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT, scores 20713, which is a deltaPct of 1.6, meaning the RTX 5050 is slightly ahead. The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL scores 21153, a -0.6 deltaPct, and the AMD Radeon HD 8970M scores 21237, a -1 deltaPct.

Q: What is the combo’s rank among all tested combinations in The Medium?

A: The combo is ranked 1765 out of 2911 total tested combinations. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the performance distribution, indicating that while it is not a top-tier setup, it is not among the weakest either.

Q: Does the CPU’s single-thread performance exceed its multi-thread performance?

A: No, the PassMark single-thread score is 2872, while the multi-thread score is 19236. The multi-thread score is significantly higher, which is expected for a 6-core, 12-thread processor, and suggests that the CPU can handle workloads that utilize multiple threads effectively.

Q: What is the lowest average FPS recorded at 3840x2160?

A: The lowest average FPS at 3840x2160 is 23, which is measured at the Ultra settings preset. The High preset achieves 29 FPS average, Medium reaches 40 FPS average, and Low is the only playable option at this resolution with 64 FPS average.

Q: What is the TDP of the CPU and the GPU, and what does that imply for the system?

A: The CPU has a TDP of 65 watts, and the GPU has a TDP of 130 watts. The combined thermal load is modest, and the GPU’s suggested PSU is 300 watts, which indicates a system that does not require an excessive power supply. The CPU’s 65-watt TDP is typical for a 6-core part, while the GPU’s 130-watt TDP is moderate for a discrete graphics card.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of which settings preset offers the best experience for this hardware combination. At 1920x1080, the Medium preset delivers a 60 FPS average, which is the standard target for smooth gameplay, with a minimum FPS of 51 and a maximum of 69. This is the only preset at this resolution that hits the 60 FPS mark, as High averages 43 FPS and Ultra averages 34 FPS. The Low preset achieves 96 FPS average, but that comes with a significant reduction in visual quality, which may not be desirable for a horror game that relies on atmosphere. Therefore, for 1080p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice because it provides a playable frame rate without sacrificing as much graphical fidelity as Low.

At 2560x1440, the situation changes. The Medium preset averages 51 FPS, with a minimum of 43 and a maximum of 58. This is slightly below the 60 FPS target but remains playable for a slower-paced horror title. The Low preset averages 81 FPS, which is smooth, but again, the visual trade-off is steep. High and Ultra presets drop to 36 FPS and 29 FPS average, respectively, making them less desirable for consistent gameplay. For 1440p, the Low preset is the safest choice for maintaining high frame rates, while Medium is acceptable if the user prioritizes visuals over a few dropped frames.

At 3840x2160, the data shows that only the Low preset is viable, with a 64 FPS average. All other presets fall below 40 FPS average: Medium at 40 FPS, High at 29 FPS, and Ultra at 23 FPS. The Medium preset’s minimum FPS is 34, which can cause noticeable stuttering in a horror game. For 4K, the Low preset is the only recommendation based on the measured numbers, as it is the sole option that maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS. The overall recommendation is to use Medium at 1080p, Low at 1440p, and Low at 4K, as these presets provide the best balance between the measured average FPS and the visual quality settings.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS drop from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160 is substantial and reveals a GPU-bound scenario. At the Low preset, the average FPS goes from 96 at 1080p to 81 at 1440p, a drop of 15 FPS, and then to 64 at 4K, another drop of 17 FPS. This represents a 33% reduction in FPS from 1080p to 4K at Low settings. At the Medium preset, the average FPS drops from 60 at 1080p to 51 at 1440p, a 9 FPS reduction, and then to 40 at 4K, an 11 FPS reduction. This is a 33% drop from 1080p to 4K as well. The High preset shows a similar pattern: 43 FPS at 1080p, 36 FPS at 1440p, and 29 FPS at 4K, which is a 33% reduction. The Ultra preset goes from 34 FPS at 1080p to 29 FPS at 1440p to 23 FPS at 4K, also a 33% reduction.

The consistency of the 33% drop across all settings presets is a strong indicator that the limiting factor is the GPU’s rendering capabilities rather than the CPU. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a smaller difference between 1080p and 4K at lower settings, where the GPU load is lower. Instead, the proportional scaling suggests that the RTX 5050’s 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and its 128-bit memory bus are being saturated as resolution increases. The memory bandwidth is 320.0 GB/s, which is adequate for 1080p but becomes a constraint at higher pixel counts. The data implies that the system is fully GPU-limited at all tested resolutions, and the CPU has enough headroom to keep up with the GPU’s output.

The fact that the Low preset at 4K (64 FPS) performs better than the High preset at 1080p (43 FPS) further illustrates that the GPU is the primary driver of performance. Lowering the settings has a more significant impact on FPS than lowering the resolution, which is typical for a GPU-bound workload. The pixel rate of 82.30 GPixel/s and texture rate of 205.8 GTexel/s are fixed hardware limits, and the data shows that these limits are reached progressively as resolution increases.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo’s rank in The Medium is 1765 out of 2911 tested combinations. This places it in the 60th percentile of all combos, meaning that approximately 60% of tested systems perform better in this game. The rank is determined by the measured FPS across all settings and resolutions, and the data shows that this combo is not a high-end performer. The CPU’s percentile vs all CPUs is 85, which is strong, but the GPU’s percentile vs all GPUs is only 66, which is moderate. This discrepancy suggests that the GPU is the weaker link in this pairing.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 21035 places it below the midpoint of all GPUs, and its nearest rivals are older or lower-tier cards. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is the closest rival with a deltaPct of 1.6, meaning the RTX 5050 is only 1.6% faster. The AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL and AMD Radeon HD 8970M are slightly slower, with deltaPcts of -0.6 and -1, respectively. This indicates that the RTX 5050’s performance is comparable to a mid-range card from previous generations, which explains the combo’s mid-pack ranking in The Medium.

The CPU’s nearest rivals show a different story. The AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D has a deltaPct of -0.2, meaning the 5600F is nearly identical in performance. The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 has a deltaPct of 0, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 has a deltaPct of -0.4. These are all within a fraction of a percent of the 5600F’s average score of 36945. This shows that the CPU is competitive with other mid-range processors, but it does not provide a significant advantage in this game. The combo’s rank is therefore largely determined by the GPU’s limitations, not the CPU’s capabilities.

The fact that the combo ranks 1765 out of 2911 means that users should expect a playable but not exceptional experience. The data supports this, as only the Low settings at 1080p and 4K achieve frame rates above 60 FPS, while Medium at 1080p hits exactly 60 FPS. For a game like The Medium, which is a horror title with a slower pace, this level of performance may be acceptable, but it is not competitive with higher-end systems.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 is the primary determinant of this combo’s performance in The Medium. Its 8 GB of GDDR6 memory is a key specification, as the game’s textures and effects can consume significant video memory. The memory bus is 128-bit, and the bandwidth is 320.0 GB/s, which is moderate for a modern GPU. The base clock is 2317 MHz, and the boost clock is 2572 MHz, with memory running at 2500 MHz (20 Gbps effective). These clocks are relatively high, but the GPU’s rendering capabilities are limited by its 2560 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 32 ROPs.

The measured FPS data shows that the GPU struggles at higher resolutions. At 3840x2160, the Ultra preset averages 23 FPS, which is unplayable, and the High preset averages 29 FPS, which is barely playable. The Medium preset at 4K averages 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 FPS, indicating that the GPU cannot maintain a consistent frame rate. The Low preset at 4K achieves 64 FPS, which is the only playable option. This pattern suggests that the GPU’s memory bandwidth and pixel throughput are insufficient for 4K gaming at higher quality settings.

The GPU’s average benchmark score of 21035 and its nearest rivals indicate that it is a mid-range performer. The fact that the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT is only 1.6% slower suggests that the RTX 5050’s performance is not a significant improvement over a card from a previous generation. The GPU’s percentile vs all GPUs is 66, meaning that 34% of GPUs are slower, but a majority are faster. In the context of The Medium, this translates to a system that can handle 1080p at Medium settings comfortably, but struggles with 1440p and 4K at higher presets.

The GPU’s VRAM of 8 GB is likely a contributing factor to the performance drop at 4K. While the data does not include VRAM usage, the fact that the Low preset at 4K performs better than the Medium preset at 1440p (64 vs 51 FPS) suggests that reducing texture quality and effects has a larger impact than lowering resolution. This is consistent with a GPU that is memory-bandwidth limited. The FP32 performance of 13.17 TFLOPS is adequate for the game’s shaders, but the 32 ROPs may be a bottleneck for pixel fill rate at high resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at how this combo performs across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the Low preset achieves the highest average FPS of 96. The Medium preset averages 60 FPS, with a minimum of 51 FPS and a maximum of 69 FPS, making it the most balanced option. The High preset drops to 43 FPS average, and the Ultra preset falls to 34 FPS average. No minimum or maximum FPS values are provided for Low, High, or Ultra at 1080p, so only the Medium preset offers frame-time variance data.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset averages 81 FPS, which is a significant drop from 1080p. The Medium preset averages 51 FPS, with a minimum of 43 FPS and a maximum of 58 FPS. The High preset averages 36 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 29 FPS. Again, only the Medium preset has min and max FPS data. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is consistent across all settings, indicating that the GPU is scaling as expected with pixel count.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset averages 64 FPS, which is surprisingly close to the 1080p Medium preset’s 60 FPS. The Medium preset averages 40 FPS, with a minimum of 34 and a maximum of 46. The High preset averages 29 FPS, and the Ultra preset averages 23 FPS. The Medium preset at 4K has the only min and max data for this resolution, showing a 12 FPS variance, which suggests some inconsistency in frame pacing. The overall trend is clear: the combo’s performance degrades as resolution increases, and only the Low preset at 4K remains above 60 FPS.

The data also shows that the difference between Low and Ultra at each resolution is substantial. At 1080p, the difference is 62 FPS (96 vs 34). At 1440p, it is 52 FPS (81 vs 29). At 4K, it is 41 FPS (64 vs 23). This indicates that the GPU’s performance scales significantly with settings, and users must make a trade-off between visual quality and frame rate. The Medium preset at 1080p is the only setting that provides a 60 FPS average with a minimum above 50 FPS, making it the recommended choice for a smooth experience.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600F plays a supporting role in this combo’s performance in The Medium. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, with a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.00 GHz. The CPU is based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, and is manufactured on a 7 nm process. It features 32 MB of shared L3 cache, which is beneficial for gaming workloads. The CPU’s TDP is 65 watts, which is low, and it supports DDR4 memory with a dual-channel bus and a bandwidth of 51.2 GB/s.

The CPU’s benchmark scores show that it is a capable processor. Its multithread score is 19236, and its single-thread score is 2872. The single-thread score is relatively high, which is important for games that rely on a few fast cores. The CPU’s percentile vs all CPUs is 85, indicating that it is faster than 85% of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core Ultra 5 225 with a deltaPct of 0, the AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D with a deltaPct of -0.2, and the AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 450 with a deltaPct of -0.4. These rivals are all within a fraction of a percent of the 5600F’s average score of 36945, showing that the CPU is competitive with other mid-range parts.

In the context of The Medium, the CPU’s role is likely to be less critical than the GPU’s. The measured FPS data shows a consistent scaling pattern across resolutions, which is typical of a GPU-bound workload. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see less scaling between 1080p and 4K, especially at Low settings where the GPU load is lower. However, the fact that the FPS drops by 33% from 1080p to 4K at all settings suggests that the GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU has enough cores and threads to handle the game’s physics and AI, and its high single-thread score ensures that it can feed the GPU without stalling.

The CPU’s memory support for DDR4 and its dual-channel bus provide sufficient bandwidth for the GPU to access system memory, although the GPU has its own 8 GB of GDDR6. The CPU’s PCIe Gen 4 support with 20 lanes allows for a fast connection to the GPU, which is important for transferring data. The data shows that the CPU is not a hindrance in this combo, but it also does not boost the system’s performance. The combo’s rank of 1765 out of 2911 is primarily due to the GPU’s mid-range capabilities, while the CPU’s strong benchmark scores ensure that it does not hold the system back.