The Medium

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 5000 series, built on the Zen 3 architecture (Cezanne) using a 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, with a 65 W TDP. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU demonstrates strong single-threaded performance with a 3dmark_single_thread score of 872 and a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2365. Multi-threaded results are equally solid: Cinebench R23 multicore reaches 16758, and Geekbench multicore hits 7693.

For The Medium, a horror title that relies on fixed-camera angles and heavy environmental storytelling, the CPU's role is less about raw thread count and more about consistent frame pacing. The 5600G's 16 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support (51.2 GB/s bandwidth) are adequate for feeding the GPU. The processor's percentileVsAllCpus of 78 indicates it outperforms 78% of all CPUs in the database. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i7-11600H (avgScore 19949, deltaPct 0.2) and the Intel Core i7-11800H (avgScore 20024, deltaPct -0.2), showing the 5600G sits within 0.2% of these mobile H-series parts — effectively a statistical tie.

In-game, the CPU's impact is visible in the 1080p results. At 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 84.7 FPS average, which is the highest measured frame rate across all settings and resolutions. This indicates that at lower settings, the CPU can keep up with the GPU's output. However, the 3dmark_16_threads score of 5451 and 3dmark_max_threads score of 5455 suggest that the processor's scaling is nearly flat beyond 8 threads (4694), meaning the game likely doesn't leverage all 12 threads effectively. The CPU's 78th percentile ranking reinforces that this is a capable mid-range part, but not a top-tier performer for heavily threaded workloads.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 is a Turing-architecture GPU built on a 12 nm process, featuring 1920 shading units, 120 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. It has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 336.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 1365 MHz with a boost clock of 1680 MHz, and memory runs at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). It includes 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores, with a FP32 performance of 6.451 TFLOPS.

The RTX 2060's percentileVsAllGpus of 58 places it in the upper half of all GPUs, but its nearest rivals reveal tight competition. The AMD Radeon RX 7600S (avgScore 15996, deltaPct 0.5) is essentially tied with the RTX 2060 (avgScore 16074). The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M and Pro 5700 both score 16351 with a deltaPct of -1.7, meaning the RTX 2060 trails them by 1.7%. This is a narrow margin, indicating the 2060 sits in a crowded mid-range tier.

For The Medium, the GPU's 6 GB VRAM becomes a limiting factor at higher resolutions and settings. The measured FPS data shows a steep drop from Low to Ultra at every resolution. At 3840x2160, the average FPS falls from 52.8 at Low to 23.0 at Ultra — a 56.4% reduction. This pattern suggests that the GPU is the primary bottleneck in this game, especially when texture quality and shadow details increase memory pressure. The RTX 2060's 30 RT cores are relevant since The Medium uses ray-traced reflections and lighting, but the game's performance at Ultra settings (28.4 FPS at 1080p) indicates that even the RTX hardware cannot fully compensate for the demanding rendering workload.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear resolution scaling pattern. At Low settings, the average frame rate drops from 84.7 FPS at 1920x1080 to 69.1 FPS at 2560x1440 (an 18.4% drop) and then to 52.8 FPS at 3840x2160 (a 37.7% drop from 1440p). This scaling is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario: as pixel count increases, the GPU's fill rate and memory bandwidth become the limiting factors.

At Medium settings, the drop is steeper: 52.6 FPS at 1080p falls to 44.7 FPS at 1440p (15.0% drop) and then to 34.3 FPS at 4K (23.3% drop from 1440p). The High settings show a similar trend: 39.1 FPS at 1080p, 31.5 FPS at 1440p, and 23.3 FPS at 4K. Ultra settings produce the most dramatic scaling: 28.4 FPS at 1080p drops to 26.8 FPS at 1440p (5.6% drop) and then to 23.0 FPS at 4K (14.2% drop from 1440p).

The pattern indicates that as settings increase, the resolution scaling becomes less severe in percentage terms because the GPU is already saturated at 1080p Ultra. This is the classic signature of a GPU-bound workload where the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM and 336.0 GB/s bandwidth are insufficient for the game's high-end presets. The fact that 1080p Low (84.7 FPS) is more than triple the 4K Ultra performance (23.0 FPS) confirms that the GPU is the dominant constraint. The CPU, with its strong single-thread scores, is not the limiting factor until frame rates exceed roughly 85 FPS, which only occurs at 1080p Low.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 with Low settings delivers the highest average FPS at 84.7. However, 2560x1440 with Low settings still achieves a playable 69.1 FPS. For 4K, only Low settings (52.8 FPS) approach playability; High, Medium, and Ultra all fall below 35 FPS.

Q: How does the Ryzen 5 5600G compare to its closest CPU rivals?

A: The 5600G has an avgBenchmarkScore of 19983, placing it within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-11600H (19949) and 0.2% behind the Intel Core i7-11800H (20024). Its percentileVsAllCpus of 78 means it outperforms 78% of all CPUs.

Q: Is the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM sufficient for this game?

A: At 1080p and 1440p with Low or Medium settings, the 6 GB VRAM appears adequate, with FPS ranging from 44.7 to 84.7. At 4K Ultra (23.0 FPS) and 4K High (23.3 FPS), performance collapses, indicating VRAM or bandwidth limitations.

Q: Which settings preset provides the most balanced experience?

A: The Medium preset at 1920x1080 delivers 52.6 FPS, which is the best balance of visual quality and performance. At 2560x1440, Medium (44.7 FPS) is also viable. Low settings provide higher FPS but with reduced visual fidelity.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 1371 out of 1689 tested combos for The Medium, placing it in the 19th percentile. This reflects the mid-range nature of both the CPU and GPU.

Q: Does the CPU or GPU bottleneck this game at 1080p?

A: At 1080p Low (84.7 FPS), the CPU's 3dmark_single_thread score of 872 suggests it can handle the load. However, at 1080p Ultra (28.4 FPS), the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, as the CPU is capable of far higher frame rates in other workloads.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 combination ranks 1371 out of 1689 total tested combos for The Medium. This places the configuration in the bottom 18.8% of all tested systems. The rank is primarily driven by the GPU's mid-range standing (58th percentile) and the CPU's solid but not exceptional performance (78th percentile).

Given that the CPU has an avgBenchmarkScore of 19983 (within 0.2% of the Intel Core i7-11600H and 0.2% behind the i7-11800H), and the GPU has an avgBenchmarkScore of 16074 (0.5% above the RX 7600S and 1.7% below the Radeon Pro 5600M), the combo's low rank is more attributable to the demanding nature of The Medium itself rather than to a specific weak component. The game's heavy ray-traced effects and detailed environments push the RTX 2060 to its limits, especially at higher presets.

The ranking data suggests that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming with medium settings, where it achieves 52.6 FPS. For 1440p, only Low settings (69.1 FPS) and Medium (44.7 FPS) are playable. The 4K results are generally below playable thresholds except for Low settings (52.8 FPS), which may be acceptable for a slower-paced horror title.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a complete picture across three resolutions and four settings presets:

1920x1080:

• Low: 84.7 FPS average
• Medium: 52.6 FPS average
• High: 39.1 FPS average
• Ultra: 28.4 FPS average

2560x1440:

• Low: 69.1 FPS average
• Medium: 44.7 FPS average
• High: 31.5 FPS average
• Ultra: 26.8 FPS average

3840x2160:

• Low: 52.8 FPS average
• Medium: 34.3 FPS average
• High: 23.3 FPS average
• Ultra: 23.0 FPS average

The data shows a consistent pattern: Low settings are the only preset that remains above 50 FPS at all resolutions. Medium settings are playable at 1080p and 1440p but drop below 35 FPS at 4K. High and Ultra settings are only marginally playable at 1080p, with Ultra falling below 30 FPS at 1080p and below 27 FPS at 1440p. The gap between Low and Ultra at 1080p is 56.3 FPS (from 84.7 to 28.4), indicating that each settings tier has a significant impact on performance.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and acceptable frame rate. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the only viable option is 1080p Low (84.7 FPS), which provides headroom for occasional dips. If 50 FPS is acceptable, 1080p Medium (52.6 FPS) offers a better balance of visual quality and performance.

For 1440p, Low settings (69.1 FPS) are the safest choice for maintaining high frame rates. Medium (44.7 FPS) is playable for a horror game where slower pacing is acceptable, but may feel less responsive during action sequences. High and Ultra at 1440p (31.5 and 26.8 FPS respectively) should be avoided unless the player prioritizes visual fidelity over performance.

At 4K, only Low settings (52.8 FPS) provide a playable experience. Medium (34.3 FPS) and High (23.3 FPS) are borderline at best, while Ultra (23.0 FPS) is effectively unplayable. Given that The Medium is a horror game with a slower pace, 4K Low could be viable for players with 4K displays, but 1080p Medium is the recommended sweet spot for this combo.

The data strongly suggests that the RTX 2060's 6 GB VRAM and bandwidth limitations cap the visual quality at Medium or Low for consistent frame rates. Players seeking higher settings should consider lowering resolution first, as the resolution scaling is more forgiving than the settings scaling in this title.