The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title from 2021, presents an interesting study in system scaling when paired with the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER. The measured data reveals a configuration that behaves predictably across resolutions but shows a surprising sensitivity to settings presets, suggesting a complex interplay between the GPU's raw power and the game's rendering demands. This analysis breaks down the measured frames per second to understand where the bottlenecks lie and what the user can expect from this specific hardware combination.

Resolution Scaling

The transition from 1080p to 4K reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario, but the degree of the performance drop varies significantly depending on the quality preset. At Low settings, the jump from 1920x1080 (131.7 FPS) to 3840x2160 (110.1 FPS) represents a modest 16% reduction in frame rate. This relatively gentle slope indicates that at lower graphical loads, the system retains substantial headroom, and the RTX 4070 SUPER is not yet fully saturated. The frame rate remains highly playable even at 4K, showing that the card's 12 GB of memory and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the lighter workloads.

However, the scaling becomes far more aggressive when the preset is raised. Under High settings, the frame rate drops from 72.7 FPS at 1080p to 61.9 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 49.9 FPS at 4K. This is a 31% total reduction from 1080p to 4K, a steeper curve that suggests the increasing pixel count is beginning to tax the GPU's compute units. The trend intensifies with the Ultra preset, where performance falls from 59.2 FPS at 1080p to 42.1 FPS at 4K, a 29% drop. The data implies that while the RTX 4070 SUPER handles 1080p and 1440p with ease, 4K gaming at High or Ultra settings will push the card to its limits, with average frame rates dipping below the 60 FPS threshold.

The Medium preset shows the most linear scaling: 102.6 FPS at 1080p, 85.4 FPS at 1440p, and 71.5 FPS at 4K. This consistent degradation pattern suggests that the Medium preset offers a balanced load that scales predictably with resolution. The data clearly indicates that the limiting component at higher resolutions is the GPU, as the performance drop aligns with the increased pixel throughput. The CPU, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, does not appear to be a constraining factor in this scaling analysis, as the frame rates remain consistently high even at lower resolutions where CPU overhead would be more prominent.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is the undisputed workhorse in this configuration, and its specifications directly correlate with the observed performance. The 12 GB of GDDR6X memory is ample for The Medium's textures, even at 4K resolution, as evidenced by the playable frame rates at Low settings. The 192-bit memory bus and 504.2 GB/s bandwidth provide sufficient throughput to feed the 7168 shading units, though the data suggests that at Ultra settings, the card's 198.0 GPixel/s pixel rate becomes a bottleneck.

The GPU's clock speeds, with a base of 1980 MHz and a boost of 2475 MHz, allow for significant dynamic scaling. The benchmark results show that the card can maintain high performance under load, but the difference between 110.1 FPS at 4K Low and 42.1 FPS at 4K Ultra highlights the impact of the game's advanced rendering features. The RTX 4070 SUPER's 56 RT cores and 224 tensor cores are likely engaged during the game's dual-reality mechanic, which renders two worlds simultaneously. This feature could explain the severe performance penalty at Ultra settings, as the additional workload on these specialized units may not scale efficiently with resolution.

The GPU's 84th percentile ranking among all tested GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 42576, places it in a strong position. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A6000, which has a negligible 0.2% performance delta, and the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE, which is 0.3% slower. This context suggests that the RTX 4070 SUPER is a top-tier performer, yet The Medium's Ultra preset still manages to bring it to its knees. The data implies that the game's Ultra settings may include features that are particularly demanding on the Ada Lovelace architecture, such as advanced ray tracing or high-resolution shadows, which are not fully optimized for this title.

FAQ

Q: What is the average frame rate at 1440p with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER combination at 2560x1440 with High settings is 61.9 FPS.

Q: How does the 4K Low preset compare to the 1080p Ultra preset?

A: The 4K Low preset delivers an average of 110.1 FPS, which is significantly higher than the 59.2 FPS achieved at 1080p Ultra. This indicates that the Low preset at a higher resolution is far less demanding than the Ultra preset at a lower resolution.

Q: Is the CPU a bottleneck in this game?

A: The benchmark data does not indicate a CPU bottleneck. The Ryzen 5 5600G, with a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 16758, maintains high frame rates even at 1080p Low (131.7 FPS), where CPU overhead is typically highest. The performance scaling follows the GPU load pattern.

Q: What is the best resolution for a consistent 60+ FPS experience?

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 with Medium settings provides an average of 85.4 FPS, while 1920x1080 with High settings offers 72.7 FPS. Both comfortably exceed the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 SUPER's performance in this game compare to its closest rivals?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score of 42576 is 0.2% lower than the NVIDIA RTX A6000 and 0.3% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 7650 GRE. It is 1.4% higher than the AMD Radeon Pro 580X.

Q: Does the Ultra preset provide a playable experience at any resolution?

A: The Ultra preset only achieves an average above 50 FPS at 1920x1080, with 59.2 FPS. At 2560x1440, it drops to 52.6 FPS, and at 3840x2160, it falls to 42.1 FPS, which may not be considered playable for all users.

Settings Recommendations

For users seeking the best balance between visual fidelity and performance, the data points strongly toward the Medium preset at 1440p or the High preset at 1080p. The Medium preset at 2560x1440 yields an average of 85.4 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS target and provides a smooth experience while maintaining a moderate level of graphical detail. The High preset at 1920x1080 offers 72.7 FPS, which is also excellent, but the higher resolution of 1440p with Medium settings generally provides a sharper image that is more noticeable than the jump from Medium to High settings.

The Ultra preset is difficult to recommend for this configuration. Even at 1080p, it only achieves 59.2 FPS, which is just below the ideal threshold for a smooth experience. The performance penalty from Medium to Ultra at the same resolution is substantial: at 1440p, the frame rate drops from 85.4 to 52.6 FPS, a 38% reduction. This suggests that the Ultra preset enables features that have a disproportionate impact on performance without a commensurate visual benefit in this title. For a locked 60 FPS experience at 1440p, Medium is the clear choice, while users with 4K displays should consider the Low preset (110.1 FPS) as the only viable option for high refresh rates.

The data indicates that the game is more sensitive to settings changes than resolution changes. Moving from Low to Ultra at 4K reduces performance by 61%, while moving from 1080p to 4K at Low settings only reduces performance by 16%. This suggests that users should prioritize adjusting graphical settings over resolution to achieve their desired frame rate.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the configuration shows a wide range of performance. The Low preset delivers an average of 131.7 FPS, which is exceptionally high and indicates significant headroom. The Medium preset drops to 102.6 FPS, still excellent for high-refresh monitors. The High preset delivers 72.7 FPS, which is solidly playable, but the Ultra preset brings the frame rate down to 59.2 FPS. This 55% reduction from Low to Ultra at the same resolution highlights the demanding nature of the higher presets.

Moving to 2560x1440, the pattern continues. Low settings produce 127.9 FPS, demonstrating that the GPU is not yet fully taxed. Medium settings yield 85.4 FPS, which is a comfortable 60+ FPS experience. High settings drop to 61.9 FPS, still playable but approaching the threshold. Ultra settings fall to 52.6 FPS, which may cause noticeable stuttering in a horror game where smooth motion is critical for atmosphere. The drop from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 59%, showing an even steeper penalty than at 1080p.

At 3840x2160, the limitations of this combination become apparent. Low settings still manage 110.1 FPS, which is remarkable for 4K. Medium settings drop to 71.5 FPS, which is playable but not ideal for a 120Hz display. High settings fall to 49.9 FPS, and Ultra settings bottom out at 42.1 FPS. The 4K Ultra experience is clearly not viable for this title, as the frame rate is significantly below the 60 FPS target. The data shows that the RTX 4070 SUPER is best utilized at 1440p or below for this game, unless users are willing to compromise on settings.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, provides a solid foundation for this gaming configuration. Its Zen 3 architecture, running at a base clock of 3.90 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz, delivers strong single-thread performance that is crucial for game logic. The Cinebench R23 single-core score of 2365 is respectable, and the multi-core score of 16758 indicates that the CPU can handle background tasks without impacting frame rates.

The CPU's 78th percentile ranking among all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 19983, places it in a competitive position. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-11600H, is only 0.2% faster, while the Intel Core i7-11800H is 0.2% slower. This tight grouping suggests that the Ryzen 5 5600G is well-matched with its peers, but it is not a top-tier processor. However, the game's performance data shows no evidence of CPU limitation. Even at 1080p Low, where the CPU is most likely to be the bottleneck, the frame rate of 131.7 FPS indicates that the CPU is keeping up with the GPU's output.

The 16 MB of L3 cache and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth provide adequate data throughput for The Medium's assets. The game's fixed-camera angles may reduce the CPU's rendering workload compared to first-person titles, allowing the Ryzen 5 5600G to maintain high frame rates without becoming a limiting factor. The data suggests that this CPU is more than sufficient for this game, and any performance limitations are squarely on the GPU side, particularly at higher resolutions and settings.

How This Combo Ranks

In the grand scheme of tested hardware combinations, this pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER ranks 336th out of 1689 total combos for The Medium. This places it in the top 20% of all tested configurations, which is a strong showing given the CPU's mid-range positioning. The high rank is primarily driven by the GPU's excellent performance, as the RTX 4070 SUPER's 84th percentile ranking among all GPUs compensates for the CPU's more modest 78th percentile standing.

The combo's rank of 336 indicates that there are 335 other configurations that perform better in this specific game. These likely include pairings with higher-end CPUs, such as the Ryzen 7 or Core i7 series, which may provide marginal gains in CPU-bound scenarios. However, the measured data shows that this combo is not CPU-bound in The Medium, so the performance gap to higher-ranked combos is likely minimal. The 0.2% performance delta between the Ryzen 5 5600G and its nearest rival, the Intel Core i7-11600H, suggests that CPU choice has a negligible impact on this game's frame rates.

The fact that this mid-range CPU can be paired with a high-end GPU to achieve a top-20% ranking confirms the game's GPU-intensive nature. It also suggests that users with this combo can expect a smooth experience at 1080p and 1440p, with 4K gaming requiring settings compromises. The rank of 336 out of 1689 is a solid result, but it also indicates that for users seeking the absolute best performance in The Medium, a more powerful CPU might be warranted, even if the data does not show a clear bottleneck.