The Medium

The Medium presents a fascinating stress test for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D. This combination of a 2021 mid-range CPU with a flagship 2025 GPU is inherently unbalanced, and the benchmark data reveals exactly where the bottleneck shifts across different resolutions and settings. The results show a system capable of high frame rates, but the pattern of performance scaling tells a clear story about which component is doing the heavy lifting at any given moment.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a dramatic and consistent drop as resolution increases, which is the classic signature of a GPU-bound scenario at higher pixel counts. At 1080p with High settings, the combo averages 98 FPS. Moving to 1440p, that figure drops to 87 FPS, a reduction of 11 frames or approximately 11.2%. The jump to 4K is far more punishing, with the average falling to 68 FPS, which is a further 21.8% decrease from the 1440p result. This steep decline from 1440p to 4K indicates that the RTX 5090 D's rendering workload is scaling heavily with pixel count, which is expected for a game with complex visuals.

However, the scaling pattern across settings at each resolution provides a more nuanced view. At 1080p, the difference between Low (133 FPS) and Medium (111 FPS) is 22 FPS, but the gap between Medium and High (98 FPS) is only 13 FPS. This suggests that at lower resolutions, the CPU is beginning to assert itself as a limiting factor, preventing the GPU from fully stretching its legs. The data implies that the Ryzen 5 5600G's six cores and twelve threads are capable of feeding the RTX 5090 D enough data to reach these frame rates, but as the resolution drops, the CPU's instruction throughput becomes a more significant constraint.

The 4K results reinforce this interpretation. At this resolution, the GPU is the dominant bottleneck. The difference between 4K Low (116 FPS) and 4K Ultra (54 FPS) is a massive 62 FPS, showing that the GPU's fill rate and shading power are the primary determinants of performance. The fact that 4K Low still achieves 116 FPS confirms the raw power of the RTX 5090 D, but the scaling shows that the game's higher presets impose a heavy penalty that no amount of CPU headroom can mitigate. The data strongly suggests that the limiting component transitions from the CPU at 1080p to the GPU at 4K.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is a 5000-series processor with 6 cores and 12 threads, based on the Zen 3 architecture. Its base clock is 3.90 GHz and it boosts up to 4.40 GHz. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 10,551 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 1,409 in single-core, placing it in the 74th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i3-1220P and AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, have near-identical average benchmark scores, with deltas of only 0.1% and -0.2% respectively. This indicates that while the CPU is competent for its class, it is not a high-end part.

In the context of The Medium, the CPU's role appears to be that of a gatekeeper at lower resolutions. At 1080p, the average FPS ranges from 82 (Ultra) to 133 (Low). These are respectable numbers, but the scaling suggests the CPU is nearing its limit. The Passmark single-thread score of 3,177 and the 3DMark single-thread score of 872 are moderate, which aligns with the idea that the CPU can process the game's logic and draw calls efficiently enough for these frame rates, but it cannot push much higher. The fact that the 1080p Low preset yields 133 FPS while the 1080p Ultra preset yields only 82 FPS shows that the GPU becomes the limiter when the graphical load increases, even at the lowest resolution.

The data reveals a subtle imbalance. The CPU's Cinebench R15 multicore score is 1,724, which is solid for a 6-core part, but it is paired with a GPU that has a Passmark G3D score of 44,065. This massive disparity in compute capability means that the CPU is likely to become the bottleneck in scenarios where the GPU is not fully saturated. The benchmark results support this, as the frame rate at 1080p does not scale linearly with the GPU's power. The data implies that for this specific game, the Ryzen 5 5600G provides sufficient IPC and thread count for a playable experience, but it leaves performance on the table compared to what a more powerful CPU could extract from the RTX 5090 D.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a behemoth, featuring 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, delivering a staggering 1.79 TB/s of bandwidth. Its boost clock is 2,407 MHz, and it has 21,760 shading units. In synthetic tests, it scores 44,065 in Passmark G3D and 14,326 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT and RX 6850M XT, are within a 1.6% delta, which is surprisingly close given the generational leap, but the RTX 5090 D's raw specs are far superior.

The GPU's role in The Medium is clearly dominant at higher resolutions. At 4K, the frame rates are 68 FPS on High and 54 FPS on Ultra, which are playable but not exceptionally high. This shows that even a top-tier GPU like the RTX 5090 D is challenged by the game's 4K Ultra preset. The memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s and the 32 GB VRAM are more than sufficient for any texture load, but the game's rendering engine appears to be heavily dependent on raw shader throughput. The 4K Low preset at 116 FPS demonstrates that when the graphical settings are reduced, the GPU has ample headroom.

At 1440p, the GPU still holds sway, with frame rates between 69 FPS (Ultra) and 126 FPS (Low). The gap between High (87 FPS) and Ultra (69 FPS) is 18 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset's additional effects are costly. The data suggests that the RTX 5090 D is the primary driver of performance here, as the CPU is likely not the limiting factor at this pixel count. The GPU's FP32 performance of 104.8 TFLOPS is a colossal number, and the benchmark results indicate that this compute power translates directly into frame rate scaling, but only when the CPU can keep up. The combination of high VRAM capacity and bandwidth ensures that there are no memory-related stutters, allowing the GPU to maintain consistent frame pacing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS rows, the optimal balance between visual fidelity and performance appears to be the High preset at 1440p, which yields an average of 87 FPS. This is a solid frame rate for a horror game, where atmosphere is key, and it is a significant step up in quality from the Medium preset. While the Medium preset at 1440p offers a higher average of 105 FPS, the drop to High is only 18 FPS, which is a reasonable trade-off for improved visuals. At 4K, the High preset (68 FPS) is the best choice for a smooth experience, as the Ultra preset (54 FPS) may feel less fluid during fast-paced sequences.

For gamers prioritizing frame rate above all else, the Medium preset at 1080p (111 FPS) offers a high refresh rate experience, but the data shows that the CPU is likely limiting the system from reaching the GPU's full potential at this resolution. The Low preset at 1080p (133 FPS) is the highest frame rate recorded, but it does so by sacrificing visual quality. The benchmark results suggest that the 1440p High preset is the sweet spot for this combination, as it provides a high-quality image while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the 60 FPS threshold. At 4K, the High preset is recommended over Ultra, as the 14 FPS difference between them is substantial, and the visual gains from Ultra are often marginal in a game like this.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations for The Medium, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D ranks 161st out of 2,911 total combos. This places it in the top 5.5% of all tested systems, which is a strong showing given the age of the CPU. The high rank is almost entirely attributable to the GPU's immense power, as the CPU is the weaker link in this duo. The rank of 161 indicates that there are 160 other combinations that achieve higher performance, likely featuring more modern CPUs that can better feed the RTX 5090 D, but this pairing still outpaces the vast majority of systems.

The data implies that this combo is overkill in some respects and underutilized in others. The GPU alone would likely rank higher with a more capable CPU, but the 5600G is not a slouch. Its benchmark percentile of 74% and its proximity to rivals like the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V (delta -0.1%) show that it is a competent processor. The 161st rank suggests that the system is well above average, but it leaves performance on the table. The measured FPS data confirms this, as the 1080p results are not proportionally higher than the 1440p results, indicating that the CPU is holding back the GPU at lower resolutions. For a horror game like The Medium, which relies on atmosphere rather than competitive frame rates, this rank is more than sufficient for an excellent experience.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with Medium settings?

A: The average FPS at 1440p with Medium settings is 105 FPS, with a minimum of 89 FPS and a maximum of 120 FPS.

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

A: The 4K Ultra preset averages 54 FPS, while the 4K High preset averages 68 FPS. The Ultra preset is 14 FPS slower, indicating a significant performance cost for the extra visual effects.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 1080p?

A: The data suggests the CPU is the limiting factor at 1080p. While the GPU is powerful, the frame rate difference between Low (133 FPS) and Medium (111 FPS) is only 22 FPS, which is less than expected if the GPU were fully utilized.

Q: What is the highest average FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The highest average FPS recorded is 133 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings.

*Q: How does this combo rank among all tested combinations in The Medium?*

A: This combo ranks 161st out of 2,911 tested combinations, placing it in the top 5.5% of all systems.

Q: What is the benchmark score difference between the CPU and its nearest rival?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G has an average benchmark score of 21,088. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i3-1220P, has an average score of 21,066, which is a delta of 0.1%.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete measured FPS data for this combination is as follows:

3840x2160 (4K)

• Ultra: Average 54 FPS
• High: Average 68 FPS
• Medium: Average 95 FPS (Min 81, Max 110)
• Low: Average 116 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p)

• Ultra: Average 69 FPS
• High: Average 87 FPS
• Medium: Average 105 FPS (Min 89, Max 120)
• Low: Average 126 FPS

1920x1080 (1080p)

• Ultra: Average 82 FPS
• High: Average 98 FPS
• Medium: Average 111 FPS (Min 94, Max 128)
• Low: Average 133 FPS

The data shows a clear hierarchy, with performance scaling down as resolution and settings increase. The Medium preset at each resolution provides a balanced experience, with the 1080p Medium (111 FPS) being slightly faster than the 1440p Medium (105 FPS) and the 4K Medium (95 FPS). The minimum FPS values for the Medium preset across all resolutions (81 at 4K, 89 at 1440p, 94 at 1080p) indicate that the system maintains a playable frame rate even during demanding scenes, which is crucial for a horror game where frame drops can break immersion.