The Medium

# The Medium with AMD Ryzen 5 5600X + NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 produces a striking performance profile in The Medium, a horror title from January 2021 that clearly responds more to GPU headroom than CPU muscle. Across all measured resolutions and settings, the combo delivers playable frame rates, but the scaling patterns reveal a system where the RTX 5090 dominates the workload, leaving the 6-core CPU largely unbothered. The data suggests this pairing is potent yet oddly lopsided—the CPU's modest 78th percentile standing among all CPUs contrasts sharply with the GPU's 94th percentile rank, and the measured FPS reflects that imbalance in fascinating ways.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X brings 6 cores and 12 threads to the table, built on the Zen 3 architecture (codenamed Vermeer) using TSMC's 7 nm process. Its base clock sits at 3.70 GHz with a boost clock of 4.60 GHz, and the 32 MB L3 cache provides ample room for game data. In synthetic benchmarks, this CPU shows a single-thread score of 917 in 3DMark and 2622 in Cinebench R23 single-core, while multi-threaded results reach 5588 in 3DMark max threads and 18578 in Cinebench R23 multicore. The PassMark multithread score of 21858 and single-thread score of 3364 further map its capability.

For The Medium, the CPU's role appears secondary. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 144.1 FPS, but moving to 4K Low still achieves 123.2 FPS—a drop of only 20.9 FPS despite a 4x pixel increase. This modest decline strongly implies the Ryzen 5 5600X is not the bottleneck at lower resolutions; instead, the GPU absorbs the additional rendering load with ease. The CPU's 65 W TDP and 51.2 GB/s memory bandwidth are sufficient for the game's demands, and its 78th percentile ranking versus all CPUs indicates solid but not elite processing power. Compared to its nearest rivals, the 5600X trails the AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT by 0.3% and the Intel Core i7-10700 by 0.3%, while edging out the Intel Xeon 6325P by 0.7% in average benchmark score. These tiny deltas confirm the CPU sits in a crowded mid-range tier, yet The Medium never pushes it hard enough to expose meaningful differences.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 is the undisputed star here, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process and 92,200 million transistors on a 750 mm² die. Its 32 GB of GDDR7 memory across a 512-bit bus delivers 1.79 TB/s bandwidth, while the base clock of 2017 MHz boosts to 2407 MHz. The GPU's 21760 shading units, 680 TMUs, and 176 ROPs provide massive raw throughput, with FP32 performance rated at 104.8 TFLOPS. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 14411, and its PassMark G3D score reaches 39650.

In The Medium, the RTX 5090's capabilities translate directly into high frame rates across all settings. At 1080p Ultra, the combo still manages 80.3 FPS, and at 4K Ultra it holds 50.6 FPS—both respectable for a demanding horror title. The GPU's 94th percentile ranking among all GPUs places it near the top of the hierarchy, and its nearest rivals include the RTX 5090 D (0.1% ahead) and the RTX 5050 Mobile (0.2% ahead), though the RTX 5090 clearly outclasses the AMD Radeon PRO W6600 by 1.3%. Interestingly, the NVIDIA CMP 40HX scores 1.6% higher on average, but that benchmark aggregate does not reflect gaming performance specifically. The data indicates the RTX 5090 is so powerful that even at 4K, the game never approaches a GPU-bound ceiling that would cripple frame rates.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS progression across resolutions tells a clear story about which component limits performance. At Low settings, the combo delivers 144.1 FPS at 1080p, 130.3 FPS at 1440p, and 123.2 FPS at 4K—a total decline of 20.9 FPS (14.5%) from 1080p to 4K. This relatively shallow drop suggests the CPU is starting to cap performance even at 1080p Low, since the GPU should theoretically handle 4K Low with far more ease given its massive bandwidth. At Medium settings, the numbers are 116.1 FPS (1080p), 110.9 FPS (1440p), and 89.7 FPS (4K), showing a steeper 26.4 FPS drop that indicates the GPU begins to engage more seriously.

High settings reveal an even more pronounced scaling: 100.6 FPS at 1080p, 80.7 FPS at 1440p, and 65.4 FPS at 4K—a 35.2 FPS reduction. Ultra settings follow a similar pattern with 80.3 FPS, 66.4 FPS, and 50.6 FPS respectively, a 29.7 FPS drop. The pattern across all presets is consistent: the RTX 5090 handles resolution increases gracefully, but the CPU's influence at 1080p prevents the GPU from fully stretching its legs. At 4K, the GPU becomes the clear limiting factor, as evidenced by the larger percentage drops from 1440p to 4K at higher settings (e.g., High drops from 80.7 to 65.4 FPS, a 19% reduction). This dual-bottleneck behavior—CPU at low res, GPU at high res—is classic for a powerful GPU paired with a mid-range CPU.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 64th out of 1689 tested combinations in The Medium, placing it in the top 3.8% of all pairings. This is a strong result, though not the absolute top—the data implies that other combos, likely featuring newer or higher-core-count CPUs, achieve better frame rates. The 64th rank suggests that while the RTX 5090 carries the load admirably, the Ryzen 5 5600X holds the system back from truly elite territory. Given the CPU's 78th percentile standing and the GPU's 94th percentile, the gap between the two components is evident in the final rank.

What does this rank mean in practice? Among 1689 combos, being 64th means roughly 1625 other systems perform worse, but 63 perform better. The presence of those 63 faster combos likely stems from CPUs with higher single-thread performance or more cores, which could push frame rates higher at 1080p where the CPU is more active. The RTX 5090's nearest rival in synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 5090 D, scores within 0.1%, suggesting that swapping in a stronger CPU could boost this combo's rank substantially. The data does not list which combos rank higher, but the pattern is clear: the GPU is not the constraint at most settings, so CPU upgrades would yield tangible gains.

Settings Recommendations

The measured FPS rows provide a clear hierarchy for optimizing the experience. At 1080p, Medium settings deliver 116.1 FPS, which is 35.8 FPS higher than Ultra's 80.3 and only 28 FPS lower than Low's 144.1. The jump from Medium to Ultra costs 35.8 FPS (a 30.8% drop) for presumably minor visual gains, making Medium the sweet spot for high-refresh-rate monitors. At 1440p, Medium hits 110.9 FPS, comfortably above 60 FPS, while High manages 80.7 FPS—both viable depending on whether the user prefers smoothness or fidelity. Ultra at 1440p drops to 66.4 FPS, still playable but not ideal for fast-paced horror sequences.

At 4K, the trade-offs sharpen. Medium yields 89.7 FPS, which is excellent for 4K and likely the best balance of quality and performance. High at 65.4 FPS remains smooth enough for most players, while Ultra's 50.6 FPS approaches the edge of playability for a horror title where consistent frame pacing matters. Low at 4K reaches 123.2 FPS, but that setting likely sacrifices too much visual detail for a game that relies on atmosphere. The recommendation from the data: use Medium at 4K for the best experience, Medium or High at 1440p, and Medium at 1080p unless the display supports very high refresh rates, in which case Low's 144.1 FPS is worth considering.

FAQ

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 5600X a bottleneck for the RTX 5090 in this game?

A: The data suggests partial bottlenecking at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo hits 144.1 FPS, but the modest 14.5% drop to 4K Low (123.2 FPS) indicates the CPU limits performance at 1080p, preventing the GPU from reaching its full potential.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 4K gaming?

A: Medium settings at 3840x2160 deliver 89.7 FPS, which is the highest frame rate among non-Low presets at 4K. Ultra drops to 50.6 FPS, so Medium offers the best balance of visual quality and smoothness.

Q: How does this combo compare to other tested configurations?

A: It ranks 64th out of 1689 combos, placing it in the top 3.8% of all tested systems. This is strong, but the large gap between the CPU's 78th percentile and GPU's 94th percentile suggests higher-ranked combos likely pair the RTX 5090 with a more powerful processor.

Q: Can this system maintain 60 FPS at 4K?

A: Yes, at Medium settings it achieves 89.7 FPS, and High settings reach 65.4 FPS. Only Ultra at 4K falls below 60 FPS, hitting 50.6 FPS.

Q: What is the difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: Low runs at 144.1 FPS, while Ultra runs at 80.3 FPS—a difference of 63.8 FPS (44.3% lower). This large gap gives players significant flexibility depending on their display's refresh rate.

Q: How does the CPU's synthetic performance relate to its in-game results?

A: The Ryzen 5 5600X scores 18578 in Cinebench R23 multicore and 2622 in single-core, with a 78th percentile ranking. These scores are respectable but not top-tier, which aligns with the CPU appearing as a mild limiter at 1080p while the GPU dominates at higher resolutions.

Measured FPS Breakdown

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: 144.1 FPS average
• Medium: 116.1 FPS average
• High: 100.6 FPS average
• Ultra: 80.3 FPS average

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: 130.3 FPS average
• Medium: 110.9 FPS average
• High: 80.7 FPS average
• Ultra: 66.4 FPS average

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: 123.2 FPS average
• Medium: 89.7 FPS average
• High: 65.4 FPS average
• Ultra: 50.6 FPS average

The full matrix shows a consistent pattern: Low settings always exceed 120 FPS regardless of resolution, Medium stays above 89 FPS everywhere, High remains above 65 FPS at 4K, and Ultra only falls below 60 FPS at 4K. The 1080p Low result of 144.1 FPS is the peak measured performance, while 4K Ultra's 50.6 FPS is the lowest. The spread between Low and Ultra grows with resolution: 63.8 FPS at 1080p, 63.9 FPS at 1440p, and 72.6 FPS at 4K, indicating that Ultra settings become progressively more demanding relative to Low as pixel count rises. This data confirms the RTX 5090's strength—even the heaviest preset remains playable—while the CPU's influence is most visible in the relatively flat Low-setting curve across resolutions.