The Medium

The Medium is a fixed-camera horror title that stresses both processor and graphics hardware in unusual ways. This analysis examines the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 pairing, using measured frame rate data to explain what this combination can and cannot do.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, built on TSMC's 5 nm process. It runs at a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boosts to 4.70 GHz, with 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache. This is a modern desktop part on the AMD Socket AM5 platform, supporting DDR5 memory in dual-channel configuration with 83.2 GB/s of bandwidth.

For The Medium, the CPU's job is to feed the fixed-camera scenes and manage the game's dual-reality mechanics, where two worlds are rendered simultaneously. The 7400F's 12 threads provide ample headroom for this workload. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip scores 21,765 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3,072 in single-core, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 32,750 puts it statistically tied with the Intel Core i5-14600T (deltaPct 0.1) and AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H (deltaPct -0.2), meaning the 7400F is not a bottleneck in this system.

Looking at the measured FPS data, the CPU's capability is evident from the scaling pattern. At 1080p Low, the combo delivers 75 FPS average, while at 4K Low it still manages 50 FPS. The drop from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 33%, which is substantial but not catastrophic. If the CPU were severely limiting, the 4K Low result would be much closer to the 1080p Low result. Instead, the data shows the GPU becoming the primary constraint as resolution increases.

The 7400F's single-thread performance is particularly relevant for The Medium, which is known for heavy draw calls in its fixed-camera scenes. A single-core score of 3,072 in Cinebench R23 indicates strong per-thread throughput, allowing the GTX 1070 to be pushed to its limits rather than being held back by stutter or frame pacing issues. The PassMark single-thread score of 3,689 reinforces this, showing the CPU can handle the game's logic and rendering commands without creating a bottleneck.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is a Pascal architecture GPU on TSMC's 16 nm process, with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus delivering 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth. It has 1,920 shading units, 120 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. The core runs at 1,506 MHz base and 1,683 MHz boost, with memory at 2,002 MHz (8 Gbps effective). This card was released in 2016 and is now end-of-life, but it remains relevant for 1080p and some 1440p gaming.

In The Medium, the GTX 1070's 8 GB VRAM is adequate but not generous. The game's high-resolution textures and simultaneous world rendering can push memory usage, though the measured results show playable frame rates at lower settings. The GPU's PassMark G3D score of 13,498 places it in the 47th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 9,780. Its nearest rivals are the AMD FirePro W5000 (deltaPct -0.2) and NVIDIA Quadro M2000M (deltaPct -0.5), which are professional cards, highlighting the GTX 1070's age relative to modern gaming hardware.

The performance data tells a clear story. At 1080p Medium, the combo averages 47 FPS with a minimum of 40 and maximum of 54. At 1080p High, it drops to 34 FPS average. The GTX 1070's 6.463 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is the limiting factor here. The card's 150 W TDP and dual-slot design are modest by today's standards, but the architecture lacks modern features like ray tracing cores or tensor cores, which are absent from the spec sheet. The Medium does not require ray tracing, so this is less of an issue, but the raw rasterization performance is what determines the results.

The GPU's 256-bit memory bus and 256.3 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for the game's asset streaming, but the 8 GB VRAM capacity becomes strained at higher resolutions. At 4K High, the average FPS falls to 22, and at 4K Ultra it drops to 18. These numbers indicate the GTX 1070 is overwhelmed at 4K, regardless of settings, due to both compute and memory bandwidth limitations.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

The measured data provides clear guidance for optimal settings. At 1080p, the Low preset delivers 75 FPS average, which is smooth for most displays. The Medium preset offers a better balance with 47 FPS average and a minimum of 40 FPS, which is playable for a horror game where slower pacing is acceptable. The High preset at 34 FPS is borderline, and Ultra at 27 FPS is likely too choppy for consistent enjoyment.

For the best experience at 1080p, the Medium preset is the recommended choice. It provides a 38% improvement over High (from 34 to 47 FPS) while maintaining visual quality that is noticeably better than Low. The frame time consistency, shown by the 40-54 FPS range, suggests the GTX 1070 can hold stable performance during gameplay, which is crucial for a horror title where sudden frame drops can break immersion.

At 1440p, the situation changes. Low settings yield 63 FPS average, which is excellent, but Medium drops to 40 FPS with a minimum of 34. High at 28 FPS and Ultra at 22 FPS are not recommended for active play. For 1440p, the Low preset is the pragmatic choice, offering a smooth experience at 63 FPS. If visual fidelity is a priority, Medium at 40 FPS is acceptable for a slower-paced horror game, but the 34 FPS minimum could cause noticeable hitches during intense scenes.

At 4K, the data shows this combo is not suitable for a good experience. Even Low settings only manage 50 FPS average, and Medium falls to 31 FPS with a minimum of 26. High at 22 FPS and Ultra at 18 FPS are unplayable. If you must run at 4K, Low is the only viable option, but the 50 FPS average is still below ideal for a smooth experience. The recommended approach is to stick with 1080p Medium for the best balance of visuals and performance, or 1440p Low if you prefer higher resolution over graphical details.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 3,082 out of 3,724 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the bottom 17% of all tested systems, which is a direct consequence of the GPU's age and performance class. The CPU is not the issue; the 7400F is a modern part with strong benchmark scores. The GTX 1070, however, is a 2016 GPU with performance that has been surpassed by several generations of graphics cards.

The rank of 3,082 out of 3,724 means there are 642 tested combinations that perform worse, but the vast majority of systems tested deliver higher frame rates. This rank is driven by the GPU's 47th percentile standing among all GPUs, combined with the game's demanding rendering requirements. The CPU's 83rd percentile ranking is effectively wasted in this pairing, as the GTX 1070 becomes the limiting factor at all resolutions above 1080p Low.

In practical terms, this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming at medium settings. The rank reflects that the system is capable of playable frame rates at lower presets but falls short of what modern hardware can achieve. If you are considering this combination for The Medium, the data suggests it will work, but you will be constrained to the lower half of the settings menu. The combo's position in the rankings is not a condemnation of the CPU, but rather a clear signal that the GPU determines the experience.

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

The measured FPS data across resolutions reveals the bottleneck characteristics of this system. Starting at 1080p Low, the combo achieves 75 FPS. Moving to 1440p Low, it drops to 63 FPS, a 16% reduction. At 4K Low, it falls to 50 FPS, which is 33% lower than 1080p Low. This scaling pattern is consistent with a GPU-bound scenario, where increasing resolution places more demand on the graphics card's pixel and texture processing capabilities.

For Medium settings, the scaling is similar but more pronounced. At 1080p Medium, the average is 47 FPS. At 1440p Medium, it drops to 40 FPS (15% reduction), and at 4K Medium, it falls to 31 FPS (34% reduction). The minimum FPS also degrades from 40 at 1080p to 34 at 1440p and 26 at 4K, showing that the GPU's ability to maintain frame pacing worsens as resolution increases.

The High and Ultra settings show even steeper declines. High goes from 34 FPS at 1080p to 28 FPS at 1440p (18% drop) and 22 FPS at 4K (35% drop). Ultra falls from 27 FPS at 1080p to 22 FPS at 1440p (19% drop) and 18 FPS at 4K (33% drop). The consistent 33-35% reduction from 1080p to 4K across all settings indicates the GPU is the primary limiting component, as a CPU bottleneck would show diminishing FPS drops at higher resolutions.

This data confirms that the Ryzen 5 7400F is not holding back the GTX 1070. If the CPU were the bottleneck, the FPS would remain relatively flat or even increase slightly at higher resolutions as the GPU becomes more utilized. Instead, the linear scaling with resolution is a textbook sign of a GPU-limited system. For owners of this combo, the implication is clear: upgrading the GPU would provide the most significant performance improvement, while the CPU has ample headroom for a more powerful graphics card.

FAQ

Q: Can this combo run The Medium at 1080p with playable frame rates?

A: Yes, at 1080p Medium settings, the combo averages 47 FPS with a minimum of 40 FPS. At 1080p Low, it reaches 75 FPS average. High settings drop to 34 FPS, and Ultra falls to 27 FPS.

Q: What is the best settings preset for this system?

A: For 1080p, the Medium preset offers the best balance at 47 FPS average. For 1440p, Low settings at 63 FPS are recommended. 4K is not advisable, as even Low only manages 50 FPS.

Q: Is the Ryzen 5 7400F or GTX 1070 the limiting factor?

A: The GPU is the limiting factor. The CPU scores in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, while the GPU sits in the 47th percentile. The FPS scaling from 1080p to 4K shows a consistent 33-35% drop, indicating GPU-bound performance.

Q: How does this combo rank compared to other tested systems?

A: It ranks 3,082 out of 3,724 tested combos in The Medium, placing it in the lower 17% of all systems. This rank is primarily due to the GTX 1070's age and performance class.

Q: What frame rates can I expect at 1440p?

A: At 1440p Low, the average is 63 FPS. Medium delivers 40 FPS with a minimum of 34 FPS. High drops to 28 FPS, and Ultra to 22 FPS. Low is the recommended preset for 1440p.

Q: Is the GTX 1070's 8 GB VRAM sufficient for this game?

A: The 8 GB VRAM is adequate for 1080p and 1440p at lower settings. At 4K High or Ultra, the VRAM capacity combined with the GPU's compute limits results in average FPS below 25, which is not playable.