The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title from 2021, presents an interesting case study for the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination. The data collected from this pairing reveals a system that is heavily influenced by both resolution and the game’s demanding rendering techniques. With a combo rank of 196 out of 2911 tested configurations, this setup sits comfortably in the top tier, but the measured FPS across different presets shows that the experience is far from uniform. This analysis breaks down the measured frames, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and what the data implies about where the bottlenecks truly lie in this specific title.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for The Medium shows a clear and predictable trend as resolution increases, but the magnitude of the performance drop is the key takeaway. At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the system achieves an average of 119 FPS. Moving to 2560x1440, the average drops to 100 FPS, a reduction of roughly 16%. The jump to 3840x2160 sees the average fall further to 79 FPS, which is another 21% decrease from the 1440p result. This scaling pattern suggests that while the GPU is the primary driver of performance, the game’s engine is not purely resolution-bound at the lower settings.

The story changes dramatically when looking at the High and Ultra presets. At 1080p High, the average is 85 FPS. At 1440p High, it drops to 72 FPS, and at 4K High, it plunges to 56 FPS. The scaling from 1440p to 4K here is a 22% drop, which is steeper than the Medium preset’s scaling. This indicates that as the visual complexity increases, the GPU’s workload expands more aggressively with pixel count. The Ultra preset amplifies this effect, but the data shows a different kind of drop. At 1080p Ultra, the system manages 68 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it falls to 57 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it bottoms out at 45 FPS. The 1440p to 4K drop is 21%, similar to High, but the absolute numbers are far below the 60 FPS threshold.

What does this scaling imply about the limiting component? At 1080p, the gap between Low (154 FPS) and Ultra (68 FPS) is a massive 86 FPS, showing that the CPU has enough headroom to feed the GPU at lower resolutions, but the GPU is quickly saturated by higher settings. However, at 4K, the difference between Low (126 FPS) and Ultra (45 FPS) is 81 FPS, which is similar in raw terms, but the percentage change is much larger. The data suggests that at 4K, the GPU is the absolute bottleneck, as even the Low preset, which should minimize GPU load, only reaches 126 FPS, indicating that pixel throughput is the primary constraint. The system’s performance is balanced at 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the RTX 4080 SUPER is clearly the limiting factor, struggling to maintain high frame rates on the most demanding presets.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is a formidable piece of hardware, and its role in The Medium is defined by its memory capacity and clock speeds. The GPU features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, which provides a bandwidth of 736.3 GB/s. In a game like The Medium, which renders two simultaneous worlds, this memory capacity is likely crucial for holding the textures and geometry of both realities. The data supports this, as even at 4K with Ultra settings, the system does not appear to suffer from memory-related stutters, maintaining a playable, albeit low, 45 FPS average. The 16 GB frame buffer is likely sufficient to avoid swapping to system memory, which would otherwise cause severe frame drops.

The GPU’s clock behavior also plays a significant role. With a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2550 MHz, the RTX 4080 SUPER operates at high frequencies, which directly translates to raw compute throughput. The measured FPS at 1440p Medium (100 FPS) versus 4K Medium (79 FPS) shows that the GPU’s shading units and ROPs are being pushed harder at higher resolutions. The card’s 10240 shading units and 112 ROPs are responsible for the pixel and texture processing, and the data indicates that these are fully utilized at 4K, leading to the significant FPS drops observed. When comparing to its nearest rivals, the RTX 4080 SUPER’s average benchmark score is 54209, which is essentially tied with the RTX 4080 (54247, deltaPct -0.1) and ahead of the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (54828, deltaPct -1.1). This close performance parity in synthetic tests is reflected in the game’s demanding scenarios, where the GPU’s raw power is the deciding factor.

However, the GPU’s role is not just about raw speed; it is about how that speed scales with settings. The data shows that moving from Medium to High at 4K reduces the average FPS from 79 to 56, a 29% drop. Moving from High to Ultra reduces it further to 45, another 20% drop. This non-linear scaling suggests that the Ultra preset likely enables additional rendering features, such as ray tracing or higher-quality shadows, which disproportionately tax the GPU. The RTX 4080 SUPER’s 80 RT cores are present, but the data implies that The Medium’s Ultra settings may leverage them heavily, causing the performance to plummet. The GPU is clearly the dominant component in this title, especially at higher resolutions, and its 16 GB memory buffer is a critical asset for maintaining stability in a game that demands large texture pools.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and a boost clock of 4.70 GHz. In The Medium, the CPU’s role is less about raw frame generation and more about maintaining a stable baseline, especially at lower resolutions. The data shows that at 1080p Low, the system achieves 154 FPS, which is likely near the upper limit of what this CPU can feed to the GPU. This is a strong result, indicating that the 7400F’s single-thread performance is sufficient for the game’s main logic and physics. The CPU’s 32 MB of shared L3 cache likely helps with keeping frequently accessed data close to the cores, reducing latency that could otherwise cause hitches.

When comparing the CPU to its nearest rivals, the data shows a tight cluster. The Ryzen 5 7400F has an average benchmark score of 32750, which is 0.1% ahead of the Intel Core i5-14600T (32707) and 0.2% ahead of the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (32697). It is also 0.2% behind the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H (32812). This indicates that the 7400F is a mid-pack performer in synthetic tests, but in a game like The Medium, the actual impact is nuanced. The CPU’s 12 threads are likely sufficient for the game’s multithreaded tasks, such as asset streaming and AI, but the game is not heavily CPU-bound, as evidenced by the FPS scaling.

The CPU’s influence is most apparent at 1080p, where the GPU has more headroom. At 1080p Medium (119 FPS) vs. 1440p Medium (100 FPS), the drop is 16%, which is less than the 21% drop seen between 1440p and 4K. This suggests that at 1080p, the CPU is starting to become a secondary bottleneck, preventing the GPU from reaching its absolute maximum output. However, the CPU’s 65 W TDP and efficient Zen 4 architecture ensure that it does not throttle, maintaining consistent performance. The data does not show any significant frame time spikes, as the minimum FPS values for Medium settings (101 FPS at 1080p, 85 FPS at 1440p, 67 FPS at 4K) are all reasonable and do not suggest CPU stalls. In summary, the Ryzen 5 7400F provides a solid foundation, but it is not the star of the show; it is the supporting actor that ensures the RTX 4080 SUPER is fed enough data to perform, but it cannot overcome the GPU’s limitations at higher resolutions.

FAQ

Q: What is the highest average FPS this combination achieves, and at what settings?

A: The highest average FPS is 154, achieved at 1920x1080 with Low settings. This shows the system’s peak frame rate capability when the GPU load is minimized.

Q: Is the system capable of 60 FPS at 4K resolution?

A: Yes, but only on the Medium preset, which yields an average of 79 FPS. The High preset drops to 56 FPS, and Ultra falls to 45 FPS, both below the 60 FPS threshold.

Q: How does the CPU’s benchmark score compare to its nearest rival?

A: The Ryzen 5 7400F’s average benchmark score is 32750, which is 0.1% higher than the Intel Core i5-14600T’s score of 32707, making them virtually identical in synthetic performance.

Q: How much faster is the RTX 4080 SUPER than its closest rival in synthetic tests?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER’s average benchmark score is 54209, which is 0.1% lower than the RTX 4080’s score of 54247. The difference is negligible, indicating they perform at the same level.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded at 1440p Medium settings, and what does it imply?

A: The minimum FPS at 1440p Medium is 85, with a maximum of 115. The tight spread between min and max suggests stable frame pacing and no major CPU or GPU hitches during gameplay.

Q: What is the system’s overall rank among tested combos for this game?

A: The combination ranks 196 out of 2911 tested combos, placing it in the top 6.7% of all tested systems for The Medium.

How This Combo Ranks

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination achieves a rank of 196 out of 2911 tested combos for The Medium. This places the system in the upper echelon of performance, roughly in the top 7% of all configurations tested. This ranking is a direct consequence of the GPU’s high benchmark percentile (86th percentile vs. all GPUs) and the CPU’s solid but not exceptional 83rd percentile. The data suggests that the ranking is heavily weighted toward GPU performance, as the RTX 4080 SUPER is a top-tier card, while the Ryzen 5 7400F is a more mainstream offering.

The delta between this combo and its rivals is informative. The GPU’s nearest rival, the RTX 4080, has a deltaPct of -0.1%, meaning it scores almost identically in synthetic tests. This implies that swapping the 4080 SUPER for a 4080 would likely result in a nearly identical ranking. However, the CPU’s rivals show more variance. The Intel Core i5-14600T is 0.1% slower, while the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H is 0.2% faster. These small CPU differences are unlikely to affect the combo’s rank significantly in a GPU-bound game like The Medium. The 196th rank is a strong result, but it is not at the very top, indicating that there are faster combos, likely pairing the RTX 4080 SUPER with a higher-end CPU like a Ryzen 9 or Core i9, which could push the ranking higher. For this specific pairing, the rank reflects a balanced but GPU-dominant system that is more than capable of handling the game’s demands at most settings, with the exception of 4K Ultra, where it falls short of a smooth 60 FPS.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal experience for this combination depends heavily on the target resolution. At 1920x1080, the High preset is the clear winner, delivering 85 FPS average, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold and provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium’s 119 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1080p yields 68 FPS, which is still playable, but the 17 FPS drop from High to Ultra may not justify the visual gains, especially since High is already smooth. For users with 1080p displays, High settings offer the best balance of visual fidelity and frame rate.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the sweet spot. It delivers 100 FPS average, which is smooth and responsive. The High preset drops to 72 FPS, which is still acceptable, but the 28 FPS drop from Medium to High is substantial. The Ultra preset at 57 FPS is borderline, and the data suggests it may be too inconsistent for a horror game requiring precise timing. Therefore, for 1440p, Medium is recommended for a high refresh rate experience, while High is viable for those who prioritize visuals over frame rate.

At 3840x2160, the situation is more constrained. The Medium preset is the only option that provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, with an average of 79 FPS. The Low preset achieves 126 FPS, but the visual quality is likely too poor for a game that relies on atmosphere. The High preset at 56 FPS is below the 60 FPS target, and Ultra at 45 FPS is not recommended for a smooth experience. Therefore, for 4K, the Medium preset is the best recommendation, as it balances the game’s demanding rendering with the GPU’s capabilities. In summary, the data points to High at 1080p, Medium at 1440p, and Medium at 4K as the optimal presets for this hardware.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS measurements for each resolution and settings combination, as recorded in the data.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

| :--------- | :------- | ----------: |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 45 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 56 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 79 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 126 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 57 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 72 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 100 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 145 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 68 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 85 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 119 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 154 |

The data also includes minimum and maximum FPS for the Medium preset at each resolution. At 1920x1080, the minimum is 101 and the maximum is 137. At 2560x1440, the minimum is 85 and the maximum is 115. At 3840x2160, the minimum is 67 and the maximum is 90. These values show that the Medium preset provides a stable frame rate with no severe dips, which is crucial for a horror game where sudden frame drops can break immersion. The spread between min and max is relatively tight, indicating consistent performance. For other settings, only average FPS is available, but the overall trend is clear: the system scales predictably with resolution and settings, with the GPU being the primary constraint at 4K and the CPU providing adequate support at lower resolutions.