The Medium

The Medium is a horror title that leans heavily on atmospheric tension, and the performance data for the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 combination shows a system that is never short on headroom. The benchmark results across all tested resolutions and presets indicate a pairing that is consistently capable, though the specific frame rates reveal where the GPU’s immense power is best utilized in this particular game. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS, the roles of the central components, and how this specific configuration stacks up against the broader database of tested combos.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Medium with this CPU and GPU combo?

A: Based on the measured data, 2560x1440 on High settings provides an excellent balance, delivering an average of 80 FPS. While 1920x1080 yields higher frame rates, the 2560x1440 result shows the system can comfortably handle a higher pixel density while maintaining smooth performance.

Q: Can this system handle 4K gaming in The Medium?

A: Yes, it can. At 3840x2160, the combo achieves an average of 63 FPS on High settings and 87 FPS on Medium. However, the Ultra preset at this resolution drops to 50 FPS, which may be less desirable for a smoother experience.

Q: How much performance is gained by lowering settings from Ultra to Low?

A: The most significant jump occurs at 4K, where the average frame rate increases from 50 FPS at Ultra to 134 FPS at Low, a gain of 84 FPS. At 1440p, the jump is from 63 FPS at Ultra to 145 FPS at Low, and at 1080p, it goes from 75 FPS to 154 FPS.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4090 in this game?

A: The data suggests no. The measured FPS scales predictably with resolution and settings, which is typical of a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU’s strong single-thread performance, evidenced by a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3072, appears sufficient to keep the GPU fed.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for this combo?

A: The only min FPS data available is from the Medium preset tests. At 3840x2160, the minimum was 74 FPS; at 2560x1440, it was 95 FPS; and at 1920x1080, it was 109 FPS. This indicates that even the dips remain well within playable territory.

Q: How does this combo rank among all tested systems for The Medium?

A: The combination ranks 119th out of 2911 tested combos. This places it in the top 4% of all systems in the database, indicating a very high level of performance for this specific game.

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. For a game like The Medium, which often involves loading large, static scenes and transitioning between two parallel worlds, the CPU’s role is to manage game logic, draw calls, and asset streaming. The processor's 32 MB of shared L3 cache is a significant asset here, as it helps reduce memory latency for frequently accessed data, which can be crucial for maintaining frame pacing in a game with complex environmental storytelling.

The benchmark scores for the 7400F provide context for its gaming capabilities. Its Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 21,765 and single-core score of 3,072 suggest a well-rounded processor that excels in both threaded and single-threaded workloads. The single-core performance is particularly relevant for gaming, as many game engines still rely heavily on a few primary threads. The PassMark single-thread score of 3,689 reinforces this, indicating that the CPU can handle the primary game logic without becoming a limiting factor.

In the context of The Medium, the CPU’s performance is more than adequate. The measured FPS data shows that the system is clearly GPU-bound, as frame rates increase significantly when resolution is lowered. For instance, at 1080p Low, the average FPS is 154, while at 4K Low, it is 134. This 20 FPS difference is relatively small compared to the massive increase in pixel count, indicating that the RTX 4090 is the primary performance driver, and the 7400F is keeping pace without issue. The processor’s 65W TDP and active production status also suggest it is an efficient and modern choice for a high-end gaming build.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is the undisputed performance leader in this pairing. Its specifications are staggering: 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s. The GPU also features 16,384 shading units, 128 RT cores, and a boost clock of 2520 MHz. In a game like The Medium, which relies heavily on fixed camera angles, pre-rendered lighting, and detailed textures to create its horror atmosphere, this GPU provides an overwhelming amount of raw processing power.

The VRAM capacity is particularly noteworthy. The Medium’s detailed environments and high-resolution textures can consume significant video memory, especially at 4K. The 24 GB frame buffer ensures that the GPU will never run out of memory, eliminating any potential for texture pop-in or stuttering that can occur on cards with less VRAM. The 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth is also critical for streaming these high-resolution assets quickly, ensuring smooth transitions between the game’s two worlds.

The GPU’s benchmark scores are equally impressive, with a PassMark G3D score of 38,194 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 9,223. However, in this specific game, the GPU’s performance is best understood through the measured FPS data. At 1080p Ultra, the RTX 4090 produces 75 FPS, but this is likely a frame rate cap or an engine limitation, as the GPU is capable of far more. The true scale of its power is visible at higher resolutions. At 4K Ultra, it still manages 50 FPS, and at 4K High, it leaps to 63 FPS. This shows that even the most demanding settings at the highest resolution are not enough to fully saturate the card, confirming its status as a top-tier component.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a clear picture of how the combo scales with settings and resolution. At 1920x1080, the average frame rates are 154 FPS on Low, 128 FPS on Medium, 95 FPS on High, and 75 FPS on Ultra. The consistency here is notable. Even at the highest settings, the frame rate remains well above the 60 FPS threshold for smooth gameplay. The jump from High to Ultra is a 20 FPS drop, which is a typical cost for the extra visual fidelity.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains excellent. The average FPS is 145 on Low, 111 on Medium, 80 on High, and 63 on Ultra. This resolution appears to be the sweet spot for this combination. The 80 FPS on High settings is an ideal target for a high-refresh-rate monitor, offering a substantial visual upgrade over 1080p without sacrificing fluidity. The Medium preset also shows a minimum FPS of 95, indicating that even the most intense scenes won’t cause a noticeable stutter.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4090’s power is on full display, but the demands of 4K are also evident. The average FPS is 134 on Low, 87 on Medium, 63 on High, and 50 on Ultra. The 4K Medium preset is the most balanced option here, with an average of 87 FPS and a minimum of 74 FPS, ensuring a consistent and playable experience. While the 4K Ultra preset is technically playable at 50 FPS, it falls below the ideal 60 FPS target. The data clearly shows that for a locked 60 FPS experience at 4K, the High preset is the superior choice.

How This Combo Ranks

In the comprehensive database of tested configurations, this specific pairing of the AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 achieves a rank of 119 out of 2911 combos for The Medium. This places the system in the top 4.1% of all tested hardware configurations, a signal of its overall capability. The high rank is a direct result of the RTX 4090’s dominance, which is the primary driver of FPS in this title.

The CPU's performance is strong but not a differentiator in terms of the final rank. The 7400F’s average benchmark score of 32,750 places it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-14600T and the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, have average scores that are nearly identical, with deltaPct values of 0.1% and 0.2% respectively. This indicates that the 7400F is firmly in the mid-to-high range of CPU performance, and for a game like The Medium, it is more than sufficient to avoid bottlenecking the GPU.

The GPU’s ranking tells a different story. The RTX 4090’s average benchmark score of 60,347 places it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Arc Pro A60 and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48, have scores that are within 0.3% of the RTX 4090. This is surprising, as it suggests that in synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 4090 is not as far ahead of the pack as one might expect. However, in real-world gaming tests like The Medium, its lead is substantial. The combination of a top-12% GPU and a top-17% CPU results in a total system that sits in the top 4% of all combos, proving that the synergy between these two components is highly effective for this game.

Settings Recommendations

For the best overall experience, the data points to 2560x1440 with the High preset. This configuration yields an average FPS of 80, which is ideal for a smooth, responsive experience on most modern monitors. It provides a significant visual upgrade over 1080p while maintaining a frame rate that is well above the standard 60 FPS target. The High preset also avoids the performance hit of Ultra, which at this resolution drops the average to 63 FPS.

If a higher frame rate is the priority, particularly for a 144Hz or 165Hz display, then 1920x1080 with the High preset is the best option. It delivers an average of 95 FPS, which is excellent for fast-paced gameplay. The Medium preset at 1080p is also a strong contender, with an average of 128 FPS and a minimum of 109 FPS, ensuring that frame times remain consistently low.

For users with a 4K display, the choices are more nuanced. The 4K High preset is the recommended setting for a balanced experience, delivering a solid 63 FPS average. While this is not a locked 60 FPS, it is close and will provide a mostly smooth experience. The 4K Medium preset, with an average of 87 FPS and a minimum of 74 FPS, is the better choice if you want to ensure that the frame rate never dips below 60 FPS. The 4K Ultra preset, while visually stunning at 50 FPS, is best reserved for taking screenshots or for players who prioritize absolute visual fidelity over smooth motion. For the most consistent and fluid experience at 4K, the Medium preset’s higher minimum FPS makes it the safer recommendation.