The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 5 7400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D combination delivers strong 4K performance in The Medium, though the pairing shows an unusual bottleneck dynamic where the GPU is heavily taxed at higher resolutions while the CPU keeps pace at lower ones. The measured data places this combo at rank 71 out of 2,911 tested configurations, placing it in the top 2.4% of all tested systems for this title.

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 (Raphael codename) built on TSMC's 5 nm process. It runs with a base clock of 3.70 GHz and boosts up to 4.70 GHz, drawing a 65 W TDP. This processor sits in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs according to aggregate benchmark data, with an average benchmark score of 32,750. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i5-14600T (deltaPct 0.1), Intel Core Ultra 7 155H (deltaPct 0.2), AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 6850H (deltaPct -0.2), and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360 (deltaPct 0.3) — all essentially tied within 0.3% of each other.

In The Medium, the CPU's role becomes increasingly important as resolution drops. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo reaches 154 FPS, which is the highest measured frame rate across all tested configurations. This suggests the processor can feed the GPU effectively even at high frame rates. The single-thread performance, measured at 3,072 in Cinebench R23 single-core, is particularly relevant for a horror title that relies on maintaining consistent frame pacing. Multi-threaded performance (21,765 in Cinebench R23 multi-core) indicates the 12 threads handle background tasks without interfering with game rendering.

The 32 MB of shared L3 cache provides a substantial memory pool for game assets, though DDR5 memory support with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth is the more critical factor for streaming textures. The processor's PCIe Gen 5 support with 24 lanes ensures the RTX 5090 D can communicate at full bandwidth. At 1080p resolution, the CPU becomes the limiting factor in certain settings: the gap between Low (154 FPS) and Medium (128 FPS) is only 26 FPS, while at 4K the same settings gap is 39 FPS (134 vs 95), indicating the GPU takes over the workload at higher resolutions.

Benchmark data shows the CPU's PassMark multi-thread score of 25,645 and single-thread score of 3,689. These numbers place it competitively against its nearest rivals, with the average benchmark score being within 0.3% of the Intel Core i5-14600T and AMD Ryzen AI 7 PRO 360. For a game like The Medium, which features fixed camera angles and scripted sequences rather than open-world physics, the CPU demands are moderate, and this processor handles them without becoming a bottleneck at 1440p and above.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D is a flagship Blackwell 2.0 architecture GPU with 32 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 512-bit bus, delivering 1.79 TB/s of memory bandwidth. It operates with a base clock of 2017 MHz and boosts to 2407 MHz. The GPU sits in the 92nd percentile of all graphics cards, with an average benchmark score of 77,712. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon RX 6650M XT (deltaPct 1.1), AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT (deltaPct -1.6), NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB (deltaPct -2.1), and NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB (deltaPct -2.4).

The RTX 5090 D's 32 GB VRAM is far beyond what The Medium requires, even at 4K Ultra settings. The game's measured performance at 4K Ultra averages 54 FPS, which suggests the GPU is the primary constraint at this resolution. The GPU's 21,760 shading units and 176 ROPs provide substantial rendering throughput, with a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s. The FP32 performance of 104.8 TFLOPS indicates strong compute capability for the game's lighting and shadow calculations.

At 4K resolution, the GPU's role is dominant. The performance scaling from Low (134 FPS) to Ultra (54 FPS) at 4K shows a 60% drop, indicating that the GPU is heavily loaded by the higher settings. The memory bandwidth of 1.79 TB/s ensures texture streaming at 4K doesn't create stutter, and the measured minimum FPS of 81 at 4K Medium (with an average of 95) shows consistent frame delivery. The GPU's DirectX 12 Ultimate support (12_2) aligns with the game's requirements, and the Vulkan 1.4 support provides API flexibility.

The RTX 5090 D's 170 ray tracing cores are notable, though The Medium's fixed camera angles mean ray-traced effects are less demanding than in open-world titles. The GPU's 92nd percentile ranking places it well above its nearest rivals in aggregate benchmarks, and the deltaPct values show it outperforms the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT by 1.6%. At 1080p, the GPU is rarely the bottleneck — the drop from Medium (128 FPS) to High (103 FPS) at 1080p is 25 FPS, while at 4K the same settings gap is 27 FPS (95 to 68), showing the GPU's workload scales consistently with resolution.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo ranks 71st out of 2,911 tested combinations in The Medium, placing it in the top 2.4% of all tested systems. This ranking reflects the balance between the Ryzen 5 7400F's 83rd percentile CPU performance and the RTX 5090 D's 92nd percentile GPU performance. The rank indicates that while the GPU is exceptionally powerful, the mid-range CPU prevents this combo from reaching the very top of the charts.

The measured data shows this combo achieves 68 FPS at 4K High settings, which is playable but not exceptional for a flagship GPU. At 1440p High, the combo reaches 87 FPS, and at 1080p High, it hits 103 FPS. These numbers suggest the CPU becomes a limiting factor at lower resolutions — the jump from 1080p High (103 FPS) to 1440p High (87 FPS) is a 16 FPS drop, while the jump from 1440p High to 4K High is a 19 FPS drop. The relatively small performance penalty for doubling resolution indicates the GPU has headroom that the CPU cannot fully utilize.

The 71st rank of 2,911 combos means there are 70 configurations that outperform this pairing in The Medium. Given that the RTX 5090 D sits at the 92nd percentile of all GPUs, the combos ranking above likely pair this GPU with higher-end CPUs, or feature other top-tier GPUs with CPUs that better feed them at lower resolutions. The deltaPct comparisons for the GPU show it trails the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB by 2.4% in aggregate benchmarks, though that GPU's compute focus makes it an unusual comparison for gaming.

The combo's performance at 4K Ultra (54 FPS average) is the weakest measured result, indicating that the highest preset pushes the system to its limits. The 4K Medium result (95 FPS average, with 81 minimum and 110 maximum) shows the best balance of visual quality and performance at that resolution. The data suggests this combo excels at 1440p, where it achieves 121 FPS at Medium settings and 87 FPS at High, both well within smooth gameplay territory.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in The Medium?

A: The data shows 1440p Medium delivers 121 FPS average (103 minimum, 139 maximum), which is the highest frame rate with a minimum above 100 FPS. At 4K Medium, the average drops to 95 FPS (81 minimum, 110 maximum), which is still smooth but with a lower floor.

Q: How does this combo perform at 4K Ultra settings?

A: At 4K Ultra, the combo achieves 54 FPS average. This is the lowest measured result across all settings and resolutions, indicating the Ultra preset is too demanding for consistent 60 FPS gameplay at 4K.

Q: Is the RTX 5090 D the bottleneck at any resolution?

A: At 4K, yes — the GPU is clearly the limiting factor, as shown by the 60% performance drop from Low (134 FPS) to Ultra (54 FPS). At 1080p, the CPU becomes more limiting, with the gap between Low (154 FPS) and Ultra (82 FPS) representing a 72 FPS drop that suggests both components contribute.

Q: How does this combo compare to its nearest GPU rivals?

A: The RTX 5090 D outperforms the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT by 1.6% in aggregate benchmarks, and trails the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB by 2.4%. However, those GPUs have different design goals, and the RTX 5090 D's 32 GB GDDR7 memory provides a gaming-specific advantage.

Q: What CPU benchmark scores are relevant for this game?

A: The Ryzen 5 7400F scores 3,072 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 21,765 in multi-core. Its PassMark single-thread score is 3,689 and multi-thread is 25,645. These scores place it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs, with nearest rivals within 0.3% in average benchmark score.

Q: Does this combo maintain consistent frame rates?

A: The measured minimum FPS values show consistency: at 1080p Medium, the minimum is 109 FPS against a 128 FPS average (85% of average). At 1440p Medium, the minimum is 103 FPS against a 121 FPS average (85% of average). At 4K Medium, the minimum is 81 FPS against a 95 FPS average (85% of average), showing stable frame pacing across resolutions.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data reveals how the system scales from 1080p to 4K. At Medium settings, performance drops from 128 FPS at 1080p to 121 FPS at 1440p (a 5.5% decrease), then to 95 FPS at 4K (a 21.5% decrease from 1440p). This scaling pattern indicates that the GPU becomes the primary limiting factor at 4K, while at 1080p and 1440p, the CPU has more influence.

At High settings, the scaling is similar: 103 FPS at 1080p, 87 FPS at 1440p (15.5% decrease), and 68 FPS at 4K (21.8% decrease from 1440p). The Low settings show the flattest scaling curve: 154 FPS at 1080p, 145 FPS at 1440p (5.8% decrease), and 134 FPS at 4K (7.6% decrease from 1440p). This suggests that at Low settings, the system is more balanced, with neither component being severely overloaded.

Ultra settings show the steepest scaling: 82 FPS at 1080p, 69 FPS at 1440p (15.9% decrease), and 54 FPS at 4K (21.7% decrease from 1440p). The consistent ~21% drop from 1440p to 4K across Medium, High, and Ultra settings indicates the GPU's rendering load scales predictably with resolution at these quality levels. The smaller drop at Low settings (7.6% from 1440p to 4K) reveals that when the GPU isn't heavily taxed, the CPU can maintain performance more effectively.

This scaling analysis shows that the limiting component shifts based on settings. At 1080p with Medium or lower settings, the CPU is more likely to be the constraint, as evidenced by the small performance differences between resolutions. At 4K with High or Ultra settings, the GPU dominates the workload, and the system's performance is dictated by the RTX 5090 D's rendering capabilities.

Settings Recommendations

The measured data provides clear guidance for the best experience. At 4K, Medium settings deliver 95 FPS average with an 81 FPS minimum, which is the optimal balance for 4K gameplay. High settings at 4K drop to 68 FPS average, which is playable but with less headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra at 4K (54 FPS) falls below the 60 FPS threshold and should be avoided for smooth gameplay.

At 1440p, Medium settings provide 121 FPS average (103 minimum), offering the best combination of visual quality and performance. High settings at 1440p (87 FPS) are also acceptable, while Ultra (69 FPS) hovers near the 60 FPS minimum for comfort. Low settings at 1440p (145 FPS) exceed the display refresh rate of most monitors and provide no visual benefit.

At 1080p, the data shows Medium settings (128 FPS, 109 minimum) as the recommended choice. High settings (103 FPS) remain smooth, and even Ultra (82 FPS) is playable. Low settings at 1080p (154 FPS) are unnecessary given the CPU and GPU headroom. The minimum FPS values across all Medium settings (109 at 1080p, 103 at 1440p, 81 at 4K) show that Medium provides consistent frame delivery, with the minimum never dropping below 80% of the average.

For the best overall experience, 1440p Medium delivers the highest frame rate with a minimum above 100 FPS, and 4K Medium provides a smooth 95 FPS average with a minimum of 81 FPS. Users prioritizing visual fidelity over frame rate should consider 4K High (68 FPS), while those with 60 Hz displays can comfortably run 4K High without issue. The Ultra preset is only recommended for 1080p where it achieves 82 FPS, as it falls below 60 FPS at both 1440p (69 FPS) and 4K (54 FPS).