The Medium

The Medium, a fixed-camera horror title built around a dual-reality rendering technique, presents a unique workload that stresses both the CPU and GPU in specific ways. The measured performance data for the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 reveals a system that is capable of smooth gameplay at lower resolutions but begins to buckle under the demands of 4K and maximum graphical presets. The following analysis breaks down how this specific component combination behaves across the game’s settings and resolutions, drawing exclusively from the measured FPS data.

Resolution Scaling

The FPS data reveals a clear and predictable trend: as resolution increases, average frame rates drop significantly. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 108 FPS. Moving to 1440p drops that to 91 FPS, and at 4K, it falls further to 72 FPS. This shows a steady decline of roughly 17 FPS and 19 FPS respectively, indicating that the rendering load is scaling heavily with pixel count.

The pattern becomes more pronounced at higher settings. With Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 68 at 1080p, to 57 at 1440p, and then to 45 at 4K. The drop from 1440p to 4K is 12 FPS, which is a steeper relative decline than the 11 FPS drop from 1080p to 1440p. This suggests that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor as the resolution increases, with the higher pixel count of 4K demanding more from the RTX 4060’s memory bandwidth and processing power.

At Ultra settings, the scaling is even more dramatic. The average FPS falls from 39 at 1080p, to 32 at 1440p, and finally to 25 at 4K. The 4K result is critically low, rendering the game essentially unplayable at that preset. The data strongly implies that the RTX 4060 is the bottleneck at 4K, especially when the game’s more demanding visual features are enabled. The CPU, while still relevant, appears to have enough headroom at lower resolutions to keep up, but the GPU’s performance ceiling is hit hard as the pixel workload increases.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture. Its base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 5.10 GHz are solid figures for gaming. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 12,735 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 1,852 points in single-core, indicating strong multi-threaded and respectable single-threaded performance. The processor also shows a 3DMark score of 6,503 at max threads and 999 in single-thread test, which places it in the 78th percentile of all CPUs.

While the CPU’s role in The Medium is not explicitly measured in the FPS data, its performance characteristics suggest it is not the primary constraint at lower resolutions. The fact that the 1080p Low preset hits 108 FPS indicates the CPU can feed frames quickly. However, the data shows that the CPU’s performance is not the limiting factor in this combo, as the FPS drops are consistent with a GPU-bound scenario. The CPU’s nearest rivals, such as the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX and Intel Core i9-11900KF, have nearly identical average benchmark scores, with a delta of only 0.2% and 0.4% respectively, meaning this processor is well within the expected performance envelope for its class. The 65W TDP and 5nm process node also suggest efficient operation, which is a benefit for sustained gaming sessions, though the game itself does not appear to be heavily CPU-dependent.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture and features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 272.0 GB/s. Its boost clock of 2460 MHz and base clock of 1830 MHz are typical for the card. In synthetic benchmarks, it scores 19,545 in Passmark G3D and 76 in Passmark DirectX 12, placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon HD 7790 and AMD Radeon 780M, with delta percentages of -0.2% and 0.3% respectively, showing that its raw compute performance is comparable to those older or integrated solutions, which is surprising given its modern architecture.

The GPU’s role is clearly the dominant factor in this game’s performance. The 8 GB VRAM is likely a constraint at 4K with higher settings, as the game’s textures and dual-scene rendering can consume memory quickly. The measured FPS at 4K Ultra (25 FPS) and 4K High (32 FPS) are very low, suggesting the card is struggling with both memory capacity and raw processing power. The data shows that the RTX 4060 can handle 1080p and 1440p well at Medium settings, but its performance collapses at 4K, confirming its positioning as a 1080p/1440p card rather than a 4K solution for this title.

How This Combo Ranks

In the database of tested combinations, this specific pairing of the Ryzen 5 7600 and RTX 4060 ranks 1,999 out of 3,724 combos in The Medium. This places it in the 46th percentile of all tested systems, which is a middle-of-the-road result. The rank suggests that while this combo is not a top-tier performer for this game, it is also not a poor one, and its performance is largely in line with what one would expect from a mid-range CPU and GPU pairing.

The rank implies that there are many other combinations that perform better, likely those with higher-end GPUs, but also that a significant number of combinations perform worse. The data indicates that this combo’s performance is heavily weighted by the GPU’s limitations, as the CPU’s strong benchmark scores do not translate into top-tier FPS at higher resolutions. The 4K results are particularly poor, dragging down the overall ranking. For a user aiming for high refresh rate 1080p or solid 1440p gameplay, this combo is adequate, but it is not a leader for this game’s most demanding settings.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo to achieve a smooth 60+ FPS experience?

A: Based on the measured data, 1080p is the only resolution where the combo consistently exceeds 60 FPS. At 1080p with Low settings, it achieves 108 FPS, and with Medium settings, it hits 68 FPS. 1440p with Low settings also averages 91 FPS, but 1440p Medium drops to 57 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS threshold.

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

A: The data shows that 4K gaming is not a viable option. At 4K with Low settings, the average FPS is 72, which is playable, but at Medium settings it drops to 45 FPS, and at High and Ultra, it falls to 32 FPS and 25 FPS respectively. These lower frame rates would likely result in a stuttering and unresponsive experience.

Q: How much of a performance difference is there between the Low and Ultra presets at 1440p?

A: At 1440p, the difference is substantial. The Low preset averages 91 FPS, while the Ultra preset averages only 32 FPS. This is a 59 FPS difference, which represents a 64.8% drop in performance. The Medium preset sits in between at 57 FPS.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU more likely to be the bottleneck in this configuration?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The FPS scales down as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation. The CPU’s strong synthetic test scores, such as its 78th percentile ranking, suggest it has the headroom to support higher frame rates, but the RTX 4060’s performance ceiling prevents it from doing so.

Q: What is the minimum FPS recorded for the Medium preset across all resolutions?

A: The data includes minimum FPS figures for the Medium preset. At 1080p, the minimum is 58 FPS; at 1440p, it is 49 FPS; and at 4K, it is 38 FPS. These figures suggest that even when the average FPS is acceptable, there can be noticeable dips in frame rate.

Q: How does the GPU’s average benchmark score compare to its closest rivals?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17,639. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon HD 7790, has a score of 17,666, which is a -0.2% difference. The AMD Radeon 780M has a score of 17,588, a 0.3% difference. This indicates that the RTX 4060’s raw compute performance is statistically nearly identical to these other cards, despite being a much newer product.

Settings Recommendations

For a balanced experience, the Medium preset appears to be the sweet spot for this combo. At 1080p, it delivers an average of 68 FPS with a minimum of 58 FPS, which provides smooth gameplay. At 1440p, the Medium preset averages 57 FPS, which is close to the 60 FPS target and is likely acceptable for a slower-paced horror game. The minimum FPS of 49 at 1440p is a bit lower, but still playable.

The Low preset is the only option for a guaranteed high frame rate at all resolutions, offering 108 FPS at 1080p and 91 FPS at 1440p. This preset is recommended for players who prioritize frame rate stability over visual fidelity. The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for this combo, as they produce average FPS below 50 at 1440p and fall to unplayable levels at 4K. The data clearly shows that this combo is best suited for Medium or Low settings, with 1080p being the ideal resolution for a consistently smooth experience.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average FPS measurements for the AMD Ryzen 5 7600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 combination in The Medium.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

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

| 1920x1080 | Low | 108 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 68 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 49 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 39 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 91 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 57 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 41 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 32 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 72 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 45 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 32 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 25 |

For the Medium preset, the data also includes minimum and maximum FPS figures. At 1080p, the range is 58-78 FPS. At 1440p, the range is 49-66 FPS. At 4K, the range is 38-52 FPS. These values provide insight into the frame time consistency, showing that the game can have notable dips below the average, particularly at higher resolutions. The overall trend is consistent: the combo performs best at 1080p and degrades progressively as resolution and settings are increased.