The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti pairing delivers a playable yet demanding experience in The Medium, with performance scaling that clearly shifts from CPU-bound at 1080p to GPU-bound at 4K. The data shows a system that can handle the game’s fixed-camera horror at high frame rates on lower presets, but struggles to maintain smooth 4K performance on higher settings. This analysis breaks down the measured results across resolutions and presets, contextualizes the combo’s standing among 3,724 tested combinations, and offers practical settings guidance based strictly on the measured FPS data.

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

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, running on the AMD Socket AM5 platform. It operates with a base clock of 4.70 GHz and a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, which are among the highest figures in its class. The processor’s cache hierarchy includes 64 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache, totaling a substantial pool for game data. This configuration, paired with DDR5 memory support and a dual-channel memory bus, positions the 7600X as a strong gaming CPU.

In synthetic benchmarks, the 7600X scores 1,965 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 15,236 in multi-core, while Geekbench reports 2,603 single-core and 13,858 multi-core. Its PassMark multithread score is 28,390, and the 3DMark max-thread score is 6,845. These numbers place the CPU at the 79th percentile among all tested CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 27,636. The nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X and Intel Core i5-12600K, both with an average score of 27,578 (a 0.2% delta), and the AMD Ryzen 7 5800 at 27,535 (0.4% delta). This indicates the 7600X sits in a tight performance cluster, offering competitive multi-threaded throughput.

For The Medium, a game known for its dual-reality rendering that can stress the processor, the 7600X’s 12 threads and high boost clock are relevant. At 1080p with Low settings, the measured average FPS of 129 suggests the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU well beyond typical display refresh rates. The jump to 1440p Low yields 109 FPS, and 4K Low yields 85 FPS. The consistent double-digit FPS at Low settings across all resolutions indicates that the CPU is not the primary bottleneck at lower graphical loads. The 7600X’s single-thread performance, evidenced by a 3DMark single-thread score of 1,060 and PassMark single-thread score of 4,135, likely contributes to the game’s ability to maintain high frame rates when the GPU is less loaded.

However, the picture changes at higher presets. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS drops to 46, and at 4K Ultra it falls to 30. This steep decline with increasing settings shows that the GPU becomes the limiting factor, while the CPU’s role is to keep the frame rate floor from collapsing. The 7600X’s 79th percentile ranking suggests it is more than adequate for this title, but the measured results show that the RTX 3070 Ti’s capabilities dictate the ceiling.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti is built on the Ampere architecture, using the GA104 chip manufactured on an 8 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 608.3 GB/s. The GPU operates at a base clock of 1575 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz, with memory clocked at 1188 MHz (19 Gbps effective). It has 6,144 shading units, 192 texture mapping units, and 96 raster output units, along with 48 ray tracing cores and 192 tensor cores.

In synthetic benchmarks, the RTX 3070 Ti scores 23,356 in PassMark G3D and 11,601 in PassMark GPU compute. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 3,478, and Geekbench Vulkan returns 139,541. These results place the GPU at the 75th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 29,945. The nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mobile (29,928, 0.1% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 6800 (30,095, -0.5% delta), and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (29,783, 0.5% delta). This shows the 3070 Ti is a mid-to-high tier performer, slightly behind the RX 6800 but ahead of the last-gen 2080 Ti.

For The Medium, the 8 GB VRAM capacity is a critical factor, especially at 4K where higher resolution textures and the game’s dual-world rendering demand more memory. The measured data supports this: at 4K Medium, the average FPS is 53 with a minimum of 45 and maximum of 61, while at 4K High it drops to 38 FPS. The step from Medium to High at 4K causes a 28% reduction in frame rate, which points to the GPU hitting both a compute and memory bandwidth ceiling. The 608.3 GB/s bandwidth is substantial, but the 8 GB capacity may require the game to swap textures or reduce detail, contributing to the lower performance at higher presets.

At 1080p, the GPU shows its strength. Low settings yield 129 FPS, Medium 81 FPS, and High 58 FPS. The scaling from Low to High at 1080p is a 55% drop, which is less severe than at 4K, indicating that the GPU is more comfortable at lower resolutions where VRAM pressure is reduced. The RTX 3070 Ti’s 75th percentile ranking among all GPUs confirms it is a capable card, but The Medium’s demanding rendering at 4K exposes its limitations.

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

The measured FPS data reveals a clear pattern of resolution scaling that identifies the GPU as the primary limiting component at higher settings. At Low settings, the average FPS moves from 129 at 1080p to 109 at 1440p and 85 at 4K. This represents a 15.5% drop from 1080p to 1440p and a 34.1% drop from 1080p to 4K. The relatively modest decline at Low settings suggests that the CPU is keeping pace, and the GPU is handling the increased pixel count without severe degradation.

At Medium settings, the average FPS is 81 at 1080p, 68 at 1440p, and 53 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 16.0%, and from 1080p to 4K is 34.6%. This is a similar percentage decline to Low settings, indicating that the GPU workload scales predictably with resolution. However, the absolute numbers at 4K Medium (53 FPS) are already below the ideal 60 FPS threshold, showing that the GPU is struggling to maintain smooth performance at this resolution.

The High settings show a steeper decline. Average FPS goes from 58 at 1080p to 49 at 1440p and 38 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 15.5%, but from 1080p to 4K it is 34.5%. Interestingly, the percentage drops are consistent across Low, Medium, and High, which suggests that resolution scaling affects the GPU uniformly, and the limiting factor is the GPU’s raw throughput rather than a specific bottleneck.

At Ultra settings, the average FPS is 46 at 1080p, 39 at 1440p, and 30 at 4K. The drop from 1080p to 1440p is 15.2%, and from 1080p to 4K is 34.8%. This pattern holds across all presets, but the key observation is that at 4K Ultra, the game averages only 30 FPS, which is below the playable threshold for most users. The consistent percentage drops across settings indicate that the CPU is not the limiting factor at any resolution; rather, the GPU’s compute and memory bandwidth are the constraints. The data strongly suggests that the RTX 3070 Ti is the bottleneck at higher resolutions, while the Ryzen 5 7600X provides sufficient headroom.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti ranks 1,304 out of 3,724 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the 65th percentile of all tested configurations, meaning it outperforms roughly two-thirds of the combos in the database. This ranking reflects the balance between the high-performing CPU and the mid-to-high-tier GPU.

Given that the CPU ranks at the 79th percentile among all CPUs and the GPU at the 75th percentile among all GPUs, the combined rank of 1,304 is slightly lower than the individual component percentiles might suggest. This is likely because The Medium is a GPU-intensive title at higher settings, and the 8 GB VRAM of the RTX 3070 Ti may hold it back relative to GPUs with more memory. The combo sits in the upper-middle range of the database, indicating that while it is not a top-tier setup, it is well above average for this game.

The nearest GPU rival data shows the RTX 3070 Ti is closely matched with the RTX 2080 Ti (0.5% delta) and the RTX 5070 Mobile (0.1% delta), but slightly behind the RX 6800 (-0.5% delta). This suggests that the combo’s ranking is consistent with the GPU’s performance class. The CPU’s rivals, such as the Ryzen 7 5700X and Core i5-12600K, are nearly identical in average score, so the CPU is not a differentiator in this ranking. The combo’s position at 1,304 is a reflection of the GPU’s capabilities in this specific title, where higher settings and 4K resolution push the hardware to its limits.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combination for smooth gameplay?

A: Based on the measured data, 1440p Low provides an average FPS of 109, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold. For a balance of quality and performance, 1080p Medium at 81 FPS is also a strong option, while 4K Medium at 53 FPS is borderline playable.

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

A: Yes, but only at lower settings. At 4K Low, the average FPS is 85, and at 4K Medium it is 53. However, 4K High (38 FPS) and 4K Ultra (30 FPS) are below the playable threshold, indicating the GPU struggles at higher presets.

Q: How does the CPU affect performance in this game?

A: The Ryzen 5 7600X is not the primary bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the FPS is 129, showing the CPU can push high frame rates. The drop to 46 FPS at 1080p Ultra is due to GPU load, not CPU limitations.

Q: Is the RTX 3070 Ti’s 8 GB VRAM sufficient for this game?

A: The data suggests it is sufficient at lower presets, but at 4K High and Ultra, the average FPS drops to 38 and 30 respectively. This indicates that the GPU’s memory and compute are stretched, and higher settings may cause performance degradation.

Q: What is the frame rate difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1080p?

A: At 1080p, Low averages 129 FPS, while Ultra averages 46 FPS. This is a 64% reduction in frame rate, showing that the Ultra preset is very demanding on the GPU.

Q: How does this combo compare to others in the database?

A: It ranks 1,304 out of 3,724 combos, placing it in the 65th percentile. This is above average, but not top-tier, reflecting the GPU’s mid-to-high-end performance class.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and frame rate priority. For 1080p gaming, the Medium preset at 81 FPS offers a good balance between visual quality and smoothness, while High at 58 FPS is still playable. For users with 1440p displays, the Low preset at 109 FPS provides a very smooth experience, but Medium at 68 FPS is a better visual compromise if the user can tolerate slightly lower frame rates. At 4K, the Low preset at 85 FPS is the only truly smooth option, as Medium at 53 FPS may be acceptable for some but falls below the 60 FPS ideal.

The Ultra preset is not recommended at any resolution, as it yields 46 FPS at 1080p, 39 FPS at 1440p, and 30 FPS at 4K, which are all below the playable threshold for most users. The data shows that the Medium preset provides the best trade-off between visual fidelity and frame rate across all resolutions, with 81 FPS at 1080p, 68 FPS at 1440p, and 53 FPS at 4K. For a consistent experience, Medium is the sweet spot, while Low is the fallback for higher resolutions or refresh rates.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

1920x1080 (1080p):

• Low: Average 129 FPS
• Medium: Average 81 FPS, Minimum 69 FPS, Maximum 93 FPS
• High: Average 58 FPS
• Ultra: Average 46 FPS

2560x1440 (1440p):

• Low: Average 109 FPS
• Medium: Average 68 FPS, Minimum 58 FPS, Maximum 78 FPS
• High: Average 49 FPS
• Ultra: Average 39 FPS

3840x2160 (4K):

• Low: Average 85 FPS
• Medium: Average 53 FPS, Minimum 45 FPS, Maximum 61 FPS
• High: Average 38 FPS
• Ultra: Average 30 FPS

The data shows a consistent pattern where each resolution step down from 1080p to 4K reduces the average FPS by roughly 15-35%, regardless of settings. The Medium preset is the only one with recorded minimum and maximum FPS values, indicating it is the most commonly tested preset, and it shows a spread of about 16-18 FPS between min and max across all resolutions. The Low preset offers the highest frame rates, making it suitable for high-refresh-rate displays at 1080p and 1440p, while the High and Ultra presets are only viable at lower resolutions or for users who prioritize visual fidelity over smoothness.