The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 combination delivers a wide performance envelope in The Medium, spanning from a highly playable 143.3 FPS average at 1080p Low to a demanding 32.2 FPS average at 4K Ultra. The data indicates a system where the graphics card is the primary scaling factor, with the CPU providing sufficient throughput to avoid bottlenecking at lower resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured frame rates, the CPU's role, and how this specific pairing ranks against other tested configurations.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data shows a predictable and pronounced drop in performance as resolution increases, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload. At 1080p High, the combo produces an average of 62.2 FPS. Moving to 1440p High, the average falls to 56.2 FPS, a reduction of 6 FPS. The jump to 4K High results in a 40.7 FPS average, a significant 15.5 FPS drop from the 1440p figure. This pattern strongly indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080's rendering pipeline is the limiting factor at higher resolutions, as the pixel throughput demand outpaces the GPU's capability.

The scaling from Low to Ultra settings at each resolution further confirms this. At 1080p, the spread between Low (143.3 FPS) and Ultra (50.7 FPS) is 92.6 FPS, showcasing the massive impact of graphical fidelity on the GPU. At 4K, the same settings spread is 64.8 FPS (from 97 FPS at Low to 32.2 FPS at Ultra). The fact that even at 4K Low the frame rate is 97 FPS suggests the GPU is still the primary constraint; a CPU bottleneck would typically manifest as a smaller performance delta between resolution steps, especially at lower settings.

The data suggests that for users targeting higher refresh rates, 1080p is the only resolution where the combo can consistently exceed 60 FPS on High settings. The 1440p resolution presents a more balanced scenario, with Medium settings hitting 72.6 FPS, which is a playable middle ground. The 4K resolution is clearly the most demanding, with even Medium settings only reaching 60.2 FPS, indicating that this combo is better suited for 1440p gaming or 4K at lower graphical presets. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K at High settings is 34.6%, illustrating the heavy toll that 4K resolution takes on the RTX 3080.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, demonstrates that it is not the primary constraint in this pairing for The Medium. The CPU's benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20851 and a single-core score of 2943, indicate a strong modern processor. Its 3DMark scores show scaling from 1874 in the 2-thread test to 6165 in the max-thread test, suggesting it can handle multithreaded workloads effectively. The fact that the frame rates drop significantly with resolution and settings points to the GPU being the bottleneck, not the CPU.

The CPU's boost clock of 4.70 GHz and its Zen 4 architecture provide the necessary single-thread performance to feed the RTX 3080 at lower resolutions. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 143.3 FPS, a figure that would be difficult to reach if the CPU were struggling to issue draw calls and process game logic. The processor's 16 MB of shared L3 cache is also a relevant factor, as it helps reduce memory latency for frequently accessed data, which can be beneficial in maintaining consistent frame times. The 83.2 GB/s memory bandwidth on the dual-channel DDR5 interface is sufficient to keep the CPU's cores fed with data.

The data suggests the Ryzen 5 8400F is well-matched to the RTX 3080 for this title. In the CPU's nearest rivals list, it sits within a 0.3% performance delta of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F, indicating a similar level of processing power. This means that for The Medium, the CPU's role is to provide a stable platform that does not artificially cap the frame rate, allowing the GPU to be the sole determinant of performance. The 82nd percentile ranking against all CPUs reinforces that this is a capable processor that should not be a weak link in a gaming system.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 1440p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average FPS at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings is 43 FPS.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance compare to its nearest rival?

A: The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F has an average benchmark score of 25064, which is virtually identical to the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X's score of 25057, showing a 0% delta. It is also 0.3% ahead of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F.

Q: What is the best resolution for achieving a frame rate above 60 FPS on High settings?

A: At 1920x1080 with High settings, the combo achieves an average of 62.2 FPS. At 2560x1440 with High settings, the average drops to 56.2 FPS, so 1080p is the only resolution in the data that clears the 60 FPS threshold on High.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: The benchmark results indicate the GPU is the limiting factor. At 3840x2160, the average FPS drops from 97 at Low settings to 32.2 at Ultra settings, showing a strong GPU dependency. The CPU's performance is not the primary constraint in this scenario.

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

A: At 1920x1080, the average FPS goes from 143.3 on Low settings down to 50.7 on Ultra settings, a difference of 92.6 FPS.

Q: Where does this CPU+GPU combo rank among all tested combinations in this game?

A: The combo is ranked 505 out of 1689 tested combinations for The Medium.

Measured FPS Breakdown

At 1920x1080, the data shows a clear hierarchy of performance. The Low preset yields the highest average FPS at 143.3, followed by Medium at 89.8, High at 62.2, and Ultra at 50.7. The gap between Low and Medium is substantial at 53.5 FPS, while the step from High to Ultra is a more modest 11.5 FPS. This suggests that the Medium preset offers a significant performance headroom over High, while the jump to Ultra is the most demanding.

Moving to 2560x1440, the average frame rates are 120.9 for Low, 72.6 for Medium, 56.2 for High, and 43 for Ultra. The relative performance between settings remains consistent, but the overall reduction in FPS is evident. The Low preset at 1440p still provides a very high frame rate, but the High preset now falls below the 60 FPS threshold, making Medium the first preset that consistently offers a smooth experience at this resolution.

At 3840x2160, the performance is heavily taxed. The Low preset achieves an average of 97 FPS, which is surprisingly high, but the Medium preset drops to 60.2 FPS. The High preset falls to 40.7 FPS, and Ultra bottoms out at 32.2 FPS. This resolution exposes the limits of the RTX 3080, as even the Medium preset is only just able to maintain a 60 FPS average. The data shows a steep decline in performance as settings are increased at 4K, with a 64.8 FPS difference between the Low and Ultra presets.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 holds a rank of 505 out of 1689 tested combinations in The Medium. This places it in the top 30% of all tested systems, indicating a strong performance level relative to the broader database. The GPU's individual percentile ranking of 80 against all GPUs is a key contributor to this overall position, as is the CPU's 82nd percentile ranking against all CPUs.

The GPU's performance is competitive with its direct rivals, as the data shows it is only 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon Pro Duo and 0.9% behind the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE. This suggests that within its performance class, the RTX 3080 is a solid contender. The CPU's ranking is similarly tight, with a 0% delta compared to the AMD Ryzen 7 2700X and a 0.3% lead over the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F. This indicates that the processor is performing exactly as expected for its position in the market.

The combo's mid-pack ranking in the game's database reflects a balanced system. It is not at the very top of the charts, which are likely populated by newer, more powerful components, but it is also far from the bottom. The rank of 505 suggests that this pairing offers a substantial level of performance that would satisfy most users, particularly when targeting 1080p or 1440p resolutions. The data confirms that this is a capable pairing for The Medium, with the GPU being the primary driver of its overall standing.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend heavily on the user's target resolution and desired frame rate. For users with a 1920x1080 display, the High preset provides the best balance of visual quality and performance, with an average FPS of 62.2. This is above the 60 FPS target for smooth gameplay. While the Ultra preset offers higher fidelity, the drop to 50.7 FPS may not be worth the visual gain for all users, making High the recommended choice for a consistent experience.

At 2560x1440, the Medium preset is the recommended starting point, achieving an average of 72.6 FPS. This provides a comfortable margin above 60 FPS, allowing for a smooth experience. The High preset at 56.2 FPS is still playable, but the Medium preset offers a more stable frame rate. For users who prioritize higher visual settings, the Low preset at 120.9 FPS is an option for competitive play, but the Medium preset is the best overall compromise between fidelity and performance at this resolution.

For 3840x2160, the data suggests that the Medium preset is the only viable option for a 60 FPS experience, with an average of 60.2 FPS. The Low preset offers a much higher frame rate at 97 FPS but sacrifices significant visual quality. The High and Ultra presets fall below 45 FPS, which may not be ideal for a smooth experience in a horror game. Therefore, the Medium preset is the recommended choice for 4K, providing a playable frame rate while retaining a moderate level of graphical detail.