The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 pairing delivers a robust, high-refresh-rate experience in The Medium, though its 4K Ultra ceiling is limited. This combination sits at rank 280 out of 3724 tested combos, placing it in the top 7.5% of all configurations. The data shows a system that excels at 1080p and 1440p with high settings, while 4K demands careful preset selection to maintain smooth playability. The CPU's 6 cores and 12 threads, combined with the GPU's 16 GB of VRAM, create a balanced platform that is rarely bottlenecked in this title.

FAQ

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

A: The 2560x1440 resolution with High settings provides the best balance of visual fidelity and performance, achieving an average of 72 FPS. While 1920x1080 delivers higher frame rates, 1440p offers a significant visual upgrade with a frame rate still well above 60 FPS.

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

A: Yes, but with caveats. At 3840x2160 with Medium settings, the combo achieves an average of 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS. High settings at 4K drop the average to 57 FPS, which is borderline for smooth gameplay, while Ultra settings at 4K average only 45 FPS.

Q: How much performance difference is there between Low and Ultra settings?

A: The performance delta is substantial. At 1920x1080, the average frame rate jumps from 68 FPS on Ultra to 154 FPS on Low, a 126% increase. At 3840x2160, the difference is even more pronounced, scaling from 45 FPS on Ultra to 127 FPS on Low.

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F a bottleneck for the RTX 4080?

A: Benchmark results indicate the CPU is well-matched. Its 3DMark max threads score is 6165, and its average benchmark score of 25005 places it within 0.4% of the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F. The 6-core, 12-thread configuration provides sufficient processing power for this game's demands.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its closest rivals in raw performance?

A: The GPU's average benchmark score is 54247, which is only 0.1% lower than the RTX 4080 SUPER's 54209. It outperforms the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X by 1.1% and sits 2.6% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB.

Q: What is the ideal settings preset for a 60 FPS target at 1440p?

A: For a locked 60 FPS experience at 2560x1440, High settings are the safest choice, delivering an average of 72 FPS. Medium settings also work well with an average of 101 FPS and a minimum of 86 FPS, providing extra headroom for demanding scenes.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a 6-core, 12-thread processor based on the Zen 4 architecture, built on a 4 nm process at TSMC. Its base clock of 4.20 GHz can boost up to 4.70 GHz, providing solid single-thread performance that is crucial for game logic and frame pacing. The processor has a 16 MB shared L3 cache and supports dual-channel DDR5 memory with a bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s.

In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU demonstrates balanced multi-threaded capability. Its Cinebench R23 multicore score of 20851 and single-core score of 2943 indicate strong overall performance. The 3DMark results show scaling from 1874 with 2 threads to 6165 with max threads, suggesting the 6-core design handles increased thread counts efficiently. This is important for The Medium, which can utilize multiple threads for rendering and physics.

The processor's 77th percentile ranking among all CPUs places it above the majority of installed processors. Its average benchmark score of 25005 is nearly identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F, with a delta of just 0.2% (24964). This proximity in scores indicates that in CPU-bound scenarios, these two processors will deliver virtually identical frame rates. The 8400F's performance is also within 0.4% of the Intel Core i7-13620H, showing it competes well with mobile high-end chips.

For The Medium, the CPU's role is to feed the RTX 4080 with enough data to keep it busy. The data suggests it succeeds; at 1920x1080 with Low settings, the combo achieves 154 FPS, which is unlikely to be CPU-limited in most scenes. The 4.70 GHz boost clock ensures that single-threaded tasks, such as AI-driven camera work or entity updates, are handled promptly. The processor's 65 W TDP and AM5 socket make it a modern, efficient choice for a gaming build.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is the dominant component in this pairing, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process at TSMC. It features 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. The GPU has base and boost clocks of 2205 MHz and 2505 MHz respectively, with memory running at 22.4 Gbps effective. This memory configuration is more than sufficient for The Medium's asset streaming, even at 4K resolution.

With 9728 shading units, 304 TMUs, and 112 ROPs, the RTX 4080 provides substantial rasterization power. Its FP32 performance of 48.74 TFLOPS ensures high throughput in both standard rendering and compute-heavy tasks. The GPU includes 76 RT cores and 304 tensor cores, enabling hardware-accelerated ray tracing and DLSS if the game supports them, though this is not covered in the measured data.

The GPU's average benchmark score of 54247 places it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Its closest rival is the RTX 4080 SUPER, which scores 54209, a negligible 0.1% difference. This means the RTX 4080 is effectively tied with its SUPER variant in overall performance. It also outperforms the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X by 1.1% and the Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB by 2.6%, showing clear superiority over those alternatives.

In The Medium, the RTX 4080's performance scales predictably with resolution and settings. At 1080p, the GPU is often underutilized as frame rates hit 154 FPS on Low, but at 4K Ultra, it becomes the limiting factor, dropping to 45 FPS. The 16 GB VRAM capacity prevents memory-related stutters, even at 4K with High textures, as evidenced by the minimum FPS of 67 at 3840x2160 Medium settings. The GPU's 320 W TDP and triple-slot design indicate it requires robust cooling and a 700 W suggested PSU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data reveals a clear performance hierarchy across resolutions and settings. At 1920x1080, the combo delivers high frame rates across the board. Low settings produce an average of 154 FPS, while Medium settings yield 120 FPS with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS. High settings average 86 FPS, and Ultra presets drop to 68 FPS. This resolution is well-served, with even Ultra settings maintaining playable frame rates.

Moving to 2560x1440, the performance remains strong but shows the expected decline. Low settings average 146 FPS, barely lower than 1080p. Medium settings achieve 101 FPS with a minimum of 86 FPS and a maximum of 116 FPS, providing a smooth experience. High settings average 72 FPS, which is still above the 60 FPS threshold for most players. Ultra settings at 1440p average 57 FPS, dipping below the ideal 60 FPS mark but remaining largely playable.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 4080 starts to feel the pressure. Low settings average 127 FPS, still very playable. Medium settings average 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS, which is acceptable for 4K gaming. High settings drop to 57 FPS, making it a borderline choice for those sensitive to frame pacing. Ultra settings at 4K average only 45 FPS, which is below the standard for smooth action in a horror title.

The scaling pattern is consistent: moving from Low to Ultra at any resolution costs approximately 60-70% of the frame rate. At 1080p, the drop from 154 FPS to 68 FPS is a 56% decrease. At 1440p, the drop from 146 FPS to 57 FPS is a 61% decrease. At 4K, the drop from 127 FPS to 45 FPS is a 65% decrease. This indicates that the GPU's load scales more heavily with settings at higher resolutions, as expected.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 achieves a rank of 280 out of 3724 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the top 7.5% of all configurations, which is a strong result for a mid-range CPU paired with a high-end GPU. The ranking suggests that the CPU does not significantly hinder the GPU's performance in this game, as the combo outperforms the vast majority of alternatives.

The CPU's nearest rivals provide context for its contribution. The AMD Ryzen 5 7500F scores 24964, just 0.2% lower than the 8400F, meaning they are effectively interchangeable in this game. The Intel Core i7-11850H and i7-13620H also trail by 0.3% and 0.4% respectively, showing that the 8400F holds its own against both desktop and mobile competitors. This near-identical performance means that the combo's rank is primarily determined by the GPU.

On the GPU side, the RTX 4080's performance is nearly indistinguishable from the RTX 4080 SUPER, with a delta of only 0.1%. This suggests that the combo would rank almost identically if paired with the SUPER variant. The GPU's 86th percentile ranking indicates that it is a top-tier part, and its combination with a capable CPU yields a system that is well-suited for high-refresh-rate gaming.

The rank of 280 out of 3724 confirms the balance of this pairing. It is not the absolute top configuration, but it sits comfortably in the upper echelon. For a 6-core CPU, this is a strong showing, and it implies that users with this combo can expect performance that rivals systems with more expensive processors, as long as the GPU is the primary driver of frame rates.

Settings Recommendations

For a balanced experience at 1920x1080, High settings are recommended, delivering 86 FPS average. This provides a significant visual upgrade over Medium (120 FPS) while maintaining a frame rate high enough for any display. Ultra settings at 68 FPS are playable but offer diminishing returns over High. If maximizing frame rate is the priority, Low settings at 154 FPS are available, though the visual compromise is substantial.

At 2560x1440, High settings are the clear choice, averaging 72 FPS. This offers a solid 60+ FPS experience with good visuals. Medium settings at 101 FPS are also viable for those who prefer higher frame rates, with a minimum of 86 FPS ensuring smoothness. Ultra settings at 57 FPS are borderline; they are playable but may cause occasional dips below 60 FPS in heavy scenes. For a locked 60 FPS, High is the safe bet.

At 3840x2160, Medium settings are the recommended preset, averaging 79 FPS with a minimum of 67 FPS. This provides a playable 4K experience without sacrificing too much visual quality. High settings at 57 FPS are acceptable for those who prioritize visuals over frame rate, but the risk of drops below 60 FPS is present. Low settings at 127 FPS are overkill for 4K and suggest the GPU is being underutilized. Ultra settings at 45 FPS should be avoided for smooth gameplay.

The data indicates that Medium settings offer the best overall experience across all resolutions, as they provide a minimum frame rate of at least 67 FPS at 4K, 86 FPS at 1440p, and 102 FPS at 1080p. This preset balances visual fidelity with performance, ensuring a consistent and responsive experience. For users with 60 Hz displays, High settings at 1440p or 4K are also excellent choices, as they deliver average frame rates of 72 FPS and 57 FPS respectively, with the 1440p option being the safer choice for maintaining a locked 60 FPS.