The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 presents a specific performance profile in The Medium, a horror title known for its demanding visual presentation. The measured data reveals a system that is firmly constrained by the graphics card at higher resolutions, while the processor provides sufficient headroom to maintain playable frame rates at lower settings. This analysis breaks down the measured FPS across resolutions and settings, contextualizes the component roles, and positions this combo within the broader benchmark database.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is steep and clearly illustrates where the bottleneck lies. At Medium settings, the average frame rate falls from 47 FPS at 1920x1080 to 40 FPS at 2560x1440, a reduction of 7 FPS. Scaling further to 3840x2160 drops the average to 31 FPS, a cumulative decline of 16 FPS from the 1080p baseline. This pattern is consistent across all settings presets, with the most dramatic absolute drop occurring at Low settings, where the average goes from 75 FPS at 1080p to 63 FPS at 1440p, and finally to 50 FPS at 4K.

The data indicates that the GTX 1070 is the limiting component as resolution increases. The frame rate reduction from 1440p to 4K is proportionally larger than the reduction from 1080p to 1440p, which is a classic sign of the GPU hitting its pixel throughput ceiling. For instance, at High settings, the average is 34 FPS at 1080p, 28 FPS at 1440p, and 22 FPS at 4K. The delta between each step is roughly 6 FPS, but the percentage drop increases at higher resolutions, confirming that the graphics card's pixel fill rate and memory bandwidth are being saturated.

This behavior suggests that the CPU is not the primary constraint in this game. While the Ryzen 7 3700X has 8 cores and 16 threads, the frame rate scaling follows the GPU's capabilities almost linearly with resolution. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see a plateau in performance at lower resolutions, where the GPU has less work to do. Instead, the game continues to scale with resolution, albeit with diminishing returns, which points to the GTX 1070's 8 GB of GDDR5 memory and 256-bit bus being the key factor.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a Zen 2 architecture processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, base clock of 3.60 GHz and boost clock of 4.40 GHz. In The Medium, the CPU's role appears to be secondary to the GPU, as evidenced by the consistent frame rate scaling across resolutions. The processor's multi-threaded capabilities, reflected in a Passmark multithread score of 22458 and a Cinebench R15 multicore score of 2092, provide ample processing power for the game's logic and physics.

The benchmark data shows that at 1080p Low settings, the combo achieves 75 FPS average, which is the highest measured frame rate in the dataset. This indicates that the Ryzen 7 3700X is capable of feeding the GTX 1070 enough data to reach high frame rates when the graphical load is light. The CPU's 32 MB of L3 cache and dual-channel DDR4 memory support help maintain smooth frame pacing, though the game's performance is more closely tied to the GPU's output.

The processor's percentile ranking of 84 versus all CPUs places it well above average, and its nearest rivals include the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 with a score delta of 0.1%, and the Intel Core i5-13450HX with a delta of -0.2%. This suggests that the 3700X is competitive with modern mid-range processors, and in The Medium, it does not appear to create a significant bottleneck, even at 1080p where CPU load tends to be higher relative to GPU load.

It is importantly the game's fixed-camera angles and pre-rendered elements may limit the CPU's workload, allowing the 3700X to maintain consistent performance. The measured FPS at 1080p Ultra is 27 FPS, which is only slightly higher than the 4K High result of 22 FPS, indicating that the CPU is not the limiting factor even at the highest settings. The processor's 65W TDP and active production status suggest it is a reliable partner for this GPU, but the data clearly shows that the graphics card dictates the overall performance ceiling.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 is the dominant component in this pairing, with its Pascal architecture and 8 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus providing 256.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock of 1506 MHz and boost clock of 1683 MHz are modest by modern standards, but the card's 1920 shading units and 64 ROPs are what drive the pixel throughput. The measured FPS data shows that the GTX 1070 is the primary constraint in The Medium, especially at higher resolutions.

At 4K Ultra, the combo averages only 18 FPS, which is nearly unplayable. Dropping to 4K High yields 22 FPS, while 4K Medium delivers 31 FPS with a minimum of 26 FPS. The only playable 4K option is Low, which achieves 50 FPS average. This pattern highlights the GPU's inability to handle the game's volumetric effects and high-resolution textures at higher settings. The GTX 1070's 47th percentile ranking versus all GPUs places it in the middle of the pack, and its nearest rivals include the AMD FirePro W5000 with a delta of -0.2% and the NVIDIA Quadro M2000M with a delta of -0.5%, which are professional-grade cards with different performance characteristics.

The GPU's memory bandwidth appears to be a critical factor. At 1440p Medium, the average is 40 FPS with a minimum of 34 FPS, which is playable but not smooth. The transition from 1080p Medium (47 FPS) to 1440p Medium (40 FPS) shows a 7 FPS drop, while the jump to 4K Medium (31 FPS) shows a further 9 FPS drop. This suggests that the 8 GB frame buffer is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the memory capacity and bandwidth become limiting, forcing the card to drop to lower settings for acceptable performance.

The GPU's DirectX 12 support (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4 API compatibility are relevant, as The Medium may leverage these features, but the card's age shows in the measured frame rates. The GTX 1070's Passmark G3D score of 13498 and 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1082 confirm its mid-range status, and in this game, it behaves as expected: capable at 1080p, marginal at 1440p, and struggling at 4K.

How This Combo Ranks

This specific combination of AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 ranks 3082 out of 3724 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the lower 17.2% of all configurations, indicating that it is on the weaker end for this particular title. The rank reflects the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is a relatively strong performer, but the overall system is held back by the graphics card.

The combo's ranking is not surprising given the GTX 1070's age and the game's demanding nature. Compared to other tested combos, this pairing is likely outclassed by systems with newer GPUs that have higher memory bandwidth and more shading units. The data shows that at 1080p, the system can achieve decent frame rates, but at 1440p and above, it falls behind more modern configurations. The combo's rank suggests that users with this setup should expect to play at 1080p with Medium to High settings for a smooth experience, rather than pushing higher resolutions.

The CPU's percentile of 84 versus all CPUs and the GPU's percentile of 47 versus all GPUs create an imbalance. This is a common scenario where a mid-range GPU is paired with a higher-end CPU, leading to a GPU-bound system in most games. In The Medium, the combo's rank of 3082 out of 3724 confirms that the GTX 1070 is the weak link, and upgrading the GPU would yield a more significant performance improvement than upgrading the CPU.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the system's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. The following table summarizes the average FPS for each configuration:

| Resolution | Settings | Avg FPS | Min FPS | Max FPS |

|------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|

| 1920x1080 | Low | 75 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 47 | 40 | 54 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 34 | - | - |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 27 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 63 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 40 | 34 | 45 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 28 | - | - |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 22 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 50 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 31 | 26 | 36 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 22 | - | - |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 18 | - | - |

At 1080p, the system performs best at Low settings with an average of 75 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors. Medium settings drop to 47 FPS, which is still playable, while High and Ultra produce 34 FPS and 27 FPS respectively. The 1080p Medium preset shows a minimum FPS of 40 and a maximum of 54, indicating some frame time variance but generally stable performance.

Moving to 1440p, the Low preset maintains a playable 63 FPS average, but Medium drops to 40 FPS, and High falls to 28 FPS. Ultra is only 22 FPS, which is borderline unplayable. The 1440p Medium preset has a minimum of 34 FPS and a maximum of 45 FPS, showing tighter frame times than the 1080p Medium preset, likely due to the GPU being more consistently loaded.

At 4K, only the Low preset is playable with 50 FPS average. Medium drops to 31 FPS with a minimum of 26 FPS, which may cause noticeable stutter. High is 22 FPS and Ultra is 18 FPS, both of which are too low for smooth gameplay. The data shows a clear pattern: the system can handle 1080p and 1440p at lower settings, but 4K requires sacrificing quality significantly.

FAQ

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

A: The data shows that 1920x1080 is the only resolution where the system can achieve an average above 60 FPS, specifically at Low settings with 75 FPS. At 1440p, the highest average is 63 FPS at Low settings, while 4K peaks at 50 FPS at Low settings.

*Q: Can this system run The Medium at 4K?*

A: Yes, but only at Low settings, which achieves a 50 FPS average. Medium settings at 4K drop to 31 FPS, which may be too low for comfortable gameplay, and High and Ultra settings produce 22 FPS and 18 FPS respectively.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its rivals?

A: The Ryzen 7 3700X has a Passmark multithread score of 22458, placing it at the 84th percentile. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, has an average score of 34222 with a delta of 0.1%, meaning they perform nearly identically in synthetic benchmarks.

Q: What is the GPU's performance percentile?

A: The GTX 1070 sits at the 47th percentile versus all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 9780. Its nearest rival, the AMD FirePro W5000, has an average score of 9803 with a delta of -0.2%, indicating they are closely matched.

Q: Which settings preset provides the best balance of quality and performance?

A: At 1080p, Medium settings offer a 47 FPS average with a minimum of 40 FPS, which is a good balance. At 1440p, Low settings are the only option for smooth gameplay at 63 FPS, while Medium drops to 40 FPS.

Q: Is the system CPU-bound or GPU-bound?

A: The data indicates the system is GPU-bound, as frame rates scale proportionally with resolution. The CPU's 8 cores and 16 threads are sufficient for this game, as evidenced by the high frame rates at 1080p Low, where the CPU has more headroom.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend on the target resolution and acceptable frame rate. For a smooth 60 FPS experience, the only viable option is 1920x1080 at Low settings, which achieves 75 FPS average. This preset sacrifices visual fidelity but provides the best performance.

For a balance between quality and performance, 1080p Medium is recommended, as it delivers a 47 FPS average with a minimum of 40 FPS. This is slightly below 60 FPS but should be stable enough for most players. The Medium preset at 1080p offers a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining playable frame rates.

At 1440p, the Low preset is the only recommendation for consistent gameplay, with a 63 FPS average. Medium settings at 1440p drop to 40 FPS, which is acceptable but may be too inconsistent for some players. If 1440p is a priority, the user should accept the visual compromises of Low settings.

For 4K, the system should be configured at Low settings to achieve a 50 FPS average. Higher settings at 4K produce frame rates below 35 FPS, which are not recommended for a playable experience. The data clearly shows that this combo is best suited for 1080p gaming, with 1440p possible at reduced settings and 4K only feasible at minimal quality.