The Medium

Resolution Scaling

The measured frame rates for The Medium show a pronounced sensitivity to resolution, but the pattern is not uniform across all settings presets. At 1080p with Low settings, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti combination delivers 109.5 FPS average. Moving to 1440p Low drops this to 103.1 FPS, a relatively modest reduction of about 6% from the 1080p figure. At 4K Low, the average falls further to 98.3 FPS, meaning the Low preset retains a surprisingly stable performance envelope even at the highest resolution tested. This suggests that at Low settings, the workload is not heavily taxing the GPU, and the frame rate stays near the CPU-driven ceiling even as pixel count quadruples from 1080p to 4K.

The Medium preset tells a different story. At 1080p Medium, the system produces 95.5 FPS. At 1440p Medium, that drops to 75.4 FPS, a decline of roughly 21%. At 4K Medium, the average is exactly 60 FPS, representing a further 20% drop from 1440p. This scaling curve indicates that Medium settings begin to shift the bottleneck toward the GPU, though the RTX 3080 Ti still has enough headroom to maintain a playable 60 FPS at 4K. The transition from 1080p to 1440p is steeper than from 1440p to 4K, which is typical for a GPU with substantial memory bandwidth.

High settings amplify the resolution penalty. At 1080p High, the average is 65.8 FPS. At 1440p High, this falls to 54.6 FPS, a decline of about 17%. At 4K High, the average drops to 42.6 FPS, another 22% reduction. The High preset clearly places the RTX 3080 Ti under significant load at higher resolutions. The 4K High result of 42.6 FPS is below the 60 FPS threshold commonly considered smooth, indicating that this preset is too demanding for 4K on this hardware combination.

Ultra settings show the steepest degradation. The 1080p Ultra average is 54.9 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, the average falls to 45.9 FPS, a 16% drop. At 4K Ultra, the average plummets to 34.9 FPS, another 24% reduction from 1440p. The spread from 1080p Ultra to 4K Ultra is 20 FPS, the largest absolute difference among all presets. This data reveals that Ultra settings push the GPU to its limits, and the RTX 3080 Ti cannot maintain a consistent 60 FPS at any resolution when Ultra is enabled.

Overall, the resolution scaling behavior indicates that The Medium is primarily GPU-bound at Medium and above, while Low settings approach a CPU or engine-level limit. The RTX 3080 Ti, with its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 384-bit bus, has ample bandwidth for 4K, but the rendering workload at High and Ultra exceeds its capabilities for smooth play.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 2 architecture, codenamed Matisse, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It has a base clock of 3.60 GHz and a boost clock of 4.40 GHz. In the context of The Medium, the CPU's role appears secondary to the GPU at most settings, but it still exerts influence at Low presets.

At 1080p Low, the system reaches 109.5 FPS, which is the highest average across all tested configurations. This figure suggests that the CPU can feed the GPU sufficiently at lower graphical loads, but it also implies a ceiling—the frame rate does not scale much higher even when the GPU is less burdened. At 1440p Low, the average is 103.1 FPS, and at 4K Low, it is 98.3 FPS. The relatively small gap between 1080p and 4K Low (about 11 FPS) indicates that the CPU is not the limiting factor at Low settings; rather, the GPU still handles the pixel throughput, but the overall workload is light enough that the system maintains high frame rates across all resolutions.

The Ryzen 7 3700X's single-thread performance, as measured by benchmarks, is modest compared to newer parts. Its Cinebench R23 single-core score is 2694, and its Passmark single-thread score is 2656. In a horror game like The Medium, which likely relies on scripted sequences and fixed camera angles, single-thread performance can matter for frame pacing. However, the measured FPS data does not show a dramatic CPU bottleneck, as even the 1080p Low result of 109.5 FPS is not exceptionally high for a modern gaming system.

The CPU's multi-threaded capabilities, highlighted by a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 19087 and a Passmark multithread score of 22458, suggest that the 16 threads are more than sufficient for the game's background tasks, such as audio processing and AI. The 32 MB of L3 cache provides ample room for game data, though the game's actual cache usage is not detailed in the measurements. The CPU's percentile rank of 85 among all processors indicates it is a capable part, but it ranks slightly below the Intel Core i5-12600 in average benchmark score, with a delta of -0.1%. This proximity suggests that the 3700X is not a bottleneck in most gaming scenarios, including The Medium.

Benchmark results also show that the CPU's performance is close to the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT (deltaPct 0.1%) and the AMD EPYC 7203P (deltaPct 0.2%). These rival deltas are negligible, meaning the 3700X performs on par with these parts in aggregate. For The Medium specifically, the data indicates that the CPU is not the primary constraint; even at 1080p Low, the frame rate is more likely limited by the game engine or the GPU's rendering overhead rather than by the processor's compute capabilities.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings preset depends on the target resolution and desired frame rate. For players seeking a consistent 60 FPS experience, the Medium preset at 4K delivers exactly 60 FPS on average. This is the only 4K configuration that meets the 60 FPS target, making Medium the recommended choice for 4K displays. At 1440p, Medium yields 75.4 FPS, which is comfortably above 60 FPS and provides a smoother experience. At 1080p, Medium produces 95.5 FPS, which is excellent for high-refresh-rate monitors, though it falls short of the Low preset's 109.5 FPS.

For users who prioritize visual fidelity over frame rate, the High preset at 1080p offers 65.8 FPS, which is still above 60 FPS and should be playable. However, at 1440p High, the average drops to 54.6 FPS, which may introduce noticeable stutter on standard 60 Hz displays. At 4K High, the 42.6 FPS average is below the smooth threshold, and the experience would likely feel sluggish. Therefore, High settings are only recommended at 1080p for this hardware combination.

The Ultra preset is not recommended for any resolution. At 1080p Ultra, the average is 54.9 FPS, which is marginally below 60 FPS. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 45.9 FPS, and at 4K Ultra, it falls to 34.9 FPS. These figures indicate that Ultra settings impose a heavy rendering load that the RTX 3080 Ti cannot sustain at playable frame rates. The visual improvement from High to Ultra may not justify the performance cost, especially at higher resolutions.

The Low preset, while offering the highest frame rates (109.5 FPS at 1080p, 103.1 FPS at 1440p, 98.3 FPS at 4K), likely sacrifices significant visual quality in a horror game where atmosphere and lighting are crucial. The data suggests that the Medium preset provides the best balance between image quality and performance across all resolutions, as it maintains at least 60 FPS at 4K and exceeds 75 FPS at 1440p. For 1080p users, Medium is also a strong choice, with 95.5 FPS offering a smooth experience without the visual downgrades of Low.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution to play The Medium with this hardware?

A: The data shows that 1440p with Medium settings yields 75.4 FPS, which is a good balance. At 4K Medium, the average is exactly 60 FPS, making it viable for 60 Hz displays. 1080p Medium reaches 95.5 FPS for higher refresh rates.

Q: Can the RTX 3080 Ti handle 4K in The Medium?

A: Yes, but only at Medium settings, where the average FPS is 60. At High settings, 4K drops to 42.6 FPS, and at Ultra, it falls to 34.9 FPS, both below the smooth 60 FPS threshold.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 3700X a bottleneck in this game?

A: The data indicates no significant CPU bottleneck. At 1080p Low, the system reaches 109.5 FPS, and the frame rate drops only slightly to 98.3 FPS at 4K Low, suggesting the CPU is sufficient for the game's demands across all tested settings.

Q: How does the RTX 3080 Ti compare to its nearest rivals in this context?

A: The RTX 3080 Ti has an average benchmark score of 41224, which is 0.5% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (41441) and 1.1% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 (41687). These are minimal differences, indicating similar performance tiers.

Q: What frame rate can I expect at 1080p with Ultra settings?

A: The measured average is 54.9 FPS at 1080p Ultra, which is slightly below 60 FPS. This preset is not recommended for smooth gameplay.

Q: Does the game's performance scale linearly with resolution?

A: No. The scaling is non-linear. For example, at Medium settings, moving from 1080p to 1440p reduces FPS by about 21%, while moving from 1440p to 4K reduces it by another 20%. At Ultra, the drops are 16% and 24%, respectively.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the primary driver of performance in The Medium, as evidenced by the resolution scaling patterns. This GPU features 12 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s. Its boost clock is 1665 MHz, and it has 10240 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 112 ROPs. The 80 RT cores and 320 tensor cores are present but their specific impact on this game is not quantified in the measured data.

The GPU's memory capacity of 12 GB is sufficient for 4K textures, as the game does not appear to run out of memory at any tested setting, given that the frame rates do not show sudden drops indicative of swapping. The high bandwidth of 912.4 GB/s ensures that texture streaming and memory-intensive effects at 4K do not starve the processing units. This is reflected in the fact that the frame rate drops from 1080p to 4K are consistent across presets, rather than collapsing at 4K due to memory limitations.

The RTX 3080 Ti's compute capabilities are substantial, with a FP32 performance of 34.10 TFLOPS. In The Medium, which likely uses deferred rendering and volumetric effects for its horror atmosphere, the GPU's raw throughput is the key factor. At Medium settings, the GPU manages 60 FPS at 4K, but at High and Ultra, the added effects (likely including more demanding lighting and shadow calculations) push the average below 60 FPS at 1440p and 4K. The 1080p High result of 65.8 FPS shows that the GPU is capable of high frame rates when pixel count is lower, but the workload scales quickly with resolution.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 83rd percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 41224. Its nearest rival, the RTX 3090, scores 41441, a delta of -0.5%, indicating that the 3080 Ti is nearly identical in performance to the higher-tier card. The AMD Radeon Pro 5300 scores 41610 (delta -0.9%), and the RTX 5070 scores 41687 (delta -1.1%). These small deltas mean that the 3080 Ti is well-positioned in the high-end segment, and its gaming performance in The Medium is consistent with its compute capabilities.

The GPU's power draw is listed at 350 W TDP, and it requires a 750 W suggested PSU, but these are not directly reflected in the FPS measurements. The card's dual-slot design and 285 mm length are physical characteristics that do not influence the benchmark data. What the data does show is that the RTX 3080 Ti is the limiting component at High and Ultra settings, particularly at 1440p and 4K, where the frame rates fall below 60 FPS. At Low and Medium, the GPU has enough headroom to maintain higher frame rates, with the CPU and game engine becoming relatively more influential.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The complete set of measured average FPS values for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti in The Medium is as follows:

At 1920x1080 (1080p), the Low preset achieves the highest average FPS at 109.5. The Medium preset follows with 95.5 FPS, a reduction of 14 FPS from Low. High settings produce 65.8 FPS, which is 29.7 FPS lower than Medium. Ultra settings yield 54.9 FPS, a further 10.9 FPS drop from High. The spread from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 54.6 FPS.

At 2560x1440 (1440p), the Low preset delivers 103.1 FPS. Medium settings drop this to 75.4 FPS, a decline of 27.7 FPS. High settings further reduce the average to 54.6 FPS, a drop of 20.8 FPS from Medium. Ultra settings produce 45.9 FPS, which is 8.7 FPS lower than High. The total spread from Low to Ultra at 1440p is 57.2 FPS.

At 3840x2160 (4K), the Low preset reaches 98.3 FPS. Medium settings fall to 60 FPS exactly, a reduction of 38.3 FPS. High settings drop to 42.6 FPS, a decrease of 17.4 FPS from Medium. Ultra settings yield 34.9 FPS, which is 7.7 FPS lower than High. The total spread from Low to Ultra at 4K is 63.4 FPS.

Comparing across resolutions for each preset, the Low preset shows the least variation: 109.5 FPS at 1080p, 103.1 FPS at 1440p, and 98.3 FPS at 4K, a total drop of 11.2 FPS from 1080p to 4K. The Medium preset shows a larger drop: 95.5 to 75.4 to 60 FPS, a total drop of 35.5 FPS. The High preset drops from 65.8 to 54.6 to 42.6 FPS, a total decline of 23.2 FPS from 1080p to 4K. The Ultra preset drops from 54.9 to 45.9 to 34.9 FPS, a total decline of 20 FPS from 1080p to 4K.

The data reveals that the Low preset is the only one that maintains an average above 90 FPS at all resolutions. The Medium preset is the only one that achieves exactly 60 FPS at 4K. The High and Ultra presets fall below 60 FPS at 1440p and 4K, with Ultra also slightly below 60 FPS at 1080p. The combination's rank in this game is 576 out of 1689 tested combos, placing it in the upper third of all configurations, which is consistent with the high-end nature of the GPU and the capable mid-range CPU.