The Medium

The Medium is a game that leverages fixed camera angles and a split-world mechanic, which places distinct demands on both the processor and the graphics card. This analysis examines the performance of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, using the measured frame rate data to understand how this combination handles the game's horror atmosphere. The benchmark results show a pairing where the GPU's raw power is often held in check by the game's engine, while the CPU's eight-core design provides a stable foundation for the title's unique rendering requirements.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a Zen 2 architecture processor built on TSMC's 7 nm process, featuring 8 cores and 16 threads. Its base clock of 3.60 GHz can boost up to 4.40 GHz, providing the kind of multi-threaded headroom that a game like The Medium might leverage for its simultaneous rendering of two worlds. The CPU’s 32 MB of L3 cache is substantial, and its benchmark scores place it in the 85th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 28,631. This positions it as a capable mid-range part from the 3000 series, though its nearest rivals, such as the Intel Core i5-12600, show it is not a top-tier performer, with a negligible delta of -0.1%.

In the measured FPS data, the CPU's influence is most apparent at lower resolutions where the GPU is less likely to be the primary bottleneck. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves 111.9 FPS, but moving to Ultra settings at the same resolution only drops the frame rate to 77.9 FPS. This relatively small spread suggests that the CPU is managing the game's logic and physics without major issues, even as the graphical load increases. The processor’s score of 19,087 in Cinebench R23 multi-core indicates strong parallel processing capability, which is critical for The Medium's dual-reality mechanic that requires simultaneous simulation and rendering of two distinct environments. However, the data also shows that the CPU is not the limiting factor in most scenarios; the frame rates are more heavily influenced by the GPU and the game's settings.

The Ryzen 7 3700X's 65-watt TDP and support for DDR4 memory via a dual-channel bus are standard for its generation. Its benchmark results show a single-thread score of 2,694 in Cinebench R23, which is respectable but not exceptional. For a game that may rely on a few primary threads for the main character's interactions, this single-core performance is adequate, yet not a standout feature. The data suggests that while the CPU is not a weak link, it does not boost performance either; it simply provides enough processing power to keep up with the RTX 4090 in this specific title, without contributing to any frame rate ceilings that the GPU might set.

FAQ — 4-6 Q&A pairs answerable from FACT PACK data

Q: What is the best average frame rate this combo achieves in The Medium?

A: The highest measured average frame rate is 111.9 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 resolution with Low settings. This is the peak performance point in the data, showing the combo's maximum capability when graphical demands are minimized.

Q: How does this combo's performance rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 282nd out of 1,689 tested combinations, placing it in the top 17% of all systems tested. This indicates that while it is a strong performer, there are numerous other CPU-GPU pairings that produce higher frame rates in this game.

Q: What is the difference in performance between the CPU and GPU's nearest rivals?

A: The CPU's average benchmark score is 28,631, which is 0.1% lower than the Intel Core i5-12600's score of 28,654. The GPU's average score is 66,473, which is 0.4% lower than the NVIDIA Tesla T4's score of 66,733, showing that both components are closely matched with their direct competitors.

Q: Does the RTX 4090's performance in this game align with its overall GPU benchmark percentile?

A: The GPU holds a 91st percentile ranking among all GPUs, but its performance in The Medium does not consistently reflect this top-tier status. For instance, at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 52.9 FPS, which is not indicative of a flagship-level GPU, suggesting the game's engine is limiting the card's potential.

Q: What is the frame rate impact of moving from High to Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, High settings produce 78 FPS, while Ultra settings reduce the average to 61.5 FPS. This is a drop of 16.5 FPS, indicating that the Ultra preset imposes a significant performance penalty over High.

Q: Is there a resolution where the frame rate remains consistently smooth across all settings?

A: At 1920x1080, all settings produce frame rates above 77 FPS, with Low at 111.9, Medium at 93.5, High at 81.7, and Ultra at 77.9. This resolution provides the most stable experience, with no setting dropping below the 60 FPS threshold.

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

The benchmark data reveals a clear pattern of frame rate degradation as resolution increases, but the extent of this drop varies significantly by settings preset. At Low settings, the frame rate goes from 111.9 FPS at 1080p to 104.9 FPS at 1440p, and then down to 99.5 FPS at 4K. This is a total drop of only 12.4 FPS from the lowest to highest resolution, representing a mere 11% decrease. This small delta strongly suggests that at Low settings, the system is not fully GPU-bound; the CPU and memory are likely contributing to the performance ceiling, as the GPU is not being pushed hard enough to become the sole bottleneck.

In contrast, at Ultra settings, the frame rate plummets from 77.9 FPS at 1080p to 61.5 FPS at 1440p, and then to 52.9 FPS at 4K. This represents a 25 FPS drop, or a 32% reduction from 1080p to 4K. The more aggressive scaling at Ultra settings indicates that the GPU is becoming the primary limiting factor as the pixel count increases. The RTX 4090, despite its massive 24 GB of GDDR6X memory and 1.01 TB/s bandwidth, is being overwhelmed by the combination of high resolution and intensive graphical effects. The data implies that for this specific game, the GPU's performance is heavily taxed by the Ultra preset, particularly at higher resolutions, where the frame rate dips below 60 FPS.

The pattern across all settings shows that 1080p is the only resolution where the combo maintains frame rates above 77 FPS for every preset. At 1440p, the Ultra setting drops to 61.5 FPS, which is still playable but approaches the edge of smoothness. At 4K, only Low and Medium settings stay above 60 FPS, with High and Ultra falling below. This scaling behavior suggests that the game's engine is more sensitive to resolution increases at higher detail levels, and the RTX 4090's raw compute power, while substantial, is not sufficient to brute-force Ultra settings at 4K in this title.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 achieves a rank of 282 out of 1,689 tested combos in The Medium. This places the pairing in the 83rd percentile of all systems tested, meaning it outperforms 1,407 other combinations. However, this ranking is notable for what it reveals about the pairing's efficiency. The RTX 4090 is one of the most powerful consumer GPUs available, often ranking near the top of any GPU benchmark list. Yet, when paired with the Ryzen 7 3700X, the combo does not reach the top 10% or even the top 15% of tested systems.

This rank suggests that the CPU is holding back the GPU's potential. The Ryzen 7 3700X, while a solid 8-core processor, is not in the same performance tier as the RTX 4090. The CPU's average benchmark score of 28,631 is only slightly above the AMD Ryzen 5 5600XT's score of 28,591, with a delta of 0.1%. This indicates that the 3700X is a mid-range part that cannot fully feed the RTX 4090's immense processing capabilities in a game that has significant CPU overhead. The data implies that a more powerful CPU, with higher single-thread performance or more cache, would likely push this combo higher in the rankings.

The gap between the GPU's 91st percentile ranking and the combo's 83rd percentile ranking is a clear indicator of a bottleneck. The RTX 4090 is performing below its potential due to the CPU's limitations. This is not to say the combo performs poorly; 282nd out of 1,689 is a strong result, but it is a suboptimal pairing. The data suggests that users with this CPU would benefit more from a less powerful GPU, or that those with an RTX 4090 should consider a newer, faster processor to unlock the card's full potential in The Medium.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the most balanced experience is achieved at Medium settings. At 1080p, Medium produces 93.5 FPS, which is only 18.4 FPS less than Low but provides a significant visual upgrade. At 1440p, Medium yields 86.3 FPS, maintaining a high level of smoothness while offering better detail than Low. Even at 4K, Medium manages 79.7 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold for a playable experience. The Medium preset appears to strike the best compromise between visual fidelity and performance across all resolutions.

For users prioritizing frame rate above all else, Low settings offer the highest performance, with 111.9 FPS at 1080p and 99.5 FPS at 4K. However, this preset likely sacrifices too much visual quality for a game that relies heavily on atmosphere and environmental detail. The High preset is a viable alternative, offering 81.7 FPS at 1080p and 78 FPS at 1440p, but it falls below 60 FPS at 4K with 61.3 FPS. The Ultra preset is only recommended for users with 1080p displays, where it achieves 77.9 FPS, but its performance at higher resolutions is insufficient for a smooth experience.

The data indicates that Medium is the "sweet spot" for this combo, providing frame rates that are consistently above 79 FPS at all tested resolutions. This is particularly impressive at 4K, where Medium is the highest setting that maintains a frame rate above 60 FPS. The gap between Medium and High at 4K is significant, with a drop from 79.7 FPS to 61.3 FPS, suggesting that the High preset introduces effects that are disproportionately taxing on the GPU. Therefore, the recommendation is to use Medium settings for the best balance of visual quality and performance.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its strongest performance across all settings. Low settings produce an average of 111.9 FPS, which is the highest frame rate recorded in the entire dataset. Medium settings follow at 93.5 FPS, offering a substantial 18.4 FPS reduction for improved visuals. High settings yield 81.7 FPS, and Ultra settings, while still playable, drop to 77.9 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra at 1080p is 34 FPS, showing that the GPU has significant headroom at this resolution.

At 2560x1440, the performance scales down predictably. Low settings still deliver a high 104.9 FPS, but the drop from 1080p is 7 FPS. Medium settings produce 86.3 FPS, which is a 7.2 FPS decrease from 1080p. High settings fall to 78 FPS, a 3.7 FPS reduction, while Ultra settings drop to 61.5 FPS, a 16.4 FPS decrease from 1080p. The Ultra preset at 1440p is the first configuration to approach the 60 FPS boundary, indicating that this resolution is where the Ultra preset begins to strain the GPU.

At 3840x2160, the frame rates show the most significant impact of resolution scaling. Low settings maintain 99.5 FPS, which is still excellent, but Medium drops to 79.7 FPS. High settings fall to 61.3 FPS, barely above the 60 FPS threshold, and Ultra settings drop to 52.9 FPS, which is the lowest frame rate in the entire dataset. The 4K resolution exposes the GPU's limitations, as the RTX 4090 cannot maintain high frame rates with the more demanding presets. The data shows a clear hierarchy: Low settings are always the fastest, followed by Medium, then High, and finally Ultra, with the gaps between settings widening as resolution increases.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 is a monster of a graphics card, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process. Its 24 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 384-bit bus provides a massive 1.01 TB/s of bandwidth, which is more than sufficient for The Medium's texture and geometry data. The GPU's base clock of 2235 MHz and boost clock of 2520 MHz are high, and its 16,384 shading units deliver a peak FP32 performance of 82.58 TFLOPS. This hardware is designed to crush any game at high resolutions, yet the measured FPS data shows that it struggles with the Ultra preset at 4K.

The GPU's benchmark scores reflect its power, with a Passmark G3D score of 38,194 and a 91st percentile ranking among all GPUs. However, in The Medium, the RTX 4090's performance is not consistently top-tier. The data shows that at 4K Ultra, the frame rate drops to 52.9 FPS, which is below the 60 FPS target that most gamers consider smooth. This is surprising given the GPU's capabilities, and it points to the game's engine having specific bottlenecks that even this powerful hardware cannot overcome.

The GPU's memory capacity of 24 GB is likely not a limiting factor, as The Medium is not a game that would require that much VRAM at these settings. Instead, the performance drop at Ultra settings is more likely related to the GPU's compute units being saturated with the game's advanced lighting and shadow effects. The RTX 4090's 128 RT cores and 512 tensor cores, which are designed for ray tracing and DLSS, may not be fully utilized by The Medium, as the game may rely more on traditional rasterization techniques. The data suggests that the GPU's raw rasterization power, while immense, is not enough to deliver 60+ FPS at 4K Ultra in this specific title, indicating that the game's engine is the primary constraint.