The Medium

The Medium is a demanding horror title that relies heavily on both GPU and CPU resources, and the pairing of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D with the Intel Arc B570 produces a specific set of performance characteristics across resolutions. The data shows a system that is capable of smooth gameplay at lower settings, but one that will require careful settings management to maintain playable frame rates at higher resolutions. This analysis breaks down the measured results to explain how the components interact and what users can expect from this specific combo.

Resolution Scaling

The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is severe, clearly indicating that the Intel Arc B570 is the primary limiting factor at higher resolutions. At 1080p with Low settings, the combo achieves an average of 78 FPS. Moving to 1440p at the same settings drops the average to 66 FPS, a reduction of 12 FPS. At 4K, the average plummets to 52 FPS, which is a 26 FPS drop from the 1080p result. This trend shows a steep decline, but even the 4K Low result remains technically playable.

The scaling pattern becomes more concerning when looking at higher quality presets. With Medium settings, the average FPS goes from 49 at 1080p to 41 at 1440p, and then down to 32 at 4K. This 4K result, with a minimum of 27 FPS and a maximum of 37 FPS, is on the edge of playability for a game that benefits from consistent frame pacing. At High settings, the situation becomes more difficult: the combo delivers 35 FPS at 1080p, 29 FPS at 1440p, and only 23 FPS at 4K. The Ultra preset is the most demanding, with 28 FPS at 1080p, 23 FPS at 1440p, and a very low 18 FPS at 4K.

The nature of the bottleneck is evident in the scaling between 1080p and 1440p. The FPS drops are substantial, but the system is not completely collapsing, which suggests that while the GPU is stressed, it is not the only factor at play. The data indicates that the 5700X3D is keeping up, but the B570's raw throughput is insufficient for high-resolution, high-detail gaming in this title. The difference between the 1080p Low at 78 FPS and the 1080p Ultra at 28 FPS shows that the GPU workload increases much more with settings than with resolution alone, making settings adjustments a more effective tool than resolution scaling for improving performance.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570's specifications provide context for the performance ceiling observed in the measured results. It features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, which provides a bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. The GPU is based on the Xe2-HPG architecture (Battlemage generation) and is built on a 5 nm process. Its base and boost clocks are both 2500 MHz, and it has 2304 shading units. The card also has 18 ray tracing cores and outputs 11.52 TFLOPS of FP32 compute power.

The 10 GB VRAM buffer is a relevant factor for a game like The Medium, which can be memory-hungry at higher resolutions. At 4K with Ultra settings, the GPU is likely under significant memory pressure, which can cause frame time spikes and stutter. The benchmark results show a minimum FPS of 27 at 4K Medium, which is a 5 FPS gap from the average of 32, indicating some inconsistency. The 380.0 GB/s of bandwidth is moderate for a modern GPU, and the data suggests it is not enough to maintain high frame rates at 4K when combined with the card's raw compute power.

The B570's performance relative to its rivals, based on the average benchmark score, places it in a specific tier. Its average benchmark score is 20556, which is virtually identical to the Intel Arc A750 (20582) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534). In practical terms, the measured FPS in The Medium align with what one would expect from a GPU in this performance class: capable at 1080p, acceptable at 1440p with tweaks, and struggling at 4K. The GPU's 65th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates it is a mid-to-upper-tier performer, but not a high-end solution. The data confirms that the B570 is the component that dictates the playable settings in this specific game.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D is a strong partner for the Arc B570, as its 8 cores and 16 threads provide ample processing power for The Medium. The CPU has a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a boost clock of 4.10 GHz, and it features a large 96 MB of shared L3 cache, which is a hallmark of the X3D series. This large cache is often beneficial in games that rely on complex scene data and physics calculations, which The Medium does with its dual-reality mechanic.

The CPU's benchmark scores show its multi-threaded prowess. It scores 22366 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 9393 in Cinebench R20 multi-core. Its single-thread performance is also respectable, with a Cinebench R23 single-core score of 3157. In the context of this game, the CPU role is to feed the GPU with draw calls and handle the game's logic. The measured FPS data suggests that the 5700X3D is not the bottleneck at 1080p, as the system achieves 78 FPS on Low settings, which is likely near the game engine's own limits.

The 5700X3D's average benchmark score is 24709, which places it in the 77th percentile of all CPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D, has an average score of 24728, a difference of only -0.1%. This indicates that the 5700X3D is performing right at its expected level. The data from the measured FPS shows that even at 4K, the CPU is not causing frame rates to collapse completely, as the 4K Low result of 52 FPS is still a reasonable number. The CPU's role is to provide a stable platform, and the benchmark results indicate it does so effectively, leaving the GPU as the definitive performance limiter.

How This Combo Ranks

The combo of the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D and Intel Arc B570 is ranked 2321 out of 2911 tested combos in this game, placing it in the lower half of all possible pairings. This rank is a direct consequence of the GPU's limitations, as the CPU is a high-performing part. The rank reflects the overall gaming experience, which is heavily weighted towards the GPU's ability to render frames.

This ranking means that the vast majority of other CPU/GPU combos tested will outperform this specific pairing in The Medium. However, this rank should be interpreted with context. The 5700X3D is a strong CPU, but the B570 is a mid-range GPU. When paired with a more powerful GPU, the CPU would likely push the system much higher in the rankings. The data shows that this is a balanced, but not high-end, pairing. The 2321st rank out of 2911 suggests that users should not expect to play this game at maximum settings, but rather that they should target a mid-range experience.

The performance is consistent with the individual components' standings. The CPU's 77th percentile and the GPU's 65th percentile combine to place the system in a lower tier than either component's individual ranking might suggest. This is because the game's demands are more heavily weighted towards the GPU. The combo rank is a useful summary, but the measured FPS data is more actionable, telling users exactly what to expect at each setting level.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings for this combo depend heavily on the target resolution and desired frame rate. The data provides clear guidance for users seeking a smooth experience.

At 1920x1080, the Low preset is the only setting that guarantees a consistently high frame rate, with an average of 78 FPS. The Medium preset, at 49 FPS, is playable for most users, but the minimum FPS of 41 might be noticeable in fast-moving scenes. The High preset at 35 FPS is borderline, and the Ultra preset at 28 FPS is not recommended for a good experience. For a balance of visual quality and performance, Medium is the best choice at 1080p, as it provides a significant visual upgrade over Low while maintaining playable frame rates.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the clear winner, with an average of 66 FPS. This provides a smooth and responsive experience. The Medium preset, at 41 FPS, is acceptable for slower-paced sections, but its minimum of 35 FPS could be problematic. The High preset at 29 FPS is too low for consistent playability. The data suggests that 1440p users should stick to Low settings to get the most out of the game.

At 3840x2160, the Low preset, at 52 FPS, is the only viable option for gameplay. The Medium preset, at 32 FPS, is playable but with noticeable dips. The High and Ultra presets, at 23 FPS and 18 FPS respectively, are not recommended for any serious play. The recommendation is to use Low settings at 4K to achieve a playable frame rate.

The overall recommendation is to prioritize the Medium preset at 1080p for the best visual-to-performance ratio. At higher resolutions, Low settings are necessary to maintain a playable experience. The data shows a clear trade-off: users must sacrifice visual fidelity to achieve high frame rates, particularly as resolution increases.

FAQ

Q: What is the best resolution and settings combo for a smooth 60 FPS experience?

A: The data shows that only the 1080p Low preset achieves an average FPS of 78, which is above 60. The 1440p Low preset averages 66 FPS, also above 60. For a consistent 60 FPS, these are the only two options. The 1080p Medium preset at 49 FPS and 1440p Medium at 41 FPS are below the 60 FPS target.

Q: Is the Intel Arc B570 or the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D the main performance limiter in this game?

A: The resolution scaling data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The FPS drops significantly as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, while the CPU's strong multi-core benchmark scores (Cinebench R23 multi-core of 22366) suggest it has ample headroom. The GPU's performance is insufficient to maintain high frame rates at higher resolutions.

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

A: Yes, but only at Low settings. The 4K Low preset achieves an average of 52 FPS, which is playable. Higher presets at 4K produce averages below 32 FPS, which are not recommended for a good experience. The 4K Medium preset has a minimum FPS of 27, showing instability.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its closest rivals in terms of raw performance?

A: Its average benchmark score is 20556, which is nearly identical to the Intel Arc A750 (20582) and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (20534). The performance difference is within 0.1% of these rivals, making it a direct competitor in the same performance tier.

Q: What is the significance of the CPU's large L3 cache in this game?

A: The Ryzen 7 5700X3D has a 96 MB L3 cache. While the exact impact in The Medium is not directly measurable from this data, the CPU's strong benchmark scores, such as 22366 in Cinebench R23 multi-core, indicate it is well-suited for handling the game's complex workloads without becoming a bottleneck.

Q: Is the 5700X3D a future-proof CPU for gaming with a new GPU later?

A: The CPU's performance percentile of 77% and its average benchmark score of 24709, which is only -0.1% behind the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D, suggest it is a strong processor. Its 8 cores and 16 threads provide a solid foundation for gaming. The data implies that if paired with a more powerful GPU, the CPU would not be the limiting factor in most scenarios.