The Medium

The Medium, a horror title released on 2021-01-27, presents a demanding workload for both CPU and GPU. This analysis covers the combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, using measured FPS data across three resolutions and four settings presets. The data shows a clear scaling pattern, with the GPU being the primary driver of performance, while the CPU provides sufficient headroom to avoid bottlenecking even at high frame rates.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is an 8-core, 16-thread processor based on the Zen 3 architecture, codenamed Vermeer, and built on a 7 nm process. It operates with a base clock of 3.40 GHz and a boost clock of 4.50 GHz, with a TDP of 105 W. Its large 96 MB shared L3 cache is a notable feature, likely beneficial for games that rely on frequent data reuse. In synthetic benchmarks, the CPU scores 24063 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 3397 in single-core, placing it in the 83rd percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score of 26574 is nearly identical to its nearest rivals: the AMD EPYC 8024P (0.1% higher), Intel Core i9-11900K (0.1% higher), AMD Ryzen 5 7600 (0.2% lower), and Intel Core i9-12900HK (0.4% lower). This indicates that the 5800X3D is effectively tied with those processors in overall compute performance.

For The Medium, the CPU's multi-threaded capability is more than adequate. The measured FPS at 1920x1080 with Low settings reaches 133.6 FPS, which is the highest value in the dataset. This suggests that the CPU can feed the GPU well beyond typical display refresh rates. The 16 threads allow the game's background logic, AI, and streaming systems to run without contention. The 83rd percentile ranking confirms that this CPU sits above the vast majority of tested processors, and its near-tie with the listed rivals means that any performance differences in this game would be negligible. The launch MSRP of the CPU is $449.

How This Combo Ranks

The combination of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D and the RTX 5080 ranks 126th out of 1689 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the upper tier of all configurations, with only 125 combos performing better. The rank reflects the overall balance of CPU and GPU, and given that the GPU is in the 89th percentile and the CPU in the 83rd, the pairing is well matched. The measured FPS data shows that the combo can deliver playable frame rates even at 4K Ultra (47.6 FPS) and exceeds 60 FPS at 4K High (61 FPS) and 1440p High (78 FPS). The rank of 126 out of 1689 indicates that this system is among the top 7.5% of all tested combinations, though the exact percentage is not stated in the data. The high rank is consistent with the strong individual benchmark scores of both components.

FAQ

Q: What is the average FPS at 2560x1440 with High settings?

A: The measured average FPS is 78.

Q: How does the CPU compare to its nearest rivals in average benchmark score?

A: The Ryzen 7 5800X3D has an average score of 26574, which is 0.1% higher than the AMD EPYC 8024P and Intel Core i9-11900K, 0.2% lower than the AMD Ryzen 5 7600, and 0.4% lower than the Intel Core i9-12900HK.

Q: What is the best settings preset for 3840x2160 to maintain a frame rate above 60?

A: At 4K, Medium yields 82.2 FPS, High yields 61 FPS, and Ultra yields 47.6 FPS. Medium is the only preset that comfortably exceeds 60 FPS, while High is just at the threshold.

Q: What is the GPU's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is in the 89th percentile.

Q: What is the combo's rank in The Medium?

A: It ranks 126th out of 1689 tested combos.

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the GPU?

A: The launch MSRP is 999 USD.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table lists all measured average FPS values from the dataset, organized by resolution and settings preset.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS |

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

| 3840x2160 | High | 61 |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 116.8 |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 82.2 |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 47.6 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 78 |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 127.4 |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 108 |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 58.4 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 91.8 |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 133.6 |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 112.7 |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 73.5 |

The data shows a consistent pattern: lowering settings from Ultra to Low increases FPS by roughly 2.5x at each resolution. For example, at 4K, Ultra yields 47.6 FPS while Low yields 116.8 FPS, a difference of 69.2 FPS. At 1080p, the spread is from 73.5 (Ultra) to 133.6 (Low). The scaling is smooth, indicating that the GPU is the primary bottleneck, as the CPU is capable of delivering high frame rates even at the lowest settings.

GPU Role

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with a 5 nm process. It features 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s. The GPU has a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2617 MHz, with a memory clock of 1875 MHz (30 Gbps effective). Its TDP is 360 W, and it uses a 16-pin power connector. In synthetic benchmarks, the GPU scores 8637 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, 264461 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 257942 in Geekbench Vulkan. Its average benchmark score is 59188, placing it in the 89th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Arc A570M (1.6% higher), Intel Arc Pro A60 (1.9% lower), Intel Arc A580 (2.5% higher), and AMD Radeon Pro W5500X (2.6% higher). This indicates that the RTX 5080 is competitive with those GPUs, though the differences are small.

In The Medium, the GPU's role is evident from the FPS scaling. At 4K Ultra, the average FPS drops to 47.6, while at 1080p Low it reaches 133.6. The 16 GB VRAM is ample for the game's textures, and the high bandwidth supports the resolution scaling. The GPU's 89th percentile ranking suggests it outperforms the vast majority of GPUs, and its measured performance in this game aligns with that standing. The launch MSRP of the GPU is 999 USD.

Settings Recommendations

Based on the measured FPS data, the Medium preset provides the best balance between visual quality and frame rate across all resolutions. At 3840x2160, Medium delivers 82.2 FPS, which is well above the 60 FPS threshold, while High yields 61 FPS and Ultra drops to 47.6. At 2560x1440, Medium reaches 108 FPS, High 78 FPS, and Ultra 58.4 FPS. At 1920x1080, Medium produces 112.7 FPS, High 91.8 FPS, and Ultra 73.5 FPS. In every case, Medium offers a substantial FPS advantage over High and Ultra, while still providing a higher quality preset than Low. For users who prioritize a smooth experience, Medium is the recommended choice. High is viable for 4K (61 FPS) and 1440p (78 FPS), but it leaves less headroom for demanding scenes. Ultra should be reserved for those who accept lower frame rates in exchange for maximum visual fidelity, as it only exceeds 60 FPS at 1080p (73.5 FPS). The data suggests that Medium is the sweet spot for this hardware combination.