The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and Intel Arc B570 combination delivers playable frame rates in The Medium only at lower resolutions and settings, with the data showing a hard ceiling at 4K. At 1080p, the pairing manages a solid 78 FPS on Low, but the experience degrades rapidly as resolution and quality increase, indicating a system where the GPU is the primary bottleneck. This analysis breaks down the measured performance, the roles of the CPU and GPU, and provides practical settings advice based strictly on the benchmark data.

Resolution Scaling

The measured FPS data for The Medium reveals a steep and consistent performance penalty as resolution climbs from 1920x1080 to 3840x2160. At the Medium preset, which is the only setting with complete min/max data, the average frame rate drops from 49 FPS at 1080p to 41 FPS at 1440p, a reduction of 8 FPS. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the average falls further to 32 FPS, another 9 FPS loss. This linear decline is a clear indicator that the rendering load is scaling directly with pixel count, which points to the graphics card as the limiting factor. The GPU is being tasked with more work at each step, and its performance ceiling is being hit well before the CPU becomes a concern.

The scaling pattern becomes even more pronounced when examining the High and Ultra presets. At High settings, the average FPS drops from 35 at 1080p to 29 at 1440p and finally to 23 at 4K. This represents a 34% performance loss from 1080p to 4K. The Ultra preset shows an even steeper decline, with averages of 28, 23, and 18 FPS across the same three resolutions. The gap between 1080p and 4K at Ultra is a 10 FPS drop, which is a 36% reduction in performance. These numbers demonstrate that the game's higher-quality settings have a compounding effect on the GPU load, making the resolution scaling more punishing as the visual fidelity increases.

In contrast, the Low preset shows a different scaling pattern, suggesting a shift in the bottleneck. At Low, the average FPS is 78 at 1080p, 66 at 1440p, and 52 at 4K. The performance drop from 1080p to 4K is 26 FPS, which is a 33% reduction, but the absolute frame rates are much higher, indicating that the GPU is no longer as severely constrained. This suggests that at lower settings, the game is less demanding on the graphics card, and the performance is more influenced by other factors, though the GPU still remains the primary limiter given the consistent decline with resolution. The data shows that this system is not capable of maintaining a smooth experience at 4K on any preset, with the best 4K result being 52 FPS on Low, which is playable but not ideal.

GPU Role

The Intel Arc B570 is the central component driving the performance in The Medium, and its specifications explain the measured results. The GPU features 10 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 380.0 GB/s. This memory configuration is sufficient for the game's assets at 1080p and 1440p, but the high-resolution textures and effects at 4K can strain the memory subsystem, contributing to the significant FPS drops seen at that resolution. The GPU's core clocks are fixed at 2500 MHz for both base and boost, with memory clocked at 2375 MHz (19 Gbps effective). This consistent clock speed suggests that the card operates at its maximum frequency under load, and any performance variation is due to the workload itself.

The B570's compute capabilities are defined by its 2304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 80 raster output pipelines. These specifications translate to a pixel rate of 200.0 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 360.0 GTexel/s. In The Medium, a horror game with complex lighting and shadow effects, these raw throughput numbers are critical. The game's use of fixed camera angles and pre-rendered scenes in some areas does not reduce the GPU workload; instead, it often means higher-resolution textures and more detailed environments, which directly impacts the fill rate. The benchmark results confirm this, with the GPU struggling to maintain high frame rates at 4K Ultra, where the pixel and texture demands are at their peak.

The GPU's benchmark scores place it in the 65th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 20556. Its nearest rivals in terms of average score are the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which is 0.1% faster, and the Intel Arc A750, which is 0.1% slower. This close grouping indicates that the B570 is a mid-range performer, and its results in The Medium align with this positioning. The DirectX 12 benchmark score of 72 and the Vulkan score of 96844 suggest that the GPU has strong API support, but the game's performance is ultimately limited by its raw horsepower rather than driver or API efficiency. The 18 ray tracing cores are present, but the game's performance at 4K Ultra, which likely includes ray-traced effects, shows that the B570 does not have enough processing power to handle these features at high resolutions.

CPU Role

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT provides the processing foundation for this system, and its specifications are more than adequate for The Medium. With 8 cores and 16 threads based on the Zen 3 architecture, the CPU has a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. This configuration is well-suited for modern games, and the high boost clock ensures strong single-threaded performance, which is often critical for game logic and frame pacing. The CPU's 32 MB of shared L3 cache is generous, helping to reduce memory latency and improve overall system responsiveness. The data indicates that the CPU is not a bottleneck in this game, as the frame rates scale consistently with resolution changes, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation.

The CPU's benchmark scores reinforce its capability. In Cinebench R23, it scores 23794 in multi-core and 3359 in single-core, placing it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs. Its average benchmark score is 29879, which is nearly identical to its nearest rivals, including the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H (0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (0.6% faster). This performance level ensures that the CPU can feed the GPU with enough data to avoid stuttering or frame drops caused by processor limitations. In The Medium, which is not known for being CPU-intensive, the 5800XT's 16 threads provide ample headroom for background processes and the game's AI and physics calculations.

The measured FPS data supports the conclusion that the CPU is not the limiting factor. For instance, at 1080p Low, the GPU achieves 78 FPS, which is a high frame rate that would require a capable CPU to maintain. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect to see frame rates plateau across different resolutions, but the data shows a clear decline as resolution increases. This indicates that the GPU is being pushed to its limits, while the CPU has spare capacity. The CPU's memory support for DDR4 with a dual-channel bus and 51.2 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for the game, and the PCIe Gen 4 interface with 20 lanes allows for fast communication with the GPU, ensuring that data transfer is not a performance constraint.

FAQ

*Q: Can this system run The Medium at 4K with playable frame rates?*

A: The data shows that at 4K, the best average FPS is 52 on Low settings. On Medium, the average drops to 32 FPS, and on High it is 23 FPS. Ultra is unplayable at 18 FPS. For a smooth experience, 4K is not recommended, as even Low settings may not provide a consistent 60 FPS.

Q: What is the best resolution for a balance of visual quality and performance?

A: Based on the measured data, 1440p on Medium settings provides an average of 41 FPS with a minimum of 35 FPS and a maximum of 47 FPS. This is the highest resolution and quality combination that maintains a reasonably stable frame rate, though it is not a locked 60 FPS experience.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the primary bottleneck in this game?

A: The data indicates the GPU is the primary bottleneck. The frame rates decline consistently as resolution increases, which is a classic sign of GPU limitation. The Ryzen 7 5800XT's strong benchmark scores, including a 23794 multi-core score in Cinebench R23, suggest it has ample processing power to keep up with the game's demands.

Q: How does the Intel Arc B570 compare to its direct competitors in terms of overall performance?

A: The B570's average benchmark score is 20556, and its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile, which is 0.1% faster. The Intel Arc A750 is 0.1% slower. This indicates that the B570 is a solid mid-range performer, but it does not have the raw power to handle the most demanding settings in The Medium at high resolutions.

Q: What is the impact of the GPU's memory bandwidth on game performance?

A: The B570 has 380.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth from its 10 GB GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus. This bandwidth is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p gaming, but at 4K, the game's high-resolution textures and effects can saturate the bus, contributing to the significant FPS drops observed at that resolution.

Q: Is there a significant difference between the Low and Ultra presets at 1080p?

A: Yes, the difference is substantial. At 1080p, the Low preset achieves an average of 78 FPS, while the Ultra preset only manages 28 FPS. This represents a 64% decrease in performance, showing that the Ultra preset places a massive load on the GPU, which is not capable of handling it at this resolution without a major frame rate penalty.

Measured FPS Breakdown

The following table details the exact average frame rates measured for each resolution and settings combination. For the Medium preset, the minimum and maximum FPS are also provided, offering a clearer picture of frame time consistency.

| Resolution | Settings | Average FPS | Minimum FPS | Maximum FPS |

|:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- |:--- |

| 1920x1080 | Low | 78 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Medium | 49 | 41 | 56 |

| 1920x1080 | High | 35 | N/A | N/A |

| 1920x1080 | Ultra | 28 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Low | 66 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Medium | 41 | 35 | 47 |

| 2560x1440 | High | 29 | N/A | N/A |

| 2560x1440 | Ultra | 23 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Low | 52 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Medium | 32 | 27 | 37 |

| 3840x2160 | High | 23 | N/A | N/A |

| 3840x2160 | Ultra | 18 | N/A | N/A |

The data shows a clear hierarchy. At 1080p Low, the system delivers a smooth 78 FPS, which is the only configuration that approaches a high refresh rate experience. As settings increase to Medium, the frame rate drops to 49 FPS, which is still playable, but the minimum FPS of 41 indicates potential for noticeable stutters. High and Ultra settings at 1080p yield 35 and 28 FPS respectively, which are not ideal for a horror game that relies on atmosphere and smooth camera movements.

At 1440p, the performance is more constrained. Low settings provide a playable 66 FPS, but Medium drops to 41 FPS with a minimum of 35 FPS. High and Ultra are below 30 FPS, making them difficult to recommend. At 4K, all settings are below 60 FPS, with the best being 52 FPS on Low. Medium, High, and Ultra all fall below 32 FPS, rendering 4K gaming with this hardware impractical for a smooth experience.

Settings Recommendations

For a fluid experience in The Medium, the data clearly points to a specific configuration. The only settings that yield an average frame rate above 60 FPS is 1080p with Low settings, achieving 78 FPS. This is the optimal choice for players who prioritize smoothness and responsiveness above all else. The horror genre benefits from consistent frame pacing, and this setup ensures no stutters or drops that could break immersion.

If visual fidelity is more important than achieving 60 FPS, then 1080p on Medium settings is the best compromise. The 49 FPS average, with a minimum of 41 FPS, is still within a playable range, and the improvement in texture quality and lighting effects over Low is substantial. The Medium preset at 1440p, with an average of 41 FPS, is also a viable option for those with a 1440p monitor, but it comes with a more variable frame rate, as indicated by the 35 FPS minimum. This could lead to moments of perceptible slowdown during intense scenes.

The High and Ultra presets are not recommended for this hardware combination. At any resolution, these settings produce average frame rates below 35 FPS, which is too low for a smooth experience in a game that relies heavily on atmosphere and narrative pacing. The performance penalty from High to Ultra is significant, with Ultra often being 7-8 FPS slower than High at the same resolution. The data suggests that the Intel Arc B570 is not capable of handling the advanced rendering features in The Medium at high settings, and players should stick to Low or Medium presets to get the best performance. Given the game's slow-paced nature, a consistent 40-50 FPS on Medium is a more enjoyable experience than a fluctuating 20-30 FPS on High.