The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 pairing in The Medium presents a fascinating study in system balance, as the data reveals a component that scales predictably with resolution while the other holds a more nuanced role. The measured frames per second across the three primary resolutions and four quality presets offer a clear picture of where the bottleneck shifts, and the results are not always intuitive for such a high-end combination.

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

The performance delta between 1080p and 4K is stark and reveals a classic GPU-bound scenario at higher resolutions. At the High preset, the average frame rate falls from 86 FPS at 1920x1080 to 72 FPS at 2560x1440, and then drops further to 57 FPS at 3840x2160. This represents a 33.7% reduction in performance from 1080p to 4K, a substantial hit that points directly at the graphics card as the primary limiter when pixel count increases. The scaling is not linear, but the consistent downward trend across each resolution step indicates that the RTX 4080’s rendering workload is the dominant factor.

Looking at the Ultra preset, the pattern intensifies. The average FPS plummets from 68 at 1080p to 57 at 1440p, and finally to 45 at 4K. This is a 33.8% drop from 1080p to 4K, nearly identical in percentage to the High preset. The fact that the relative performance loss is so consistent across presets suggests that the game’s engine is scaling the GPU load uniformly, with no sudden CPU-related cliff appearing at lower resolutions. The data implies that even at 1080p, the CPU is not the primary constraint, as the FPS gains from lowering resolution are still substantial.

The Low preset provides the most telling evidence of the CPU’s ceiling. Here, performance goes from 148 FPS at 1080p to 140 FPS at 1440p, and then down to 127 FPS at 4K. The gap between 1080p and 4K is only 14.2%, much smaller than the gaps seen in higher presets. This compression of frame rates indicates that at Low settings, the system is approaching a limit that is not purely GPU pixel-pushing. The CPU, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, is likely becoming a more significant factor, preventing the frame rate from scaling as freely with reduced graphical load.

What this suggests is a dual-phase bottleneck. At High and Ultra, the RTX 4080 is clearly the limiting component, with resolution having a massive impact on FPS. At Low, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT begins to assert its presence, capping the maximum achievable frame rate and flattening the resolution scaling curve. The game appears to be heavily GPU-dependent at higher quality settings, but the CPU’s architectural limits become visible when the GPU is given less work to do.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT is a Zen 3 part with 8 cores and 16 threads, running at a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 4.80 GHz. In The Medium, a horror game that likely relies on a mix of physics, AI, and world streaming, these specifications appear sufficient to feed the RTX 4080 at most settings, but the data suggests a performance ceiling at lower resolutions. The processor’s benchmark scores, such as a Cinebench R23 multi-core score of 23794 and a single-core score of 3359, place it in the 81st percentile of all CPUs, indicating strong general processing power.

The CPU’s role is most clearly defined by the Low preset results. At 1080p Low, the system achieves 148 FPS, but this only rises to 140 FPS at 1440p. The fact that 1440p is slower than 1080p by 5.4% is a classic sign of a CPU bottleneck, where the GPU is waiting on the processor to deliver draw calls. The single-thread performance, evidenced by a Passmark single-thread score of 3535, is good, but the game’s engine may not be perfectly optimized for the Zen 3 architecture, leaving some performance on the table.

The 32 MB of shared L3 cache is a notable asset for gaming, and the data shows it is sufficient to maintain high average frame rates in the 57-72 FPS range at 4K with High and Medium settings. The CPU does not appear to be a hindrance at higher resolutions, as the GPU workload dominates. However, the measured FPS at 1080p Ultra (68 FPS) versus 1080p Low (148 FPS) shows a 54% difference, which is entirely attributable to GPU rendering load, not CPU capability. The processor is stable and consistent, but it is not the star of the show; it is the supporting actor that enables the GPU to perform, but it cannot push beyond its own architectural limits.

FAQ

Q: What is the maximum average FPS achievable with this combo at 1080p?

A: The highest average frame rate recorded is 148 FPS, achieved at 1920x1080 with the Low preset.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 compare to its closest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, in synthetic benchmarks?

A: The RTX 4080 has an average benchmark score of 54247, which is only 0.1% higher than the RTX 4080 SUPER’s score of 54209, making them effectively identical in overall synthetic performance.

Q: Is the CPU or GPU the limiting factor at 4K resolution?

A: At 3840x2160, the GPU is the clear limiting factor. The average FPS drops to 45 on Ultra and 57 on High, showing a strong dependence on resolution and graphical settings, which is characteristic of a GPU-bound workload.

Q: What is the average FPS difference between Low and Ultra settings at 1440p?

A: At 2560x1440, the average FPS is 140 on Low and 57 on Ultra, representing a 59.3% performance decrease when switching to the highest quality preset.

Q: Does the CPU’s single-thread performance impact the game’s frame rates?

A: The CPU’s single-thread score of 3535 on Passmark is strong, but the data at 1080p Low (148 FPS) versus 1440p Low (140 FPS) suggests a slight CPU limitation, as the frame rate does not scale perfectly with reduced resolution.

Q: How many frames per second does the Medium preset at 1080p produce, and what is the minimum?

A: At 1920x1080 with Medium settings, the average FPS is 120, with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS.

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

1920x1080:

The data shows a clear hierarchy across presets. At Low, the system achieves an average of 148 FPS. Moving to Medium, the average drops to 120 FPS, with a minimum of 102 FPS and a maximum of 138 FPS. The High preset yields an average of 86 FPS. Finally, the Ultra preset averages 68 FPS. The delta between Low and Ultra is 80 FPS, indicating a massive performance swing based on graphical fidelity.

2560x1440:

At this resolution, the Low preset still provides a high average of 140 FPS. The Medium preset averages 101 FPS, with a minimum of 86 FPS and a maximum of 116 FPS. High settings drop the average to 72 FPS, and Ultra brings it down to 57 FPS. The difference between Low and Ultra is 83 FPS, showing that the GPU is still heavily taxed by the higher preset at this resolution.

3840x2160:

The 4K results show the most significant impact of resolution. The Low preset averages 127 FPS, which is still very playable. Medium settings average 79 FPS, with a minimum of 67 FPS and a maximum of 91 FPS. High settings reduce the average to 57 FPS, and Ultra pushes it down to 45 FPS. The spread from Low to Ultra is 82 FPS, indicating that even the powerful RTX 4080 cannot maintain high frame rates at 4K with maximum settings.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is a formidable GPU with 16 GB of GDDR6X memory and a 256-bit bus, offering a bandwidth of 716.8 GB/s. Its boost clock is rated at 2505 MHz. In The Medium, the GPU’s role is paramount, as evidenced by the significant FPS drops when moving from Low to Ultra settings. The data indicates that the GPU’s raw compute power, which is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, is the primary driver of performance at higher resolutions.

The 16 GB VRAM buffer is likely sufficient for the game at 4K, as the average FPS does not collapse to unplayable levels, but the Ultra preset at 4K (45 FPS) shows the GPU’s limits. The memory bandwidth is crucial for streaming high-resolution textures, and the 716.8 GB/s figure is likely a key reason why the game remains fluid at 4K Medium (79 FPS) without stuttering. The RTX 4080’s synthetic benchmarks, such as a Passmark G3D score of 34457, correlate with its strong gaming performance, but the game-specific results show a more nuanced story.

The GPU’s nearest rival, the RTX 4080 SUPER, has a nearly identical average benchmark score (54209 vs 54247), yet the measured FPS in this game is unique to this exact card. The data shows that the RTX 4080 is well-suited for 1440p gaming, where it easily exceeds 100 FPS on Medium settings, but it struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 4K Ultra. This suggests that while the GPU is powerful, The Medium’s demanding rendering techniques at Ultra settings are a significant challenge even for this high-end card.

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

Based on the measured data, the Medium preset offers the most balanced experience across all resolutions. At 1080p, it delivers 120 FPS, which is excellent for smooth gameplay, with a minimum of 102 FPS ensuring no significant drops. At 1440p, the Medium preset still provides 101 FPS, which is ideal for high-refresh-rate monitors, and the minimum of 86 FPS keeps the action fluid. Even at 4K, Medium settings yield 79 FPS, which is above the standard 60 FPS threshold for a good experience.

The High preset is a viable alternative for those prioritizing visual quality, but it comes with a notable cost. At 1440p, it drops to 72 FPS, and at 4K, it falls to 57 FPS, which is just shy of the 60 FPS target. The Low preset provides the highest frame rates (140-148 FPS at 1080p/1440p), but it likely sacrifices significant visual fidelity in a horror game where atmosphere matters. The Ultra preset, while visually impressive, is only recommended for 1080p (68 FPS) or for players who prioritize graphics over frame rate, as it struggles to maintain 60 FPS at 1440p (57 FPS) and falls to 45 FPS at 4K.

The data suggests that the Medium preset is the "sweet spot" for this combo, offering a 59.3% performance improvement over Ultra at 1440p while still providing a high-quality visual experience. For 4K users, Medium is the only preset that guarantees a comfortable frame rate above 70 FPS, making it the clear choice for a smooth experience without needing to compromise on all settings.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800XT and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 combination holds a rank of 300 out of 3724 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the top 8.1% of all systems tested, a strong showing that confirms its high-end status. However, the rank also indicates that there are 299 other combos that perform better, which is expected given the age of the CPU (released in 2024) compared to newer generations.

The CPU’s nearest rivals in synthetic benchmarks include the AMD Ryzen 7 7840H, which has a nearly identical average score (29868 vs 29879), and the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, which is slightly slower by 0.6%. This suggests that the 5800XT is competitive with modern mobile and desktop parts, but it is not the absolute fastest. The GPU’s rivals, such as the RTX 4080 SUPER, are virtually tied in performance, but the rank of 300 implies that the CPU might be holding the combo back slightly in this specific game. If paired with a faster CPU, the combo might rank higher, but the data shows that the 5800XT is a capable partner that does not cripple the RTX 4080’s potential in most scenarios.

The rank of 300 out of 3724 confirms the overall balance of the system. It is not a top-100 combo, but it is comfortably in the upper echelon of tested hardware. The data suggests that this combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate 1440p gaming and solid 4K gaming on Medium settings, but it will not top the charts in this particular title.