The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and AMD Radeon RX 6600 combination delivers a playable, though not flawless, experience in The Medium, a horror title known for its demanding dual-reality rendering. The data indicates a system that is consistently capable at 1080p, but one that struggles to maintain fluid frame rates at higher resolutions and with maximum graphical presets. The measured results paint a clear picture of a mid-range pairing where the GPU is frequently the primary bottleneck, particularly when resolution scales up.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is a desktop processor built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge) using a 4 nm process. It features 8 cores and 16 threads, a configuration that provides ample parallel processing headroom for modern game engines. Its base clock is 3.80 GHz, with a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, which allows for strong single-thread performance when needed. The processor has a 65 W TDP, indicating a power-efficient design that doesn't compromise on core count. Cache allocation is substantial, with 80 KB of L1 per core, 1 MB of L2 per core, and 32 MB of shared L3 cache, which helps reduce memory latency for frequently accessed game data.

In the context of The Medium, the CPU's role appears to be one of consistent support rather than a limiting factor. The game’s measured FPS at 1080p with Low settings hits an average of 84 FPS, suggesting that the CPU is capable of feeding the GPU with enough data to achieve high frame rates when the graphical load is low. The processor's PassMark single-thread score of 4691 places it in the 94th percentile of all CPUs, indicating robust per-core capability. Its multi-thread score of 36470 further reinforces its ability to handle background tasks and complex game logic simultaneously. The nearest rival data shows the Ryzen 7 9700F performing within a tight band of top-tier chips. It is 0.2% above the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX, 0.7% above the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X, and 0.9% above the Intel Core i7-14700K in average benchmark scores. It is only 0.2% below the Intel Core i7-14700KF. This suggests that the 9700F is not the component holding back performance in The Medium; instead, it provides the necessary computational foundation for the GPU to operate at its full potential.

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

The AMD Radeon RX 6600 is the graphical workhorse of this combo, built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture (Navi 23 chip) using a 7 nm process. It is equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing a memory bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. The GPU’s base clock is 1626 MHz, with a game clock of 2044 MHz and a boost clock of 2491 MHz. This clock configuration allows for significant dynamic performance scaling under load. With 1792 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, the GPU is designed for mainstream 1080p gaming, and its 28 ray accelerators (RT cores) provide hardware support for DirectX Raytracing, which The Medium can utilize. The GPU has a TDP of 132 W and connects via a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface.

The data suggests that the RX 6600 is the decisive factor in this combo's performance spectrum. The GPU’s PassMark G3D score of 15096 places it in the 63rd percentile of all GPUs, which is a solid mid-range standing. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile (0.1% faster) and the NVIDIA Quadro K6000 (0% difference), indicating it sits at a specific performance tier. The VRAM capacity of 8 GB is a critical consideration for The Medium, a game that often demands high memory usage for its high-resolution textures. At 4K Ultra settings, the average FPS drops to 20, a figure that strongly suggests the GPU is overwhelmed not just by the pixel count, but also by the memory and shading requirements. The difference between 1080p Low (84 FPS) and 4K Ultra (20 FPS) is a 76% performance drop, highlighting how the RX 6600's compute and memory bandwidth are saturated as resolution and detail increase. The GPU is clearly the primary bottleneck in this pairing.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and AMD Radeon RX 6600 ranks 2260th out of 2911 tested combos for The Medium. This places it in the lower-middle portion of the performance hierarchy, meaning that while it is not at the bottom, it is also far from the top performers. The rank indicates that a significant number of other CPU-GPU pairings are capable of delivering higher frame rates in this specific title. This positioning is largely a consequence of the GPU's mid-range status, as the CPU's high percentile rank (94th) would suggest it is not the primary cause of the lower overall standing.

This ranking is consistent with the measured FPS data. A rank of 2260 out of 2911 suggests that this combo will require compromises in settings to achieve smooth gameplay, particularly at higher resolutions. The system is not a high-end contender for The Medium; it is a practical, mid-range setup that can handle the game with adjusted expectations. The data implies that users with this combo will be looking at 1080p as their primary resolution for a comfortable experience, with 1440p being possible only at lower settings. The 4K resolution is largely out of reach for a consistently smooth experience, as indicated by the low FPS averages at that resolution.

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

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive look at the combo's capabilities across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system performs admirably. With Low settings, it achieves an average of 84 FPS, which is very smooth. Medium settings yield an average of 52 FPS, with a minimum of 44 and a maximum of 60, indicating a stable and playable experience. High settings drop the average to 37 FPS, which is still playable but less fluid. Ultra settings bring the average down to 30 FPS, which is at the edge of acceptable playability. The scaling from Low to Ultra at 1080p shows a 54 FPS drop, demonstrating the significant impact of the Ultra preset.

At 2560x1440, the strain on the GPU becomes more apparent. Low settings produce an average of 71 FPS, which remains a good experience. Medium settings average 44 FPS, with a minimum of 37 and a maximum of 51, which is a playable frame rate for a slower-paced horror game. High settings drop to an average of 32 FPS, which begins to feel less smooth. Ultra settings are not recommended, as they yield an average of just 25 FPS. This resolution clearly requires lower settings to maintain a good experience.

At 3840x2160, the combo struggles. Low settings are the only playable option, producing an average of 55 FPS. Medium settings drop to an average of 35 FPS, with a minimum of 29 and a maximum of 40, which is borderline. High settings average 25 FPS, and Ultra settings average just 20 FPS, both of which are too low for a smooth gameplay experience. The data shows a clear progression: the system is a 1080p performer, a 1440p contender with low settings, and a 4K option only for those who can tolerate low FPS.

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

The FPS drop as resolution increases is a clear indicator of the GPU being the limiting component. At Low settings, the average FPS drops from 84 at 1080p to 71 at 1440p, a 15.5% decrease. Moving from 1440p to 4K, the FPS drops from 71 to 55, a 22.5% decrease. The total decrease from 1080p to 4K at Low settings is 34.5%. This scaling is typical for a GPU-heavy workload, where the number of pixels rendered directly impacts performance.

At Medium settings, the scaling is more dramatic. The average FPS falls from 52 at 1080p to 44 at 1440p (a 15.4% drop), and then to 35 at 4K (a 20.5% drop). The total drop from 1080p to 4K is 32.7%. At High settings, the drop is steeper in absolute terms but similar in percentage. From 37 FPS at 1080p, it falls to 32 FPS at 1440p (a 13.5% drop) and then to 25 FPS at 4K (a 21.9% drop), for a total of 32.4%. The trend continues at Ultra, with 30 FPS at 1080p dropping to 25 FPS at 1440p (16.7%) and then to 20 FPS at 4K (20%), a total drop of 33.3%.

The consistency of the percentage drop across settings, around 33%, strongly implies that the GPU is the bottleneck. If the CPU were the primary limiting factor, we would expect the FPS to remain more constant as resolution increases, because the CPU workload would be similar. Instead, the steady decline with resolution points to the RX 6600's rendering capabilities being saturated. The 8 GB VRAM may also be a factor at 4K, where high-resolution textures could exceed the available memory, causing additional performance degradation beyond just raw pixel fill rate.

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

*Q: What is the best resolution to play The Medium with this hardware?*

A: The data clearly indicates that 1920x1080 is the optimal resolution. At this resolution, the system achieves an average of 52 FPS on Medium settings and 84 FPS on Low, both of which are playable. Performance at 2560x1440 is acceptable only on Low settings (71 FPS), while 3840x2160 struggles, with even Low settings dropping to 55 FPS.

*Q: Can this combo handle The Medium at 4K resolution?*

A: It can run the game at 4K, but not comfortably. The only setting that yields a playable average FPS is Low, with an average of 55 FPS. Medium settings drop to 35 FPS, and High and Ultra are untenable at 25 and 20 FPS, respectively. For a more consistent experience, 4K should be avoided.

*Q: How does the Ray Tracing performance of the RX 6600 affect The Medium at 1080p?*

A: The RX 6600 has 28 RT cores, but the measured data shows that even without ray tracing, the Ultra preset at 1080p averages only 30 FPS. This suggests that enabling ray tracing would likely push the frame rate below an acceptable threshold, making the High or Medium presets more practical choices.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9700F a bottleneck for the RX 6600 in this game?

A: The data suggests the CPU is not a bottleneck. The processor's high single-thread score (4691) and 94th percentile ranking indicate it has plenty of headroom. The FPS drops are consistent with the GPU being the limiting factor, as performance scales directly with resolution and graphical settings, which are primarily GPU-bound tasks.

Q: What is the difference in average FPS between 1080p Low and 1440p Low settings?

A: The average FPS drops from 84 at 1080p Low to 71 at 1440p Low. This is a 13 FPS difference, or a 15.5% decrease in performance, illustrating the impact of increasing the render resolution on the GPU.

*Q: Is the 8 GB VRAM of the RX 6600 sufficient for The Medium?*

A: The data implies that 8 GB is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p play, as the game runs with playable frame rates. However, at 4K with higher settings, the system performance degrades significantly, which could be partially attributed to the 8 GB VRAM limit being reached, leading to potential texture streaming issues or memory allocation overhead.

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

Based on the measured FPS data, the best experience for this hardware is found at 1920x1080 resolution. The Medium preset offers the most balanced experience, providing an average of 52 FPS with a minimum of 44 FPS. This ensures a fluid and consistent frame rate that is ideal for the game's atmosphere and gameplay. The 44 FPS minimum indicates that even in demanding scenes, the frame rate should not drop into a jittery range. This is the recommended starting point for most users.

For users who prioritize a higher, more stable frame rate, the Low preset at 1080p is an excellent choice, delivering an average of 84 FPS. This ensures maximum smoothness and responsiveness. For those who have a monitor with a refresh rate higher than 60 Hz, this setting will allow the hardware to push beyond 60 FPS, providing a noticeably smoother experience. The High preset at 1080p is a viable option for users who want better visual fidelity, but the average of 37 FPS is a significant compromise. The Ultra preset at 1080p is not recommended, as its average of 30 FPS can feel inconsistent.

At 2560x1440, the Low preset is the only setting that provides a consistently good experience, with an average of 71 FPS. The Medium preset at this resolution is playable, with an average of 44 FPS and a minimum of 37 FPS, but it is less ideal. At 3840x2160, the Low preset is the only option that provides a borderline playable experience, with an average of 55 FPS. Any higher preset at 4K results in average frame rates below 35 FPS, which is not recommended for a smooth gameplay experience. The data suggests that prioritizing resolution over settings is not a good trade-off for this combo; a lower resolution with higher settings provides a more visually coherent and stable result.