The Medium

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER combination delivers a playable but constrained experience in The Medium, with performance heavily dictated by resolution and preset. The data shows a system that excels at lower settings but struggles to maintain fluid frame rates at higher visual fidelity, particularly at 4K. This analysis breaks down the measured results to illustrate exactly where the bottlenecks lie and what users can expect from this pairing.

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

The AMD Ryzen 7 9700F is an 8-core, 16-thread processor built on the Zen 5 architecture (Granite Ridge). It operates with a base clock of 3.80 GHz and a boost clock of 5.50 GHz, backed by a 32 MB shared L3 cache. In synthetic benchmarks, the chip scores 4,691 in single-threaded performance and 36,470 in multi-threaded tests, placing it in the 94th percentile among all CPUs. This level of processing power is generally far beyond what a horror title like The Medium demands, especially at higher resolutions where the GPU becomes the primary workload carrier.

Looking at the CPU’s nearest rivals, the data reveals a tightly contested field. The Ryzen 9 7940HX scores 69,875 on average, which is 0.2% lower than the 9700F’s 69,996 average. The Intel Core i7-14700KF is 0.2% behind at 70,163, while the Ryzen 9 7950X trails by 0.7% (69,515) and the i7-14700K by 0.9% (69,355). These delta percentages are negligible in real-world gaming, confirming that the 9700F is not a limiting factor in this combo.

In the measured FPS data, the pattern is clear: as resolution increases from 1080p to 4K, frame rates drop significantly across all settings. At 1080p Low, the combo achieves 101 FPS, but at 4K Ultra, it falls to 24 FPS. This scaling suggests that the RTX 2070 SUPER is the constraining component in this pairing. The CPU’s 8 cores and 16 threads are more than sufficient to feed the GPU at lower resolutions; the frame rate collapse at higher resolutions is a direct result of the graphics card’s rendering limits, not a lack of processor throughput. The 9700F’s high single-thread score of 4,691 ensures that game logic and draw calls are processed quickly, allowing the GPU to work at its maximum potential until it becomes saturated.

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

Q: What is the best resolution for this combo if I want to stay above 60 FPS?

A: The only measured setting that exceeds 60 FPS at 1080p is Low, with an average of 101 FPS. At 1440p, Low drops to 85 FPS, and at 4K, Low averages 67 FPS. Medium settings at 1080p hit 63 FPS, but Medium at 1440p and 4K falls to 53 FPS and 42 FPS, respectively.

Q: How much performance is lost when moving from 1080p to 4K at Medium settings?

A: At Medium settings, the average FPS drops from 63 at 1920x1080 to 53 at 2560x1440, and then to 42 at 3840x2160. This represents a 33% reduction from 1080p to 4K, indicating the GPU is the primary bottleneck as resolution scales.

Q: Is the Ryzen 7 9700F comparable to other high-end CPUs in this system?

A: Yes. The 9700F’s average benchmark score of 69,996 is within 1% of its nearest rivals. The AMD Ryzen 9 7940HX is 0.2% lower, the Intel Core i7-14700KF is 0.2% lower, and the Ryzen 9 7950X is 0.7% lower. The i7-14700K is 0.9% lower. These differences are negligible.

Q: What is the lowest FPS recorded for this combo at 1440p?

A: The only 1440p setting with min/max data is Medium, which shows a minimum of 45 FPS and a maximum of 61 FPS, with an average of 53 FPS. Other settings at this resolution only have average FPS values listed.

Q: How does the RTX 2070 SUPER compare to its closest competitors?

A: The RTX 2070 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 20,282. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro M4000M, scores 20,480, which is 1% higher. The RTX 3070 Mobile is 1.2% higher at 20,534, while the Intel Arc B570 and Arc A750 are 1.3% and 1.5% higher, respectively.

Q: Can this combo handle Ultra settings at any resolution?

A: No. At 1080p Ultra, the average FPS is 36. At 1440p Ultra, it drops to 30 FPS. At 4K Ultra, it falls to 24 FPS. None of these reach the 60 FPS threshold commonly desired for smooth gameplay.

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

The measured data shows a steep performance curve as resolution increases. At Low settings, the average FPS starts at 101 at 1920x1080, drops to 85 at 2560x1440, and settles at 67 at 3840x2160. This is a 34% total reduction from 1080p to 4K, but the frame rate remains playable even at the highest resolution. The pattern is steeper at Medium settings: 63 FPS at 1080p, 53 FPS at 1440p, and 42 FPS at 4K — a 33% drop from 1080p to 4K. High settings show 45 FPS at 1080p, 38 FPS at 1440p, and 30 FPS at 4K, a 33% reduction. Ultra settings follow the same trend: 36 FPS at 1080p, 30 FPS at 1440p, and 24 FPS at 4K, again a 33% decline.

The consistency of this ~33% drop across all settings is a strong indicator that the GPU is the limiting factor. If the CPU were the bottleneck, we would expect the FPS gap between 1080p and 4K to shrink at higher resolutions, as the processor would have more time to prepare frames. Instead, the proportional decrease suggests the RTX 2070 SUPER’s rendering throughput is saturated at 1080p, and every additional pixel at higher resolutions directly reduces output. The 8 GB of GDDR6 memory and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth are also likely stressed at 4K, but the linear scaling implies that the GPU’s compute units (2,560 shading units) are the primary constraint. This is a classic GPU-bound scenario, where the Ryzen 7 9700F’s ample processing headroom is never fully utilized.

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

At 1920x1080, the combo delivers its best performance. Low settings produce an average of 101 FPS, which is the highest measured value in the entire dataset. Medium settings average 63 FPS, with a minimum of 54 and a maximum of 72 FPS. High settings drop to 45 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 36 FPS. This resolution is the only one where Medium crosses the 60 FPS threshold, albeit narrowly.

At 2560x1440, performance declines across the board. Low settings average 85 FPS, still a solid number. Medium settings average 53 FPS, with a minimum of 45 and a maximum of 61 FPS. High settings average 38 FPS, and Ultra settings drop to 30 FPS. At this resolution, only Low settings maintain a comfortable margin above 60 FPS.

At 3840x2160, the RTX 2070 SUPER is clearly overtaxed. Low settings average 67 FPS, which is surprisingly playable. Medium settings average 42 FPS, with a minimum of 35 and a maximum of 48 FPS. High settings average 30 FPS, and Ultra settings fall to 24 FPS. The gap between Low and Medium at 4K is 25 FPS, highlighting how much overhead is required for even modest quality improvements.

The data also shows that at every resolution, the jump from Low to Medium costs roughly 30-40% of the frame rate. At 1080p, the drop is from 101 to 63 FPS (a 38% loss). At 1440p, it’s from 85 to 53 FPS (a 38% loss). At 4K, it’s from 67 to 42 FPS (a 37% loss). This consistent penalty suggests a uniform increase in shader complexity across presets, with the GPU bearing the full load.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

This specific combination of the AMD Ryzen 7 9700F and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER ranks 1,648 out of 2,911 tested combos in The Medium. This places it in the 43rd percentile of all configurations, meaning roughly 57% of tested systems perform better. Given that the GPU is the limiting factor, this ranking is primarily a reflection of the RTX 2070 SUPER’s age and position in the market.

The GPU’s percentile vs all GPUs is 65, indicating it outperforms 65% of graphics cards in general benchmarks. However, in The Medium, the demanding rendering requirements push it down. The CPU’s percentile is 94, so the processor is far stronger relative to its peers than the GPU is. This asymmetry explains why the combo ranks lower than the CPU’s percentile alone would suggest — the GPU drags the overall performance down.

Compared to the GPU’s nearest rivals, which are within 1.5% of its average benchmark score, the RTX 2070 SUPER is competitive in synthetic tests. But in this game, the measured FPS at 4K Ultra (24 FPS) shows that even the GPU’s relative strength cannot overcome the resolution’s demands. The combo rank of 1,648 out of 2,911 serves as a warning that this pairing is better suited for 1080p or 1440p gaming, rather than 4K.

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

For a smooth experience at 60 FPS or higher, the only viable option is Low settings at 1080p, which delivers 101 FPS. If the user prefers higher visual fidelity, Medium at 1080p is the next best choice, averaging 63 FPS with a minimum of 54 FPS. This is a reasonable trade-off, as the 54 FPS minimum is still close to the 60 FPS target.

At 1440p, Low settings provide 85 FPS, which is excellent, but Medium drops to 53 FPS with a minimum of 45 FPS. Users prioritizing smoothness over detail should stick with Low at 1440p. High settings at 1080p (45 FPS) are playable for less demanding players, but the 36 FPS at Ultra is likely too choppy for a horror game that relies on atmosphere.

At 4K, the only measured preset that remains playable is Low, at 67 FPS. Medium at 4K (42 FPS) is borderline, and High (30 FPS) and Ultra (24 FPS) fall below the standard for smooth motion. The data shows that this combo is not suited for 4K at anything above Low settings. The best overall experience, balancing quality and performance, is Medium at 1080p, which keeps the average above 60 FPS while offering more visual detail than Low.

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

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER is built on the Turing architecture with a 12 nm process. It features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU clock runs at a base of 1605 MHz and a boost of 1770 MHz, with memory clocked at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). It has 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, along with 40 RT cores and 320 tensor cores. The FP32 performance is 9.062 TFLOPS, and the pixel rate is 113.3 GPixel/s.

In The Medium, these specifications are the deciding factor in the measured FPS. The 8 GB VRAM is sufficient for 1080p and 1440p, but at 4K, the higher texture loads likely strain the memory capacity, contributing to the steep performance drop. The 448.0 GB/s bandwidth is adequate for the game’s data throughput, but the compute power of 9.062 TFLOPS is what limits frame rates at higher resolutions. The 40 RT cores suggest some ray tracing capability, but the measured data does not include RT-specific tests, so its impact cannot be quantified here.

The GPU’s benchmark scores reinforce its mid-range position: it scores 18,169 in Passmark G3D and 7,557 in GPU compute, with a percentile of 65. Its nearest rivals are all within 1.5% of its average score, showing that the RTX 2070 SUPER is a well-known quantity. In this game, the GPU is clearly the bottleneck, as evidenced by the consistent ~33% FPS drop from 1080p to 4K across all settings. The Ryzen 7 9700F has ample headroom, but the RTX 2070 SUPER’s 2,560 shading units simply cannot keep up with the pixel counts at 4K, particularly at Medium and above. This is a GPU-bound scenario, and the data shows that users should treat this combo as a 1080p or 1440p solution, not a 4K one.